The Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, 18th June, 2023, Cycle A
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 Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 18th June, 2023, Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: A MIXED BUNCH
Nobody in their right mind would have chosen the men that Jesus did to be his apostles. They were such a mixed bunch, a ragbag of seemingly unsuitable characters for such an important task.
Peter, their leader, was not the most stable of people. He was a fiery character, cutting off the soldier's ear without thinking, wanting to build three booths on the top of the Transfiguration mountain and promising he would never deny Jesus. Yet Jesus was able to take this rough diamond and turn it into a gem.
Not surprisingly, his brother, Andrew, was a background man, leaving things to his brother. Yet he was something of a fixer. He was the one who brought new people to meet Jesus and the one who sniffed out the loaves and fishes at the feeding of the 5,000.
James and John, also brothers, had a great sense of rivalry that they probably got from their mother. She wanted them to have the best jobs in Jesus' "kingdom". We can get an idea what their parents were like since people nicknamed them "sons of thunder".
Matthew was not exactly popular. As a tax collector he worked for the occupying army and took a cut of whatever he collected. He was thereby excommunicated from his religion and probably something of an outcast among his fellow Jews.
The best you can say about Philip is that he was ordinary. And he was a bit of a slow learner. He was the one who listened to the inspiring words of Jesus about being "The Way" and then said that he didn't know the way there. He also said that they didn't have enough money to buy food for the 5,000!
Then there was Nathaniel who was prejudiced against people from Nazareth. Yet Jesus recognised him as a good man and without guile.
None of us needs to be told that Thomas was a sceptic and something of a pessimist. We know the story of how he refused to believe. Yet Jesus still used him.
Look around the congregation today. You can see all of these and many more. Yet Jesus has chosen them too. And don't forget: they're all looking at you!
———————————————————————————————————————————
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: O Lord, hear my voice, for I have called to you: be my help. Do not abandon or forsake me , O God my Saviour!
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: We are his people: the sheep of his flock.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, Alleluia! The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord, I know them and they follow me. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: There is one thing I ask of the Lord, only this do I seek: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
———————————————————————————————————————————
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 £518.97p. 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.
St Anslem’s College- will be holding an open evening this Wednesday 21st June from 5pm – 8pm for boys currently in Y4&5.
MASS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAYS : For the next few weeks, the Thursday night Mass will alternate each week between St Anne’s and St John’s.
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.
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 Church 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.
The next meeting of the Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality will be on the 27th June 2023 at 7.30pm via zoom. Please register your attendance, request the link, and send items for the agenda to secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk or text/call 07451 249267.
Our next ‘Come & see’ day is on Saturday 8th July when we welcome Sr Gemma Simmonds. Gemma Simmonds is a sister of the Congregation of Jesus. An honorary fellow of Durham University and past president of the Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain, she has studied at the universities of Paris, London, Rio de Janeiro and Cambridge, where she undertook a doctorate in theology.
To find out more about “Called to be an inclusive church”and Gemma Simmonds attend 10am-4pm, please bring a packed lunch. Donation £10 book at – jenny@irenaeus.co.uk or tel-0151-949 1199.
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.
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 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/
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.
FATHER'S DAY (June 18th) - Sonora Dodd, of Washington USA, first had the idea of a "Father's Day". She thought of it while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909.
Sonora wanted a special day to honour her father, William Smart. Smart, who was an American Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. He was left to raise the new born baby and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington State.
After Sonora became an adult she realised the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on June 19th 1910.
President Calvin Coolidge, in 1924, supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Then in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson officially declared the third Sunday of June as Father's Day. In the meantime it had spread throughout much of the world to become the annual celebration that it is today.
———————————————————————————————————————————
Saturday 17th 10.00am The Carmelite Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Thanksgiving for safe arrival of second granddaughter Sophie
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 18th 9.30am In honour of St Luke the Physician
11.00am Brian Jones RIP (St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 19th 9.15am Ints Sheila Plaistowe
Tuesday 20th 9.15am Chris McLoughlin
Wednesday 21st 9.15am Graham Sabino RIP
Thursday 22nd 7.00pm June Carr Ss John Fisher & Thomas More Godwin Raymon Bday Blessing (St Anne’s)
MASS AT ST JOHNS ONLY
Friday 23rd 9.15am Moira Roberts RIP
Saturday The Nativity of John the Baptist
24th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Brian Jones RIP
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time 25th 9.30am Ann Gemmell
11.00am Jane Byrne LD (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.
———————————————————————————————————————————— ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 17th 6.30pm Les Duff Anniv
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 18th 11.15am Daniel Brett Bday Remb
Monday 19th 12 Noon The Sick, health workers and carers
Tuesday 20th 12 Noon Carmel McDonough Successful operation
Wednesday 21st 12 Noon Emily Devenport RIP
Thursday 22nd 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHNS ONLY
Friday 23rd 12 Noon For our priests
Saturday 24th 6.30pm Tony Duff Ann.
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time 25th 11.15am For Families
———————————————————————————————————————————-
Sunday is a special day of prayer for life. Thursday is a special day of prayer for those who suffer persecution, oppression and denial of human rights.
———————————————————————————————————————————
