The Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, 12th November, 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 Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, 12th November, 2023. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: GETTING ROUND TO IT
You can't live without food but you can seemingly get through the day without being a Christian. So even Christians themselves sometimes never quite get round to putting their baptismal promises into action.
Young people usually think that after they get older, after they've had some fun and sowed their wild oats, they'll get round to it. They get older and then get married and the wild oats have been sown. Then their jobs and families take priority. They want the nice houses and the nice cars. They are so busy with the kids that they don't have time to accept Christ in their lives. Then the kids grow up, and the marriage is unstable because they have focused so much time into everything else that their marriage is on the rocks, so instead of accepting Jesus, they work on their marriage or they get a divorce and start a new life. They get old and set in their ways and think it's too late to accept Christ, their heart hardens to the point where they just don't care anymore. But if you were to ask them their intentions along the way, they had good intentions, they never intended to reject Christ.
And if we're honest, it's a bit like that with most of us. We may go to church, we may even be known by our neighbours as Christians. But in our heart of hearts we know that there's a lot we could and should be doing about our faith that we never quite get round to. Perhaps it's praying more, reading scripture more often or giving a bit more of our time and talent to help others less fortunate.
The foolish bridesmaids in today's gospel were just as aware as the wise ones that the groom was on his way. But they hadn't quite got round to buying the oil for their lamps so that they could go out and meet him in the middle of the night. They knew what they ought to do but they became distracted with other seemingly more important things. And by the time they realised it was their turn to meet the groom, it was too late.
What's stopping us from being ready? And can any of us honestly say that we know the time when the groom will call out to us?
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Let my prayer come into your presence; incline your ear to my cry for help, O Lord.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Stay awake and stand ready, because you do not know the hour when the Son of Man is coming. Alleluia.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose, near restful waters he leads me.
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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.
Pope Francis’s Intentions for November: For the Pope:
We pray for the Holy Father; as he fulfils his mission, may he continue to accompany the flock entrusted to him, with the help of the Holy Spirit.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £601.85p. Heating Donation of £500 and Collection taken at Healing Service £52.23p.Thank you for your continued generosity in these difficult times.
Clergy Education & Training Fund: There will be a retiring collection over the weekend of 18th/19th November. Thank you for your support.
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 and novelties coming soon!
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 – takes place during the 9.30am Mass. All are most welcome.
In Memoriam – Please pray for the repose of the soul of James Aspinall who died on 27th October. James’ Funeral Service will be held at St John’s on Thursday, 16th November at 12 Noon followed by burial at Landican at 1pm. Please keep James’s family in your prayers. Also pray for Fr Mario’s family on the death of his younger sister Helen on Thursday 26th October and whose funeral takes place on 17th November. May James and Helen 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.
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. Wirral Foodbank.
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: IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE: The Health & Safety Officer for the Diocese issued the following MANDATORY 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.
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.
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, please, to St John's by THIS weekend 11th/12th November. 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.
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 6.45pm at Holy Apostles & Martyrs, Wallasey. Please seen notice at back of church.
We were all shocked and saddened to learn of the death last week of Fr Mario’s younger sister, Helen. If you would like to make a contribution to assist Helen’s family at this difficult time, please see Maria Fryer, who is co-ordinating a collection for them.
A Vacancy for a Marketing and Administration Officer has arisen in the Interdiocesan Fuel Management Department (IFM) based at the Curial Offices in Birkenhead. Salary: £23-£26K FTE depending on experience. Hours: Up to 35 per week. Further details of the post can be found on the Diocesan website https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/ For additional information on how to apply and full job description, please contact: Jenny Williamson at jwilliamson@churchmarketplace.org.uk Closing date: 15 November. Interviews will take place at the curial office on 29 November.
As you will be aware, we are having problems with the church organ / keyboard. Rest assured work is in progress behind the scenes to rectify this asap.
Caritas is hosting its first Christmas Fair on Tuesday, 21st November at St. Joseph’s Social Club, Birkenhead. The link to the website https://www.caritasshrewsbury.org.uk/2023/10/17/christmas-fair-and-market/
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Saturday 11th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Mary Halpin RIP
Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 12th 9.30am For all those who died through war and conflict
11.00am Holy Souls (St Luke’s)
3.00pm Benediction
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 13th 9.15am Baby Francis Fryer RIP
Tuesday 14th 9.15am Ints Pauline Morgan
Wednesday 15th 9.15am Susan Adams RIP
Thursday 16th 12 Noon Funeral Service – James Aspinall
7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Friday 17th NO MASS THIS MORNING
12 Noon MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Saturday 18th 10.00am Carmel Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Norman Comyns (Anniv)
Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 19th 9.30am Rod Caird RIP
11.00am Brian Jones (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 11th 6.30pm Helen Otuisa RIP
Thirty Second Sunday 12th 11.15am All those who lost their lives in War
Monday 13th 12 Noon Vera Burdon
Tuesday 14th 12 Noon John McGrath
7.00pm Remembrance Mass
Wednesday 15th 12 Noon Tracy McGinty RIP
Thursday 16th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Friday 17th 12 Noon Mass at St Anne’s only today
Barbara Simmons 4th Annv.
Saturday 18th 6.30pm Franklin Family Intentions
Sunday 19th 11.15am Dec’d Mmbrs Jones & McClure Families& Friends
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“They shall grow old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we shall remember them”.
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