Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 20th October, 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
Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 20th October, 2024. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: REDEFINING SUCCESS
At the back of an old cupboard in the rectory a vicar found a bowl with five eggs and £1,000 in it. He asked his wife what it was and she replied that every time he preached a bad sermon she put an egg in the bowl. Feeling flushed with success the vicar said, “Only five eggs over 25 years; that’s not bad!” But his wife replied, “Well, dear, every time I collected a dozen I sold them for 50 pence!”
Sometimes we have to redefine what success really is. And it becomes clear that what the world considers to be success is usually not what Christians are striving for.
Even James and John were guilty in today’s gospel of seeking preferment. The “favour” they asked of Jesus was to exercise authority and power in the kingdom that they believed Jesus was still going to establish here on earth. They wanted to be able to control, to have the power to command people, to restrict or grant access. Does this ring any bells? Listen carefully if you are a politician, a priest’s housekeeper or a doctor’s receptionist!
Another sign of so-called success that many seek is wealth. Money is the ultimate goal of lots of people and they measure their place on the social ladder by how much they have in the bank and how much they can splash out on what passes for success in our society. A luxury home, a yacht, the best car, designer clothes, gold jewellery etc. Yet such people remain inconsolable at funerals…
The success of power and money is joined by another false idol: fame. Some people would do anything to be famous, to have their fifteen minutes in the spotlight, to be known and recognised on the street. The thousands of “wanna-bees” who turn up for TV talent show auditions bear witness to this concept of success, as does the cult of personality which raises the status of people whose contribution to making the world a better place is usually quite small indeed.
So what is success? You’ll know you’re successful, says Jesus, when you find yourself slaving for the good of others, when you’ve learned to put yourself in second place and when you feel you are at other people’s service so much that your life is being drained on their behalf. Perhaps you’d like to reconsider whether you really want to be a Christian!
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: To you I call; for you will surely heed me, O God; turn your ear to me; hear my words. Guard me as the apple of your eye; in the shadow of your wings protect me.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord; no one can come to the father except through me. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Behold, the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, who hope in his merciful love, to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine.
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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.
From Monday 20th October, all weekday Services will take place in St Anne’s house & from Monday 28th October all weekday Masses/ Services will take place in St John’s presbytery (Day Chapel).
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: amounted to £685.40p. Many thanks for your continued support.
CAFOD Family Fast Day, : envelopes are still available on the table at the back of church. (If you are a taxpayer, please complete the Gift Aid section). Envelopes need to be returned by 27th October.
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 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 and days.
In Memoriam: Please pray for 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. The next date is SUNDAY 3rd NOVEMBER.
For this popular social gathering to continue more volunteers are needed. If you can spare some time, please contact Noelene Evans on 645-6055.
St John's Infants are looking for a parish representative to join our Governing Body as a foundation governor. If you are interested in taking on this role, can you please speak to Fr Mario or give Miss Sharkey a call at school (645 5291).
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. Preparation is each Friday at 6.30pm – 7.30pm in St Anne’s Presbytery.
St John's Altar Servers: We are looking for some more altar servers for our Masses & 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
Sunday 20th October Mission Sunday: The Mass will include prayers & hymns in languages spoken by our community. There are so many different cultures within St John’s & St Luke’s Parishes & we would like to encourage people to share with us. Please see the sheets at the back of church to sign up to be involved. Please also have a word with Fr Mario. It would also be a great privilege for people to come to Mass in their national dress. There will be a joint parish celebration in St Anne’s Parish Hall after the 11.00am Mass to share food from different countries. Please bring along your favourite national dish.
Missio Red Box Collection : Thank you to all who contribute to Missio via the Red Boxes; please return the current contents of your boxes to St John's. There are also offertory envelopes at the back of church. If you are a taxpayer, please complete the back of the envelope and return them by the end of October.
Johann Sebastian Bach: Sunday 3rd November 2024 at 6.30pm at St Michael and All Angels, New Hey Road, Woodchurch, Wirral CH49 5LE. See poster at the back of church.
WORDS FOR WORSHIP: Let us pray for the Church throughout the world that it may be always attentive to those in need, and may constantly seek new ways of serving God by putting itself at the service of humanity. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for those in political authority at local and national level that they may work for the good of those who elected them and, forsaking all goals of personal advancement, may see themselves as called to serve the good of the community. Lord, in your….
Kim Leadbeater MP is introducing a bill to introduce assisted suicide, which will be voted on by MPs on the 29 November. We know that assisted suicide laws in other jurisdictions have had devastating consequences for the poor, disabled and marginalised. This is the biggest threat to the vulnerable in a decade, and we need a huge effort to lobby MPs. Please contact your MP by visiting www.livesworthliving.org.uk . As Bishop Mark instructed in his address on Sunday, silence is not an option. Please take the time to make your feelings known to your MP before 29th November.
October Month of the Rosary: A pilgrim statue is continuing to circulate the parish as usual. If you would like to partake in this Rosary Chain of Prayer, please see Maria Fryer.
November Lists: Please ensure that all names for the November List are handed into the presbytery by this Sunday, 20th October. This allows time to compile the lists. Please make the envelopes "For the attention of Ann Murray" and please print all names clearly. Many thanks.
LIVERPOOL WELSH CHORAL present: Fauré: Requiem and Gounod: Saint Cecilia Mass Christ Church Port Sunlight Saturday 9th November. Tickets £20, available from www.lwcu.co.uk
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Saturday 19th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm For prisoners & dependents
Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time 20th 9.30am For Christians throughout the World
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 21st 9.15am Peter John Hughes (Hospital)
Tuesday 22nd 9.15am Carol Braden (Hospital)
Wednesday 23rd 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Paul Green RIP
Thursday 24th NO MASS
Friday 25th 9.15am Ints Clare Monaghan
Saturday 26th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm In Honour of St Anne- Pray for Families
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 27th 9.30am In Honour of St John – Pray for parishioners, young people & good friendships in the parishes.
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 19th 6.30pm For Prisoners & their Families
Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time 20th 11.00am Frank Chew RIP
Monday 21st 12 Noon Joe Whitty RIP
Tuesday 22nd 12 Noon Jack Pelchy RIP & Ints for all who loved and cared for him
Wednesday 23rd 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Thursday 24th NO MASS
Friday 25th 12 Noon Jimmy Entwistle RIP
Saturday 26th 6.30pm Helen Otuisa- Ashuikeka RIP 1st Anniv
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 27th 11.00am For Families
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Annual Remembrance Mass:
will take place on Wednesday, 6th November, at 7pm, here at St John's. Invitations have been sent out to our parish family members who have been bereaved over this past year. Please come along and support them and also to remember and reflect upon the lives of members of your own families who have died. You are also invited to stay after the service for light refreshments.
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