The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday 29th January,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.comWebsites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com www.lpa24.org
The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 29th January, 2023. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: MEEK NOT WEAK
One of the prayers that children are taught to say begins with the words “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild…” Maybe it’s partly because we present Jesus to children as the baby in the manger, as the good boy who always did what Mary and Joseph told him, that children can end up with an immature image of him.
Meek doesn’t mean weak, gentle doesn’t mean ineffectual and lowly doesn’t mean cringing. At the heart of these Beatitudes lies the concept of humility. And humility is a very powerful weapon in anyone’s armoury. Humility allows us to acknowledge the poverty of our own resources and yet at the same time to recognise that with God’s grace nothing is impossible.
When we take a look at the Beatitudes in Matthew’s gospel for today we are immediately struck by the fact that everything that Jesus is advocating is exactly what our modern-day world considers weakness. Poverty, lowliness, persecution, mourning etc., are things to be avoided like the plague. Nobody wants these. Yet Jesus says that Christians will be truly happy if they embrace these values. This is because if Christians are truly humble, if they realise that without God they are really powerless, then they can achieve whatever is needed. Humility is not a call to stand in the background but a challenge to step up and do what it takes.
Sometimes it’s hard to be a Christian because people equate Christianity with “being nice”. They fail to see the radical calling of the Beatitudes that sets Christians at odds with what society prizes highly. And so in a world that preaches locking people up and throwing away the key Christians preach forgiveness and mercy. Faced with globalisation and profit Christians preach justice and equity. As nations spend more and more of their annual budget on arms and invasions Christians call for peacemaking.
The Beatitudes point to values that go beyond this world for they promise an eternal happiness. To accept them requires a good deal of meekness. And to be meek you have to be strong.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Save us , O Lord our God! And gather us from the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, and make it our glory to praise you.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you , Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Let your face shine on your servant. Save me in your merciful love. O Lord, let me never be put to shame, for I call on you.
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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.
Devotions/Adoration: From now on, unless advised otherwise, Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy and Divine Praises) from 10:30am to 11:30am each Saturday morning. Fr Mario will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Saturday Morning Devotions at 10.30-11.00am. All most welcome.
If you have any queries or ideas, please 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.
Mike Daly’s Homilies are now available on the Parish Website. Log in details to the Website 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. Remember Mass intentions can be for anything you choose. Thank you.
Please continue to keep all of our sick parishioners in your thoughts and prayers.
Children's Liturgy – has resumed during the 9.30am Mass, all are most welcome.
Tea and Coffee : SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Canon John Marmion RIP : Our most senior priest, Canon John Marmion, died peacefully recently – may he rest in peace. Please remember him in your prayers. Funeral arrangements will be advised when known.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £572.10p. Thank you for your generosity.
Thank you to everyone who contributes to the collection by regular Standing Order; £857.00 was received by this means in December 2022.
Thank you very much to everyone who contributed so generously to the recent collections for the Ark. The total amount received was £310.
PARTNERING NIGERIA. With a big thank you to all those who donated, a total of £846.32 was collected and a letter was read out at Mass last weekend from Fr John, Parish Priest of St Michaels Mbeke - Isheke, Nigeria. See the letter on the noticeboard at the back of church for further details.
Mother’s Prayers - Please see the poster about this group of mothers from our parish who meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 7pm, to pray for their children and grandchildren and offer each other support. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 21st February. All are most welcome to attend,
If you know of any St John's parishioners, who would welcome a home visit by members of the S.V.P, please email St John's with details and we will pass on the information, which is treated confidentially, to Steve Bell, President of St John's SVP. Please ask the person or persons involved if they would like a visit before passing on their details. stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com
Wirral Foodbank Christmas Appeal: Please help support your Foodbank with food and funds this New Year. 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 and thank you for your continued generosity.
RETIRED PRIESTS’ FUND - SPECIAL COLLECTION
As last weekend, the annual Collection for the Retired Priests’ Fund is being held. With your help, we can build up the Fund to help meet the future needs of our sick and retired priests.
If you wish to Gift Aid your donation, please make your donation Online. To donate Online please
go to www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/retired-priests-fund
An electronic version of a leaflet about the Fund is available at
www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/retired-priests-fund and this also explains how you can donate to the Fund by Standing Order or Cheque (please make payable to Retired Priests’ Fund) and how to Gift Aid donations made using these methods.
Come and See Day: Saturday 4th February- 10am-4.00pm. Called to be a Merciful Church- Speaker David Wells. At Irenaeus Centre, 32 Great Georges Road L22 1RD. (Bring a packed lunch – donation £10) Book in by email at – jenny’irenaeus.co.uk
Altar-Servers - Could you please encourage any child who has made their First Holy Communion to consider becoming an Altar-Server. If you could give their names to Mike Daly, he will arrange for their training and support. We were renowned for our team of 'servers' and it would be great to create such a team again.
Parish Bulletin Notice: “The church relies on people getting involved. Our church, our world needs you. Could your New Year’s resolution be getting more involved in the life of our church? Could you give a bit of time to help those parts flourish?
CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, are looking for people to give some time and join them in their mission. Could you help in our parish, bringing people together to help build a better world or help by visiting local schools? Or raise a voice and campaign for justice or perhaps speak for CAFOD throughout the diocese? Could you support local volunteers or share your office skills to help CAFOD keep costs low? Training and support is provided. See cafod.org.uk/Volunteer for more information or get in touch with shrewsbury@cafod.org.uk or 07920 232936”
STUCK IN THE THROAT: Many people remember February 3rd, Saint Blaise's feast, because of the Blessing of the Throats that took place on this day. Two candles were blessed, held slightly open, and pressed against the throat as the blessing was said. Saint Blaise's protection of those with throat troubles apparently comes from a legend that a boy was brought to him who had a fishbone stuck in his throat. The boy was about to die when Saint Blaise healed him. The traditional blessing used for this day is: Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Saturday 28th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ints of Jean Murray
Fourth Sunday of the Year 29th 9.30am Brendan Galvin RIP
11.00am Ints Quinn Family
7.00pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 30th 9.15am For the Lonely and Isolated
Tuesday 31st 9.15am For World Peace
Wednesday 1st 9.15am For All Children
Thursday The Presentation of the Lord
2nd 7.00pm Natalie McNally & Unborn Baby RIP
Friday 3rd 9.15am For the Homeless
Saturday 4th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Canon John Marmion RIP
Fifth Sunday of the Year 5th 9.30am Ints Christine Gallagher
1 1.00am Vincent Schoenstein RIP
7.00pm Prayer Meeting
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WORDS FOR WORSHIP: Happy are the merciful for mercy shall be shown them. Happy are the gentle and humble of heart for they shall inherit the earth. Happy are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you….
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CHRISTMAS ENDS – OFFICIAL(February 2nd)
For most of us, Christmas is now a distant memory, apart from maybe having to pay off the credit card bills! But for the Church it’s February 2nd, the Presentation of the Lord, that officially closes the season 40 days after the feast itself.
The Presentation of the Lord is also known as Candlemas. In the liturgy of the day Christians recognise Jesus as the light that came into the world to enlighten all the nations and guide them on their way to God. It’s the epilogue to Christmas and as we carry our candles the liturgy invites us to seek that light and be that light for our world today.
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