Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. 1st September, 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 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, 1st September, 2024. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: WORTHLESS WORSHIP
Canon O’Gloom rubbed the sleep out of his Sunday morning eyes as he managed to open the church just before the first parishioners turned up for the 9 o’clock Mass. The beer cans, chip papers and confetti in the porch reminded him that he really must get round to organising some sort of cleaning rota now that no one was left from the old one.
At seven minutes past nine he beckoned to Eleanor White who put on a backing CD of the Entrance Song, “I rejoiced when I heard them say let us go to God’s house”. A few faithful bothered to join in but most just listened to the synthesised sound of the keyboard and the croaking of the music group led by Sid Montgomery.
During the first reading the altar boy was sent off to go and get a taper to light the candles with. This came as a pleasant distraction from Cynthia Purejoy’s mumbling from the Book of Lamentations. Thank God the microphone wasn’t working.
Another blessing came when Canon O’Gloom announced he wasn’t going to preach today because he knew everyone wanted to be off and away early so they could enjoy the beautiful weather.
Clyde Schnell took the collection with his usual aplomb. There was no procession of the gifts since Sunday communion always came from the tabernacle, and soon we were into the Eucharistic Prayer. Clyde continued passing the basket, oblivious that something greater than his own performance was taking place in the sanctuary area.
Josh Wilkins tried to take part in the proceedings but was sucked into crawling under the pews to retrieve the felt-tip pens that his little sister Emily dropped while filling in a colouring book of scenes from the Book of Exodus.
As the congregation came forward for communion (under one kind only) they were treated to a rendition of the “Ride of the Valkyries” from Maria Gonzalez’s mobile phone. A second collection to support retired nuns meant that Clyde stepped up to the plate once more before the congregation peeled out to “O, Lord, my God!”
It was then that Canon O’Gloom was struck by a phrase from today’s gospel:
“This people honours me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me.”
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long. O Lord, you are good and forgiving, full of mercy to all who call to you.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: The just will live in the presence of the Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life; you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: How great is the goodness, Lord, that you keep for those who fear you.
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SUNDAY IS WORLD DAY OF SPECIAL PRAYER FOR THE CARE OF CREATION
PLEASE NOTE: Fr Mario will be away throughout August until the first week of September. Some of the priests who help us will also be on holiday. As a result, Weekend Masses will remain the same, but Weekday Masses will be as follows:
St Anne’s: Every Wednesday at 12noon
St John’s: Every Friday at 9:15am
Devotions/Adoration: Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises) from 10:30am-11:30am. There will be no Confessions during August
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: amounted to £672.19p. Many thanks for your continued support.
Retiring Collection-There will be a retiring collection for Evangelii Gaudium Sunday over the weekend of 14th /15th September. Please be as generous as you can.
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 and days.
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. This SUNDAY 1st SEPTEMBER is the next date.
Autumn Sale SUNDAY 1st September 2024 Books and Plants
Paperbacks to while away the winter blues; 20p each.
Nursery grown winter bedding plants: including pansies, primroses, violas, polyanthus and spring bulbs at bargain prices!
Raffle: will be drawn on Tuesday 3rd September and winners will be notified by telephone
Over 55 Group next meeting on Tuesday, 3rd September at St Anne's Parish Centre. Speaker: Mary accompanied by her Assistance Dog. All Welcome.
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. We would like to invite all young people in Year 7 and above for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Preparation will begin in September. Please speak to Fr Mario and/or contact St John's by email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com if you would like to receive this special Sacrament.
Face book: St John’s now has a new Face book page which will advertise Mass times & information on various church events. Please ‘like,’ follow & share to make this page more widely known & relevant. To find our page, search on Facebook for St John the Evangelist New Ferry
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 Parents, grandparents & parishioners -please encourage our young people to become involved in this important ministry.
Pause for Hope is an ecumenical service for all those suffering from cancer, those caring for family or friends with cancer, and those affected in any way by cancer. This year the service takes place on Sunday 15th September at 3pm in Saint Columba’s church, Chester. It is an opportunity to come together to pray and to support one other.
WAR MEMORIAL APPEAL: Following the recent request, if you have any information about any of the names on our War Memorial, please would you either email to stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com or push it through the Presbytery door? There has been a good response so far, and it would be great if we could discover something about every name. Thank you.
MEDJUGORJE IRISH CENTRE PILGRIMAGES APRIL - OCT 2024:7 Nights Apartment B&B from €273 (Euros) per person sharing. Airport transfer available on request. Contact us for details and book the dates that suit you. Tel. 020 3239 8662 or website www.med-irishcentre.com
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Saturday 31st 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Kevin Fitzpatrick B.day Rem.
Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st 9.30am Janina & Teodor Hanczaryk B.day Annv.
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 2nd NO MASS TODAY
Tuesday 3rd NO MASS TODAY
7.00pm Novena
Wednesday 4th 12 Noon MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Thursday 5th NO MASS TODAY
Friday 6th 9.15am MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
World Peace
Saturday 7th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm In Thanksgiving (JM)
Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 8th 9.30am Nena (PA)
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 31st 6.30pm Nijole Kelly RIP
Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st 11.00am James Armstrong Anniv.
Monday 2nd No Mass today
Tuesday 3rd No Mass today
Wednesday 4th 12 Noon MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Helen Lloyd RIP
Thursday 5th No Mass today
Friday 6th 12 Noon Funeral Mass Joe Witty
Saturday 7th 6.30pm Anna Ashuikeka 9th Anniv.
Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 8th 11.00am Jack McCormich Remb.
———————————————————————————————————- Pope Francis's Prayer Intentions for September: For the cry of the Earth. We pray that each one of us will hear and take to heart the cry of the Earth and of victims of natural disasters and climate change, and that all will undertake to personally care for the world in which we live.
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