TheThirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2nd July, 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 and Fr Emmanuel Chukwujekwu
Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
The Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2nd July, 2023, Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: THE WELCOME MAT
I once knew a woman who lived more than half a century of her life in a wheelchair. This meant that she got out and about much less than most people. But she knew more people than I did. Whenever you visited her home there was always someone there having a cup of tea with her and her husband. They came and told her about what was going on in their lives and chatted about what was worrying them. Though untrained, she was better than any professional counsellor. The reason people came was that she made them welcome, she listened to them and she responded in the only way she knew how: by making them want to come back.
When we're dead and buried what mark will we leave on the world? In our pride we probably think that we might write the world's best-selling book, invent some labour-saving gadget or discover the cure for some life-threatening disease. But the reality, of course, will be somewhat different.
Most of our lives are not made up of headline events. Our days are calmer and much more about the ordinary comings and goings. Maybe that's why many of the saints show us that the way to heaven is by striving to do the little things of life well. For it's the little things that make the most difference.
If God sends us enough wood in life to build a stairway to heaven, then it's going to be found in the unobtrusive way in which we deal with others, the way we welcome them, listen to them and show an interest in their concerns and try to be of service. The woman in our first reading today showed simple hospitality to a stranger and was rewarded for it. For the stranger turned out to be a man of God, Elisha, but she wasn't to know. In reality God comes to us many times a day in the person of those who claim our time and attention. The way we deal with them says everything about us.
Putting out the welcome mat is mere common decency. Even pagans do it. But Christians put it out because they know that God is alive and well in our world and comes to visit us when we least expect. As Jesus tells us, "Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me".
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: All peoples, clap your hands. Cry to God with shouts of joy!
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: I will sing forever of your love, O Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, Alleluia! Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your son. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all within me, his holy name.
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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 11.00am. All most welcome.
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.
Please continue to keep all of our sick parishioners in your thoughts and prayers. Especially this week as we honour St Luke the physician and pray for the sick, health workers and carers.
Children's Liturgy – is during the 9.30am Mass, all are most welcome.
In Memoriam- Please keep all the recently deceased members of our parish and their families in your prayers. May they rest in the peace of Christ.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £491.68p. A HUGE thank you for the anonymous donation of £100 in these difficult times.
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.
Altar-Servers - Please encourage any child who has made their First Holy Communion to consider becoming an Altar-Server. Please give names to Mike Daly, who will arrange for their training and support.
MASS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAYS : For the next few weeks, the Thursday night Mass will alternate each week between St Anne’s and St John’s.
HEALTH AND SAFETY: It is a requirement for all parish groups, using the presbytery and day chapel for meetings, 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. Thankyou.
St Anne’s 55+ Group 21st birthday celebrating love and friendship on Tuesday 4th July 12.30pm, St Anne’s club. All are welcome. Please can you let Sheila know if you are going tel: 07484 285954
Our next ‘Come & see’ day is on Saturday 8th July when we welcome Sr Gemma Simmonds. Gemma Simmonds is a sister of the Congregation of Jesus. An honorary fellow of Durham University and past president of the Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain, she has studied at the universities of Paris, London, Rio de Janeiro and Cambridge, where she undertook a doctorate in theology. To find out more about “Called to be an inclusive church”and Gemma Simmonds attend 10am-4pm, please bring a packed lunch. Donation £10 book at – jenny@irenaeus.co.uk or tel-0151-949 1199.
Divine Mercy Pilgrimage to Krakow, Poland 11th to 15th September & led by Fr Mario. Guided tour to Divine Mercy Chapel, John Paul II Centre, Marian shrine Czestochowa, Wawel Cathedral & Bishop’s Palace. Flying from Manchester. 5 days and includes bed, breakfast & evening meal. £585 per person sharing or £685 for single room. If interested please see Fr Mario or telephone Maria on 07576243343
We continue our reflections on Vatican II, in Part III On The Church. This time, we ask the question: ‘Why is the Church?’ Why does she exist...? The Council's answer is that her mission is to call all people of all times to holiness, which is why she must evangelise. What this means for us is given in Lumen Gentium Chaps 5 and 6, taken together. Podcast 9 and its handout are now available on the diocesan website at dioceseofshrewsbury.org in the section on 'News and Events'. A leaflet outlining the content of all of the podcasts is available in the parish. If you have difficulty accessing this material or have questions and reflections, please don’t hesitate to contact Barbara via E: barbara.davies@dioceseofshrewsbury.org or T: 07730 526821
Stella Maris - Sea Sunday 9th July Supporters are crucial tour work. Have you considered helping us by volunteering in your Parish for Sea Sunday? It is also a day once a year when we ask for donations from church organisations to ensure that we can continue our work. If you, or a friend or family member would like to find out more about how you can help on Sea Sunday, Contact roland.hayes@stellamarismail.org or call me on 07887893763. With every blessing, Roland Hayes.
Love the Stranger: In light of the challenges we face in the UK, advocating for the dignity of refugees and migrants amidst a hostile environment, the Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) which Caritas Shrewsbury is a member of, welcomes the teaching document Love the Stranger from the Department of International Affairs at the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW). The document offers 24 guiding principles and has been endorsed by the Holy See, COMECE, CAFOD, CSAN and Caritas Social Action Network members. You can download Love the Stranger at https://www.cbcew.org.uk/love-the-stranger/
Gentle reminder for people to park thoughtfully behind church and not all park at the front thus denying access to the rear of the car park. A little thought goes a long way.
A message from the Lourdes Pilgrimage Director: Bookings have been coming into the Pilgrimage Office steadily over the last months, but there are still spaces available with a few seats left on the pilgrimage coach and more available on the plane. Booking details can be found on the pilgrimage website www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk . Can any potential pilgrims book with us as soon as possible - many thanks.
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Prayer for World Peace
O Lord God, we pray for peace and love in all the nations, among all the people that all wars and hatred will end. We pray for those who suffer from war, injustice and intolerance, for the children, young people, the poor, the poor and neglected ones. We pray for peace in our life, lands, nations, families and in our hearts. Lord give us world peace. We ask your mercy in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
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Prayer to St Thomas the Apostle
O Glorious St Thomas, your grief for Jesus was such that it would not let you believe he had risen unless you actually saw him and touched his wounds. But your love for Jesus was equally great and led you to give up your life for him. Pray for us that we may grieve for our sins which were the cause of Christ’s sufferings. Help us to spend ourselves in his service and earn the title of “Blessed” which Jesus applied to those who would believe in him without seeing him. Amen
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Saturday 1st 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2nd 5.00pm Vera & Arthur Brockway RIP
9.30am Neil Parkinson RIP
11.00am Doreen Fitzgerald (St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday St Thomas Ap 3rd 9.15am Service of the Word & Communion
Tuesday 4th 9.15am Service of the Word & Communion
7.00pm Novena
Wednesday 5th 9.15am Pat Bevan RIP
Thursday 6th 7.00pm Graham Sabino RIP
Maggie Kowalska (St Anne’s)
MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 7th 9.15am Mary Whitty RIP
Saturday 8th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Tony Armstrong 3rd Anniv RIP
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 9th 9.30am Mike Daly 12th Anniv of his Ordination to the Diaconate
11.00am Maureen Concannon (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 1st 6.30pm Catherine Walker RIP
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2nd 11.15am Brendan Galvin Remb.
Monday 3rd 12 Noon No Mass today
Tuesday 4th 12 Noon No Mass today
Wednesday 5th 12 Noon Fr Mario 9th Anniversary of Ordination
Thursday 6th 7.00pm Maggie Kowalska
MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 7th 12 Noon Colan Harrington Get well
Saturday 8th 6.30pm Sr Catherine Meehan 75th Anniv. of Religious Life
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 9th 11.15am Sr Dominica Fennessy 75th Anniv. of Religious Li
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Novena to Our Lady of the Perpetual Succour will be held here at St John's on Tuesday at 7pm in the main church. All most welcome.
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