The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. 26th January, 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 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 26th January 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.
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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: Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives. 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.
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.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: this week’s total was £601.60p. Many thanks for your continued support.
The next Healing Service is due to take place on the first Friday in April. All most welcome.
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 week’s 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 the repose of the soul of Kath Adamson, mother of Mike Adamson. Funeral Mass at St John’s on Monday 3rd February at 9.30am then Landican Central Chapel at 11am. Please also pray for Mary Capper who died on 13th January. Funeral Mass at St John’s on Wednesday 5th February at 11.00am followed by cremation at Landican’s South Chapel at 12.30pm. Please also pray for Kay Riordan who died recently. Please continue to pray for the repose of the soul of Kenny Daly (Deacon Mike’s brother) and Margaret Mary Dunne who died recently. Please keep all their families in your prayers. 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 FEBRUARY 2025.
St John’s Catholic Pre School - St John's Catholic Infant School If your child will be 3 years of age by 31st August 2025, they will be able to join us for their Pre School year starting September 2025. You are invited to come along to our OPEN EVENING this Tuesday 28th January 2025 3.45pm – 4.30pm.You will be able to collect an application pack and view our setting.Please note this session 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
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.
CCTV CAMERA SYSTEM: has been installed inside and outside the church, to the rear door of the church and also to the front door of the presbytery. The system is to safeguard all our parishioners and the church and presbytery buildings.
The Registration for First Holy Communion Preparation Classes has now started and the preparation classes for the children will commence at the beginning of February. Kindly contact the parish office for the registration form. These forms are for children who do not attend a catholic school. See Programme on the notice board at the back of church.
INTRODUCTION TO THE HOLY YEAR 2025
A special day will be held at Saint Joseph’s Stockport on Saturday 1st February to introduce the Jubilee Year 2025. The day will begin with Mass at 10.00 am and include presentations by our catechetical, marriage and family life, CAFOD and Caritas Diocese of Shrewsbury teams. All welcome.
LOURDES ROADSHOW: In this Jubilee Year of 2025, Bishop Mark has asked that our diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes will be our Jubilee Pilgrimage. To help raise the profile of the pilgrimage and to answer any questions your parishioners might have, we have organised two roadshows for those who are interested in joining our annual diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. Our first roadshow will be on 1st February 2pm-4pm at Our Lady & St John’s, Heswall, Wirral, and our second roadshow will be on 15th February 2pm-4pm St Anthony’s, Wythenshawe. Information and register of interest cards will be available, and members of the Lourdes Management Team will be present to answer any questions.
St Anne
Anne, whose name means “full of grace” was a very holy woman.
Anne prayed to have a baby and soon enough, her prayers came true.
And she had a baby girl named Mary. Mary means “incense that goes up to God.”
Anne was so happy with her wonderful gift!
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Saturday 25th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Shaun Corrigan RIP
The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 26th 9.30am In honour of St Anne — For all the families and married couples of our Parish Communities
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 27th 9.15am In Honour of St John – Pray for all parishioners, young people & good friendships in the parishes.
Tuesday 28th 9.15am Decd Rel/Fnds McDyre & Kennedy Families
Wednesday 29th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S
Seamus Reavey RIP
Kay Riordan
Thursday 30th NO MASS
Friday 31st 9.15am Decd Rel/Fnds Gaynor & Duckworth Families
Saturday 1st 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Maria Randles RIP
The Presentation of the Lord 2nd 9.30am John McNulty 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.
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 25th 6.30pm For World Peace & Justice
The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 26th 11.00am Mary & Tony Duff RIP
Monday 27th 12 noon For all Parishioners of St Anne’s, St John’s & St Luke’s, & for Youth
Tuesday 28th 12 noon For Families
Wednesday 29th MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Thursday 30th NO MASS
Friday 31st 12 noon Funeral Mass- Sr Rita McCabe
Frank Edwards Anniversary
Saturday 1st 6.30pm Patrick Power Death Anniversary
The Presentation of the Lord 2nd 11.00am Bert Suffield RIP
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Pope Francis’s Prayer Intentions for January 2025
Let us pray for migrants, refugees, and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.
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