The Body & Blood of Christ, 11th June, 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
The Body and Blood of Christ Sunday 11th June, 2023, Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: EUCHARIST: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
PAST: 2,000 years ago on a Thursday evening Jesus ate what was probably a Passover meal with his disciples in the Upper Room. This meal was a memorial of how God had freed the Jewish people by liberating them from slavery and providing them with a promised land. During his meal Jesus told the disciples that from now on they were to eat this meal not in remembrance of Moses and the Exodus but in memory of him. For the bread that they would eat was his body that the next day would be nailed to the cross, and the wine that they would drink was his blood that on the same Friday would be shed on Calvary.
PRESENT: Today we Christians have a living memorial of that saving action of Christ. It is the Eucharist. Over the centuries Christians have never ceased to follow that command of Jesus at the Last Supper. They have gathered together, listened to God’s word in the scriptures and then, when they have taken, blessed and broken the bread, they have shared communion by eating and drinking what Christ tells us is his body and blood. In this sacrament of the Eucharist Jesus is really present to those who receive him. His flesh is real food and his blood is real drink because both of them nourish, they sustain us and keep us spiritually healthy. As we eat and drink from the one bread and cup the Eucharist becomes a sign of the unity that we share and at the same time it also makes us one in Christ.
FUTURE: The Eucharist is food for our journey, medicine for our health and strength for our future. Not simply about the past and present it directs us towards two futures. The first future means that the Eucharist is a sign of our commitment to building up the kingdom of God here on earth. So receiving the Eucharist is not just an act of devotion; it commits us to action. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit we pledge ourselves to playing our full part in the Church’s work of bringing about a world in which justice, peace and holiness reign. And the second future is in the afterlife. The Eucharist is a pledge of the heavenly banquet that God has promised to those who listen to the voice of his Son. What we experience in the food of the Eucharist is a foretaste of an eternal feast with God.
The feast of the Body and Blood of Christ allows us to thank God for this wonderful gift.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: He fed them with the finest wheat and satisfied them with honey from the rock.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, Alleluia! I am the living bread which has come down from heaven, says the Lord. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever. 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 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. Especially this week as we honour St Luke the physician and pray for the sick, health workers and carers.
Children's Liturgy – is during the 9.30am Mass, all are most welcome.
In Memoriam- Please keep all the recently deceased members of our parish and their families in your prayers. May they rest in the peace of Christ.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £534.82p. 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.
MASS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAYS IN MAY & JUNE: Below are the changes to the Thursday evening Mass schedule for May and June.
Thursday 15/06: 7pm Mass at St Anne’s only
Thursday 22/06: 7pm Mass at St John’s only
Thursday 29/06: 7pm Mass at St Anne’s only
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.
World Communications Day. This collection will be taken at Masses this weekend also. Thank you.
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. ‘Love the Stranger’ places the human being at the heart of our pastoral outreach, looking beyond statistics and policies to the person – each with a name, a face and a story. The document offers 24 guiding principles and has been endorsed by the Holy See, COMECE, CAFOD, CSAN and Caritas Social Action Network members. You can download Love the Stranger at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/love-the-stranger/
A DAY ON DISCERNMENT OF GIFTS & SERVICE FOR LAY PEOPLE : A day of prayer, fellowship, teaching & workshops to discover how best you can use your gifts at the service of God & neighbour. St Columba’s Chuch Hall, Chester, CH2 1SA on Saturday 24 June from 10am to 4:15pm. All welcome, bring a packed lunch ! Further details from Stephen Yates at stephen.yates@diocesofshrewsbury.org or 07517 906438
OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE CELEBRATION ; Procession in honour of Our Lady, Rosary, Testimonies & Holy Hour to celebrate the 42nd Anniversary of Our Lady Queen of Peace. Uniting in Prayer with Medjugorie, please do join us at 2pm on Sunday 25 June at St John’s Church
Welfare Nurse: Due to the upcoming retirement of our current RGN/Welfare Officer, the Diocese is looking to appoint a replacement. The role is for 3 days per week. Salary: £38 - £42K FTE pro rata depending on experience. For further details of the role please see the Diocesan website https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/ Completed application should be sent to Pauline McCulloch recuitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date 30 June
Gentle reminder for people to park thoughtfully behind church and not all park at the front thus denying access to the rear of the car park. A little thought goes a long way.
Corpus Christi Prayer
Jesus, Body and Blood, we are grateful for the gift of your life and the way it strengthen us to live ours. Teach us to draw on the gift of your Body and Blood for energy, renewal, strength and grace. May we never take the gift of your presence for granted. Amen.
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Saturday 10th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Sr Carmel Callaghan RIP
The Body and Blood of Christ 11th 9.30am Graham Sabino RIP
11.00am Mary Ebbrell LD (St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 12th 9.15am Kathleen Saul
Tuesday 13th 9.15am Graham Sabino RIP
Wednesday 14th 9.15am Special Intention – Eileen Spencer
Thursday 15th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNES ONLY
Friday 16th 9.15am For all refugees
Saturday 17th 10.00am Carmelite Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Thanksgiving for safe arrival of second granddaughter Sophie
Eleventh Sunday 18th 9.30am In honour of St Luke the Physician in Ordinary Time
11.00am Brain Jones RIP (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. Please enter the church quietly and remain so. Thank you.
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 10th 6.30pm The Martin Family Sp. Int
The Body and Blood of Christ 11th 11.15am Ann Rees Anniv
Monday 12th 12 Noon UCM Intentions
Tuesday 13th 12 Noon Harry Lund RIP
Wednesday 14th 12 Noon Mary Smith RIP
Thursday 15th 7.00pm Kathleen McNally Ann+Bday Remb
Friday 16th 12 Noon Love Pervova RIP
Saturday 17th 6.30pm Les Duff Anniv
Eleventh Sunday 18th 11.15am Daniel Brett Bday Remb in Ordinary Time
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Friday we celebrate the most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Saturday the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Rosary will be said at St Anne’s at 2pm.
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WORD OF GOD
The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ, and the bread that we break is a communion with the body of Christ. (I Corinthians 10:16)
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