Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, 10th November, 2024. Cycle B
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
Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, 10th November, 2024. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: SMALL CHANGE?
When the man at the checkout apologised to the woman for giving her so many coins in her change the woman said “No, that’s fine. I need some small change for Church tomorrow.” The supermarket cashier looked surprised but the woman didn’t notice. In the Temple the coin boxes were made in the shape of a horn or trumpet. People queued up and then threw their coins in. You could tell what they gave by the sound that the noise made. The two coins that the widow put in were called “lepta” which means “thin”. They were the smallest denomination of currency. But they were her last.
Jesus doesn’t condemn the rich people who put in more money than the widow, but he does praise her for her wholehearted generosity. For there is one important difference between them: the widow didn’t give the leftover money she had; she gave all that she had. The rich people could afford to put in more but she couldn’t. She gave to God all that she had and then simply trusted that God wouldn’t let her down and would take care of her (like the widow in today’s first reading from the Book of Kings). This gospel is not intended to accuse us of being stingy with our donations to the Church collection. Rather it serves to point out the difference between “what” we give and “how” we give it. The widow made her donation not out of guilt or fear but because she was in love with God. Nothing of what she had was to be held back from God. Anyone can serve God from their surplus. What counts, though, is serving God when it means making a sacrifice. And this applies to all areas of our religious practice, not just money. Are we prepared, like the widow, to place ourselves entirely in the hands of God or do we need some form of safety net, just in case? Is the practice of our faith unconditional or do we hold back? In fact, is it possible to serve God and yet keep a nest-egg held in reserve? Apparently not, says Jesus. And so he was unconcerned by the smallness of the widow’s mite but mightily impressed by the way she gave it.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Let my prayer come into your presence. Incline your ear to my cry for help, O Lord.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: My soul, give praise to the Lord
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: The disciples recognised the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread.
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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 11.00am- 11.30am.
Infant School: Mass on Monday, 11th November will be held in the Infant School at 9.15am for Yr 1 children. All most welcome.
From now on all morning services will take place in St Anne’s house and from Monday 28th October at St John’s Monday and Friday Masses will be held in the Day Chapel, Tuesday and Wednesday Masses will remain in the main Church.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: amounted to £591.42p. Many thanks for your continued support.
Cafod Family Fast Day collection received jointly from St John’s and St Luke’s amounted to £555.00p which included £380 gift aid. Many thanks for your generosity and continued support.
THE CRISIS IN SOUTH SUDAN: There will be retiring collections for the work of the SVP in South Sudan after Mass on 30th November and 1st December. This is a joint collection between St John’s & St Luke’s SVP Conferences. Poverty and extreme hunger continue to rise estimates of at least 1.4 million children under the age of 5 are suffering from acute malnutrition. Alongside extreme hunger and destitution many face displacement, unaddressed health issues, bereavement and homelessness. Thankfully with your continued donations, SVDP South Sudan can continue to run their life-saving projects and provide hope and assistance to those suffering.
Bookings for the reception & Celebration of Sacraments: Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation & Wedding, Please enquire & arrange for these through the parish emails / Secretaries of St. Anne’s & St. John’s. Also contact the Parish Priest/ Administrator through 0151-645-3314 You can also get in touch with Carol Dalziel on 7808975011 or Ann Murray on 07745490279 regarding general parish queries.
SJE’s Parish Safeguarding Officer is Celia Daly, who can be contacted on 0151-645 9256 on all safeguarding matters.
Mass Intentions If you would like to have a Mass said for your own or someone else’s intentions , fill in one of the Mass offering envelopes at the back of Church, place a donation in it & put it through the Presbytery letterbox. Please give at least three weeks’ notice as we are receiving a large number of requests for particular dates and days.
In Memoriam: Please pray for the repose of the soul of Eileen Spencer who died peacefully on Tuesday. Funeral details to follow. Please keep Eileen and her family in your prayers.
Please also pray for the repose of the soul of Gladys Mary Hughes who died recently Funeral Mass here at St John’s on Tuesday, 12th November at 9.30am followed by burial at Bebington Cemetery at 10.45am.
Please also pray for the repose of the soul of Monsignor Peter Walton who died recently. Vigil Mass at St Alban’s, Wallasey, Monday 18th November at 7pm. Requiem Mass on Tuesday, 19th November 11.30am, followed by internment at Frankby Cemetery. May Eileen, Gladys and Monsignor Peter and all the faithful departed rest in the peace of Christ. Please also keep their families in your prayers at this time.
Children's Liturgy – takes place during the 9.30am Mass. All are most welcome.
Sunday Morning Teas continue on the first Sunday of each month. Come along for tea/coffee & biscuits whilst enjoying a chat. The next date is SUNDAY 8th December . For this popular social gathering to continue more volunteers are needed. If you can spare some time, please contact Noelene Evans on 645-6055.
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help to support our local Foodbank as much as you can with both food & funds. All items urgently needed are listed on the notice board at the back of church. Thank you.
Confirmation 2024 for St John’s & St Anne’s will be held at St Anne’s on Wednesday 27th November at 7.00pm.
Assisted Dying: You are encouraged by your Bishop to write to your MP, Alison McGovern, to express your concern over the Euthanasia Bill before Parliament, promoting end-of-life procedures. DO TAKE ACTION. Also petition online – “Go Citizen” to register your concerns. Please take the time to make your feelings known to your MP before 29th November.
EUCHARISTIC HOUR OF PRAYER FOR LIFE 13th November As our country faces the threat of euthanasia with its deadly implications for some of the most vulnerable I am forwarding a prayer resource sent from the Secretariat of the Bishops Conference for intercessory prayer across England and Wales on Wednesday 13th November. The Bishops of England and Wales will be praying together before the Blessed Sacrament. Holy Hour will take place from 9.30-10.30am at ST JOHN’S and 5.30 pm to 6.30pm AT ST ANNE’S. There is also a dedicated resource page on the website of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales and a video message from Cardinal Nichols.
Talk by Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald at St Werburgh’s Chester on Wednesday 13th November at 7.30 pm-9.00pm: Cardinal Fitzgerald has spent all his working life as a missionary on the interface between Islam and Christianity, heading important Vatican departments in this field and working in key Middle East postings, including Egypt and Jerusalem. He is coming to St Werburgh’s (CH1 1QJ) to talk about Muslim-Christian Relations Today, and to answer our questions. All very welcome.
Recruitment process for the Diocesan Director of Schools role: further details can be found at https://www.tes.com/jobs/vacancy/director-of-schools-birkenhead-2130729 .If you would like further information or candidate pack and application form please contact Liam Dowds, Emmaus Advising Consultant, on 01737 652 043 or email at ldowds@emmausleadership.me
Rosary Service to celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be held at St John’s on Thursday, 21st November at 2pm. Speaker: Fr Humphrey O’Connor. All most welcome. See poster at the back of church.
Advent Day by Day booklets containing daily readings throughout Advent are on sale on the table at the back of church. They are £1. Please leave money in the box provided.
The Joint 3 Parishes Christmas Party is on Sunday1st December 1-5pm at St Anne’s Social Club. Raffle tickets will be on sale from this weekend and throughout November.
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Saturday 9th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Luciana Sadri RIP
Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 10th 9.30am Eileen Spencer RIP
3.00pm Benediction
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 11th 9.15am Mass in the Infant School for Yr 1
Eileen Spencer RIP
Tuesday 12th 9.30am Funeral Mass – Gladys Hughes
Wednesday 13th 9.30-10.30am Eucharistic Hour of Prayer for Life
MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Thursday 14th NO MASS
Friday 15th 9.15am Eileen Spencer RIP
Saturday 16th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Josephine & Michael Murray RIP
Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 17th 9.30am Brian Robert Jones Bday Rem RIP
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 9th 6.30pm For the Family of Mary & Joe
Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 10th 11.00am Joe Whitty RIP
Monday 11th 7.00pm Remembrance Mass
Tuesday 12th 12 Noon Tom McGenity RIP
Wednesday 13th Mass at St. Anne’s Only
5.30-6.30pm Eucharistic Hour of Prayer for Life
7.00pm Mona Heaney RIP
Thursday 14th NO MASS
Friday 15th 12 Noon Bridie Browne RIP 10th Annv
Saturday 16th 6.30pm Ann Vesey RIP
Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 17th 11.00am Franklin Family
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“They shall not 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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