The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 13th August, 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 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 13th August, 2023. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: THE TICKING WATCH
Before the days of fridges, people used icehouses to preserve their food. Icehouses had thick walls, no windows, and a tight-fitting door. In winter, when streams and lakes were frozen, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled to the icehouses, and covered with sawdust. Often the ice would last well into the summer. Once a man lost a valuable watch while working in an icehouse. He searched for it, carefully raking through the sawdust, but couldn't find it. His fellow workers also looked but their efforts, too, proved futile. A small boy who heard about the fruitless search slipped into the icehouse at noon and soon emerged with the watch. Amazed, the men asked him how he found it. "I closed the door," the boy replied, "then I lay down in the sawdust and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking." Often the question is not whether God is speaking, but whether we are being still enough and quiet enough to hear.
God speaks in ways and in words we least expect. Elijah would have expected God to speak in a powerful wind as at Pentecost. He would expect God to speak in an earthquake as he did for Moses and the Israelites, to speak in a fire like he did on top of Mt Carmel and in the Burning Bush. But Elijah didn't expect God to speak with a gentle whisper. We are so accustomed to the spectacular but the presence and voice of God is more often experienced in a gentle whisper (the still, small voice) and we will not hear it unless we find a quiet place for ourselves. We need time to really listen and hear, to find silence even in the hustle and bustle of daily life. It's easy to think of quiet and solitude as things that only monks and nuns can enjoy. Yet if our Christian lives are to be nourished by God then we have to make space, somehow, for God to speak to us in the gentle whispers. How we do this will vary for each of us. But it's important that we do slow down, do make time for God and do allow ourselves not the luxury but the necessity of quiet time with God. If we don't do this then we may well hear the winds, the earthquakes and the fires of this world, but we'll miss the gentle breeze. And we'll never hear the watch ticking.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Look to your covenant, O Lord, and forget not the life of your poor ones for ever. Arise, O God, and defend your cause, and forget not the cries of those who seek you.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Blessings on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens! Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: O Jerusalem glorify the Lord, who gives you your fill of finest wheat.
—————————————————————————————————————————— MASS TIMES FOR THE Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
Vigil Mass: Monday 14th August: 6.00pm at St Anne’s
7.30pm at St John’s
Mass during the day 15th August: 9.30am at St John’s
12 Noon at St Anne’s
There will be NO 9.15am morning Mass at St John’s on the 14th August just the Vigil Mass at 7.30pm.
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.
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 11.00. All are welcome.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £669.73p. Day for Life amounted to £157.15p (St John’s only). Thank you for your continued generosity.
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.
Children's Liturgy – is during the 9.30am Mass, all are most welcome.
In Memoriam - Please pray for all those who have died recently, especially Margaret Dancey whose Funeral Mass is here at St John’s on Tuesday, 29th August followed by Cremation at Landican at 11am. May Margaret and all the faithful departed rest in the peace of Christ.
Pope’s Monthly intention for August: For World Youth Day. We pray the World Youth Day in Lisbon will help young people to live and witness the Gospel in their own lives. A FULL list of the Pope’s intentions for 2023 is on the notice board at the back of church.
MASS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAYS: For the next few weeks, the Thursday night Mass will alternate between St Anne’s and St John’s.
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.
Confirmation 2023 for St John’s and St Anne’s will be held at St John’s on Wednesday, 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? We are asking for volunteers to form a Team of Catechists to take the candidates through the Confirmation Programme. If you are interested in becoming part of the Team, please contact Mike Daly ASAP on 07542463319.
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.
HEALTH AND SAFETY: It is a requirement for all parish groups, using the presbytery and day chapel for meetings, FOR EACH 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. Thank you.
A Card for Fr Bernard: At the back of church there is a card for those who would like to wish Fr Bernard all the best as he takes up a new parish. Fr Bernard will say his final Mass at Christ the King on Sunday, 27th August, before moving to St Clare’s, Chester.
Fr Bernard has sent a Mass card thanking St John’s parishioners for their prayers and he will celebrate a Mass for our intentions.
Welfare Officer: The Diocese is looking to appoint a Welfare Officer. The role is for 3 days per week. Salary: £38 - £42K FTE pro rata depending on experience. For further details of the role and application form, please see the Diocesan website https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/ Completed application should be sent to Pauline McCulloch recuitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date 25 August 2023.
St Philip Neri Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes, December 2023: the details which were shared with you a few weeks ago have undergone some major changes. The revised itinerary is on the notice board at the back of Church.
Love the Stranger and the Illegal Migration Act In response to the passing of the Illegal Migration Bill in Parliament in July Bishop Paul McAleenan, the lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees, has stated ‘This legislation stands at odds with the teaching of the church on welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating refugees’. The Love the Stranger publication from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales provides a Catholic response to migrants and refugees and can be found attached and at https://tinyurl.com/CSAN2023 as is the accompanying Call to Action document from the national Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN). Caritas Shrewsbury as a CSAN member is supporting diocesan study and action in response to Love the Stranger and the Call to Action. Please get in touch with them if you can help speak up about this issue - Telephone: 0151 652 1281; Mobile: 07824 329 344; Email: ben.gilchrist@caritasshrewsbury.org.uk CSAN’s update on this topic including links to the documents can be found at https://tinyurl.com/CSAN2023
CURRENCY UPDATE FOR YOUR INFORMATION: Isle of Man currency is NOT legal tender over here on the mainland and the Bank will not accept it if it is included in our collection.
“Birkenhead Priory, the site of a 12th century Benedictine monastery, is open to the public and at weekends, various music and performance groups can be seen. In addition tours, exhibitions and a climb to the top of the tower, with views across Merseyside all make for a very worthwhile visit. Performances usually take place in the cafe in the Monks' Refectory, but ST JOSEPH'S BIRKENHEAD CHOIR have been given special permission to sing in the Chapter House, the very small, but beautiful chapel on SUNDAY 20th AUGUST 2.00-2.45. It's expected that visitors may sit and listen to one or two pieces, or stand at the doors of the chapel before moving on to other parts of the Priory. We're proud to be singing at a site which has such religious significance and feel strongly that we should support the preservation of our local history. Parishioners may like to add this date to their diaries”
SERVICE OF ANOINTING AND HEALING with Fr Emeka and Fr Mario will be held here at St John’s on Friday, 1st September at 7pm. All most welcome. “Draw near to God and hr will draw near to you”.
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Saturday 12th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Shelagh Delaney 10th Annv. RIP
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 13th 9.30am Mary Ebbrell RIP
11.00am Holy Souls (St Luke’s)
3.00pm Benediction
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday Vigil Mass 14th 7.30pm Fr Michael Raiswell Annv.RIP
Tuesday The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 15th 9.30am St John’s & St Luke’s Parishioners
Wednesday 16th 9.15am Monica Faulkner 80th Birthday
Thursday 17th 7.00pm Graham Sabino RIP
MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 18th 9.15am In Honour of St Luke
Saturday 19th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Paul Green B.day Annv. RIP
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 20th 9.30am Fr Frank Rice Annv. RIP
11.00am Michael Barry Annv. 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.
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 12th 6.30pm Deceased members of O’Neill Family
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 13th 11.15pm Joanne & David Cartmell 25th Wedding Anniversary
Monday Vigil Mass 14th 6.00pm Collette Kerins Sp. Int.
Tuesday The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 15th 12 Noon Betty McNally RIP
Wednesday 16th 12 Noon Nneamaka Maryann Uzor
Thursday 17th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 18th 12 Noon The sick, health workers & carers
Saturday 19th 6.30pm Andrew Shackleton
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 20th 11.15am Irene & Phil Robinson Remem.
————————————————————————————————————————————WORD FOR TODAY: Sometimes God is to be found where we least expect. Not in the hustle and bustle, not in the flurry of activity, not in strength and power, but in silence, gentleness and apparent weakness
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