Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 23rd June, 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
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 23rd June, 2024. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: A HERE-AND-THERE GOD
Job is often credited with being a patient man. We talk of the patience of Job perhaps because so many awful things happened to him and yet he kept his faith in God. Yet it didn’t stop him from having a go at God and complaining about his circumstances. In today’s reading God comes back at him and says, “Where were you when I was creating the world?”
Our relationship with God in Christ is a strange one. On the one hand we keep God at a distance, recognising that he is all-powerful, that he is the author of creation and that we are nothing but impotent compared to the attributes of God. Yet on the other hand we claim enormous intimacy with God, calling him our Father, confiding our hopes and fears to him and expecting him to forgive our faults and failings.
The idea that God is up there in heaven and completely beyond our fathoming is called God’s transcendence. The idea that he is very much present here on earth, accessible in Jesus and made visible in the lives of other people is called God’s immanence. Today’s scripture reveals that our God is both transcendent and immanent. He’s both here and there. When Jesus and the disciples are in the boat and it’s in danger of sinking their natural reaction is to turn to Jesus who calms the storm. This teaches us a number of things. Firstly, it teaches us that God hasn’t just made the world and then left it to its own devices. Jesus uses the power given by his Father to intervene. God is not simply transcendent, not simply up there. He’s here as well. And secondly it shows us the closeness of Jesus’ relationship with the Father that he could rebuke nature and it would obey him. This story is perhaps one way in which St Mark tries to let us know how the disciples gradually learned Jesus’ secret: that he was the Messiah of God.
Unlike the disciples, Job had no trouble realising that God was up there and yet down here. He recognised that God was responsible for creating the world and keeping it in being and yet he dared to call on God to engage in the most mundane things.
If you were looking for God today, would you look up there or down here?
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: The Lord is the strength of his people, a saving refuge for the one he has anointed. Save your people, Lord, and bless your heritage, and govern them for ever.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: O give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures for ever.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind, so that we can see what hope his call holds for us. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: The eyes of all look to you Lord, and you give them their food in due season.
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Saturday is a special day of prayer for those who suffer persecution, oppression & denial of Human Rights.
Please be aware of Masses over the next week as Fr Mario is away in Medjugorie so no Sacrament of Reconciliation on 22nd & 29th June.
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 & 11.00am. All are welcome.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: amounted to £648.45p
Many thanks for your continued support.
If you have any queries regarding parish matters or if you wish to arrange a Baptism, Wedding or Funeral please contact Fr Mario on 0151-645 3996. You can also get in touch with Carol Dalziel on 07808975011 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.
In Memoriam: Please pray all the faithful departed that they may rest in the peace of Christ.
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. Sunday 7th July is the next date.
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.
Other Social activities: We would like some volunteers to join our group to help to arrange various social activities this year. Please ring/text Diane Baylis on 07946916338.
Confirmation 2024 for St John’s & St Anne’s will be held at St Anne’s on Wednesday 27/11 at 7.00pm.
CELEBRATION -On Friday 5th July there will be a thanksgiving Mass for Fr Mario on his 10th year Anniversary as an ordained priest. Our three parishes – St John’s, St Luke’s and St Anne’s will celebrate together. Mass will be at St Anne’s at 7pm, followed by coffee and cake in the presbytery. All most welcome.
An Evening with Dr Bill Keimig this Monday 24th June at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall, Holy Angels Church, Wicker Ln, Hale Barns, Altrincham WA15 0HG. Dr Bill Keimig, from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in the USA, will lead an evening filled with laughter, inspiration and wisdom as he shares his insights and experiences of parish renewal and leading RCIA. This is open to all and especially to volunteers, catechists and those who are curious! This promises to be a fantastic evening, so please sign up early via this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/evening-with-dr-bill-keimig-tickets-902343853757. For any further details please contact Natalie Orefice, Diocesan Mission Catechist natalie.orefice@dioceseofshrewsbury.org or telephone 07730 526826.
Called to the Priesthood – Have you considered a vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood in imitation of Jesus the Good Shepherd? For more information see our website at shrewsburyvocations.org If you would like to explore God’s call for your life and learn about other opportunities for discernment, please email the diocesan vocationsdirectorat vocationsdirector@dioceseofshrewsbury.org For more resources, see the National Office for Vocation at www.ukvocation.org and www.ukpriest.org
SVP and CAFOD working together in the run up to the General Election As Catholics, we know that tackling poverty and injustice are among the most important issues politicians should act on. St Vincent de Paul Society and CAFOD have produced a guide for Catholics for the General Election, with suggested questions to ask candidates. Please see cafod.org.uk/encounter or svp.org.uk/encounter for more information.
Anointing and Healing Service: There will be no Service in July. The next Service will be Friday, 2nd August at 7pm. More details to follow.
Garden Party: The ladies of St Luke's are organising a Garden Party to be held on Saturday 29th June 2-4pm at 76 Church Road, Bebington. Everyone Welcome. Could you, please, indicate to one of the Ladies from St. Luke's if you are joining us next Saturday. (we don't need names just numbers for catering purposes) thanks.
‘Go tell the priests to come [here] in procession’ is the theme of this year’s Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes from 26 July to 1 August (depending on travel). We are expecting more pilgrims to journey with us this year, and it will be our largest pilgrimage since the pandemic. There are still some places available if you would like to join us this year. For more information, please see the pilgrimage website www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk or phone the Pilgrimage Office on 07970943940.
Please help Let’s End Poverty and Caritas engage with local candidates at this General Election Caritas Shrewsbury are part of the Let’s End Poverty national movement. Can you help support work to champion the common good, and the preferential option for the poor, at the General Election? Please use the new online tool for individuals to write to your local candidates, asking them what they plan to do to tackle poverty if they are elected: https://letsendpoverty.co.uk/election/#email-candidates
St John's Altar Servers: We are looking for some more altar servers for our Masses and special occasions. Any boy or girl who has made their First Holy Communion is eligible to become an altar server. If interested, please have a word with Fr Mario or make contact through the parish email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Parents, grandparents and parishioners please encourage our young people to become involved in this important ministry,
SJP Open Day - Friday 5th July at 2.00pm: All parishioners of St Anne's, St John's and St Luke's are invited to attend an Open Day/Afternoon at SJP for tea, coffee, cakes and other refreshments. This is an opportunity for the school to reach out to its local parishes and to show them with pride some of the their great achievements and ongoing initiatives. It is also an opportunity for us as parishioners to (re)connect with the school and to show our support through attendance and collaboration. Please note your name and a contact number on the sheet at the back of church so that the school can estimate numbers. Please do all you can to attend.
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Saturday 23rd 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm People in prison
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time 22nd 9.30am Ray Taylor RIP
Monday Nativity of John the Baptist 24th 12 Noon St Anne’s only
Tuesday 25th 9.15am For those seeking employment
Wednesday 26th 2 Noon St Anne’s only
Thursday 27th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Pray for all parishes, young people & good friendships.
Friday 28th 12 Noon St Anne’s only
Saturday 29th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Anne Sinclair RIP
Feast of SS Peter & Paul 30th 9.30am Dave Jones RIP
7.30am 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 22nd 6.30pm Ints Fr Mario
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time 23rd 11.00am Godwin Raymon Mahendran Birthday
Monday 24th 12 Noon Tony Duff Anniv
Tuesday 25th 9.15am MASS AT ST JOHN;S ONLY
Wednesday 26th 12.Noon Lee Layfield RIP
Thursday 27th 9.15am MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 28th 12 Noon St Anne’s Schoolchildren
Saturday 29th 6.30pm Mary Duff Anniv
Feast of SS Peter & Paul 30th 11.00am Parishioners of St Anne’s, St John’s, St Luke’s
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Pope Francis’s Prayer intention for June;
We pray that migrants fleeing from war and hunger; forced to undertake journeys full of danger and violence, find welcome and new opportunities in the countries that receive them.
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