Phone: (03) 9764 4058

Address: 2 Taylors Lane, Rowville 3178

Email: office@stsimonsparish.com.au

Office Hours: Tue to Fri 10.00am - 3.00pm

Website: www.stsimonsparish.com.au

YouTube Channel: tinyurl.com/s36hstf

May 24, 2020 – The Ascension of Our Lord

Online sales will permanently surge in the wake of the corona virus lockdowns - a shift which could result in 20 percent of all specialty retail outlets closing for good, a new report forecasts.

The sharp acceleration in online shopping will also shift the balance of power between landlord and retail tenants.

New data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed retail spending fell by a record 17.9 percent in April as households went into hibernation mode.

UBS analyst Ben Gilbert said a surge in online shopping experienced during the coronavirus lockdown was not a one-off, and would accelerate store closures

Mr. Gilbert has lifted his forecasts for online sales penetration, excluding food. He expects it to account for 17 percent of all sales by 2021, up from 10.5 per cent today.

One in five specialty outlets were at risk of closing by the middle of 2024, Mr. Gilbert said.

“Herald Sun”, Thurs. May 21

Just when we started becoming used to using the word “unprecedented” in every second sentence, another phrase has begun to dominate our conversations: “the new normal”.

Now nearly three months into lockdowns, isolations, and restrictions, we wonder just what life will be like when whatever that “new normal” actually becomes “normal”.

Will most of our shopping be done online? Is social distancing here to stay? Will we continue to wash our hands constantly and sanitise surfaces others or we have been using? How common will it be to work from home? Will “Zoom” and “Google Meets” replace many “face to face” meetings?

And surely, as a Church, as a parish, we need to give much thought - and prayer – as to how best we can (or will be able to) present the message of Jesus in this “new normal”? How do we provide the grace and comfort of the Sacraments, help provide leadership in faith, give positive and helpful moral direction of peace and justice? How can these and so many other components of the Church’s mission still be effective in what will certainly be a world far different from what we assumed was “normal” just a few months ago?

The “trend” in online shopping is very pertinent to any realistic vision of the Church and its mission. The Church has a “product” - the Gospel. It has a customer base - everyone. It has innumerable “specialty outlets” (including St. Simon’s!), but many, too many of those are experiencing a fast-diminishing customer base - and that was true before the world-changing COVID-19 crisis.

As a Church, as a parish, we have two options. We can simply wait and hope that the “old normal” will soon return. We can presume that any post-COVID adjustments will be minor, and the “new normal” won’t have any serious negative impact. Or we can take on board the lesson that is currently being clearly spelt out in business, transport, education, work practices, and in social customs of all kinds. That means that, if we want to bring our “product” to anyone other than those who already have a deep commitment to the Catholic Faith and practice, then we might be well advised to think ahead, to adjust before it’s too late, to recognise the very different world that is not years or months away - it’s already here!

Yes there will be / is already a “new normal” for our Church and it’s practical operation. Do, we resist it and slide into irrelevance? Or do we embrace it and find a new vitality, the like of which, just a few months ago, we may have never thought possible?

Fr. Kevin Dillon

Parish Notices

LIMITED Resumption of Masses in Church

The Step 1 relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions means that St Simon’s can now offer Masses in church again for up to 10 people. A Mass will be held every day at 10:15am from Monday to Sunday, starting on Monday, 18 May. This will be in addition to the Masses available for viewing via the St Simon’s YouTube channel (accessible via the parish website). Church attendance must be strictly controlled to meet state Government and Archdiocese of Melbourne regulations, so people wanting to attend MUST pre-register.

Please register (1) the full names of all intended attendees, (2) your telephone number, (3) your email address and (4) your preferred Mass day(s), by emailing to: massrequest@stsimonsparish.com.au. If you don’t have access to email, you can phone 0491 176 149 - but email is preferred if possible.

In reply, you will receive a confirmation number in reply which you will need to have with you upon arrival at church. Please note that only those who have received a confirmation number will be allowed entry into the church. More details/explanation can be found at www.stsimonsparish.com.au under the links near the top right of the home page titled “Link to Video Explaining How to Ask to Attend Mass”.

Nest ZOOM & Soul Thursday, June 4 at 7.30pm

To join us, please email Loretta (Pastoral Associate) loretta@stsimonsparish.com.au or call the Parish Office and we will forward you the login details.

BIBLE STUDY via ZOOM on MATTHEW’S GOSEPL

This program will run fortnightly over 6 sessions from 7.30pm to 8.30pm starting June 16.

SESSION DATES: June 16, 30, July 14, 28, August 11 & 25

To Register or Express interest for MORNING sessions, please email Loretta at loretta@stsimonsparish.com.au

or call the Parish Office on 9764 4058.

Cinema or Movie Clubs

Any parishioner who would like to be involved with a Movie or Cinema Club (this is possible, even within our “Lockdown” situation) is invited to contact Fr. Kevin (0421 777 360 or frkd@stsimonsparish.com.au). We will need six or more peopleto form a “club” where a book can be read or a movie viewed, with “members” coming together online for a discussion and social catch-up.

Volunteer NEEDED

As you may have seen, the Parish is providing pre-recorded services online through our YouTube channel. This is proving an important way for parishioners to experience a form of Mass. Now that we have finished the Easter services, we will be trying to do this for weekday services from Monday to Friday and for the Sunday services. We are seeking volunteers who can help with the video editing of the pre-recordings for the weekday Masses to help our Business Manager, Peter Evans, who has been doing all the editing. (Peter will continue to do the Sunday Masses, as this also has to be prepared for rebroadcast on The Light FM radio station.) As Peter is using a Mac running FinalCut Pro, his preference is for someone who has this platform at home and has skills with it. If you think you can help, please contact Peter on 9764 4058 or peter@stsimonsparish.com.au

Thanks!

Combined Catholic Parishes Raffle - New Dates

Parishioners & school families of St Simon’s; are requested to return their Raffle Tickets (sold or unsold) to the Parish Office between the hours of 10.00am and 3.00pm, Mon-Fri, latest by Friday, 7 August 2020.

Tickets will be drawn on 26 September 2020. Thank you all for your support and co-operation.

The Winter Edition of The SWAG Magazine

(Quarterly Magazine of the National Council of Priests of Australia) can be viewed for free online on http://www.theswag.org.au/

Parents' Association News