The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 22nd January, 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 www.lpa24.org
The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 22nd January, 2023. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: FISHING
If you follow me, it’s people you’ll catch, says Jesus in today’s gospel. We all agree that we want to follow Jesus and come closer to God. But why are we so shy about fishing for others? Why do we find it hard to try and bring others to Christ?
Is it a cultural thing? Have we bought into the great deception that it’s not the done thing to parade our faith on our sleeve? Yet if our faith is the single most important thing about our whole lives, how can we think of wearing it in our pocket? If our Christian belief is the one thing that makes sense of our existence, that provides us with the wherewithal to cope with what life throws at us, then how can we think of keeping it to ourselves and not trying to get others to experience it?
Don’t talk about religion or politics, the saying goes. But if religion is about the ultimate meaning of life and politics is about how we organise it, then not to talk about either of them condemns us to the pleasantries of surface-living. Yet life’s issues are deeper than talking about the weather, and faith’s issues touch the core of reality.
Could it be that we’re afraid of talking to others about our faith because we think we will be shown to be lacking? Is it because we feel ashamed and embarrassed because religious people are often caricatured as cranks in the media? Is it because we don’t want to disturb people? Would we not disturb someone whose coat was on fire? Would we never tell a crying child that the toy needs to be switched on before it will work properly?
If we’re not prepared to lead people towards God, then who is? And yet leading people to God is part of our “contract”. To be a follower of Christ implies that we too proclaim the good news to the ends of the earth. Or at the very least to the ends of our street. If we talk to others and they begin to ask us questions that we can’t answer, then it’s a simple task to put them in touch with those who can. We’re not expected to be geniuses or oracles. We’re not expected to become full-time missionaries in some far-flung country. We’re not expected to become experts on all matters of faith and religion.
But we are expected to do a bit of fishing.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: O sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the lord, all the earth. In his presence are majesty and splendour, strength and honour in his holy place.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: The Lord is my light and my help.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom, and cured all kinds of sickness among the people. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON Look toward the Lord and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.
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Sunday is a Special Day of Prayer for Openness to the Word of God. We look to Pope Francis to guide us.
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Christian Unity Week of Prayer is 18th to 25th January. Whilst there is no gatherings of churches together, the theme praying for unity amidst injustice and titled Be-Longing can be followed on http://www.ctbi.org.uk/
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, unless advised otherwise, Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy and Divine Praises) from 10:30am to 11:30am each Saturday morning. Fr Mario will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Saturday Morning Devotions at 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.
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 – has resumed during the 9.30am Mass, all are most welcome.
Tea and Coffee : SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
Canon John Marmion RIP : Our most senior priest, Canon John Marmion, died peacefully in Arrowe Park Hospital at 06:00 on Friday 20/01 – may he rest in peace. Please remember him in your prayers. Funeral arrangements will be advised when known.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £773.26p. Thank you for your generosity. Thank you very much to everyone who contributed so generously to the recent collections for the Ark. We hoped to be able to report the total this weekend, but there have been a number of late donations so the final figure will be in next week's Newsletter.
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,
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.
RETIRED PRIESTS’ FUND - SPECIAL COLLECTION
This weekend the annual Collection for the Retired Priests’ Fund is being held. With your help, we can build up the Fund to help meet the future needs of our sick and retired priests.
If you wish to Gift Aid your donation, please make your donation Online. To donate Online please
go to www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/retired-priests-fund
An electronic version of a leaflet about the Fund is available at
www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/retired-priests-fund and this also explains how you can donate to the Fund by Standing Order or Cheque (please make payable to Retired Priests’ Fund) and how to Gift Aid donations made using these methods.
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.
St John’s Catholic Pre School - St John's Catholic Infant School If your child will be 3 years of age by 31st August 2023, they will be able to join us for their Pre School year in September 2023. Please come along to our OPEN EVENING, Tuesday 24th January 2023 4.00pm – 5.00pm where you will be able to collect an application pack and view our setting. Please note this is for ADULTS ONLY, we are unable to accommodate children at this time. Any queries please email Bernadette at Preschooloffice@stjohns-infant.wirral.sch.uk
Parish Bulletin Notice: “The church relies on people getting involved. Our church, our world needs you. Could your New Year’s resolution be getting more involved in the life of our church? What aspects of church brings you life or joy? Could you give a bit of time to help those parts flourish? CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, are looking for people to give some time and join them in their mission. Could you help in our parish, bringing people together to help build a better world or help by visiting local schools? Or raise a voice and campaign for justice or perhaps speak for CAFOD throughout the diocese? Could you support local volunteers or share your office skills to help CAFOD keep costs low? Training and support is provided. See cafod.org.uk/Volunteer for more information or get in touch with shrewsbury@cafod.org.uk or 07920 232936”
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Saturday
21st 10.00am Carmelite Mass
10.30am Devotions - Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
Third Sunday of the Year
22nd 5.00pm Pat & Simon Byrne RIP
9.30am Fnds/ Rels of McManus & Harrison Families
11.00am Mary Grey RIP
7.00pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 23rd
9.15am For Our School Children
Tuesday 24th
9.15am Thanks to Our Lady
Wednesday 25th
9.15am For World Leaders
Thursday 26th
7.00pm For Help in Times of Illness
Friday 27th
9.15am For the Lonely and Isolated
Saturday 28th
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ints of Jean Murray
Fourth Sunday of the Year
29th
9.30am Brendan Galvin RIP
11.00am Ints Quinn Family
7.00pm Prayer Meeting
Thankfully all services have now resumed at St John's.
WORDS FOR WORSHIP
Let us pray for the Church that it may attract men and women to the good news of the gospel and may support them as they strive to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Lord, in your loving mercy: Hear and grant our prayer!
Let us pray for those who have never heard of the promises of Christ, for those who seek direction in their lives and for those who are searching for God. Lord, in your…
Let us pray for those who are preparing to follow Christ in public ministry, especially for those who are training for the diaconate, the priesthood or the religious life. Lord, in your…
Let us pray for ourselves, that we may be faithful to our baptismal promises to follow Jesus by loving God and serving our neighbour in all their needs. Lord, in your…
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Many happy returns and birthday blessings are wished for Peggy McAllister who is 101 years young this weekend.
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