Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 14th July, 2024. Cycle B
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Mario Ashuikeka
Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 14th July, 2024. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: DIAL-A-DISCIPLE
Have you noticed how as a society we are becoming less “hands-on”? We seem to do things at a distance or get others to do things for us that previously we would have sorted out ourselves. I know someone who has never done her own cleaning, washing and ironing for years because she has a woman who comes in and “does” for her. Recently it has become popular to go on the internet and get the supermarket to deliver the groceries to your front door. You never have to leave home or enter a store again! On a more serious level we have for years handed over the care of our loved ones to “professionals” claiming that we cannot cope with them at home. In today’s gospel Jesus summons the twelve apostles together and sends them out in pairs to teach people all that he himself has been teaching them since they met him. They are to be disciples, people who learn at the feet of their master and then in turn become devotees of his teaching and witnesses to its power in their own lives. The call to be a disciple is one that Jesus continues to make in our day. If we agree to be Christians then we are signing on the dotted line to being disciples who pass on the message of eternal life. But how exactly are we doing this? Do we make a conscious effort to be mouthpieces of the gospel in our neighbourhood, on the streets where we live and in the places where we work? Are we active apostles, bold believers or just closet Christians? If people wanted to have some idea of what it meant to follow Christ would they pick up any clues from the way we live and behave. It would be understandable, but sad, if we fell into the trap of “distance discipleship” and “hands-off” Christianity given the way that today we put a premium on convenience rather than involvement. Yet no one else can do what Jesus asks of us. There is no person who can come in and “do” for us, no website that can absolve us from preaching Christ on the front line, no professional clergy or teachers who can make life easier for us. There’s no such thing as an armchair Christian; being a disciple is a “hands-on” job.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: As for me, in justice I shall behold your face; I shall be filled with the vision of your glory.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life: you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.
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Devotions/Adoration: Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises) from 10:30am-11:30am. Fr Mario will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation between 10.30am & 11.00am. All are welcome.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: amounted to £588.09p. Many thanks for your continued support.
Apostleship of the Sea/ Sea Sunday/Stella Maris; there will be a retiring collection THIS weekend of 13/14th July. If you are a tax payer, please take a Gift Aid envelope from the table at the back of church and return them over the weekend of 20th/21st July. Many thanks for your support.
If you have any queries regarding parish matters or if you wish to arrange a Baptism, Wedding or Funeral please contact Fr Mario on 0151-645 3996. You can also get in touch with Carol Dalziel on 07808975011 or Ann Murray on 07745490279 regarding general parish queries.
SJE’s Parish Safeguarding Officer is Celia Daly, who can be contacted on 0151-645 9256 on all safeguarding matters.
Mass Intentions If you would like to have a Mass said for your own or someone else’s intentions , fill in one of the Mass offering envelopes at the back of Church, place a donation in it & put it through the Presbytery letterbox. Please give at least three weeks’ notice as we are receiving a large number of requests for particular dates.
In Memoriam: Please pray all the faithful departed that they may rest in the peace of Christ.
Children's Liturgy – takes place during the 9.30am Mass. All are most welcome.
Sunday Morning Teas continue on the first Sunday of each month. Come along for tea/coffee & biscuits whilst enjoying a chat. Sunday 4th August is the next date.
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help to support our local Foodbank as much as you can with both food & funds. All items urgently needed are listed on the notice board at the back of church. Thank you.
Other Social activities: We would like some volunteers to join our group to help to arrange various social activities this year. Please ring/text Diane Baylis on 07946916338.
Confirmation 2024 for St John’s & St Anne’s will be held at St Anne’s on Wednesday 27th November at 7.00pm. We would like to invite all young people in Year 7 and above for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Preparation will begin in September. Please speak to Fr Mario and/or contact St John's by email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com if you would like to take part in this special Sacrament.
Anointing and Healing Service: There will be no Service in July. The next Service will be Friday, 2nd August at 7pm. More details to follow.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from 26th July to 1st August. For more information please see the pilgrimage website www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk or phone the Pilgrimage Office on 07970943940.
The Chester Across Group is going to Lourdes by Jumbulance from Thursday 15th to Saturday 24th August. We travel overland in an adapted coach, which has seven beds on board. Therefore, we can take some sick or disabled pilgrims and so far we have a Doctor and two nurses and several helpers. However, we need two more helpers and there is a place for someone who is sick or disabled. The cost is £1,095 but help with costs is available. Current Passport required. Travel Insurance is available for just £65. Search our website for an example of our care. http://www.across.org.uk/?s=AJ. For more information, please contact Tony Murphy on 07881-656-974 or email tonymurphyefc2002@yahoo.co.uk.
St John's Altar Servers: We are looking for some more altar servers for our Masses and special occasions. Any boy or girl who has made their First Holy Communion is eligible to become an altar server. If interested, please have a word with Fr Mario or make contact through the parish email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Parents, grandparents and parishioners please encourage our young people to become involved in this important ministry.
Christ the King Luncheon Club: See poster at the back of church for details.
PARISH OF ST PHILIP NERI SUMMER PARTY: with full afternoon tea, games and stalls. SUNDAY. 21st JULY 2.00-5.00pm. Admission by ticket £7. See poster at the back of church for full details.
Facebook: St John’s now has a new Facebook page which will advertise Mass times and information on various church events.
Pilgrimage to Walsingham in Preparation for the Sanctity of Life, Saturday, 3rd August. Led by Rt Rev. Dr David Oakley Bishop of Northampton. For details contact: www.prolifepilgrimage.org or call 01858 571242 / 07779 122365. See poster at the back of church for details.
National Eucharistic Congress at Oscott on Saturday 14th September. We have been allocated a limited number of tickets to this event and all attendees, including clergy, must arrive by coach. The Diocese has paid for the tickets and asks that parishes with parishioners attending make a donation towards the cost of the coach. It is hoped that the coach will pick up at three or four locations within the diocese (depending on attendees). The full programme for Adoremus can be found on the poster displayed at the back of church.
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Saturday 13th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Luciana Sadri RIP
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 14th 9.30am Eamonn McGreevy RIP
3.00pm Benediction
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 15th 9.15am Ints of Fr Mario & Our Deacons
Tuesday 16th 9.00am Infant School’s End of Year Mass
Ints Mrs Bulmer
Wednesday 17th 9.15am Junior School’s End of Year Mass
Ints of Teachers and Pupils
Thursday 18th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY.
Friday 19th 9.15am Eric Crebbin RIP
Saturday 20th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm St John’s & St Luke’s Parishioners
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 21st 9.30am Jenny Inglis 3rd Anniv.
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Weekend Masses - Please note that the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed immediately before each Mass. Please use this as a time for prayer & quiet devotion. Please enter the church quietly & remain so. Thank you.
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 13th 6.30pm Andrew McNally 1st Annv
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 14th 11.00am Thomas Sarson 5 Year Rem
Monday 15th 12 Noon Mary Tyrrel Birthday
Tuesday 16th 12 Noon Brendan Hancock RIP
Wednesday 17th 12.Noon St Anne’s Year 6 Leavers’ Mass
Thursday 18th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Friday 19th 12 Noon Ints Fr Bernard Forshaw
Saturday 20th 6.30pm Decd members Browne Family
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 21st 11.00am World Peace
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Mrs Bulmer, Head Teacher of St John’s Infant School, will be retiring this year. The Parishes of St John’s and St Luke’s express their gratitude for her dedication in looking after and nurturing our young children as they continue their education. We wish her good luck in her retirement which, we are sure, she well deserves. You will be greatly missed by pupils, staff and parents.
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