The Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, 17th September, 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 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 17th September, 2023. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: CREATING VICTIMS
Today's gospel teaches us one of the most important lessons of our faith. Jesus makes no bones about it: if we want to be forgiven then we must first forgive others. "I can never forgive him/her" cannot be part of the Christian's vocabulary.
Forgiveness is so central to Christianity that it is the reason why we baptise. We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins, says our Creed. And the principal reason we follow Christ is so that we might experience the forgiveness of God and be set free to lead the lives that God intended us to enjoy. The Church is the community of God's forgiven.
If we refuse to forgive then we create victims. The first victim is us. When we withhold forgiveness we take refuge in self-pity. We see ourselves as the one who is hurt and injured and we end up wading in bitterness, anger and resentment. How could anyone do this to me of all people? Me? We allow ourselves to dwell on the memory of hurt and injury and this begins to affect the way we view life, for anger and resentment only eat away at the heart. Lack of forgiveness is a heavy burden to carry.
And the second victim we create is the person we refuse to forgive. We keep them chained up with the guilt of what they have done and we prevent them from moving on in their relationship with us. To receive forgiveness is a joyful thing that brings peace of mind, and if we hold back on forgiving someone then we are not playing our part in helping them to move on.
Sometimes people forgive in such a way that they humiliate the other person. They are so high-handed that they make the person crawl before they are forgiven. They forgive with their lips but not with their hearts. Yet forgiveness is not something that we possess off our own bat. Forgiveness belongs to God, the same God who has forgiven each of us and who demands that we do the same in return.
Living in a place of unforgiveness is a life-depriving and dreadful experience. "And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother and sister from your heart."
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Give peace, Lord, to those who wait for you, that your prophets be found true. Hear the prayers of your servant, and of your people Israel.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Speak, Lord, your servant is listening; you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: How precious is your mercy, O God! The children of men seek shelter in the shadow of your wings.
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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 £592.47p. Thank you for your generosity. PETERS PENCE Collection was £119.28p.
Our Masses this weekend will be celebrated by Fr Dermot from the Mill Hill Missionaries.
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 & St John’s.
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 the repose of the souls of Patrick Guthrie Funeral Mass at St John’s on Tuesday at 9.30am followed by Landican Crematorium at 11am, also Canon Ted Harrington, formerly of our Diocese, who died in Ireland recently. 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 has now started and 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 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 message from Canon Christopher Matthews: The Pause for Hope Chester service taking place this Sunday 17 September at 3pm at Saint Columba's church in Chester. Pause for Hope is an ecumenical service for those affected in any way by, those suffering from, those supporting those living with, & those who have lost loved ones to, cancer. It is an opportunity to come together to support & pray for each other. More information is available on the website http://www.pauseforhope.org.uk
The film ‘The Letter’ tells the incredible story of the Laudato Si' encyclical letter by Pope Francis, through the eyes of people battling the ecological crisis across continents. A powerful - and surprising - dialogue with the Pope in the Vatican brings new hope for our common home. This film will be shown on Tuesday 19th September at 7pm in the Holy Family Convent Highfield Rd. All are welcome.
Women’s Weekend- At the Irenaeus Centre on 22nd-24th September. See poster at the back of church for details.
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 14th October at 12 noon. All altar servers & their families are welcome to attend. Please see poster at the back of church for details.
Parish pilgrimage to Shrewsbury cathedral, on Thursday 19th October. Cost £20 per person to include coach travel & lunch. Please see poster at 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 are a tax payer and do not have an existing Gift Aid declaration in favour of St John's, please consider signing up. 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.
The next Parish Team Meeting will be held at 18:30 on Wednesday 20/09 in the Day Chapel.
Relics of the Scottish Saints- will be at the Metropolitan Cathedral from Mon 18th – Thurs 21st September. A welcome Mass at 5pm on Mon and closing Mass at 12.15pm Thursday.
GRACIOUS GOD, WE PRAY FOR ALL THOSE SUFFERING FROM THE RAVAGES OF NATURAL DISASTERS: Grant them encouragement, strength, fortitude, patience and insight as they struggle with their many losses — material, physical, emotional, and personal — and begin to pick up the pieces and create a new future for themselves, their families, and their community. Be for them a beacon of unwavering hope and confidence that there can and will be a better day. Surround them with your love and the love and compassion of others that they might be sustained in their time of trouble. We ask this through the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes and in the name of your Son, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. AMEN.
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Saturday 16th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm For Vocations
Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 17th 9.30am Kevin Smith RIP
11.00am Brenda Meys RIP (St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 18th 9.15am In honour of St Luke- For All Our Sick Parishioners
Tuesday 19th 9.30am Funeral Mass- Patrick Guthrie
Wednesday 20th 9.15am Ints Pauline Morgan (Hospital)
Thursday 21st 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Friday 22nd 9.15am Jack McGree Anniv RIP
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
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 16th 6.30pm Patrick Smyth RIP
Twenty Fourth Sunday 17th 11.15am Daniel Brett 1st Anniv
Monday 18th 12 Noon The Sick, Health Workers and Carers
Tuesday 19th 12 Noon Ints Helen Hornby
Wednesday 20th 12 Noon Mary Mercer RIP
Thursday 21st 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Betty McNally RIP
Friday 22nd 12 Noon Sheela George Sp. Int
Saturday 23rd 6.30pm Special Intention
Twenty Fifth Sunday 24th 11.15am Bernard Kirwan 10th Anniv RIP
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This Saturday the 16th of September Pat Jones & family will be doing the Cheshire Memory walk for the Alzheimer’s Society in memory of her husband who died earlier this year. You can donate on line on the just giving website. www.justgiving.com/MarieWilliams204. Pat is available on 334 0111 or Marie on 201 5556. Thank you. There is a sign up sponsor form on the table at the back of church.
WORD OF GOD: Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you, and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven. (Ecclesiasticus 28: 2)
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