The Feast of the Holy Family, 31st December, 2023, 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
The Feast of the Holy Family 31st December, 2023. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: WE ARE FAMILY
From the corner of the farmhouse kitchen the mouse looked on as the farmer’s wife opened a small box. To his horror the mouse saw that it was a mouse-trap! So he went straight outside to the cow and asked her to help him with the trap. “It doesn’t really affect me” said the cow. So the mouse went to the chicken to ask for her help. But she said she wasn’t worried by it either. Even the pig was unmoved by the mouse’s pleas.
In the middle of the night the trap snapped shut and the farmer’s wife came downstairs to see what had happened. The mouse wasn’t in it. Instead a poisonous snake had been caught by the tail and it lashed out, biting her on the leg. The doctor came and said it would take a long time for her to be well again. She needed building up with lots of chicken soup. So the farmer killed the chicken to make the soup. When the friends and neighbours came round to sit with his wife they needed feeding so he butchered the pig and had ham sandwiches on hand for anyone who felt peckish. But unfortunately his wife got worse and after a few weeks she died. So the cow had to be slaughtered to provide food for the reception after the funeral. The whole household was brought down simply because it failed to concern itself with the smallest of its members: the mouse.
The Holy Family was destined to concern itself with the faults and failings of many. In fact, its ultimate destiny was to take on the sins of the world as Jesus hung on the cross of Calvary. Other people’s problems are not their own business; they’re ours too. We belong to so many different levels of families: our nuclear family at home; our extended family with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins etc; the family that is our local area; our nation; the worldwide family of humanity and the family of believers that is the Church.
The feast of the Holy Family shows us that we all belong to each other because we all belong to God. And any problem that one of our family members might have is ours too. Even if it’s only the mouse!
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: The shepherds went in haste, and found Mary and Joseph and the infant lying in a manger.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: O blessed are those who fear the Lord and work in his ways!
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts; let the message of Christ find a home with you. Alleluia.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Our God has appeared on the earth and lived among us.
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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 10.30 & 11.00. All are welcome.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £752.15p. Christmas Collection amounted to £973.56p. Thank you for your continued generosity in these difficult times.
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.
Mass Intention Requests; Please give at least three week’s notice for your Mass intention as we are receiving a large number of requests for particular dates.
Children's Liturgy – takes place during the 9.30am Mass. All are most welcome.
In Memoriam: Please keep all those parishioners and friends who have died, in your prayers and may they and all the faithful departed rest in the peace of Christ.
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help support your Foodbank with food & funds. All items urgently needed are listed on the notice board at the back of church. Please continue to support this as much as you can in these difficult times.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: TO Fr Mario who celebrates his birthday on New Year’s Day. Every good wish to you and hope you have a great day. From all at St John’s & St Luke’s
Your donations at the Crib during the Christmas Season are for Caritas Shrewsbury who offer care and support to refugees and needy families and individuals on the Wirral and throughout the Diocese.
Caritas Shrewsbury Impact Report 2022-2023: Impact Report which can be seen on website https://www.caritasshrewsbury.org.uk/about/impact-reports/
Anointing & Healing Service will be held at St John’s on Friday, 5th January at 7pm. The Theme: Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God!'(John: 11: 41)
Sunday Morning Teas will be restarting as soon as possible. We are looking for volunteers from St John’s and St Luke’s to form a rota system. If you are interested, please contact Noelene Evans on 645 6055. UP TO DATE, WE HAVE HAD NO VOLUNTEERS!
St Anne’s Over 55’s Club will restart on Tuesday, 9th January at 12.30pm in Lourdes Hall.
Fr Mario's Appeal - How to help: The easiest way to contribute to parish funds is via the collection plate - cash or cheques (made payable to St John's New Ferry) are equally acceptable .If you are a tax payer and have an existing Gift Aid declaration and envelopes, please use these so that tax can be claimed back. Bank transfers: Lloyds Bank, sort code 30-15-52, account no. 54641168, in the name of St John's New Ferry. Please use your name as a reference so that Gift Aid can be claimed if possible. Or contact Carol on 07808 975011.
Lourdes Hospitality Update Further to the recent AGM, the officers have been meeting monthly to discuss the issues raised and future plans. A face-to-face meeting for all members will be held on Saturday 20th January 2024 (venue and time to be confirmed). In the meantime, if you have any questions for us, please send an email to secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk Clare Marchmont, Secretary, Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality.
A vacancy has arisen for a Parish Secretary at the parish of Holy Cross, Our Lady & St Paul, Birkenhead. Hours: 12 per week, to be spread over Tuesday to Friday mornings (flexible). hourly rate: £11 to £13 depending on experience. For further details please see the Diocesan Website https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/ Applications in the form of a CV and covering letter should be sent to Pauline McCulloch recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date: 15 January 2024.
MASS TIMES FOR NEW YEAR AT ST JOHN’S AND ST ANNE’S
New Years Day Monday
1st January: Mass at St John’s 10.00am
Holy Hour at St Anne’s 11am
Followed by Mass at 12 Noon
2nd January: MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY 9.15am
3rd January: MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY 12 Noon
4th January: MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY 7.00pm
5th January: MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY 12 Noon
THERE IS A FULL LIST OF CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR SERVICES ON THE BOARD NEXT TO THE BAPTISMAL FONT AT THE BACK OF CHURCH
NEW YEAR’S BLESSING God be with you at the turning of the year, that you may know the Lord is ever near.
In days of struggle may his Spirit be your strength,
and as the times and seasons run their length,
may Jesus Christ your rock and fortress be,
renewed in faith, in hope and charity.
So praise our God whose great and mighty hand
supports all humankind in every land.
The opening year his faithfulness he shows;
his mercy be among us till its close. Amen.
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Saturday 30th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ints Maria Fryer
The Feast of the Holy Family 31st 9.30am Margaret Brannock RIP
6-7pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 1st 10.00am Decd Rels/Fnds Bell & Nugent Fams
Tuesday 2nd 9.15am MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Decd Mmbrs of the Reavey Family
7.00pm Novena
Wednesday 3rd 12 Noon MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Thursday 4th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Graham Sabino RIP
Friday 5th 12 Noon MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Saturday 6th 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ted & Shaun Corrigan RIP
The Feast of the Epiphany 7th 9.30am Alf Shipman Annv. RIP
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 30th 6.30pm Norah & Wilf White Rem
The Feast of the Holy Family 31st 11.00am Eddie McGlone Annv.
Monday 1st 12 Noon Fr Mario B’day Thanksgiving
Tuesday 2nd 9.15am NO MASS TODAY
St John’s only
Wednesday 3rd 12 Noon MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Anne McGrory RIP
Thursday 4th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 5th 12 Noon MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Ints. Pat & Brendan Kilcullen
Saturday 6th 6.30pm Tony McCluskey RIP
The Feast of the Epiphany 7th 11.00am Dec’d Members Price Family
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