Seventh Sunday of Easter, 21st May, 2023, Cycle A
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Mario Ashuikeka and Fr Emmanuel Chukwujekwu
Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
Seventh Sunday of Easter, 21st May, 2023, Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS:GETTING TO HEAVEN WITHOUT DYING
The day before he died Jesus prayed a long prayer to his Father, known as the priestly prayer. We hear it in today's gospel. He had finished all that God had asked him to do and he was now entrusting his disciples to God's care, asking that they may be kept in God's love.
In this prayer he tells us a remarkable thing: we can already possess eternal life this side of the grave. We don't have to wait until we die. The happiness and joy that we associate with heaven can be ours here and now. Only two things are necessary. We have to know God and know Jesus Christ whom God sent.
If we live our lives in a close relationship with God in Jesus then we experience eternal life. We use the word eternal not simply to get across the idea that it never stops, but also to convey something about its deep quality. For eternal life is like normal life, but lived at a deeper intensity.
Eternal life means living fully the present moment for there is no time in eternity. It means being open to the many ways in which God enriches our lives through interaction with other people here and now. Now is the time of salvation. Now is the moment of our meeting with God, not simply at the final judgement. When people say, "in my day we used to…" it's one of the saddest phrases you can ever hear. For today is everyone's day. Today is when God is offering eternal life.
Living eternal life means allowing yourself to be moved by the myriad ways in which God grants you a glimpse into his glory, letting yourself be moved by signs of love and responding to them with your own acts of care and concern. For when we die the only account of our lives will be the measure of how much love we allowed ourselves to receive and how much we gave back in return.
And if you want to be sure of this eternal life lasting into heaven, then give away all those things that store up treasure in heaven, like comfort, forgiveness, joy, compassion, faith, hope…and of course love. Then you can be sure that you already have eternal life.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: O Lord, hear my voice, for I have called to you; of you my heart has spoken; Seek his face; hide not your face from me, alleluia!
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, Alleluia! I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord; I will come back to you, and your hearts will be full of joy. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Father, I pray that they may be one as we also are one, alleluia.
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Devotions/Adoration: Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy and Divine Praises) from 10:30am-11:30am. Fr Mario will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation between 10.30 and 11.00am. All most welcome.
If you have any queries or ideas, continue to contact Deacon Mike Daly on 07542463319 or Carol Dalziel on 07808975011 on any Parish matters, or if you wish to arrange a Baptism, Wedding or Funeral. Also use the box at the back of church for your suggestions.
Mike Daly’s Homilies are available on the Parish Website. Log in details are www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
Mass Intentions If you would like to have a Mass said for your own or someone else’s intentions please fill in one of the Mass offering envelopes at the back of Church, place a donation in it & put it through the presbytery letterbox. Thank you.
Please continue to keep all of our sick parishioners in your thoughts and prayers.
Children's Liturgy – is during the 9.30am Mass, all are most welcome.
In Memoriam- Please continue to pray for the soul of William Else and Mary Ebbrell who died recently. Please also pray for Annrita (Ann) Gemmell . whose Funeral Mass will be held here this Friday at 9.30am followed by cremation at Landican at 11.00am. Please keep all their families in your prayers. May William, Mary and Ann and all the faithful departed, rest in the peace of Christ.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £395.47p.
Thank you for your generosity in these difficult times.
Special collection for the Holy Family Sisters of the Needy last weekend raised £468. Thank you !
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help support your Foodbank with food and funds. All donations need to be non-perishable, please refer to the list on the notice board of items urgently needed. Please continue to support this as much as you can in these difficult times.
Altar-Servers - Please encourage any child who has made their First Holy Communion to consider becoming an Altar-Server. Please give names to Mike Daly, who will arrange for their training and support.
First Communion Some of our young children from St John’s Junior School have made their First Holy Communion earlier today here at St John’s. Please keep all the children and their families in your prayers as they take this next step on their journey of faith. We pray that this very special day will be their first of many.
MASS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAYS IN MAY & JUNE:
Below are the changes to the Thursday evening Mass schedule for May and June.
Thursday 25/05: 7pm Mass at St Anne’s only
Thursday 01/06: 7pm Mass at both churches
Thursday 08/06: 7pm Mass at St John’s only
Thursday 15/06: 7pm Mass at both churches
Thursday 22/06: 7pm Mass at St Anne’s only
Thursday 29/06: 7pm Mass at both churches
PARISH MASS BOOKS: are now available at the back of church for those who would like to follow the Mass. Please return them to the table at the back of church after Mass.
HEALTH AND SAFETY: It is a requirement for all parish groups, using the presbytery and day chapel for meetings, to sign in upon entry to the presbytery and sign out when leaving. The book is located on the hall stand next to the office door. Thankyou.
Confirmation 2023 for St John’s and St Anne’s will be held at St John’s on Wednesday the 22nd November at 7.00pm. Will all candidates in Years 9 and above (or their parents) please contact Mike Daly as soon as possible to record their interest.
Divine Mercy Pilgrimage to Krakow, Poland 11th to 15th September & led by Fr Mario. Guided tour to Divine Mercy Chapel, John Paul II Centre, Marian shrine Czestochowa, Wawel Cathedral & Bishop’s Palace. Flying from Manchester. 5 days and includes bed, breakfast & evening meal. £585 per person sharing or £685 for single room. If interested please see Fr Mario or telephone Maria on 07576243343
Message from Barbara Davies about a podcast on Lumen Gentium- The relevant podcast and handout are now available on the diocesan website at dioceseofshrewsbury.org in the section on 'News and Events'. A leaflet outlining the content of all of the podcasts is available in the parish. If you have difficulty accessing this material or have questions and reflections, please don’t hesitate to contact Barbara via E: barbara.davies@dioceseofshrewsbury.org or T: 07730 526821.
THE KNIGHTS OF ST COLUMBA are inviting practicing Catholic men to join the Order. Meetings usually take place on a monthly basis. For any further information please contact Tony Paton 07849 610397
World Communications Day: The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has designated Sunday 21st May as World Communications Day. A letter from Bishop John Arnold, the Lead Bishop for Communications, which includes pastoral resources for parishes, is on the notice board at the back of church together with the Holy Father’s message for the day. World Communications Sunday is one of the mandated Second Collections in parishes for the work of the Conference Secretariat. This collection will take place at St John’s on the weekend of 3/4th June.
Stella Maris - Sea Sunday 9th July: Supporters are crucial tour work. Have you considered helping us by volunteering in your Parish for Sea Sunday? It is also a day once a year when we ask for donations from church organisations to ensure that we can continue our work. If you, or a friend or family member would like to find out more about how you can help on Sea Sunday, Contact roland.hayes@stellamarismail.org or call me on 07887893763. With every blessing, Roland Hayes.
Love the Stranger: In light of the challenges we face in the UK, advocating for the dignity of refugees and migrants amidst a hostile environment, the Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) which Caritas Shrewsbury is a member of, welcomes the teaching document Love the Stranger from the Department of International Affairs at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW). The document speaks into this contested space and reinforces Catholic social teaching, offering guidance on a Catholic response to refugees and migrants. (More information to follow next week).
Fan the flames: Special Pentecost Service of Anointing: Sunday 28th May @ 3 pm here at St John’s. Spirit of the Living God fall 'afresh' on us
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Saturday 20th 10.00am & 12.00am First Communion Masses took place for our children from St John’s Junior school.
5.00pm Joe Moore RIP
Seventh Sunday 21st 9.30am For Our First Communion Children of Easter, Cycle A 11.00am For the Holy Souls (St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 22nd 9.15am Dedication of the Cathedral
Tuesday 23rd 9.15am Moira Roberts RIP
Wednesday 24th 9.15am Margaret Daley RIP
Thursday 25th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Friday 26th 9.30am Funeral Mass- Annrita Gemmell
Saturday 27th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm In honour of St John
Pentecost Sunday 28th 9.30am Stephen Nolan RIP
11.00am Golden Wedding Anniversary of the parents of Helen Mosley (St Luke’s)
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 and quiet devotion.
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 20th 6.30pm Thomas Sarson (Bday Remb)
Seventh Sunday of Easter 21st 11.15am Maurice Maher Anniv
Monday 22nd 12 Noon Mary Whitty RIP
Tuesday 23rd 12 Noon Emily Devenport RIP
Wednesday 24th 12 Noon For Families
Thursday 25th 7.00pm Julia Bentham RIP
Friday 26th 12 Noon Joseph O’Brien Bday Rem
Saturday 27th 6.30pm All parishioners of our 3 parishes and young people
Pentecost Sunday 28th 11.15am Love Pervova RIP
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Sunday Special Day of Prayer for World Communications
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OUR LADY HELP OF CHRISTIANS (May 24th)
Mary, powerful Virgin, you are the mighty and glorious protector of the Church. You are the marvellous help of Christians. You are awe-inspiring as an army in battle array. In the midst of our anguish, struggle, and distress, defend us from the power of the enemy, and at the hour of hour death, receive our soul in heaven.
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