The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 29th October, 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
Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 29th October, 2023. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: THE YARDSTICK
It's too easy to repeat parrot-fashion that we must love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and our neighbours as ourselves. What on earth does this involve? It's such a broad thing that it seems to lose any practical meaning.
The Jews had a very efficient way of measuring love of God and neighbour. Three categories of people were used as the yardstick: strangers, widows and orphans. These people represented the disenfranchised of society, the truly vulnerable, those who had no social or economic support to back them up if trouble came on the horizon. Strangers, or foreigners, were by nature in a foreign land and lacked the network of friends and family, of framework and familiarity. People cheated them because of the ignorance of local currency values and their inability to speak the language. Widows had no man to stand up for them. Intolerable language in the twenty-first century but, in the first century, women were at the mercy of a male-dominated society and widows were at the bottom of the pile. Orphans were clearly vulnerable in a culture that could use children in so many unacceptable ways.
But we still have to love the strangers, widows and orphans today. Who are today's strangers? We don't mean tourists, but what about the growing file of refugees that search for a better life in countries other than their own? What about those who seek asylum from torture or death in their native land? They are today's strangers. And today's widows? Women have fought for their rightful voice and pensions have eased the economic isolation. Perhaps the modern day widows are the single mothers, the lone parents and those who have been abandoned? Who are today's orphans? We no longer have queues of orphans; orphanages have largely been closed down. Yet we need not look very far to see children who are abandoned to their own devices by adults who have no parenting skills, young people who are exploited sexually or employed for long hours in the sweat shops of the world.
We have our own modern-day strangers, widows and orphans. And, just as in days gone by, we show how much we love God and neighbour by the way we respond to these people in our midst. The yardstick still applies.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice; turn to the Lord and his strength; constantly seeking his face.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! I am the light of the world, says the Lord, anyone who follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: We will ring out our joy at your saving help and exult in the name of our God.
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British Summer Time. Remember clocks go back one hour on Saturday
28th October.
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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.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £652.56p. Plus £20 for heating. Thank you for your generosity in these difficult times.
Cards and Gift Bags in aid of the SVP: There are some new cards and gift bags on the table at the back of Church; proceeds from all sales go to St John's SVP. Christmas cards coming soon!
CAFOD Family Fast Day. CAFOD Family Fast Envelopes can be returned until next weekend 4/5th November. Many thanks for your continued support to CAFOD.
If you have any queries or ideas, 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. Also use the box at the back of church for your suggestions. Mike Daly’s Homilies are available on the Parish Website. Log in details 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. Thank you.
Children's Liturgy – is during the 9.30am Mass, all are most welcome.
In Memoriam – Please pray for the repose of the soul of Pat Fearon who died on 11th October. Pat's Funeral Mass will be held at St John's on 3rd November at 9.30am followed by Landican Crematorium at 11am. Also pray for the repose of the soul of Catherine Hawkins who died on 11th October. Catherine's Funeral Service will be held on 8th November at 9.30am at Landican Crematorium Centre Chapel. Please keep Pat's family and Catherine's family in your prayers. Also pray for Fr Mario’s family on the death of his younger sister Helen on Thursday 26th October. May they and all the faithful departed rest in the peace of Christ.
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help support your Foodbank with food & funds. All donations need to be listed on the notice board of items urgently needed. Please continue to support this as much as you can in these difficult times.
Confirmation Programme 2023: Please keep all our candidates in your prayers as they approach this great sacrament. The Confirmation Mass will now be celebrated on Wednesday 22nd November at 7pm.
HEALTH & SAFETY: It is a requirement for all parish groups, using the presbytery & day chapel for meetings, FOR EACH to sign in upon entry to the presbytery & sign out when leaving. The book is located on the hall stand next to the office door. Thanks!
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE: The Health & Safety Officer for the Diocese issued the following M&ATORY instruction. “No electrical equipment is to be brought in & used in church without evidence of a recent PAT-test & then only with the express permission of the Parish Priest.” If in doubt please speak to Tony Delaney, Health & Safety Officer for St John the Evangelist.
A Weekend Retreat The Shrine, Holywell 27-29 October 2023 18:00 Friday, 27 October –> 16:00 Sunday, 29 October 2023 Contact: Barbara Davies M: 07450 252 733 barbara.davies@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
Fr Mario's Appeal - How to help : The easiest way to contribute to parish funds is via the collection plate - cash or cheques (made payable to St John's New Ferry) are equally acceptable .If you are a tax payer and have an existing Gift Aid declaration and envelopes, please use these so that tax can be claimed back. Bank transfers: Lloyds Bank, sort code 30-15-52, account no. 54641168, in the name of St John's New Ferry. Please use your name as a reference so that Gift Aid can be claimed if possible. Or contact Carol on 07808 975011
St Anne's 55 Group: will be holding a Bring & Buy Sale on Tuesday, 7th November at 12.30pm at St Anne's Lourdes Hall with all proceeds towards Christmas Party. All welcome.
Missio Red Box Collection: Thank you to all who contribute to Missio via the Red Boxes; please take one of the brown Missio envelopes from the back of Church & fill it with the current contents of your box, writing the amount enclosed on the outside of the envelope. Envelopes to be returned to St John's by the weekend 11th/12th Nov. This is a new system to ease the workload for the Missio volunteers – the envelopes are not just for taxpayers but for everyone who has a Red Box (Gift Aid forms also available). Thank you.
Food Christmas Appeal: A Reverse Advent Calendar has been produced and copies are on the table at the back of church. If you are able to help, do take a copy, this would be an ideal way to assist less fortunate families in our area. Thank you for your continued generosity to all our appeals for help. They are greatly appreciated.
Anointing & Healing Service to be held at St John's on Friday, 3rd November at 7pm. Theme: Get up & go on your way; your faith has made you well" (Luke 17:19). See the poster at the back of the church.
November events at Irenaeus: On Saturday 11th we’ve got the next ‘Come & See’ day then, on Sunday 12th we’ve having the Remembrance Mass followed by the Blessing of the Rose Garden. If you want to donate a rose for someone you love, please contact us. Everyone is very welcome to both events. See posters at the back of church for further details.
CATHOLIC YOUTH MINISTRY INTERNSHIPS: Castlerigg Manor (The Lancaster Diocese Youth Service) are looking for young Catholics aged 18-25 to join their Youth Ministry Internship Programme. The scheme lasts for one or two years and gives participants wide ranging experience, skills, training, & qualifications as well as the opportunity to work with a fantastic team based in the Lake District. For more information contact director@castleriggmanor.co.uk
The Annual Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated in Church on Thursday 9th November at 7.00pm with a particular focus given to those parishioners & friends who have died this year. Invitations have been sent to all families who have been bereaved from last November to October this year. Everyone is welcome to come along & support the families, also to reflect on the members of their families who have died.
Loudfence is a movement to support abuse victims and survivors. A Mass will be celebrated by Vicar General Canon Phil Moor on Tuesday 14th November at 6.45 at Holy Apostles & Martyrs, Wallasey. Please seen notice at back of church.
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Saturday 28th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Lilly & Harold Thwaite Anniv
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 29th 9.30am For all our School Children
11.00am Mary & Ernie Turner (St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 30th 9.15am Graham Sabino RIP
Tuesday 31st 9.15am Joe Moore RIP
6.00pm Vigil Mass All Saints
Rosemary Lee RIP
Wednesday All Saints 1st 9.30am Maeve Dana 94th Birthday
Thursday 2nd 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY All the Faithful Departed
Friday 3rd 9.30am Funeral Mass – Pat Fearon
7.00pm Anointing & Healing Service
Saturday 4th 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Bernard & Patricia Smith RIP
Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time 5th 9.30am Bishop Brian Noble Anniv RIP
11.00am Deceased members of Joan Turner’s Family (St Luke’s)
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 28th 6.30pm Frederick Woolfall Bday Remb
Thirtieth Sunday 29th 11.15am Robert Henderson 1st Anniv RIP
Monday 30th 12 Noon Gerard Brown RIP
Tuesday 31st 12 Noon Sr. Mary Slaven 90th B’day
Wednesday All Saints 1st 12 Noon Doris Littlejohn RIP
Thursday 2nd 12 Noon Helen Otuisa (nee Ashuikeka) RIP All the Faithful Departed 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Craig Francis Fitzpatrick RIP
Friday 3rd 12 Noon All members of the Holy Family of Bordeaux (living and dead)
Saturday 4th 6.30pm Tony McCluskey RIP
Thirty First Sunday 5th 11.15am Gerard Edwards B’day Remb
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WORD OF GOD: You must not molest the stranger or oppress him, for you lived as strangers in the land of Egypt. You must not be harsh with the widow or with the orphan. (Exodus 22: 20-21)
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