The Most Holy Trinity, 4th 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 Most Holy Trinity Sunday 4th June, 2023, Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: TIP OF THE ICEBERG
A rather precocious child was introduced to a famous professor. He asked the man what he did and the professor told him that he was doing research into physics. "Physics?" replied the amazed child. "We did that last year!"
When we come to talk about God, the Trinity, we can sometimes be like that child. We can convince ourselves that we know what God is like. And yet everything we say about him only scrapes the surface. Note how we say "him". God is not masculine yet we have to use simple ways of describing "him" if we are to talk about God. And we end up with the only thing we can be certain of: our own experience. So when the Church talks about God it speaks of persons. It says that there are three of them (since that's what the bible tells us) but these three persons make up only one God. They are a family or unity. To the Father we ascribe the role of creator. It was he who made everything that exists and who still has a care for what he has made. It is to the Father that we pray through Jesus and in the Spirit. It is the Father who knows each of us by name. If he were to stop thinking about us we would cease to exist.
It's easier for us to talk about the Son since he walked this earth of ours and spoke words which we cherish as coming from God. His role is to communicate to us what the Father is like, for he is the image of the unseen God. We know too that he showed us a way of living that can bring us fulfilment and happiness. He loved us so much that he died on a cross and rose from the dead so that we might share in his triumph.
We say that the Spirit was sent by the Father and Son. The Spirit is the presence of God in our daily lives. All who are baptised possess the gift of the Spirit who inspires us, comforts us, supports and heals us. We recognise the work of the Spirit in the lives of so many holy people and in the love that is offered to us by others. The Spirit keeps us alive as Christians.
But look again at the words we have been using about the Trinity. They're the same ones we use to describe the circumstances of daily life: family, support, communication, love, care, healing. That's because these are the only words we know how to use. If we made a list of everything we know about God we would only be seeing the tip of the iceberg, for God is infinite and our minds are limited. The Trinity is a mystery; it doesn't mean that we can't know anything about it, but it does mean that, like the young boy, we can end up thinking we're a lot brighter than we really are!
———————————————————————————————————————————-
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Blest be God the Father, and the Only Begotten Son of God, and also the Holy Spirit, for he has shown us his merciful love.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: To you glory and praise for evermore.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, Alleluia! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, the God who is, who was, and who is to come. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Since you are children of God, God has sent into your hearts the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit who cries out; Abba, Father.
————————————————————————————————————————————
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.
Children's Liturgy – is during the 9.30am Mass, all are most welcome.
In Memoriam- Please continue to pray for the soul of Annrita (Ann) Gemmell who died recently. Please also pray for June Carr whose Funeral Mass will be here at St John’s on Thursday at 11.30am followed by cremation at Landican at 12.30pm. Also for Graham Sabino who died recently, and whose Funeral Mass will be at St John’s on Friday, 9th June at 1pm Also for Cathy Manley (formerly Cathy Parry) once of this parish who has died in New Zealand. Please keep Cecily and her family in your prayers and the families of Cathy, Annrita, Graham and June and all the faithful departed. May they rest in the peace of Christ.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £495.19p. 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 08/06: 7pm Mass at St John’s only
Thursday 15/06: 7pm Mass at both churches
Thursday 22/06: 7pm Mass at St Anne’s only
Thursday 29/06: 7pm Mass at both churches
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 take place at St John’s THIS weekend 3/4th June.
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/
Caritas Shrewsbury as part of CSAN want to encourage all Catholics to reflect upon Love the Stranger and have been part of compiling an accompanying call-to-action as a toolkit to inform and assist the community as we aim to fulfil our obligation to love the stranger in the way that God intends. You can download the call to action at www.csan.org.uk/love-the-stranger-call-to-action/ and we are keen to support the use of call to action use in parishes. Please email ben.gilchrist@caritasshrewsbury.org.uk with your ideas and for more information.
Thank you to everyone who supported the parish social on 9th May to celebrate the Kings coronation. This was the first of many joint social events for the 3 parishes. The afternoon was a resounding success and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it! We are pleased to announce that we raised £598 at this event. We are going to donate this to a charity called Laughter Africa who are an organisation working with street children in Sierra Leone.
Cream Tea- St Anne’s are having Cream Tea on Tuesday 6th June from 12.30pm. Numbers will be taken after Masses on Saturday and Sunday if you wish to attend.
Novena to Our Lady of the Perpetual Succour will be held here at St John's on Tuesday at 7pm in the main church. All most welcome.
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 2023.
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.
———————————————————————————————————————————
Saturday 3rd 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Rev Gerry Heaney
The Most Holy Trinity 4th 9.30am Mary Whitty RIP
11.00am Catherine Moscrop RIP (St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 5th 9.15am Ints Donald & his family
Tuesday 6th 9.15am Miss Philly McLean
7.00pm Novena
Wednesday 7th 9.15am June Carr RIP
Thursday 8th 11.30pm Funeral Mass– June Carr
7.00pm Mary Ebbrell RIP
Margaret Corcoran (St Anne’s)
MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY.
Friday 9th 1.00pm Funeral Mass – Graham Sabino
Saturday 10th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Sr Carmel Callaghan RIP
The Body and Blood 11th 9.30am Graham Sabino RIP of Christ 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.
—————————————————————————————————————————
ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 3rd 6.30pm Sr. Teresa Quinn RIP
The Most Holy Trinity 4th 11.15am Mary Peters RIP
Monday 5th 12 Noon Funeral Mass – Mary Petris
Tuesday 6th 12 Noon Sheila Belmar Anniv
Wednesday 7th 12 Noon Graham Sabino RIP
Thursday 8th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY.
Friday 9th 12 Noon Mary Whitty RIP
Saturday 10th 6.30pm The Martin Family Sp. Int
The Body and Blood 11th 11.15am Ann Rees Anniv of Christ
———————————————————————————————————————————
You are ever active, yet always at rest. You gather all things to yourself, though you suffer no need. You grieve for wrong, but suffer no pain. You can be angry and yet serene. Your works are varied, but your purpose is one and the same. You welcome those who come to you, even though you never lost them. You are never in need yet are glad to gain, never covetous yet you exact a return for your gifts. You release us from our debts, but you lose nothing thereby. You are my God, my Life, my holy Delight, but is this enough to say of you? Can anybody say enough when they speak of you? Yet woe betide those who are silent about you. (St Augustine)
———————————————————————————————————————————-
