The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, 23rd February, 2025. Cycle C
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 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 23rd February 2025, Cycle C
FAITH IN FOCUS: THE BEST CUTLERY
A woman was interviewed after surviving a plane crash. She had spent months in hospital and had not been expected to recover, but she did. The interviewer asked her how it had changed her life, expecting some profound answer. But the woman replied that the main change was that she now used her best cutlery and glasses every day instead of saving them for special occasions. “I could be dead but I’m alive. So I might as well enjoy the best while I’m still around. After all, what am I saving it for?”
In fact, it was a profound answer really. She had changed as a result of her accident and come to realise that here and now was the best time to celebrate, not some future distant date. Why not enjoy every moment instead of locking everything away to gather dust?
So go and eat the fat and drink the sweet wine, say Ezra and Nehemiah in our scriptures today when the people return from their long exile. For God is here in our midst, working wonders and not forgetting about us.
But why do we then have the story of Jesus preaching in the synagogue? Maybe the clue comes in his last sentence: “This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen”. Luke is aiming to let his readers know, at the outset of Jesus’s ministry, that the promises they were hoping for are now being fulfilled. Humanity is about to be offered the chance to be liberated, to see its way clearly and to be released from oppression. Now is the time to rejoice; today is the day of salvation.
Are we the sort of people who keep our religious cutlery and glasses for some future date? Do our eyes let us see God alive and well and working in our lives and the lives of others? Do our ears ring with the sound of God’s power at work in the world? Is our faith a source of joy here and now or simply a hope for the future? Do we realise that, because of Jesus, God’s kingdom is already in our midst and are we able to celebrate the fact? Blink and you’ll miss it. For today is the day of salvation.
————————————————————————————————————
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: O Lord, I trust in your merciful love. My heart will rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: The Lord is compassion and love.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: I will recount all your wonders, I will rejoice in you and be glad, and sing psalms to your name, O Most High.
————————————————————————————————————-
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 11.00am- 11.30am.
All morning services will take place in St Anne’s house at St John’s Monday and Friday Masses will be held in the Day Chapel, Tuesday and Wednesday Masses will remain in the main Church.
Starting Wednesday 12th March at 9.15am we will be having our lovely novena to Our Lady with a Lenten theme of reflections. There will also be Stations of the Cross on Sundays unless advised otherwise. There will be a poster in the sacristy for those who would like to put their names down to lead.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: this week’s total was-£696.00p. Many thanks for your continued support.
Lourdes Appeal: Tony Murphy will be visiting St John's this weekend 22nd/23rd February to appeal on behalf of Across Jumbulance to Lourdes.
Further to the recent Boiler appeal, a separate bank account has now been set up specifically to ‘ring fence’ contributions to the new boiler fund. Please make cheques payable to St John’s New Ferry and write 29001/NFJ/DU on the reverse. Cash donations should be placed in an envelope with 29001/BNFJ/DU written on the outside.
Thank you for the further generous donations received towards the Boiler Fund.
Bookings for the reception & Celebration of Sacraments: Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation & Wedding, Please enquire & arrange for these through the parish emails / Secretaries of St. Anne’s & St. John’s. Also contact the Parish Priest/ Administrator through 0151-645-3314 You can also get in touch with Carol Dalziel on 7808975011 or Ann Murray on 07745490279 regarding general parish queries.
SJE’s Parish Safeguarding Officer is Celia Daly, who can be contacted on 0151-645 9256 on all safeguarding matters.
Mass Intentions If you would like to have a Mass said for your own or someone else’s intentions, fill in one of the Mass offering envelopes at the back of Church, place a donation in it & put it through the Presbytery letterbox. We are receiving numerous Mass intentions for the same dates. Every effort is taken, but it is impossible to fulfil every request as dates have already been filled and, therefore, we will deal with them on a first come first serve basis. If a particular date is requested please give at least THREE weeks notice. If the date has been filled, we will put your intention in as near as possible to the original date. Thank you for your patience and co-operation.
In Memoriam: Please continue to pray for all our parishioners who have recently died and their grieving families. May they and all the faithful departed, rest in the peace of Christ.
Children's Liturgy – takes place during the 9.30am Mass. All are most welcome.
Sunday Morning Teas continue on the first Sunday of each month. Come along for tea/coffee & biscuits whilst enjoying a chat. The next date is SUNDAY 2nd MARCH 2025.
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help to support our local Foodbank as much as you can with both food & funds. All items urgently needed are listed on the notice board at the back of church.
The Registration for First Holy Communion Preparation Classes has now started. Kindly contact the parish office for the registration form. These forms are for children who do not attend a catholic school.
Discover Catholic Social Teaching – An Online Course for Parishes 📅 Every Tuesday in March and Tuesday, 1 April 2025
🕒 Convenient and flexible timing for all
What’s in Store? Learn the key principles of Catholic Social Teaching in an accessible and engaging way. Hear real-life stories from CSAN members working on the frontlines of poverty and exclusion, bringing theory to life. Be inspired to put your faith into action within your parish and community. Just £95 for all five sessions!
This includes a copy of Raymond Friel’s "Catholic Social Teaching: An Introduction for Schools, Parishes, and Charities." Ready to Take the Next Step?For any questions, feel free to reach out to Bernadette at bernadette.durcan@csan.org.uk. Let’s deepen our understanding of Catholic Social Teaching and work together to transform our communities with the love and justice of Christ!
Lenten lunches- Soup will be served after 12 o’clock Mass at St Anne’s church every Friday during Lent.
If you are available to help please contact Paddy on 07862 11712
From Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality: There will be a meeting of Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality at St Columba's Church (Newman Room ),Plas Newton Lane Chester CH2 1SA on Saturday 1st March at 2.00pm. Please forward any apologies, or items to be discussed under AOB, to secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk
CAFOD Family Fast Day 16th March: Please take a CAFOD envelope, available on the table at the back of church. (If you are a taxpayer, please complete the Gift Aid section). Envelopes can be returned by SUNDAY, 16th MARCH. Thank you for your continued support and generosity to CAFOD.
Day by Day Booklets for Lent are now on sale, price £1. They are on the table at the back of the church. Please leave in the Lourdes Appeal and also the Day by Day booklets.
Recruitment process for the Deputy Director of Schools is now underway, further details of which can be found via the link: Deputy Director of Schools Advert If you would like further information or candidate pack and application form please contact Liam Dowds, our Emmaus Advising Consultant, on 01737 652 043 or email him at ldowds@emmausleadership.me
Parishes of Saints Anne, John & Luke Pilgrimage to St Josephs (Eucharistic Shrine), Stockport Thursday 5th June Day trip to include transport: • 9:30am coach leaves St Anne's church • 9:35am coach leaves St John's church • 11am-12pm- Holy hour • 11:00am- 11:45 am - Confessions • 11:20am- Rosary • 12:00pm- Mass • Talk by Fr Sean after Mass • 1pm- Lunch (bring own packed lunch) • 2pm- Depart with Blessing from Fr Sean with the relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis. • Arrive back on the Wirral approx. 3:30pm Price £15 per person . Please bring your own packed lunch. THERE IS A SIGN UP SHEET ON THE TABLE AT THE BACK OF CHURCH IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US ON THE DAY.
HAPPY SAINT DAVID’S DAY!!
————————————————————————————————————-
Saturday 22nd 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Angela McIvor RIP
The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 23rd 9.30am Lily & Harold Thwaite RIP
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 24th 9.15am Luciana Sadri Remembrance
Tuesday 25th 9.15am Patrick & Bernard Smith RIP
Wednesday 26th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
In Honour of St Anne- Pray for Families
Thursday 27th NO MASS
Friday 28th 9.15am Roy Turner RIP
Saturday St David’s Day 1st 10.00am Cenacle Mass
1 0.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ted Corrigan RIP
The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2nd 9.30am Teodor Hanczaryk 12th Anniv RIP
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 & quiet devotion. Please enter the church quietly & remain so. Thank you.
—————————————————————————————————————
ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 22nd 6.30pm Bishop Mark Davis Anniversary of his ordination to the Episcopate
The Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 23rd 11.00am Chris Brett RIP
Monday 24th 11.00am Funeral Mass – John McChrystal
Marie Codd- Healing
Tuesday 25th 12 noon For all Parishioners & Youth
Joseph Locke RIP
Wednesday 26th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Thursday 27th NO MASS
Friday 28th 12 noon For Families
Saturday 1st 6.30pm Sr. Annie Marie – Wellbeing
Joseph Varghese 3rd RIP Anniv
The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2nd 11.00am Eileen O’Rourke RIP
————————————————————————————————————
Pope Francis’s Prayer Intentions for February 2025
For vocations to the priesthood and religious life
Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ's mission in the priesthood and religious life.
—————————————————————————————————————
+55 Group will meet Tuesday, 4th March at St Anne’s Club at 12.30pm. Speaker:
Helen Cosnett - Port Sunlight Bees
—————————————————————————————————————
