The Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 30th July, 2023
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 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 30th July, 2023, Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: WEALTH VERSUS RICHES
You've probably seen the TV commercial. A meal with friends £80; a seat at the theatre £30; some gifts for your family £50; receiving a mobile phone photo of your baby "Priceless". For everything else there's your credit card!
In Palestine people used to bury their valuables in the ground because there were no banks in which to keep them safe. It was especially useful when enemy tribes ransacked your village. And this is probably how the man in today's parables found the treasure hidden in the field.
What do we consider to be of real value in life? What would we give up everything else for? What have we found that really matters to us? Jesus uses three parables to tell us that if we really knew the happiness of living in the kingdom of God here and now then we would do all in our power to make sure that we were not left out.
A lot of people confuse being rich with being wealthy. Money makes people wealthy, but not rich. Wealthy is financial, but rich is relational, emotional, spiritual. A wealthy person buys and sells, but a rich person gives and takes. Being wealthy is having the things that money can buy, but being rich is having the things that money cannot buy. The wealthy think a person is broke without money, but although the rich are poor if they have no money, they are never broke. Wealthy people are defined by what they have, but rich people are defined by who they are. Wealth is what you have in the bank but riches are what you have in the heart. The wealthy are prosperous, but the rich are fulfilled.
The riches of the kingdom of heaven demand sacrifice. Sometimes we are made to look fools by a world that puts store on material and social success. But Jesus dismisses this kind of wealth as corruptible. It eventually fails to satisfy. So Christians learn to value the riches of the kingdom of heaven here on earth. They come to cherish the gifts that surround them, to share their blessings and to experience the joy of life in God's presence. Are you rich? Or are you just wealthy?
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: God is in his holy place, God who unites those who dwell in his house; he himself gives might and strength to his people.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: Lord, how I love your law.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! I call you friends, says the Lord, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all his benefits.
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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.
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 the repose of the soul of Margaret Allison who died last week. Funeral arrangements to follow. Please keep Margaret and her family in your prayers.
On Saturday, 5th August at 10.00am, and then on the first Saturday of each month, a Cenacle Mass will be celebrated in Church prior to the usual Saturday Morning Devotions. All are welcome (A Cenacle is a small faith-sharing group and is as old as the Church itself. The idea contained in the word Cenacle is derived from the meeting of our Lord’s followers in the upper room where He celebrated the Last Supper. The Latin word for supper is “cenna”. It was in this room that Jesus instituted the Eucharist and washed the apostles’ feet. It was also there that apostles received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost).
Benediction in the traditional form will be held in Church on Sunday, 13th August at 3.00pm and thereafter on the second Sunday of each month at 3.00pm. Everybody is most welcome.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £496.72p.
Sea Sunday Collection £330.39p (St John’s only) of which £20 gift aided. Thank you for your continued generosity.
Day for Life retiring collection will take place NEXT WEEKEND 5th/6th August.
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.
There is also the Foodbank Newsletter on the notice board at the back of the church. Please take time to look through it.
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.
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
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.
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. After celebrating the 37th Anniversary of his ordination on Wednesday, 19th July, Fr Bernard will say his final Mass at Christ the King on Sunday, 27th August, before moving to St Clare’s, Chester.
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.
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Saturday 29th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ints Anthony Brockway
Seventeenth Sunday 30th 9.30am Ints Dot Humphrey in Ordinary Time 11.00am Gerard Elliott RIP (St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 31st 9.15am June Carr RIP
Tuesday 1st 9.15am Mary Moore Special Intention
7.00pm Novena
Wednesday 2nd 9.15am Dave Kenny 1st Annv. RIP
Thursday 3rd 7.00pm Graham Sabino
MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 4th 9.15am The Homeless
Saturday 5th 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Mary Whitty RIP
The Transfiguration 6th 9.30am Sydney Percy 50th Annv. RIP of the Lord 11.00am Holy Souls (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 29th 6.30pm Dec’d members of Alder Family
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 30th 11.15am Special Intention
Monday 31st 12 Noon Sr. Margaret McEllen RIP
Tuesday 1st 12 Noon Theresa Duggan B.day Rem.
Wednesday 2nd 12 Noon Mass of Thanksgiving
Thursday 3rd 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 4th 10.00am Funeral Mass-Andrew McNally RIP
12 Noon Dan Welton RIP
Saturday 5th 6.30pm Rev Fr. John Harris
The Transfiguration 6th 11.15am Blanche Edwards Annv. RIP of the Lord
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WORD OF GOD: I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none will have after you. (I Kings 3: 12)
Novena to Our Lady of the Perpetual Succour will be held here at St John's on Tuesday at 7pm.
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