The Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 1st 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 Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 24th September, 2023. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: DOING HIS OWN THING
We often talk about people "doing their own thing". We mean that they act in an independent way without necessarily being bothered about what others think or say. Usually we have our doubts about them and think that they should conform to what everyone else expects of them. If there was ever a person who does their own thing then it's God. In several places in the bible God lets us know that he doesn't think like we do and doesn't act like we act. His thoughts and ways are above ours. Miles above.
Yet we tend to want to bring God down to our size. It's not "fair" that the workers who only did an hour's work should get the same pay as those who worked all day, we say. But God never promised to be fair, only generous. And generosity far exceeds any concept of fairness. Where we are prone to punish God is apt to forgive. Where we would choose the front-runner God picks the no-hoper every time. Where we try to earn salvation by all our good deeds God says that he only grants it as grace, as a free gift that has not been earned.
The fact that God does his own thing only points to his being infinitely greater than we can ever imagine. Chancellors promise benefits; God promises abundance. Musicians entertain but God enthrals. Artists paint nature while God recreates it every day. It's easy to fit God into our own little systems, to write about God and talk about him as if there's some agreed pattern that he should follow. (Or her for that matter!) Then our religion becomes efficient but dull. We end up with a predictable God who is constrained to come down to our level and behave as we think he should. This is to miss the thrill of having a God who is capable of acting beyond our wildest imaginations, of offering us much more than we would ever dare to ask for and who falls about in fits of laughter when he sees the pigeon hole that we're trying to put him in for the sake of neatness.
Allow yourself to be surprised by the topsy-turvy way that God chooses to rule your life. It might be the best thing that ever happened to you!
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. Should they cry to me in any distress, I will hear them, and I will be their Lord for ever.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: The Lord is close to all who call him.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Blessings on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens ! Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: You have laid down your precepts to be carefully kept; may my ways be firm in keeping your statutes.
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Sunday is a special day of prayer for the harvest.
Pope Francis' prayer intention for the month of September is for people living on the margins.
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 £670.83p.
Plus 2 donations totalling £325 towards fuel bills . Thank you for your generosity.
HOME MISSIONS SUNDAY: There will be a retiring collection NEXT weekend, 30th Sept/1st October..
There will be a retiring collection for St John's SVP over the weekend of 7th/8th October.
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.
Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies: The diocesan Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies (CCRS) will resume this month, with both an online course or daytime classes in Wythenshawe. Details are at: www.educationshrewsbury.org/formation-development/ccrs or enquiries to ccrs@diocseofshrewsbury.org
In Memoriam – Please pray for those who have recently died, 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: the Confirmation Programme for St Anne's, St John's & St Luke's is on a Thursday from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at St John's Presbytery. It will run each week up to the day of the actual Confirmation which is on Wednesday 22nd November. Please contact Mike Daly at - daly.m@sky.com - to enrol. Please note - no applications will be taken after Sunday 08/10, when this year's programme will be closed.
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 st& 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.
This year’s National Mass for Altar Servers is being hosted by the Archdiocese of Cardiff at the Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Saint David on Saturday 14 October at 12 noon. All altar servers & their families are welcome to attend. Please see poster at the back of church for details.
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. If you prefer to organise a bank to bank transfer, our account details are : 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. For more information, 'phone Carol on 07808 975011.
The next meeting of the Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality will be the Annual General Meeting, on Saturday 30th September at 2pm at St Chad’s, Cheadle, Stockport SK8 2AF. Please register your attendance, send apologies or items for the agenda to secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk or text/call 07451 249267. Agenda items should be submitted seven days before the meeting. Please pass on these details to any hospitality members who may be interested in attending. Please note nominations are now being accepted for the new Vice-President/Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. If you would like any further information about these roles, please get in touch.
St Anne’s Parish Event- All our welcome to an evening of music and entertainment by Mal King on Friday 27th October in St Anne’s Parish Centre from 7pm. Raffle, refreshments and Irish Bingo, tickets £5 from Sheila McAlister – 07484285954. Fundraising for MNDA.
November Lists: Please ensure that all names for the November List are handed into the presbytery by Sunday, 22nd October. This allows time to compile the lists. Please make the envelopes "For the attention of Ann Murray" and please print all names clearly. Many thanks.
Friday 29th September : St Anne's is holding a MacMillan Coffee Morning in their Parish Centre between 10am and 2pm - everybody welcome. Please do go along to support this good cause if you can.
Foundation Governors: The Governors at St John’s Catholic Junior School are currently recruiting Foundation Governors. The role would suit someone with an interest in serving our community and supporting the needs of our school children. The role of a School Governing Body is: Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and direction of the school· Holding the head teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils· Overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent. It is a great opportunity to develop a range of skills in areas such as chairing, setting strategy and financial management as well as contributing to your local community. Access to a range of training is available as well as induction and mentoring. Foundation Governors are appointed by the Bishop, therefore candidates are required to be a practising Catholic. Anyone interested should send an email with an overview of their experience and skills for the attention of Gillian Dyche and Tony Rutherford (Co Chairs) to schooloffice@stjohns-junior.wirral.sch.uk An informal chat can also be arranged if preferred by sending an email to this address.
OCTOBER MONTH OF THE ROSARY: As usual a pilgrim statue will go from house to house to form a rosary chain of prayer. If you would like the statue for a day, please contact Maria on 07576243343.
55's Club: Fish and chips at St Anne's Club at 12.30pm on Tuesday 3rd October. Please ring Sheila McAllister 07484285954.
On Saturday 7th October to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Rosary will be held at St John's at 10.30am. The speaker will be Fr Mario. The Rosary will, for that Saturday, take the place of the usual Devotions 10.30-11.30am.
———————————————————————————————————— Saturday 23rd 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm For World Peace
Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 24th 9.30am Graham Sabino RIP
11.00am Holy Souls (St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 25th 9.15am William & Mary Halpin RIP
Tuesday 26th 9.15am In Honour of St Anne
Wednesday 27th 9.15am In Honour of St John
Thursday 28th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Ints Pat Fearon
Friday 29th 9.15am For Ss Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Archangels
Saturday 30th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm For Our World’s Harvest
Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st 9.30am For All Workers
11.00am Ellen Kettle Annv. (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 enterthe church quietly & remain so. Thank you.
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 23rd 6.30pm Special Intention
Twenty Fifth Sunday 24th 11.15am Bernard Kirwan 10th Anniv RIP
Monday 25th 12 Noon Mary Mercer R.I.P.
Tuesday 26th 12 Noon Jim Riley R.I.P.
Wednesday 27th 12 Noon Elsie Fisher R.I.P.
Thursday 28th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 29th 12 Noon Mary Cox R.I.P.
Saturday 30th 6.30pm Betty McNally R.I.P.
Twenty Sixth Sunday 1st 11.15am Jim Armstrong B/Day Remembrance
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WORD OF GOD: Yes, the heavens are as high above earth as my ways are above your ways, my thoughts above your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:9)
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