The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 12th February, 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.comWebsites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time12th February, 2023. Cycle A
Extract from “Seasons of the Word” Fr Denis McBride C.Ss.R Matthew himself is a Jewish convert living in Syria and writing his Gospel in the 80s for a mixed community of Jewish and Gentile converts. He has to hold both these groups together in the community – both the convert Jews who respect the tradition of the Law of Moses, and the convert Gentiles who have their own traditions. Matthew was probably a scribe himself – a man of learning whose study was the written and oral law. Matthew is a scribe who became a disciple; he shows us his respect for the old Law and his enthusiasm for the new vision of Jesus. When Matthew writes his Gospel he is anxious to show that Jesus does not come to abolish the Law of the Prophets, rather he is their completion. Matthew shows continuity with the ancient tradition, but he also shows the discontinuity when Jesus says “You have heard how it was said .... but I say this to you...” Jesus completes the Law but he also goes beyond it. Because Jesus is who he is, he has the authority to put before people a new vision. In all this Matthew asserts that Jesus’ is greater than the authority of Moses. Jesus’ demands are more radical; his vision sharper; his expectations greater. Moses made concessions because of the hardness of people’s hearts; Jesus has hope that people’s heart condition has improved since then. Matthew is calling the community of believers to face the vision of Jesus with a willing heart and a ready spirit. None of us can do this alone. That is why we are here, gathered in community, to pray that God will fund our efforts to bring that vision down to earth.
———————————————————————————————————————————-
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: They are happy who follow God’s law!
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Speak, Lord, your servant is listening; you have the message of eternal life. 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.
———————————————————————————————————————————-
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.
Devotions/Adoration: From now on, 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 during this time 10.30-11.00am. All most welcome.
If you have any queries or ideas, please 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. Please also use the box at the back of church for your suggestions.
Mike Daly’s Homilies are now available on the Parish Website. Log in details to the Website 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. Remember Mass intentions can be for anything you choose. 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. Tea and Coffee :is still suspended for now.
Mother’s Prayers - Please see the poster about this group of mothers from our parish who meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 7pm, to pray for their children and grandchildren and offer each other support. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 21st February. All are most welcome to attend.
Canon John Marmion RIP : Canon Marmion’s body will be received into St Joseph’s Upton on Tuesday 14/02, with a Vigil Mass at 7pm. Bishop Mark will offer Canon’s Funeral Mass at St Michael’ & All Angels, Woodchurch, at 11:30am on Wednesday 15/02, followed by interment at Frankby.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £549.59p. Thank you for your generosity in these difficult times.
PARTNERING NIGERIA. With a big thank you to all those who donated, a total of £846.32 was collected and a letter was read out at Mass recently from Fr John, Parish Priest of St Michaels Mbeke - Isheke, Nigeria. See the letter on the noticeboard at the back of church for further details.
School Holidays- As we approach half term at the end of this week. We wish all our school community a happy and peaceful time. For any family in need of school uniforms, there is an abundance available for free from Lower Bebington Methodist Church, Bromborough Rd. This can be collected from Margaret Allen each Wednesday & Friday between 1-4pm. Please pass this message on.
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
Wirral Foodbank Christmas Appeal: Please help support your Foodbank with food and funds this New Year. 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 and thank you for your continued generosity.
Altar-Servers - Could you please encourage any child who has made their First Holy Communion to consider becoming an Altar-Server. If you could give their names to Mike Daly, he will arrange for their training and support. We were renowned for our team of 'servers' and it would be great to create such a team again.
CAFOD Syria-Turkey Earthquake Appeal : CAFOD is responding with support of provision of food, water, shelter, medical assistance and winter kits for survivors. Your donations in recent months have made that quick response possible. Let us join CAFOD in praying for our sisters and brothers affected by the earthquakes and the winter weather. Your support for CAFOD throughout the year allows our Catholic agency to act quickly when disasters strike. For more details visit CAFOD’s Syria Turkey Emergency Appeal online at https://cafod.org.uk/give
Dear Lord, for the many who have lost loved ones, homes and possessions, in Turkey and Syria and the repeated aftershocks have a profound psychological effect on them. May our belief that God is always with his people, provide them with a peace beyond understanding. May we all open our hearts to their desperate need today. Amen.
Please pray for Mark, Eleventh Bishop of Shrewsbury on the anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood – 11/2/1984 this Saturday.
Birkenhead Gang Show 2023- Birkenhead Scouts Present “Together we Can” at the Gladstone Theatre Wednesday 22nd February to Saturday 25th February. Booking Office- 0151 652 3737. Further details on the poster at the back of church.
————————————————————————————————————————————
Saturday 11th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Margaret & Les Realey RIP
Sixth Sunday of the Year 12th 9.30am Mario Jonathan Lesmana 1st Anniversary RIP
11.00am Teodor Hanzaryk RIP(St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 13th 9.15am Nance Shipman Anniv RIP
Tuesday 14th 9.15am Rev. Gerry Heaney 70th Birthday
Wednesday 15th 9.15am Colette Melia (Operation)
Thursday 16th 7.00pm For Victims of the Earthquake in Turkey & Syria
Friday 17th 9.15am Ints Sir Mick Jagger
Saturday 18th 10:00am Carmelite Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ints Christine Brockway
Seventh Sunday of the Year 19th 9.30am Mario Jonathan Lesmana
11.00am RIP Patricia Whitacker RIP (St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
————————————————————————————————————————————
ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 11th 6.30pm Anne McGrory 90th Birthday
Sixth Sunday of the Year 12th 11.15am Bridget O’Hanlon Anniversary
Monday 13th 12 Noon Larry Cray Anniv.
Tuesday 14th 12 Noon Peter Sinclair
Wednesday 15th 12 Noon Ken Jones RIP
Thursday 16th 7.00pm Maureen Roberts RIP
Friday 17th 12 Noon Funeral Mass Hugh Maguire
Saturday
Saturday 18th 6.30pm Paula Richards Martin 6thAnniv.
Seventh Sunday of the Year 19th 11.15am Godwin Raymon Special Int.
———————————————————————————————————————————
