Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 9th 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
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 9th June, 2024. Cycle B
Extract taken from Seasons of the Word. Fr Denis McBride
All ancient religions and cultures have stories which portray the beginning of the world. The story of Genesis invites us to imagine a garden where there was complete harmony between man and woman, between human beings and God, between the human world and the world of animals and nature. In this garden peace presides over everything. But there is a veto on eating from the tree which yields knowledge of all things, including death. The woman is tempted by the serpent to eat the forbidden fruit; the promise is made that “your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil”. Genesis teaches us a profound truth about sin: when we sin we cannot face each other openly. Neither can we face God. In the story of Genesis God has to seek out the first human beings. So the question of a questing God: “Where are you?” When the man and woman finally emerge from their hiding place they are banished from the garden into the chaos that exists outside its gates. The first human beings are the first refugees; they are banished from their home, condemned to make do in the world that is no longer under their authority. In the beginning there was the exile The experience of distance from God dominates much of the prayer of the people of Israel. In the fullness of time, however, God sent his Son. But, as we learn from the Gospels, Jesus was not accepted by his own people. He was an exile in his own homeland, forced to flee from his own town. In today’s Gospel, Mark tells us that Jesus’ own relatives think that he is demented. No doubt they cannot understand why Jesus does the things he does, why he associates himself with so many undesirables. Jesus brings home the kind of people that any normal parent might regard with undisguised horror. The relatives make their disapproval known; they want to take charge of him. They do not understand that Jesus has his charge from someone else. His Father. Jesus is not disowning his family; he is acknowledging a relationship that is higher than the physical bond. He establishes a new family of relations, no doubt hoping that his own relatives, like everyone else, will come to accept him for who he is. The Good News is that we are part of Jesus’ new family. We are his mother and brothers and sisters – if we do the will of God. Doing the will of God may alienate us from our family and relatives, but the witness of Jesus always points towards a more important relationship. That is why we gather each week as a family of faith: to bless our Father and gain strength from our brothers and sisters.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; whom shall I dread? When those who do evil draw near, they stumble and fall.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my saving strength.
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St John’s Junior School children made their First Holy Communion today at 10.00am and 12 Noon, congratulations to them all. Please keep the children and their families in your prayers as they continue their faith journey.
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 £546.25p. Many thanks for your continued support.
Day for Life–There will be a retiring collection over the weekend of 15/16th June.
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.
The next Grace Group meeting will take place on Tuesday 11th June, when they will be discussing Sarah & Hagar.
DIVINE MERCY CELEBRATION AND VENERATION OF 1st CLASS RELIC OF ST FAUSTINA Led by Fr Peter Prusakiewicz from Poland who travels the world proclaiming and explaining the Divine Mercy devotion and talking about his experience of St Michael the Archangel and Holy Angels, please join us at St Anne's Rock Ferry from 12 o'clock to 2.30pm on Wednesday 19th June for Holy Mass and a talk, followed by a Eucharistic healing service with veneration of a 1st class relic of St FAUSTINA. There will also be an opportunity to purchase rosaries and the Angels magazine.
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 on 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 vocations directorat 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.
A vacancy has arisen for a Parish Secretary at the parish of St Anne’s, Rock Ferry. Hours: 15 per week, to be spread over Monday to Friday mornings (flexible). hourly rate: £14.00. For further details please see the Diocesan Website https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/ Applications in the form of a CV and covering letter should be sent to Pauline McCulloch recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date: Friday 22 June 2024.
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Saturday 8th 10.00am First Communion
12 Noon First Communion
5.00pm Nora McCormick Annv.
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 9th 9.30am Ted Corrigan B.day Rem RIP
3.00pm Benediction
7.30pm No Prayer Meeting tonight
Monday 10th 9.15am Vocations
Tuesday 11th 9.15am Philly McLean B.day Anniv
Wednesday 12th 9.15am Victims of domestic abuse
Thursday 13th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
World Peace
Friday 14th 9.15am All young people taking exams
Saturday 15th 5.00pm Margaret Ellis RIP
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 16th 9.30am Margaret McGrath RIP
7.30pm No Prayer Meeting tonight
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 8th 6.30pm World Peace
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 9th 11.00am 60 years of Friendship
Monday 10th 12 Noon Margaret Kennish RIP
Tuesday 11th 12 Noon Sister Sandra Harrington’s Golden,Jubilee
Wednesday 12th 12.Noon Ann Rees B.day Remb
Thursday 13th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 14th 12 Noon Mr & Mrs Okafor RIP
Saturday 15th 6.30pm Anne McGrory RIP
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 16th 11.00am All the lonely and housebound
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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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