st simon the apostle, ROWVILLE

Fr. Kevin Dillon - Monday 24 January 2022
            St Francis de Sales, bishop, doctor

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (C) Mass Video

Fr. Kevin Dillon - 23 January 2022

"Previous Mass Videos" can be accessed - here

and "YouTube Channel Link" - here

Children's Liturgy - here

MY JESUS,
I believe that You are present in this Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Even when I cannot receive You sacramentally, come spiritually into
my heart. I embrace You as if You are already there, and I unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.        Amen.

Thanks to all those who have responded generously already.
We have raised what is likely to be enough for the livestreaming equipment,
but would still welcome more donations towards our Parish.

Please Click on any of the above 
for Faith Developement Prayer Group events for more details. 

You are probably aware of a wonderful initiative which began over twenty years ago, as
a fund-raising venture for research into cancers of all kinds. The “Relay for Life” has not only generated millions of dollars for a wonderful cause that benefits us all, but it has also reminded us that this is a cause which, in time can both benefit them personally, and if not them, someone who is very dear to them.

The word “Relay” is defined as a “group of people engaged in a task or activity for a period of time and then replaced by a similar group”. Simple! But that’s also the story of our life, individually and socially. We can do things for a time, and then eventually we are replaced by others.

Last Sunday, Fr. Noel Mackay, Parish Priest of St. Jude’s, Scoresby for 40 years,
went to his eternal reward. Totally dedicated, highly respected and fully committed to his vocation as a priest for sixty years, he began a “relay of faith” of which St. Simon’s is
a major beneficiary, this parish having been developed (sounds much better than “cut off!”) from St. Jude’s in 1988.

“Passing the baton” is the fundamental command of Jesus. He called it “taking the Gospel to all nations”. And that’s what we try to do: parents to children, teachers to students, coaches to players - from one to another. As St. Paul said :”What do you have that you
did not receive?” (1 Cor. 4:7).

In church and parish life, the “relay” is a regular and inevitable element. Parishioners arrive, some stay for years, some leave when they decide they need to. With priests, it’s the same. Sometimes a few years, sometimes many, but in the long run it’s passing on
the baton of faith, life and love that matters.

As the above definition tells us, those who carry that baton for a time are “replaced by
a similar group”. As many of you know, I had hoped to be at St. Simon’s for a few more years, but last year’s health issues and another ongoing health “condition” diagnosed just before Christmas have made it clear that “stepping back” in retirement (small “r”) would make more sense than “falling over”, along with the unreliability that increasingly accompanies getting older.

Next weekend, at all Masses, I will “pass the baton” as Parish Priest of St. Simon’s over
to Fr. Mark Reynolds . who will be assisted both here and at St. Jude’s by Fr. Samuel Pearson. So, may I take the opportunity this week simply to say “Thank You” to all you wonderful parishioners of St. Simon’s, not only for your commitment to the Faith and our parish, but very much for your personal care of and for me? On so many fronts, you have afforded me every co-operation and personal support possible, very much including my memorable 50th Ordination Anniversary in June 2019. I could not have asked for more
or better, and I had been at St Simon’s for less than two years!

I know that you will give that same support to Fr. Mark and Fr. Samuel as they play their part in the “relay of faith” to which Fr. Mackay made a fantastic contribution for more than forty years. They (and you) are taking that baton to others. And just like the Cancer “Relay for Life”, those who benefit most may well be those you love most. Don’t drop the baton
- pass it on firmly and with confidence.    Fr. Kevin Dillon

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"Standing on the Promises of God"

Can be accessed - here

Previous Bulletins -  here

Sunday Homily

Can be accessed - here

St Simon’s School has installed an externally stored Automated External Defibrillator for the health and safety of members of the community. 

Click HERE for more info.

Come & See
Night - 2022 Alpha Program

After the very successful 2021 Alpha Program the team is planning for 2022.

Want to know what it is about?

Come and see
6:30pm Monday, 7 Feb 2022
(St Simon’s Parish Centre)

Video Link

Presented by Judy Schmidt and filmed by Corey Payton

    Mass on Radio

Fr. Kevin will be retiring as Parish Priest of St., Simon’s this coming weekend, the parishes of St. Simon’s Rowville and St. Jude’s, Scoresby will soon both be under the leadership of Fr. Mark Reynolds, (currently Parish Priest of St. Jude’s) who will have as Assistant Priest newly-ordained Fr. Samuel Pearson. It is anticipated that the day-to-day spiritual, pastoral, social and administrative activities of each parish will proceed without major change.

Fr. Mark and Fr. Kevin will
con-celebrate all three week-end Masses at St. Simon’s, and each Mass will include a brief, symbolic “handover” component. After each Mass there will be a cup of tea at the Parish Centre to farewell Fr. Kevin and warmly welcome Fr. Mark. Everyone entering the Parish Centre must QR in using the yellow code and be double vaccinated.