The Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, 27th August, 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 First Sunday in Ordinary Time, 27th August, 2023. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: KEYS : Keys are things we use to unlock and open. In biblical times the scribes were said to have the "power of the keys". A scribe was a person who revealed and interpreted the law. He was a person who would reveal and bring understanding to the word of God.
The Church too has been given the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, the responsibility of the Church is to unlock and illuminate the truths of God and his kingdom.
In our readings today we see keys being given to two people (Eliakim and Peter) as a sign that they have been chosen by God to lead his people on this quest and mission for truth.
On one level this explains why Catholics look to the pope as the final arbiter on earth in matters of faith. The pope is seen as the focal point of unity when it comes to proclaiming the truths of faith. But, of course, the pope is not the only one that God has called. He is not expected to go it alone for it is the Church that possesses the keys.
So notice how Jesus' question to Peter has two prongs. He asked him who people thought he was. Then he asked Peter who he himself thought Jesus was. He was demanding a personal response in faith, not simply a parrot-like repetition of what everyone else thought. Peter was to take on an active role as keeper of the keys.
In a very real sense we have been given keys by Jesus because of our baptism. When water was poured over us and we were anointed with chrism we were commissioned to be prophets of the good news that Jesus came to bring.
Each day Jesus continues to ask us the same question: Who do you say I am? And our response is not something that we are expected to keep to ourselves. For we, like Peter, are the people on whom Christ is building his Church.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Turn your ear, o Lord, and answer me; save the servant who trusts in you, my God. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: Your love, O Lord, is eternal, discard not the work of your hands.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself, and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: The earth is replete with the fruits of your work, O Lord; you bring forth bread from the earth and wine to cheer the heart,
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Please continue to keep all of Families in your thoughts and prayers., especially this week, as we honour St Anne on 26th August.
Please continue to pray for all parishioners, young people and good friendship in the parishes as we honour St John on 27th August.
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Devotions/Adoration: Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy. and Divine Praises) from 10:30am-11:30am. Fr Mario will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation between 10.30 and 11.00. All are welcome.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £610.60p. Thank you for your continued generosity.
PETERS PENCE There will be a retiring collection over the weekend of 9th/10th September. Thank you for your continued generosity and support.
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.
MASS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAYS: For the next few weeks, the Thursday night Mass will alternate between St Anne’s and St John’s.
In Memoriam - Please pray for all those who have died recently, especially Margaret Dancey whose Funeral Mass is here at St John’s at 9.30am THIS Tuesday, 29th August followed by Cremation at Landican at 11am. May Margaret and all the faithful departed rest in the peace of Christ.
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help support your Foodbank with food and funds. 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.
Confirmation 2023 for St John’s and St Anne’s will be held at St John’s on Wednesday, 22nd November at 7.00pm. Will all candidates in Years 9 and above (or their parents) please contact Mike Daly as soon as possible to record their interest? We are asking for volunteers to form a Team of Catechists to take the candidates through the Confirmation Programme. If you are interested in becoming part of the Team, please contact Mike Daly ASAP on 07542463319.
HEALTH AND SAFETY: It is a requirement for all parish groups, using the presbytery and day chapel for meetings, FOR EACH to sign in upon entry to the presbytery and sign out when leaving. The book is located on the hall stand next to the office door. Thank you.
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE: A recent incident in a Wirral church involving unauthorised use of faulty electrical equipment, brought in from outside could have resulted in serious and possibly tragic consequences for the user, who received an electric shock. Fortunately, trained First Aiders were present and rendered immediate and life-saving assistance.
Consequently, after an investigation, the Health and Safety Officer for the Diocese issued the following MANDATORY instruction. “No electrical equipment is to be brought in and used in church without evidence of a recent PAT-test and 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.
St Philip Neri Parish Pilgrimage to Lourdes, December 2023: the details which were shared with you a few weeks ago have undergone some major changes. The revised itinerary is on the notice board at the back of Church.
Tuesday 5th September at 12.30pm, to be held at St Anne’s Parish Hall, a Screening of the film called “The Letter- a message for our earth” from Pope Francis. All are welcome.
The below Statement was read out over the weekend of 5/6th August and is published for all parishioners and for those who may not have attended Mass over that weekend: “ Statement read at the weekend Masses of 5/6th August: Fr Emmanuel has moved onto a new appointment and Fr Mario will continue to serve as Priest in Charge and Parochial Administrator of the parishes of St Anne’s, Rock Ferry, St John’s, New Ferry and St Luke’s, Bebington, supported by the local deanery clergy. Obviously, a review of Masses will need to take place in the near future. Please remember to keep both Fr Mario and Fr Emmanuel in your prayers. Canon Philip Moor, Vicar General.”
SERVICE OF ANOINTING AND HEALING with Fr Emeka and Fr Mario will be held here at St John’s on Friday, 1st September at 7pm. All most welcome. “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you”.
A Rosary Service to celebrate the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be held at St Anne’s on Friday 8th September at 2pm. Guest Speaker is Canon Niall Mullalley. All most welcome.
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Saturday 26th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm In Honour of St Anne
Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time 27th 9.30am In Honour of St John
11.00am Janina Hanzaryk B.Day Annv. (St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 28th 9.15am Young People awaiting Exam Results
Tuesday 29th 9.30am Funeral Mass – Margaret Clancey
Wednesday 30th 9.15am Dave Kenny B.day Remem RIP
Thursday 31st 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Those Who Live Alone
Friday 1st 9.15am Refugees
7.00pm Service of Anointing & Healing
Saturday 2nd 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm St John’s Parishioners
Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 3rd 9.30am Susanne Adams RIP
11.00am Holy Souls (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 and quiet devotion. Please enter the church quietly and remain so. Thank you.
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 26th 6.30pm For Families
Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time 27th 11.15am All parishioners of our 3 parishes & young people
Monday 28th 12 Noon Margaret McLaughlan Sp.Int
Tuesday 29th 12 Noon Sheela George Sp.Int
Wednesday 30th 12 Noon Betty McNally RIP
Thursday 31st 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 1st 12 Noon Funeral Mass- Mary Mercer RIP
Saturday 2nd 6.30pm Refugees
Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 3rd 11.15am Sr Marie McGhee 70th Jubilee
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On Saturday the 16th of September Pat Jones and family members will be doing the Cheshire Memory walk for the Alzheimer’s Society in memory of her husband who died earlier this year. If you would like to sponsor them you can donate on line on the just giving website. www.justgiving.com/MarieWilliams204 or there will be sponsor forms available soon. (when they arrive). Pat is available on 334 0111 or Marie on 201 5556. Thank you
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