The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 11th February, 2024, Cycle B
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 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, 11th February, 2024, Cycle B,
FAITH IN FOCUS: MAKING LEPERS:
Forget about the disease, the leprosy. It's no longer the medical problem that it was in the times of Jesus, and it can be reasonably controlled by drugs. So it's not so much what the disease does to people as what people do to those with the leprosy. For lepers are not allowed to take their full place in society.
We're very good at making lepers. We somehow feel the need to have people that are outcasts, and if there aren't too many of them around then we make our own lepers to satisfy the deep-down need to have people who are "worse" than us.
Criminals make very good lepers, particularly those convicted of crimes that are considered repulsive. Our nation needs at least two national criminal lepers before it can feel safe, preferably a man and a woman. So we have learnt to demonise child murderers, for example. If one of our national anti-heroes or heroines dies in prison then we replace them with another and we cry that they should rot in gaol. For we're not like them; but we do need our lepers.
The press is very helpful when it comes to creating lepers and it has found a whole new class of people, immigrants and asylum seekers, who fit the bill perfectly. We do of course admit that there are some genuine people among these, but we have learned to draw comfort from the fact that most of them are at best marginalised when they are allowed onto the edges of our society and are given jobs and a status that we wouldn't care to have. We're not allowed to call them lepers; but in reality we are allowed to treat them like lepers.
So we've no shortage of lepers: people of a different religion that we suspect are trying to change our culture, people we regard as being more likely to support acts of terrorism in our land, people whose sexual practices are different from ours, people whose way of life means that they travel around and live in caravans, people who are homeless, people who are on drugs…The list is endless.
Jesus can cure all the lepers in the world, but if we go on making more, just to satisfy our craving to be better than others, then it will all be quite counter-productive. Not to mention contrary to the gospel.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. For you are my rock, my stronghold! Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: You are my refuge, O Lord; you fill me with the joy of salvation.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind, so that we can see what hope his call holds for us. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON They ate and had their fill, and what they craved the Lord gave them; they were not disappointed in what they craved.
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Sunday–World day of prayer for the sick. Also special day of prayer for the unemployed. Please also pray for Mark, eleventh Bishop of Shrewsbury on the anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood (1984) .
We look forward to welcoming the Y1 and Y3 children from St John’s Infants and St John’s Junior School’s to our Mass on Monday 12th February. Also all St John Junior children to our Ash Wednesday Mass at 9.30am.
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 10.30 & 11.00. All are welcome.
Stations of the Cross will be held each Sunday during Lent and will be led by a different group each Sunday.
RECONCILIATION SERVICE to be held at St Anne’s on Tuesday, 12th March at 7pm.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £454.30p. Caritas Crib collection totalled £180. Many thanks for your continued support in these ever difficult times.
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. Please give at least three week’s notice as we are receiving a large number of requests for particular dates.
Children's Liturgy – takes place during the 9.30am Mass. All are most welcome. From the 1st Sunday of Lent, 18th February the children will be invited onto the sanctuary, with their catechists & parents, from the offertory until the sign of peace.
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. Thank you.
Sunday Morning Teas will be on the first Sunday of each month from now on. Come along for tea/coffee and biscuits whilst enjoying a chat with your fellow parishioners. Thank you to everyone who attended last Sunday.
Please continue to pray for St John’s Junior School Candidates who will be receiving their Sacraments of Forgiveness and Holy Communion soon.
Anointing & Healing Service The next Service will be held on Friday, 1st March. Speaker: Fr Chris Thomas from the Irenaeus Project, Liverpool. Theme: “If you only knew what God is offering....” (John 4:10)”. Leaflets will be on the table at the back of church. See also the poster.
WOMENS' GRACE GROUP:. We are looking for new members and hope to provide an opportunity for friendship and understanding of the Scriptures in our everyday lives. Our next meeting this Tuesday 13th February in the side chapel at St John’s, at 7.00pm. We would love to see you there. Tea and biscuits provided!
Vocations Weekend for Women (20s & 30s) Theme: Discerning God's Call in your life Dates: 16-18 February 2024 Location: Liverpool. The weekend is organised by the Sisters, Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ). For more information contact Sr Lynne FCJ at fcjvocationeurope@gmail.com or visit our website www.fcjsisters.org
The Rock Ferry Secular Carmelite community which has been based at St John's for many years has now moved and will be based at St. Anne’s and warmly welcomes the local parishes to join them to share in the charism of Carmel on the 3rd Saturday of each month (next date17th February). Mass 12.30pm. Carmelite Reflection 2.00pm. Adoration 2.30pm. Evening Prayer 3.00pm (Liturgy of the Hours provided).
Lourdes Overland by Jumbulance (Wirral & Chester Across Groups) taking sick and disabled people to Lourdes. Thursday 30 May to Saturday 9th June and Thursday 15th to 24th August. Contact Tony Murphy 07881 656 974. Please see poster at back of Church.
CAFOD Family Fast Day, Friday, 23rd February: CAFOD envelopes are available on the table at the back of church. (If you are a taxpayer, please complete the Gift Aid section). Envelopes can be returned up to and including Palm Sunday, 24th March. There is also a poster on the back of the main Church door with details. Thank you for your continued support and generosity.
CHURCH CAR PARK : if you use the area at the back of Church to park for Mass, please park as closely together as safety allows so that the maximum numbers of cars can be accommodated while still allowing clear access in & out. Please drive slowly on the access pathway. Thank you for your cooperation.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2024: Brochures and booking forms are now available on the pilgrimage website www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk or by ringing 07773 324264, or if you are aged 16 – 22 please email youth@dioceseofshrewsbury.org for an application form to join the youth section of our pilgrimage. This year our pilgrimage dates are: by air is from Friday 26 July to Thursday 1 August, by coach Thursday 25/07 to Friday 02/08 and for our young people Wednesday 24/07 to Friday 02/08. If you are a first time pilgrim or a returning pilgrim we look forward to you joining us in Lourdes this year.
Lenten Day by Day Booklets containing daily readings throughout Lent are on the table at the back of the church. They are £1 but free to take a copy and, if you are able to, please leave a donation in the Books and Cards Box by the card table/stand".
Lent Talks: Are you thinking of doing something extra during Lent? Why not join us for Being the Beloved, a series of short talks by Henri Nouwen, priest & influential spiritual writer & teacher. Each week we will listen to a short talk, think about what we’ve heard & share ideas in small, informal groups. Parish members David & Dee Stevens will lead the sessions, which will take place at St Anne’s at 6pm on Wednesday 21st February, then Wednesdays 6th , 13th and 20th March. For more details email stevens.dstevens2@gmail.com
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Saturday 10th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Dec’d Members of Conway Family
The Sixth Sunday in Ord Time. Cycle B 11th 9.30am All Deceased Friends/Loved Ones of
the Elliot Family
3.00pm Benediction
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 12th 9.15am Sr Geraldine O’Connor RIP
Tuesday 13th 9.15am Eucharistic Service (Deacon Mike)
Ash Wednesday 14th 9.30am Melda Moore
Thursday 15th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Teodor Hancz Aryk Anniv
Friday 16th 9.15am Decd Members of Wootton Family
Saturday 17th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Private Intention (MM)
First Sunday of Lent 18th 9.30am In Honour of St Luke – for the sick, health workers and carers.
3.00pm Stations of the Cross
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.
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 10th 6.30pm Mary & Tony Duff Remb
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 11th 11.00am Frank Chew Remb
Monday 12th 12 Noon Maureen Lewis RIP
Tuesday 13th 12 Noon Eucharistic Service (Deacon Mike)
Ash Wednesday 14th 11.00am Larry Cray Anniv (With St Anne’s School)
Thursday 15th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 16th 12 Noon Ints Fr Doug Ball
Saturday 17th 6.30pm Jimmy & Eileen Barrett
First Sunday of Lent 18th 11.00am Tim Farnworth 2nd Anniv
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Please note that there is NO Evening Mass in either St John’s or St Anne’s on Ash Wednesday, 14 February but there is Mass at 7pm at St Joseph’s, North Road, Birkenhead
Pope Francis’ Intentions for February: is that the sick, who are in the final stages of life, and their families, receive the necessary medical and human care and accompaniment.
