The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2nd March 2025. Cycle C
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
The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2nd March 2025. Cycle C
Extract from Seasons of the Word by Fr Denis McBride C.Ss.R. The scene was market day in the city of Athens. Everyone was busy trying to find that elusive commodity called a bargain, and they were not averse to using their tongues and elbows to aid them in the task. In one corner of the market, however, there was a strange quiet: someone whom most people admired and respected walked among the crowd. He was a famous man, who had condescended to patronize the marketplace. People moved aside to let him have his walkabout. He was not a film or television star – the time still was BC – neither was he a member of the royal household. He was an orator renowned for his eloquence and patronage of lost causes. There was something very odd about his appearance. In spite of being a rich man, he wore tattered clothes; he dressed in rags with the diligence and care other people dress in formal clothes. He was clearly pleased at the theatrical impression he was making on the onlookers, until a voice in the crowd hailed him, “Antisthenes, Antisthenes, I can see your pride through the hole in your cloak”. For once, the great orator had nothing to say. If hypocrisy tries to make a profession of deceit, humility is a matter of honouring the truth about ourselves and other people. Humility is a candid acceptance of reality, an unfussy recognition of what is true. In today’s Gospel Jesus names as hypocrites those who notice faults in others but who are blind to their own shortcomings, thereby passing themselves off as something they are clearly not. In his teaching Jesus touches on an important subject in all personal relationships: how self-criticism is an essential part of genuine relations with other people. We know from experience that people can greet criticism with reactions that vary from eyebrow raising to nuclear war. How do you tell the truth to people without stealing their dignity or leaving them in the casualty department. What kind of heart is behind the way we criticize others. In the language of the Gospel, criticism must come from the store of goodness in our heart. If that goodness is absent, we would be better keeping silent. Sharing a bad heart converts no one. Sharing the goodness in our heart, however, is no guarantee that others will greet our criticism with applause. But then Jesus was rarely applauded when he exercised his critical mind. Like him, we have to soldier on – even when the ratings go down. After all, as the Gospel also says: “the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: The Lord became my protector. He brought me out to a place of freedom; he saved me because he delighted in me.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: It is good to give you thanks, O Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful to me, sing psalms to the Lord Most High
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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 11.00am- 11.30am.
All morning services will take place in St Anne’s house; at St John’s Monday and Friday Masses will be held in the Day Chapel, Tuesday and Wednesday Masses will remain in the main Church.
Starting Wednesday 12th March at 9.15am we will be having our lovely novena to Our Lady with a Lenten theme of reflections. There will also be Stations of the Cross on Sundays unless advised otherwise. There will be a poster in the sacristy for those who would like to put their names down to lead.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: this week’s total was-£609.33p. Many thanks for your continued support.
Further to the recent Boiler appeal, a separate bank account has now been set up specifically to ‘ring fence’ contributions to the new boiler fund. Please make cheques payable to St John’s New Ferry and write 29001/NFJ/DU on the reverse. Cash donations should be placed in an envelope with 29001/BNFJ/DU written on the outside.
Thank you for the further generous donations received towards the Boiler Fund.
Bookings for the reception & Celebration of Sacraments: Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation & Wedding, Please enquire & arrange for these through the parish emails / Secretaries of St. Anne’s & St. John’s. Also contact the Parish Priest/Administrator through 0151-645-3314 You can get in touch with 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. We are receiving numerous Mass intentions for the same dates. Every effort is taken, but it is impossible to fulfil every request as dates have already been filled and, therefore, we will deal with them on a first come first serve basis. If a particular date is requested please give at least THREE week’s notice. If the date has been filled, we will put your intention in as near as possible to the original date. Thank you for your patience and co-operation.
In Memoriam: Please pray for the repose of the soul of Norah Elliott who died recently. Norah’s Funeral Mass will take place here at St John’s on Wednesday, 12th March at 9.30am and then Landican Crematorium at 11am. Please also pray for Roy Turner who died recently. Roy’s Funeral Mass will be held at St Anne’s on Friday, 21st March at 12 Noon and then Landican Crematorium at 1.30pm. Please keep Norah and Roy’s families in your prayers at this time. Please continue to pray for all our parishioners who have recently died and their grieving families. May they and all the faithful departed, 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. The next date is THIS SUNDAY 2nd MARCH 2025.
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.
First Holy Communion Preparation Classes The children of the parish have now enrolled on their programme of preparation for First Forgiveness and Holy Communion. Please keep them in your prayers as they grow in their faith journey.
Lenten lunches- Soup will be served after 12 o’clock Mass at St Anne’s church every Friday during Lent. If you are available to help please contact Paddy on 07862 11712.
Opening the Word: A 6-week Introductory Course to the Bible for those Who Wish to Know More, and those Unsure Where to Begin... Every Tuesday starting 4th March 7:00pm at the Holy Family Convent Highfield Rd. Rock Ferry.
CAFOD Family Fast Day 16th March: Please take a CAFOD envelope, available on the table at the back of church. (If you are a taxpayer, please complete the Gift Aid section). Please return your envelopes by SUNDAY, 16th March. Thank you for your continued support and generosity to CAFOD.
Day by Day Booklets for Lent are now on sale, price £1. They are on the table at the back of the church. Please leave in the Lourdes Appeal and also the Day by Day booklets.
Recruitment process for the Deputy Director of Schools is now underway, further details of which can be found via the link: Deputy Director of Schools Advert If you would like further information or candidate pack and application form please contact Liam Dowds, our Emmaus Advising Consultant, on 01737 652 043 or email him at ldowds@emmausleadership.me
Parishes of Saints Anne, John & Luke Pilgrimage to St Josephs (Eucharistic Shrine), Stockport Thursday 5th June Price £15 per person. Please bring your own packed lunch. THERE IS A SIGN UP SHEET ON THE TABLE AT THE BACK OF CHURCH IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US ON THE DAY. See Poster at the back of church for the timetable.
FATIMA & MEDJUGORIE 2025: if you are interested in joining Fr Mario on pilgrimage to Fatima on 10th June for 5 days (£650) or to Medjugorie on 16th September for 8 days (£749), please contact Maria Fryer on 07576243343. Flying from Manchester, airport transfer, tour guide, bed, breakfast and evening meal included.
St Philip Neri Parish (St Joseph's and St Micheal and All Angels) are holding a Concert -"A Night at the Musicals" performed by the Warrington Male Voice Choir. Tickets price £8.00 are available from the Parish Office at St Joseph's 652 5767 or via contacting Deacon Gerard Boyle 07742659728.
Bookings for 2025 Jubilee Pilgrimage to Lourdes are now open. The brochure and booking forms are available to download from the Pilgrimage website www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk .
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Saturday St David’s Day 1st 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ted Corrigan RIP
The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2nd 9.30am Teodor Hanczaryk 12th Anniv RIP
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 3rd 9.15am Anna Owen RIP
Tuesday 4th 9.15am Christine McLoughlin RIP
7.00pm Novena
Ash Wednesday
5th 9.30am St John’s Junior School will join us
Christopher & Kristina White
Thursday 6th NO MASS
Friday 7th 9.15am World Peace
Saturday 8th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Eileen Spencer RIP
The First Sunday of Lent 9th 9.30am Lucy Lawton
3.00pm Benediction
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 1st 6.30pm Sr. Annie Marie – Wellbeing
The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2nd 11.00am Joseph Varghese 3rd RIP Anniv
Eileen O’Rourke RIP
Pray for the Unemployed
Monday 3rd 12 noon UCM
Tuesday 4th 12 noon Bert Suffield RIP
Ash Wednesday 5th 11.00am Maureen Watkin RIP
Thursday 6th NO MASS
Friday 7th 12 noon Karina
Bert Suffield RIP
Women’s World Day of Prayer
Saturday 8th 6.30pm Anne Entwistle
The First Sunday of Lent 9th 11.00am Martin Gorman Birthday Remb.
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+55 Group will meet Tuesday, 4th March at St Anne’s Club at 12.30pm. Speaker: Helen Cosnett – Port Sunlight Bees. All Welcome
Women’s World Day of Prayer: Friday, 7th March at 2.00pm. It will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Spital. Theme: The Cook Islands. All most welcome
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