The Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, 5th 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 First Sunday in Ordinary Time, 5th November, 2023. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: HIDING BEHIND THE MASK?
In Greek theatre, actors who played the parts of the different characters had a special name. They were called hypocrites. Hypocrite did not imply any lack of sincerity on their behalf. It was simply the Greek word for the job they did on stage. And they never needed to spend hours in the make-up room. Instead of getting themselves into character with greasepaint they wore a mask instead. This mask could be tied on or it might be held in front of the face on a short stick, like participants at a masked ball. So the mask told you if they were a hero or a villain. Jesus uses the word hypocrite to describe the Scribes and Pharisees because they do not practise what they preach. They are the leading lights in a movement to teach the religious Law and regulate how people live their life. Yet Jesus says they appear to be offering help when in fact they are only making life more burdensome for people. What's more, they are quite fond of being given honour for what they do when they should really be the servants of the people.
Religious people are prone to hypocrisy. In fact, that's the criticism that's often levelled against those who go to church by those who don't. It's easy to think that we must automatically be better than those who do not outwardly seem to be living the life that God asks of us. Of course, there's always room for a few more hypocrites in church, since those who complain about us often display a similar hypocrisy in their lack of commitment.
At the heart of this hypocrisy is a lack of humility. We do not practise our religion as a result of being good. We practise it because we know how needy we are and how much we depend on God even for the little about us that is of value. Humility means acting with our real faces on view, with no mask. It means accepting that all of our achievements, all of our skills and our tendencies to goodness are first and foremost the result of God's initiative and grace. So as we settle into our bench today we are reminded that all we have comes from God and we cannot claim to be better than anyone else due to our own merits. Only if we have this humility will we be exalted in God's eyes. Otherwise we are simply holding up a mask against reality and waiting for the hypocrites' curtain call.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Forsake me not, O Lord, my God; be not far from me! Make haste and come to my help, O Lord, my strong salvation!
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: Keep my soul in peace before you, O Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life: you have the message of eternal life.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: You will show me the path of life, he fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.
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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.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £618.80p. Thank you for your continued generosity.
Clergy Education & Training Fund: There will be a retiring collection over the weekend of 18th/19th November. Thank you for your support in these difficult times.
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!
CAFOD Family Fast Day: Last weekend to return your envelopes is THIS WEEKEND 4/5th November. Many thanks for your continued support to CAFOD.
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.
In Memoriam – Please pray for the repose of the soul of Catherine Hawkins who died on 11th October. Catherine's Funeral Service will be held on 8th November at 9.30am at Landican Crematorium Centre Chapel. Please keep Catherine's family in your prayers. Also pray for Fr Mario’s family on the death of his younger sister Helen on Thursday 26th October. May Catherine 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.
St Anne's 55 Group: will be holding a Bring & Buy Sale on Tuesday, 7th November at 12.30pm at St Anne's Lourdes Hall with all proceeds towards Christmas Party. All welcome.
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 the 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.
The Annual Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated in Church on Thursday 9th November at 7.00pm with a particular focus given to those parishioners & friends who have died this year. Invitations have been sent to all families who have been bereaved from last November to October this year. Everyone is most welcome to come along & support the families, also to reflect on the members of their families who have died.
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.
World Day of the Poor is Sunday, 19th November. Please see resources on the notice board at the back of church for details of a Novena.
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.
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Saturday 4th 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time 5th 5.00pm Bernard & Patricia Smith RIP
9.30am Bishop Brian Noble Anniv RIP
11.00am Dec’d Mmbrs of Joan Turner’s Family (St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 6th 9.15am Billy Ryan
Tuesday 7th 9.15am Joe Moore RIP
7.00pm Novena
Wednesday 8th 9.15am Leo & Cath Shore RIP
Thursday 9th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Annual Remembrance Mass for All Deceased Parishioners
Friday 10th 9.15am Peace in the Holy Land
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
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 4th 6.30pm Tony McCluskey RIP
Thirty First Sunday 5th 11.15am Gerard Edwards B’day Remembrance
Monday 6th 12 Noon UCM
Tuesday 7th 12 Noon Joanne Jones Bday Remembrance
Wednesday 8th 12 Noon Mary Mercer RIP
Thursday 9th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 10th 12 Noon Gerry Brown RIP
Saturday 11th 6.30pm Helen Otuisa RIP
Sunday 12th 11.15am All those who lost their lives in War
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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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