St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard Forshaw Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, 14th October 2018. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: GOOD EXCUSES
Emma went to church and wanted to “follow Jesus” as he asked, but there were a few problems. Her boyfriend thought religious people were “nutters” so she played down her involvement with St John’s parish so as not to lose him. Her friends thought she was mad for going to church and none of her neighbours ever darkened the doors. So she decided to keep turning up on Sundays but to keep her head down and never volunteer for any parish activity. Simon was a university student brought up Christian but had lapsed from any practice of his faith. Talking to the chaplain Simon was adamant that his priorities had to be different at the moment. He had his exams to pass. And wasn’t university about fun, having a good time instead of spending hours at the local soup kitchen? He intended to be successful, make a packet and then he’d have time for more religious things. Barbara lent money. Some would call her a loan shark. She earned a nice living off the interest she took from local people. This money fuelled her drugs habit and paid for the large amount of alcohol she consumed each week. She had this nagging feeling that God was calling her to a different way of life, a deeper relationship with him. But it would mean giving up all of this, and could she do it? She decided not. Tom was actually quite active in his parish. He was a reader and played in the music group. He’d felt the call to become a priest but it would mean leaving the job he enjoyed so much at the bank. The thought of being uprooted for studies and possibly being sent to some other area (or country) to serve as a priest was not a prospect he relished.
For Emma it was someone. For Simon it was a question of someday. For Barbara it was something she couldn’t give up. And for Tom it was somewhere he didn’t want to be. Jesus says, “Sell all you own and come follow me.” What’s your excuse?
Readers – Please note a date for your diary. There will be a meeting on Saturday 3rd November at 10am in church to discuss Year C of the Lectionary which begins on the 1st Sunday of Advent.
Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items for the ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned fish and/or meat, tinned fruit, tinned custard, pasta sauce, long grain rice, instant mash, deodorant, washing powder tablets
ACTS’ (‘ADULT CATHOLICS TOGETHER SPIRITUALLY’) 2018 residential retreat will take place on Fri 26 OCT – SUN 28 OCT. Fr Tony McGrath will lead the retreat entitled ‘Living the Eucharistic Mystery’ to coincide with ‘The Year of the Eucharist’. Each Sunday the Church gathers together to celebrate the Eucharist, “the source and summit of the Christian life” and Fr McGrath will help us explore what this means for our daily life. Venue: St Winefride’s Guest House in Holywell, North Wales (lifts may be available). Attendees will be invited to give an anonymous donation (suggested £100). For further information contact Siobhan Cartwright (Tel: 0161 477 2783 / mobile 07761 138947) or email siobhanbc@gmail.com.
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
If you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box
by 12 noon on Thursdays. Many thanks.
WORD FOR TODAY
We can all claim to be Christians. But is our Christianity simply cultural and superficial? The founder of Christianity was executed for what he stood for. How far are we prepared to go in standing up for what we believe?
| 28th Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 14th | 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm |
St John’s Parish
Ints Norah & Bill Martin (50th Wedding) Prayer Meeting |
||
| Monday | 15th | 9.15am | Ints Holy Family Sisters | ||
| Tuesday | 16th | 9.15am | Gerard Edwards RIP | ||
| Wednesday | 17th | 9.15am | Ints Ruth Hegarty | ||
| Thursday | 18th | 10.00am | Funeral Mass
John Joseph Murphy |
||
| Friday | 19th | 9.15am | For Sick Parishioners | ||
| Saturday | 20th | ||||
| 29th Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 21st | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
John McIntosh RIP
Jean Roberts RIP Prayer Meeting |
||
| Confessions | 10.30am -11.15am | ||||
| Morning Prayer | 15 minutes before daily Masses | ||||
Money Matters: Offertory collection £605.88p
Thank you for your continued generosity.
CAFOD’s Harvest Family Fast Day… CAFOD envelopes are on the table at the back of Church and can be returned in the offertory bag anytime up to and including the last weekend in October.
First Forgiveness /First Holy Communion : If there are any children attending non-Catholic schools who wish to celebrate these sacraments please make contact with Fr Bernard as soon as possible
Confirmation 2018: This year’s LPA Confirmation Mass, celebrated by Bishop Mark, is to take place at St Anne’s, Rock Ferry on Friday 23rd November at 7pm. Please keep all the candidates their parents and catechists in your prayers.
Recently Deceased : Please remember those members of the parish who have died recently , especially John Joseph Murphy whose Funeral Mass is here on Thursday at 10am.
Bishop’s Pastoral Visit: A warm welcome to Bishop Mark Davies who is visiting St John’s and St Anne’s Parishes this weekend. He will preside and preach at all the Masses and there will be an opportunity to meet him after both Masses and particularly on Sunday after 9.30am Mass when there will be the usual Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre.
Thank you to all those who attended the Coffee Morning on Thursday in the Parish Centre with .Refreshments, White Elephant Stall, Traidcraft Goods. An opportunity to prepare a shoebox of gifts for children overseas– help with decorating & selecting items for the boxes. Proceeds towards T4U Charity, Traidcraft & Parish Funds. This will be repeated today after the 9.30am Mass. It provides a good opportunity to help others less fortunate than ourselves.
Canonizations in Rome : Today (Sun) in St Peter’s Square Pope Francis will celebrate Mass during which he will canonise (declare a saint) Pope Paul VI, Archbishop Oscar Romero and five others. We ask the intercession of these “new saints” for the Synod on Young People taking place in Rome this month and for the needs of the whole Church.
October Rosary………the Rosary is being prayed each weekday in a different home in the parish…thanks to those who have offered to host/lead this important devotion.
The launch of a New SVP Group at St John’s : Do you want to put your faith into practice in a positive way? Well – here is your chance!! We want to support the great work that SVP members in our parishes have done over the years and continue to do so by re-starting our parish SVP group. There will be a further SVP meeting and gathering this Thursday at 7.30pm in the presbytery. All are welcome………..please encourage a fellow parishioner/friend to attend with you. There is plenty of work to be done. Further enquiries to Paul Lever on 07703045223 or email lever.paul51@tiscali.co.uk. <mailto:lever.paul51@tiscali.co.uk>
On Saturday 3 November 2018 at 11.00 am at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King there is a Mass to celebrate Catholic Education and pray for members of our present school community. In particular this year, we are dedicating the Mass to Mrs Young and celebrating all that she achieved during her 21 years as Headmistress of Upton Hall School. Everyone associated with Upton Hall School and Holt Hill Convent is warmly invited.
At Easter time 2019, the HCPT group will once again be taking a small group of vulnerable and disadvantaged children on a pilgrimage to Lourdes. Following on from the success of the Irish Dancing Afternoon Tea fundraiser last January and due to public demand we are holding another event at St Anne’s Parish Centre, Rock Ferry on Sunday 4 November, 12-4pm. Tickets will beavailable @ £8 for adults and £5 for accompanying children. We understand that Christmas is just around the corner, and money is a struggle, but we would really appreciate any support for this event. It would make a lovely Christmas gift for a Grandparent!! Please contact Erin McCulloch on 07473311235 or by email erinmcculloch6@hotmail.co.uk if you are interested or know anyone who might be!! All proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards expenses for the trip. Join us for a fun afternoon of Ceili dancing, Afternoon Tea, Irish Bingo, a raffle and traditional Irish dancing!!
Social Club Manager, Wirral based. SDCC are looking to recruit a capable and enthusiastic individual to efficiently manage and develop a club operation within the Wirral Peninsula. Further details can be found at http://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/about-us/curia/vacancies . CV’s should be sent to Pauline.mcculloch@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date Friday 26 October.
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard Forshaw Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, 7th October 2018. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: SCIENCE AND RELIGION
The story of the boy who cried wolf is not true. But what it says is true. There never was such a historical boy. But the moral remains true: if you consistently lie than you run the risk of not being believed when you are telling the truth.
Sometimes, especially in America, Church people engage in battles with scientists about what the bible says on the origins of humanity and what science says it now knows to be virtually certain. It’s the old Creation versus Evolution debate. Today’s Genesis readings tells us about God making Adam fall into a deep sleep and then making Eve out of one of Adam’s ribs. Is this true? Do we have to believe it? Did it really happen like that? Most Christians would accept that the bible is telling a story. It is not trying to be historical; it can’t be since there was no one else there in the story except God and Adam. It is not trying to be scientific or to give a medical explanation for how men and women came about. It’s just a story. But it’s still true. Because, like the tale of the boy who cried wolf, it what it’s really trying to say that is important. It’s the “meat” of the story that counts. And what the writer is attempting to convey is that animal and human life comes from a divine creator and our surroundings depend on that creator for everything. Because men and women are the product of God’s love then they are drawn to each other in the bond of marriage in a way that reflects God’s love: eternal, indissoluble and unconditional. Genesis wants to say nothing more and nothing less. What a pity it would be if Christians thought that their faith precluded them from rejoicing in scientific discoveries about the origins of our universe and human life. And what a pity, too, if scientists were given the impression that Christians were so hidebound that they believed in a talking snake.
Readers – Please note a date for your diary. There will be a meeting on Saturday 3rd November at 10am in church to discuss Year C of the Lectionary which begins on the 1st Sunday of Advent.
Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items for the ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned fish and/or meat, tinned fruit, tinned custard, pasta sauce, long grain rice, instant mash, deodorant, washing powder tablets
ACTS’ (‘ADULT CATHOLICS TOGETHER SPIRITUALLY’) 2018 residential retreat will take place on Fri 26 OCT – SUN 28 OCT. Fr Tony McGrath will lead the retreat entitled ‘Living the Eucharistic Mystery’ to coincide with ‘The Year of the Eucharist’. Each Sunday the Church gathers together to celebrate the Eucharist, “the source and summit of the Christian life” and Fr McGrath will help us explore what this means for our daily life. Venue: St Winefride’s Guest House in Holywell, North Wales (lifts may be available). Attendees will be invited to give an anonymous donation (suggested £100). For further information contact Siobhan Cartwright (Tel: 0161 477 2783 / mobile 07761 138947) or email siobhanbc@gmail.com.
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
If you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box
by 12 noon on Thursdays. Many thanks.
WORD FOR TODAY
The love between a man and woman reflects the love that God first had for us in creating us and sustaining us in life. That’s why married love knows no bounds, is holy, unbreakable and unconditional. So it’s part of our nature to love, since our human existence is a sharing in God’s nature, and God’s nature is love itself.
| 27th Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 7th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Clifford Saalmans B.day Remembrance RIP
Oliver Newnes Anniv RIP Prayer Meeting |
||
| Monday | 8th | 9.15am | Ints Margaret Brannock | ||
| Tuesday | 9th | 9.15am | Ints Fr Stephen Coonan | ||
| Wednesday | 10th | 11.00am | Funeral Mass
Maura Guthrie |
||
| Thursday | 11th | 9.15am | Ints Jackie Mitchell | ||
| Friday | 12th | 9.15am | Ints Larkin/Meaney Fam | ||
| Saturday | 13th | ||||
| 28th Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 14th | 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm |
St John’s Parish
Ints Norah & Bill Martin (50th Wedding) Prayer Meeting |
||
| Confessions | From next Saturday 13th Oct at new time of 10.30am -11.15am | ||||
| Morning Prayer | 15 minutes before daily Masses | ||||
Money Matters: Offertory collection £628.44p
Thank you for your continued generosity.
Last Friday was CAFOD’s Harvest Family Fast Day………did you remember? Did you pray and fast for the poor and hungry of our world? CAFOD envelopes are on the table at the back of Church and can be returned in the offertory bag anytime up to and including the last weekend in October.
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre. Why not stay a while and meet up with friends old and new. Thank you to the Confirmation candidates who helped to serve tea and cake after last Sunday’s Mass as part of their preparation.
First Forgiveness /First Holy Communion : If there are any children attending non-Catholic schools who wish to celebrate these sacraments please make contact with Fr Bernard as soon as possible
Wedding: Congratulations, best wishes and prayers to Lorna Rook and Daniel Williams married here at St John’s yesterday .
Recently Deceased : Please remember those members of the parish who have died recently , Maura Guthrie : Funeral Mass this Wednesday 10th Oct at 11.00am. Also John Joseph Murphy whose Funeral Mass is here on Thursday 18th October at 10am.
Aid to the Church in Need: Annual Event in the Diocese this Sunday 7th October. Talks on the Suffering Church in Iraq and Pakistan at St Columba’s Church in Chester at 3pm.
Coffee Morning on Thursday 10:00am – 1:00pm in the Parish Centre .Refreshments, White Elephant Stall, Traidcraft Goods. Opportunity to prepare a shoebox of gifts for children overseas– help with decorating & selecting items for the boxes will be available. Proceeds towards T4U Charity, Traidcraft & Parish Funds. This will be repeated next Sunday 14th after the 9.30am Mass. It provides a good opportunity to help others less fortunate than ourselves.
October Rosary………the Rosary is being prayed each weekday in a different home in the parish…thanks to those who have offered to host/lead this important devotion. There will be a Public Rosary next Saturday at 2pm in St Werburgh’s Square. This is being organised by the Legion of Mary and everyone is welcome to join them.
Explore Mary at SS. Catherine & Martina’s Hoylake this Tuesday from 7-8.30pm……….a Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team night of music and fun! If you are in High School and love music this night is for you. Join the SYMT team for a night of fun, uplifting music, inspiring talks, prayer and food. All most welcome.
Bishop’s Pastoral Visit: Bishop Mark will be visiting St John’s and St Anne’s Parishes next weekend 13th/14th October. He will preside and preach at all the Masses and there will be an opportunity to meet him after both Masses and particularly on Sunday after 9.30am Mass when there will be the usual Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre. The Bishop will visit St John’s Infant and Junior School on Tuesday where he will lead assemblies, visit each class and talk to the Head teacher’s and members of staff. Bishop Mark will visit St John Plessington Catholic College later in the year ……..during the Season of Advent.
The launch of a New SVP Group at St John’s : Do you want to put your faith into practice in a positive way? Well – here is your chance!! We want to support the great work that SVP members in our parishes have done over the years and continue to do so by re-starting our parish SVP group. Last weekend’s appeal inspired many of you to attend last Thursday’s meeting in the Day Chapel. There will be a further SVP meeting and gathering on Thursday 18th October at 7.30pm in the presbytery. All are welcome………..please encourage a fellow parishioner/friend to attend with you. There is plenty of work to be done. Further enquiries to Paul Lever on 07703045223 or email lever.paul51@tiscali.co.uk.
Confirmation 2018: This year’s Confirmation Mass for our LPA Parishes will be held at St Anne’s Rock Ferry on Friday 23rd November at 7pm. The preparation programme is now in full flow and the Candidates were enrolled at Mass last Sunday. Confirmation is open to Candidates who are currently in Year 9 of High School or above. For further information and to register please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard Forshaw Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, 30th September 2018. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: FEELING THREATENED?
Do you sometimes feel threatened by things that are happening in the Church? It may range from something quite simple like the introduction of new music or a new style of worship, to wide-ranging attitudes like the role of women, how the Church should respond to people in difficult relationships or how it should react to advances in science, medicine, technology or even government. It’s natural to be wary of change because if we allowed ourselves to be blown around like a weather vane then we’d lose all sense of direction. Yet someone once said that the motto of the twenty-first century should be “Change is here to stay! ”Sometimes we resist change because we feel it threatens our customs and traditions. But at other times we resist it simply because we find it hard to take it from the people who are pushing for the change. This is what happened to St John in today’s gospel. He failed to recognise the Spirit working in a man he didn’t know, a man who was not one of the group. Of course, if we behaved like this then we would deny our parishes the opportunity of being enriched by anything new. We would not benefit from the cultures of people whose background is different from ours. We would be deaf to the pleas of how to engage young people in our parish activities, how to reach out to those in our neighbourhood who do not know Christ or make provision for new ways of pooling our human and spiritual assets in an age of diminishing Church resources. Are you fundamentally open to the work of the Spirit or do you prefer things to stay as they are? Jesus tells John that anything done by people who are not against us must be good. Yet at times we find ourselves reacting against “new ideas” because they disturb our status quo.
A sign of Christian maturity is to recognise the Spirit at work even when what is being suggested challenges us. Some people embrace the work of the Spirit when they see the light. Others only do it when they feel the heat. Either way the choice is yours.
Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items for the ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned fish and/or meat, tinned fruit, tinned custard, pasta sauce, long grain rice, instant mash, deodorant, washing powder tablets
ACTS’ (‘ADULT CATHOLICS TOGETHER SPIRITUALLY’) 2018 residential retreat will take place on Fri 26 OCT – SUN 28 OCT. Fr Tony McGrath will lead the retreat entitled ‘Living the Eucharistic Mystery’ to coincide with ‘The Year of the Eucharist’. Each Sunday the Church gathers together to celebrate the Eucharist, “the source and summit of the Christian life” and Fr McGrath will help us explore what this means for our daily life. Venue: St Winefride’s Guest House in Holywell, North Wales (lifts may be available). Attendees will be invited to give an anonymous donation (suggested £100). For further information contact Siobhan Cartwright (Tel: 0161 477 2783 / mobile 07761 138947) or email siobhanbc@gmail.com.
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
If you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box
by 12 noon on Thursdays. Many thanks.
WORD FOR TODAY
We can’t put limits on how and where God’s Spirit works and sometimes good can clearly come from the most unexpected of sources. The degree to which we are open to the Spirit working elsewhere is the degree to which the Spirit can work through us.
WORD OF GOD
If only the whole people of the Lord were prophets, and the Lord gave his Spirit to them all! (Numbers 11: 29)
| 26th Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 30th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Ints. Hornby Family
St John’s Parishioners Prayer Meeting |
||
| Monday | 1st | 9.30am | Funeral Mass for Ellen Barnet | ||
| Tuesday | 2nd | 9.15am | Ints Sr Teresa Quinn | ||
| Wednesday | 3rd | 9.15am | Ints Kathleen Higgins | ||
| Thursday | 4th | 7.30am | Ints Joyce McKeown | ||
| Friday | 5th | 9.15am | For the Hungry | ||
| Saturday | 6th | ||||
| 27th Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 7th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Clifford Saalmans B.day Remembrance RIP
Oliver Newnes Anniv RIP Prayer Meeting |
||
| Confessions | Saturday 4.15-4.45pm | ||||
| Morning Prayer | 15 minutes before daily Masses | ||||
Many thanks to Canon Hoban and Fr Anselm OSB for celebrating Wednesday’s and Friday’s Masses.
Money Matters: Offertory collection £496.75p
Thank you for your continued generosity.
Next Friday is CAFOD Harvest Family Fast Day Cafod envelopes are on the table at the back of Church and can be returned in the offertory bag either next weekend or the following weekend.
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre. Why not stay a while and meet up with friends old and new.
Recently Deceased : Please remember those members of the parish who have died recently Ellen Barnet : Funeral Mass tomorrow (Mon) at 9.30am. Maura Guthrie : Funeral Mass Wednesday 10th Oct at 11.00am.
The Annual Benediction in Honour of St Teresa is being held today at 3pm at the Carmelite Monastery in Birkenhead. All most welcome.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour monthly Devotion & Benediction this Tuesday 2nd Oct (and every 1st Tuesday of the month) here at St John’s at 7pm .
A New SVP Group within the Parish“Do you want to put your faith into practice in a positive way? Well – here’s your chance! September is SVP Awareness Month and we want to support the great work that SVP members in our parish have done over many years, and continue to do, by re-starting our parish SVP group. Members of the SVP will speak at the Masses this weekend, and explain how you can make a real difference to the lives of people in need in our area by becoming a member. The talk at Mass will be followed by a meeting in St. John’s Presbytery this Thursday 4th October at 7.30 pm. when more detailed information will be given.”
Confirmation 2018: This year’s Confirmation Mass for our LPA Parishes will be held at St Anne’s Rock Ferry on Friday 23rd November at 7pm. The preparation programme has now begun and the Candidates will be enrolled at Mass this Sunday. Confirmation is open to Candidates who are currently in Year 9 of High School or above. For further information and to register please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk
175th Anniversary of Holy Childhood/Mission Together: On Wednesday at 10.30am Bishop Mark will celebrate Mass at St Anne’s Rock Ferry to mark this special anniversary. Representatives from the 20 Catholic schools on the Wirral (plus St John Plessington Catholic College) will join Bishop Mark along with local clergy and APF officials. This is a major Diocesan event and we are honoured that St Anne’s has been chosen to host it.
Bishop’s Pastoral Visit: Bishop Mark will be visiting St John’s and St Anne’s Parishes on the weekend of 13th/14th October. He will preside and preach at all the Masses and there will be an opportunity to meet him after both Masses and particularly on Sunday after 9.30am when there will be the usual Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre. The Bishop will visit St John’s Infant and Junior School on the morning of Tuesday 9th October where he will lead assemblies, visit each class and talk to the Head teacher’s and members of staff. Bishop Mark will visit St John Plessington Catholic College later in the year ……..during the Season of Advent.
Readers – Please note a date for your diary. There will be a meeting on Saturday 3rd November at 10am in church to discuss Year C of the Lectionary which begins on the 1st Sunday of Advent.
Aid to the Church in Need: Annual Event in the Diocese next Sunday 7th October. Talks on the Suffering Church in Iraq and Pakistan at St Columba’s Church in Chester at 3pm.
Coffee Morning- Thursday 11th October 10:00am – 1:00pm in the Parish Centre .Refreshments, White Elephant Stall, Traidcraft Good. Opportunity to prepare a shoebox of gifts for children overseas– help with decorating & selecting items for the boxes will be available. Proceeds towards T4U Charity, Traidcraft & Parish Funds. This will be repeated on Sunday 14th October after the 9.30am Mass. It provides the perfect opportunity to prepare for the Christmas season and help others less fortunate than ourselves.
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard Forshaw Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, 23rd September 2018. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: SHINING EXAMPLE
Dwight L Moody was one of the greatest American evangelists of the latter nineteenth century. Born in Massachusetts he eventually became a Calvinist preacher of great renown before his death in 1899. When he was famous he organised a conference on evangelisation and invited the great and the good of his day to come along and discuss the art of preaching and how to spread the gospel. Dozens of these specialists gathered in a large church-owned building and after the tiring heavy day they retired to bed. Moody decided to do the rounds of the building to check that all was well before going to his own room. As he went around the corridors he noticed that the course participants had all left their shoes outside their rooms to be polished overnight. These preachers were obviously used to only the best hotels! Because there was no such thing as a night porter in this conference centre Moody went off and found some brushes and shoe polish. He spent several hours polishing the shoes of all the others. At one stage he was discovered by a friend who asked him what on earth he was up to. Moody explained but asked him not to tell anyone about it.
The friend was so amazed at this that he couldn’t keep the secret. He told a couple of his colleagues and gradually everyone got to know about it. A few days later some of the other eminent theologians felt so moved by what Moody had done that they offered to give him a hand and by the end of the week there was a small team that went round all the rooms at night shining up the boots and shoes. During the daytime the experts spent so much time reflecting on what it means to be a disciple of Christ but this great man showed in a very practical way that the ones who are really great in God’s eyes are those who make themselves servants of all. He knew what Jesus meant when he said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.”
Try it. It might catch on.
Open morning will be held at St John Plessington Catholic College this
Wednesday, 26th September 2018 –
9am to 11am
Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items for the ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned fish and/or meat, tinned fruit, tinned custard, pasta sauce, long grain rice, instant mash, deodorant, washing powder tablets
ACTS’ (‘ADULT CATHOLICS TOGETHER SPIRITUALLY’) 2018 residential retreat will take place on Fri 26 OCT – SUN 28 OCT. Fr Tony McGrath will lead the retreat entitled ‘Living the Eucharistic Mystery’ to coincide with ‘The Year of the Eucharist’. Each Sunday the Church gathers together to celebrate the Eucharist, “the source and summit of the Christian life” and Fr McGrath will help us explore what this means for our daily life. Venue: St Winefride’s Guest House in Holywell, North Wales (lifts may be available). Attendees will be invited to give an anonymous donation (suggested £100). For further information contact Siobhan Cartwright (Tel: 0161 477 2783 / mobile 07761 138947) or email siobhanbc@gmail.com.
Traidcraft goods will be on sale THIS weekend 23rd/24th September. Please take a few minutes to browse for ideas for gifts and cards.
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
If you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box
by 12 noon on Thursdays. Many thanks.
WORD FOR TODAY
Coming last isn’t something we usually strive to do. Yet Jesus tells us that the last place of all is the best place to put ourselves when it comes to serving others. And he should know: he emptied himself of all glory so that he could guide us towards everlasting happiness. Those who put themselves last will be first in the kingdom.
| 25th Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 23rd | 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm |
Jack McGree Annv RIP
Monica Faulkner 75th Birthday Intentions Prayer Meeting |
||
| Monday | 24th | 9.15am | Jack McCormick | ||
| Tuesday | 25th | 9.15am | Ints. Sr. Margaret Doherty | ||
| Wednesday | 26th | 9.15am | Service of Word and Communion | ||
| Thursday | 27th | 7.30am | Gerard Edwards RIP | ||
| Friday | 28th | 9.15am | No Mass or Service | ||
| Saturday | 29th | ||||
| 26th Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 30th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Ints. Hornby Family
St John’s Parishioners Prayer Meeting |
||
| Confessions | Saturday 4.15-4.45pm | ||||
| Morning Prayer | 15 minutes before daily Masses | ||||
Money Matters: Offertory collection £569.24p
Thank you for your continued generosity.
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre. Why not stay a while and meet up with friends old and new.
Our Parish Schools have begun the New School Year well. Mrs Bulmer and I would be grateful if you would remember Mrs Clare Moseley and the family in your prayers. Mrs Moseley has taught in the infant school for several years and sadly lost her husband Kieran recently. May he rest in peace. Kieran Moseley’s Funeral Mass will be at Our Lady of Pity Church in Greasby on Wednesday.
Confirmation 2018: This year’s Confirmation Mass for our LPA Parishes will be held at St Anne’s Rock Ferry on Friday 23rd November at 7pm. The preparation programme has now begun. Confirmation is open to Candidates who are currently in Year 9 of High School or above. For further information and to register please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk
Bishop’s Pastoral Visit: Bishop Mark will be visiting St John’s and St Anne’s Parishes on the weekend of 13th/14th October. He will preside and preach at all the Masses and there will be an opportunity to meet him after both Masses and particularly on Sunday after 9.30am when there will be the usual Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre. The Bishop will visit St John’s Infant and Junior School on the morning of Tuesday 9th October where he will lead assemblies, visit each class and talk to the Head teacher’s and members of staff. Bishop Mark will visit St John Plessington Catholic College later in the year ……..during the Season of Advent.
Adoremus 2018: Our gratitude to all of you who supported Adoremus with your time, enthusiasm, presence and especially your prayers. Adoremus is still available for all to experience with video keynotes and highlights https://www.shalomworldtv.org/videos/index/2590 and sound files along with downloadable copies of the talks at http://catholicnews.org.uk/Home/Special-Events/Adoremus-National-Eucharistic-Pilgrimage . Our thanks to the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales for their vision and organisation of this historic event. Do contact Fr Pat Munroe or Helen Jones should you need further information or have any comments regarding Adoremus: pat.munroe@btinternet.com or helen.jones@dioceseofshrewsbury.org .
A New SVP Group within the Parish“Do you want to put your faith into practice in a positive way? Well – here’s your chance! September is SVP Awareness Month and we want to support the great work that SVP members in our parish have done over many years, and continue to do, by re-starting our parish SVP group. Members of the SVP will speak at the Masses next weekend, and explain how you can make a real difference to the lives of people in need in our area by becoming a member. The talk at Mass will be followed by a meeting in St. John’s Presbytery on Thursday 4th October at 7.30 pm. when more detailed information will be given.”
Readers – Please note a date for your diary. There will be a meeting on Saturday 3rd November at 10am in church to discuss Year C of the Lectionary which begins on the 1st Sunday of Advent.
Parish Social/ Fundraising: As there is to be a Macmillan Coffee Morning at St Anne’s this Friday and in many of our schools etc we decided at the recent Parish Pastoral Team meeting to postpone the Quiz night until November. However the Coffee Morning will be going ahead in the Parish Centre on Thursday 11th October after 9.15am Mass.
Coffee Morning- Thursday 11th October 10:00am – 1:00pm in the Parish Centre .Refreshments, White Elephant Stall, Traidcraft Good. Opportunity to prepare a shoebox of gifts for children overseas– help with decorating & selecting items for the boxes will be available. Proceeds towards T4U Charity, Traidcraft & Parish Funds. This will be repeated on Sunday 14th October after the 9.30am Mass. It provides the perfect opportunity to prepare for the Christmas season and help others less fortunate than ourselves.
LPA Trip to Shrewsbury: The local parishes are arranging a trip to Shrewsbury this Saturday 29th September. The trip will include Mass and a tour of the Cathedral followed by free time to explore Shrewsbury. A coach will leave St John’s at 8.15am and returning from Shrewsbury at 3.15pm so back for evening Mass. There are still a few seats left on the coach so if interested please speak to Father Bernard today.
Annual Benediction in Honour of St Therese of Lisieux will be held next Sunday 30th Sept at 3pm at the Carmelite Monastery Birkenhead. All most welcome. See poster on notice board at the back of church.
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard Forshaw Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, 16th September 2018. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: TELL US WHO HE IS
“Christ” is not Jesus’ surname. It’s not Mr and Mrs Christ and their son Jesus. Insofar as Jesus had a name like ours, then it was Joshua Josephson. Christ means anointed, and in the case of Jesus it means that he is the one sent by God to reveal the true purpose of life and how to achieve it for ever. So when Jesus asked who people thought he was, it was Peter who came up with the answer: “You are the Christ”.
But if Jesus is the Christ, the anointed Son of God, then we can’t simply take it or leave it. We have to accept him as Lord or ruler of our lives. We have to accept that he offers us a different quality of life. And strangely he tells us that to keep our life we must give it up, we must carry our cross and die to self.
This is not a very popular teaching. Our world laughs at the idea and prefers a “get what you can” way of life: if I want it why shouldn’t I have it…if I think it’s OK then it is…I’m entitled to my share of the cake…charity begins at home.
So when the world asks us who this Christ is, what do our lives reply? When they ask what importance he has in our world, what do our lives show? Why do so many people live today without seeming to need to know about him? Is it because we don’t need him?
Is there anything about our lives that gives the impression that it’s someone else who makes us live? Do we appear to be living resurrected lives, on a level that is deeper than simple human existence? Do we live a comfortable Christian existence or do we take risks to live for Christ? Do our ways of looking at problems and difficulties come from Christ? Are we living a risen life? Or are we just the same as everyone else?
Taking up our cross and denying ourselves means more than not complaining about our toothache or giving up chocolate. It’s about identifying ourselves with Christ’s rejection, shame, suffering and death in order to live his new and risen existence.
Jesus asked, who do people say I am? The only way they are going to find out today is through the way we Christians live. Do we go for the easy option or do we follow the Christ of God to the point of denying ourselves for the sake of others?
Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items for the ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned fish and/or meat, tinned fruit, tinned custard, pasta sauce, long grain rice, instant mash, deodorant, washing powder tablets
ACTS’ (‘ADULT CATHOLICS TOGETHER SPIRITUALLY’) 2018 residential retreat will take place on Fri 26 OCT – SUN 28 OCT. Fr Tony McGrath will lead the retreat entitled ‘Living the Eucharistic Mystery’ to coincide with ‘The Year of the Eucharist’. Each Sunday the Church gathers together to celebrate the Eucharist, “the source and summit of the Christian life” and Fr McGrath will help us explore what this means for our daily life. Venue: St Winefride’s Guest House in Holywell, North Wales (lifts may be available). Attendees will be invited to give an anonymous donation (suggested £100). For further information contact Siobhan Cartwright (Tel: 0161 477 2783 / mobile 07761 138947) or email siobhanbc@gmail.com.
CAFOD Harvest Family Fast Day. Senior Emergency Manager Robert Cruickshank will be speaking about CAFOD’s work in the drought-ridden areas of East Africa and Ethiopia in particular. All welcome to these free events on Monday 17th September at Holy Family Church, Sale M33 2HT, from 2-4pm, and St Joseph’s Church, Penketh, Warrington WA5 2BB, from 7-9pm. RSVP if possible for catering purposes to shrewsbury@cafod.org.uk or call Katie on 01244 677594/07920 232936.
Traidcraft goods will be on sale NEXT weekend
23rd/24th September. Please take a few minutes to browse for ideas for gifts and cards.
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
If you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box
by 12 noon on Thursdays. Many thanks.
| 24th Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 16th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Ints Michael Brockway & Emily Poyser
Fr Jack McLeish RIP Prayer Meeting |
||
| Monday | 17th | 9.15am | Gerard Edwards RIP | ||
| Tuesday | 18th | 9.15am | Ints Sr Ann Marie Glynn | ||
| Wednesday | 19th | 9.15am | Ints Susan Hosie | ||
| Thursday | 20th | 11.30am | Funeral Service –
Michael McCormick |
||
| Friday | 21st | 9.15am | Service of Word & Communion | ||
| Saturday | 22nd | ||||
| 25th Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 23rd | 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm |
Jack McGree Annv RIP
Monica Faulkner 75th Birthday Intentions Prayer Meeting |
||
| SUNDAY IS A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR HOME
MISSIONS |
|||||
| Confessions | Saturday 4.15-4.45pm | ||||
| Morning Prayer | 15 minutes before daily Masses | ||||
Money Matters: Offertory collection £590.98p
Thank you for your continued generosity.
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre. Why not stay a while and meet up with friends old and new.
Our Parish Schools have begun the New School Year well. A welcome Mass will be celebrated on Friday in the Junior School for the Year 3 children. Mrs Bulmer and I would be grateful if you would remember Mrs Clare Moseley and the family in your prayers. Mrs Moseley has taught in the infant school for several years and sadly lost her husband Kieran last week. May he rest in peace. Kieran Moseley’s Funeral Mass will be at Our Lady of Pity Church in Greasby.
Confirmation 2018: This year’s Confirmation Mass for our LPA Parishes will be held at St Anne’s Rock Ferry on Friday
23rd November at 7pm. The preparation programme begins next Friday,
21st September with a meeting for candidates, their parents and catechists in the Parish Centre at 6pm. Confirmation is open to Candidates who are currently in Year 9 of High School or above. For further information and to register please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk
Lately Dead: Please pray for the repose of the soul of Michael McCormick who died in Arrowe Park Hospital recently. Funeral Service here at St John’s on Thursday at 11.30am followed by cremation at Landican.
Bishop’s Pastoral Visit: Bishop Mark will be visiting St John’s and St Anne’s Parishes on the weekend of 13th/14th October. He will preside and preach at all the Masses and there will be an opportunity to meet him after both Masses and particularly on Sunday after 9.30am when there will be the usual Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre. The Bishop will visit St John’s Infant and Junior School on the morning of Tuesday 9th October where he will lead assemblies, visit each class and talk to the Head teacher’s and members of staff. Bishop Mark will visit St John Plessington Catholic College later in the year ……..during the Season of Advent.
Adoremus 2018: Our gratitude to all of you who supported Adoremus with your time, enthusiasm, presence and especially your prayers. About 10,000 Catholics were in Liverpool last weekend for three inspirational days which deepened our understanding and relationship with the Eucharist and culminated in the Blessed Sacrament procession on Sunday. A very special thank you to all those who came into Liverpool for the procession and braved the downpours– the rain only seemed to enhance the atmosphere and singing! Adoremus is still available for all to experience with video keynotes and highlights at https://www.shalomworldtv.org/videos/index/2590 and sound files along with downloadable copies of the talks at http://catholicnews.org.uk/Home/Special-Events/Adoremus-National-Eucharistic-Pilgrimage . Our thanks to the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales for their vision and organisation of this historic event. Do contact Fr Pat Munroe or Helen Jones should you need further information or have any comments regarding Adoremus: pat.munroe@btinternet.com or helen.jones@dioceseofshrewsbury.org .
LPA 24 Annual Mass at Christ the King Bromborough this Thursday
20th September followed by light refreshments in the Parish Centre. This Mass is usually held later in the year but has been brought forward in the hope that it will be better attended. I do hope that St John’s will be well represented. Please note that there will be no Mass at St John’s this Thursday.
Parish Social/ Fundraising: As there is to be a Macmillan Coffee Morning at St Anne’s on Friday 28th September and in many of our schools etc we decided at the recent Parish Pastoral Team meeting to postpone the Quiz night until November. However the Coffee Morning will be going ahead in the Parish Centre on Thursday 11th October after 9.15am Mass, More details over the next few weeks.
A New SVP Group within the Parish
“Do you want to put your faith into practice in a positive way? Well – here’s your chance! September is SVP Awareness Month and we want to support the great work that SVP members in our parish have done over many years, and continue to do, by re-starting our parish SVP group. Members of the SVP will speak at the Masses on
29-30 September, and explain how you can make a real difference to the lives of people in need in our area by becoming a member. The talk at Mass will be followed by a meeting in St. John’s Presbytery on Thursda4th October at 7.30 pm. when more detailed information will be given.”
LPA Trip to Shrewsbury: The local parishes are arranging a trip to Shrewsbury on Saturday 29th September. The trip will include Mass and a tour of the Cathedral followed by free time to explore Shrewsbury. A coach will leave St John’s at 8.15am and will depart Shrewsbury at 4pm.
Open mornings will be held at St John Plessington Catholic College on
Wednesday, 19th September 2018 –
9am to 11am
Wednesday, 26th September 2018 –
9am to 11am
Benediction in Honour of St Therese of Lisieux will be held on Sunday 30th September at 3pm at the Carmelite Monastery Birkenhead. All Welcome
See poster on notice board at the back of church.
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard Forshaw Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, 9th September 2018. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: CURED OR HEALED?
Can you imagine what it’s like when you know things are going on around you but you don’t know what it’s all about because you’re deaf?
Can you visualise what it’s like wanting to join in all the fun but you can’t because you have a speech impediment and it takes you too long to try and get out what you want to say?
These were the problems of the man whom Jesus meets in today’s gospel. But it wasn’t just about being deaf and dumb; Jesus “unblocked” his ears and tongue as a sign that God can open us out to things unheard and unspoken. There are lots of things that stare us in the face but we still don’t grasp them.
Can you imagine not realising that God was behind creation, as if all the intricacies of the human body simply came together by chance with no intelligent design at its roots? Someone once said that this is tantamount to a whirlwind blowing through a scrap yard and a Rolls Royce being the end result!
Can you imagine going through life and just existing alongside other people without ever experiencing what friendship is? Or thinking that great leaders, inventors or artists reflected their own good qualities without any reference to something greater than themselves?Can you begin to think of what a dry and empty existence you would have if you just lived for today because you believed there is no tomorrow?
There’s much more to life than our ears can hear or our tongues can speak about. And it is this that Jesus wanted the deaf and dumb man to experience. It was not simply a physical cure. Jesus was not just a doctor; he was a healer. He let the man “be opened” to what he could not hear or speak about: to the infinite, to the true meaning of life, to the deeper joys of existence, to what matters, to a faith that he was not alone, to a trust that he would never be abandoned, to a hope that no despair can crush.
Yes, the deaf and dumb man was cured physically. But after his encounter with Jesus he could hear and speak of things that the crowd was unaware of. They watched a cure. But he went through a healing.
Following on from our successful Tuesday night Grace Group, we’re looking to start another all-female Cell Group on Wednesday evenings, starting late September. Initially meeting every week for 6 weeks, we’ll be studying the book of Esther while loving, encouraging and supporting each other through this amazing adventure called faith! If you’re interested and would like to know more, please contact Claire Griffiths on 07985 312703.
Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items for the ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned fish and/or meat, tinned fruit, tinned custard, pasta sauce, long grain rice, instant mash, deodorant, washing powder tablets
Merseyaid Thank you to everyone who has donated for the refugees. We are no longer able to accept any clothing at present as we do not have a warehouse on the Wirral to sort out and store our donations. This may change in the future and I will keep you informed. Please keep recycling your pre-loved clothing at other outlets. There are always people in need. For any information telephone me 0151 645 7645. Thank you. Cecily Sabino.
WORD FOR TODAY
What would you need to hear to make you really happy? What would you want to say with your last words ever? Jesus opens our ears and loosens our tongues. Are we listening and what have we got to say about it?
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
If you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box by 12 noon on Thursdays. Many thanks.
| 23rd Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 9th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Sid & Mary Havaard Annv RIP
Brian Nicholson RIP Prayer Meeting |
||
| Monday | 10th | 9.15am | Service of Word & Communion | ||
| Tuesday | 11th | 9.15am | In Thanks Ints St John’s School | ||
| Wednesday | 12th | 9.15am | Thomas McArdle RIP | ||
| Thursday | 13th | 7.30am | Ints Fr Frank Rice | ||
| Friday | 14th | 9.15am | Michael McCreesh RIP | ||
| Saturday | 15th | ||||
| 24th Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 16th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Ints Michael Brockway & Emily Poyser
Fr Jack McLeish RIP Prayer Meeting |
||
| SUNDAY IS A DAY OF SPECIAL PRAYER FOR
EDUCATION |
|||||
| Confessions | Saturday 4.15-4.45pm | ||||
| Morning Prayer | 15 minutes before daily Masses | ||||
Money Matters: Offertory collection £530.82p
Thank you for your continued generosity.
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre. Why not stay a while and meet up with friends old and new.
St John’s Junior School: Start of New School Year Mass in Church on Tuesday at 9.15am. Parents and Parishioners most welcome.
Baptisms: The diary for Baptisms is filling up rapidly, so please give us plenty of notice by phoning 645 3314 or emailing us, especially if you have a particular date in mind. We do not want anyone to be disappointed.
Confirmation 2018: This year’s Confirmation Mass for our LPA Parishes with Bishop Mark presiding will be held at St Anne’s Rock Ferry on Friday 23rd November at 7pm. The preparation programme will be starting very shortly and is open to candidates who are currently in Year 9 of High School or above. To register please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk or phone 0151 645 3996. All registered candidates will be contacted early this week with details of the initial meeting for candidates and their parents.
Weddings: If you are intending getting married at St John’s in 2019 please let us know as soon as possible.
Church Flowers A big “thank you” to the ladies who have joined the team following the recent appeal in the bulletin. If anyone else would like to join our happy band of flower arrangers please contact Kath Clements telephone 0151 334 8272. Ideally we would like to create a four week rota which means that we are looking for just 2 or 3 additional volunteers please.
Adoremus: This weekend
7th-9th September
During the Congress a varied Parallel Programme of events will be taking place in and around Liverpool which are open to everyone. For full details of this parallel programme please follow the Adoremus link at www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org.uk. You can also watch it live on the homepages on website:
http://catholicnews.org.uk and http://cbcew.org.uk
LIVE broadcast Sunday 9th September 11am-1pm
Please check Adoremus 2018 Time Table for the programme details available at http://catholicnews.org.uk/Home/Special-Events/Adoremus-National-Eucharistic-Pilgrimage .
Parish Social/Fundraising Activities. Many thanks to those parishioners who attended the meeting on Tuesday evening. A number of events have been planned for this term and we are always open to further suggestions. A Parish Quiz Night will be held in the Bebington Liberal Club (next to Church) on Friday 28th September and a Coffee Morning will be held in the Parish Centre on Thursday 11th October after 9.15am Mass. Further details on these events and more in next week’s bulletin.
The Parish Pastoral Team meets roughly on a monthly basis…. its minutes are on the designated notice board on the left hand side of the Church. The Pastoral Team’s next meeting is this Wednesday 12th September at 7.30pm in the presbytery. If you have any suggestions/ideas for the team to consider please place them in the suggestions box on the table at the back of Church.
LPA Trip to Shrewsbury: The local parishes are arranging a trip to Shrewsbury on Saturday
29th September. The trip will include Mass and a tour of the Cathedral followed by free time to explore Shrewsbury.
A coach will leave St John’s at 8.15am and will depart Shrewsbury at 4pm.
All members of the Shrewsbury Lourdes’ Hospitality are invited to the AGM, which will take place at 2pm on Sunday 23rd September at St Chad’s, Stockport Road, Cheadle, SK8 2AF (for full directions go to St Chad’s website http://www.stchadscheadle.com). Contact kathemsley@gmail.co.uk for further details.
Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies 2018-2019
CCRS: Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies commences on 15 September at Our Lady’s, Ellesmere Port with the first of two sessions on the Church led by Fr Michael Coughlan. You may start the course of 8 modules at the beginning of any of the modules and can take the non-assessed option if you wish. Registration at 9:30am for a 10am start – 3:30pm (please bring lunch). Full details including registration and fees online at http://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/education/ccrs
or email ccrs@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
You will be made most welcome.
CAFOD Harvest Family Fast Day. Senior Emergency Manager Robert Cruickshank will be speaking about CAFOD’s work in the drought-ridden areas of East Africa and Ethiopia in particular. All welcome to these free events on Monday 17th September at Holy Family Church, Sale M33 2HT, from 2-4pm, and St Joseph’s Church, Penketh, Warrington WA5 2BB, from 7-9pm. RSVP if possible for catering purposes to shrewsbury@cafod.org.uk or call Katie on 01244 677594/07920 232936.
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard Forshaw Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, 2nd September 2018. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: LOOPHOLE RELIGION
Cardinal Richlieu lived in 17th century France. Like all priests he had made a promise to say the prayers of the Breviary every day. These prayers probably took between 30 minutes and an hour, and in order to get through them he would start at 11.30pm and then at midnight he would say the next day’s prayers. This meant he only had to say the prayers three and a half times a week instead of seven. He fulfilled the religious requirements with the minimum of effort because he’d found the loophole.
The Pharisees in today’s gospel had similar ideas and Jesus detested what they did. They knew how to get away with the minimum because they knew the Law backwards. But perhaps they didn’t know God. They could find all the legal loopholes that made them look good without coming closer to God. And yet they were critical of other ordinary people who struggled to keep the rules. Oddly enough they were not mainly priests. They were largely lay people, illiterate merchants, country people and artisans. At the time of Jesus there were about 6,000 of them.
Jesus called them “hypocrites”, a word that simply means “play actors”. They gave a good performance but their hearts were not in it. And Jesus tells the crowd that God is not interested in the external rituals and practices but in a person’s motives. It’s not what you do but the reason you do it. The “why” is all important.
We sometimes say that a person is a “devout Catholic” or a “staunch Protestant” and we mean it as a compliment. But what does it really mean? What do we have to do in order to qualify for such a reputation? Too often we really mean that these people are always seen in church or are known for their strong beliefs. Today St. James reminds us that all the laws and customs of religion are of no use if we are not really listening to what God wants of us. And he gives us an acid test that is found throughout the bible. How do we treat people who can give us nothing in return (for him these were the widows and orphans of society)? Is our religion about seeing the face of God in the lives of ordinary people and acting on their behalf or is it simply about keeping the rules and safeguarding our traditions? Do we honour God with our hearts or just our lips??
Following on from our successful Tuesday night Grace Group, we’re looking to start another all-female Cell Group on Wednesday evenings, starting late September. Initially meeting every week for 6 weeks, we’ll be studying the book of Esther while loving, encouraging and supporting each other through this amazing adventure called faith! If you’re interested and would like to know more, please contact Claire Griffiths on 07985 312703.
Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items for the ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned fish and/or meat, tinned fruit, tinned custard, pasta sauce, long grain rice, instant mash, deodorant, washing powder tablets
Merseyaid Thank you to everyone who has donated for the refugees. We are no longer able to accept any clothing at present as we do not have a warehouse on the Wirral to sort out and store our donations. This may change in the future and I will keep you informed. Please keep recycling your pre-loved clothing at other outlets. There are always people in need. For any information telephone me 0151 645 7645. Thank you. Cecily Sabino.
WORD OF GOD
Theses people honours me only with lip-service while their hearts are far from me. (Mark 7: 6)
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
If you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box by 12 noon on Thursdays. Many thanks.
| 22nd Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 2nd | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
John McIntosh RIP
Intentions Daly Family Prayer Meeting |
||
| Monday | 3rd | 9.15am | Ints Sr Francis Guiney | ||
| Tuesday | 4th | 9.15am
7.00pm |
Michael Brannock Annv RIP
Novena |
||
| Wednesday | 5th | 9.15am | Ints Canon Brendan Hoban | ||
| Thursday | 6th | 7.30am | Jack McCormick RIP | ||
| Friday | 7th | 9.15am | Service of Word & Communion | ||
| Saturday | 8th | ||||
| 23rd Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 9th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Sid & Mary Havaard Annv RIP
Brian Nicholson RIP Prayer Meeting |
||
| Confessions | Saturday 4.15-4.45pm | ||||
| Morning Prayer | 15 minutes before daily Masses | ||||
Money Matters: Offertory collection £554.51p
The final total for the retiring collection for the Spiritans amounted to £449.80p Thank you for your continued generosity.
Baptisms: The diary for Baptisms is filling up rapidly, so please give us plenty of notice by phoning 645 3314 or emailing us, especially if you have a particular date in mind. We do not want anyone to be disappointed.
Confirmation 2018: This year’s Confirmation Mass with Bishop Mark presiding will be held at St Anne’s Rock Ferry on Friday 23rd November at 7pm. The preparation programme will start in September and is open to candidates in Year 9 and above. For further info please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk
Weddings: If you are intending getting married at St John’s in 2019 please let us know as soon as possible.
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre. Why not stay a while and meet up with friends old and new.
Catholic Chaplaincy at Wirral Hospitals.
If you or any member of your family or a Catholic neighbour or friend are admitted to any of our local Wirral hospitals and wish to be seen by the Catholic Chaplain or receive the Sacraments during their stay in hospital, please telephone 0151 678 5111 Extn. 2275 and leave the patient’s name and ward along with your request for a visit by the Catholic Chaplain.
Church Flowers A big “thank you” to the ladies who have joined the team following the recent appeal in the bulletin. If anyone else would like to join our happy band of flower arrangers please contact Kath Clements telephone 0151 334 8272. Ideally we would like to create a four week rota which means that we are looking for just 2 or 3 additional volunteers please.
Devotions to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour From THIS Tuesday 4th September at 7pm and every First Tuesday of the month thereafter a group of parishioners are going to pray this devotion in Church at 7pm. This will be followed by a monthly Benediction. All are welcome and encouraged to participate in this longstanding devotion of the Church which has and continues to bring many blessings and answers to prayer.
Parish Social/Fundraising activities. THIS Tuesday, 4th September at 7.45pm in the Parish Centre there will be a short meeting to discuss future social and fundraising activities in the Parish. What about a Christmas Fair? The Parish Pastoral Team has identified this as a possibility . Would you like to help to make it a reality bringing together our Parish Family and raising much needed money for our Parish. Please do make every effort to come to the meeting on 4th September and if you cannot make it, please let us know your thoughts/views etc.
Adoremus: Next weekend
7th-9th September in Liverpool. Our Parish Delegates should have now received their tickets and packs. If you have not received your pack please contact helen.jones@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Payments for Adoremus are now due: – £20 for one day, £40 for two. (This is the half price rate promised at the time of booking). Cheques payable to St John’s Parish (or cash) to
Fr Bernard, please, this weekend or sometime during this week.
During the Congress a varied Parallel Programme of events will be taking place in and around Liverpool which are open to everyone. For full details of this parallel programme please follow the Adoremus link at www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org.uk.
At Anne’s, Rock Ferry there will be a Day of Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesday, 5th September from 10.00am to 4.00pm.
Mass at 12 noon. This will provide a fitting and immediate preparation for those who are going
to the events in Liverpool and at the same time offer an opportunity for those who cannot attend the congress to spend some time in prayer to support it.
LPA Trip to Shrewsbury: The local parishes are arranging a trip to Shrewsbury on Saturday
29th September. The trip will include Mass and a tour of the Cathedral followed by free time to explore Shrewsbury. A coach will leave
St John’s at 8.15am and will depart Shrewsbury at 4pm.
All members of the Shrewsbury Lourdes’ Hospitality are invited to the AGM, which will take place at
2pm on Sunday 23rd September at St Chad’s, Stockport Road, Cheadle, SK8 2AF (for full directions go to St Chad’s website http://www.stchadscheadle.com). Contact kathemsley@gmail.co.uk for further details.
A Pastoral Letter
On Celebrating the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress: Come, let us adore!
To be read in all Churches & Chapels of the Diocese on Sunday 2nd September 2018
My dear brothers and sisters,
A great and historic event is about to take place in Liverpool. It will involve several thousand Catholics coming together next weekend, representing millions of the faithful across England and Wales. This, the first National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and Congress to be held in our land for more than a century, has the title ‘Adoremus’ – ‘Let us adore!’ Whilst hundreds of delegates from this Diocese will take part in the Congress on the Friday and Saturday, the National Pilgrimage will close on the Sunday with an event open to everyone: a Blessed Sacrament Procession starting from the Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King at 1 pm. I hope you may be able to take part in this act of public witness. However, I appreciate many will not be able to be physically present in Liverpool, so I write to invite you to be personally and spiritually part of this pilgrimage. Pope Francis spoke in June this year of how Christ now gives himself to us under the simple form of bread; this, the Holy Father declared, is “the only food which satisfies, for there is no greater love. There we encounter Jesus really …” It led Pope Francis to make this call to everyone: “Let us make Mass our priority! Let us rediscover Eucharistic adoration in our communities”.1
This is a beautiful description of the goals of the Liverpool Pilgrimage and Congress and explains how each of us can be part of it. It is a moment to renew our faith and love for Jesus, truly God and truly Man, who “makes himself wholly and entirely present” in the Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist.2 In the words of Saint John Paul II, “Faith demands we approach the Eucharist fully aware that we are approaching Christ himself”.3 Today in the Book of Deuteronomy we read, “What great nation is there that has its gods so near as the Lord God is to us whenever we call to him?” (Dt 4:7). The answer to this question is now wonderfully given in the Mystery of the Eucharist. May we all draw closer to Him who desired to remain so close to us, and not become like those of whom Jesus says in the Gospel, this “people honours me with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me” (Mk 7:6).
1 Homily of Pope Francis, Corpus Christi 2018
2 cf CCC 1374
3 Abide with us Lord, Apostolic Letter of Pope Saint John Paul II, 2004
1
Pastoral Letter: National Eucharistic Pilgrimage & Congress – Sunday 2nd September 2018
When the Church taught how we must each respond wholeheartedly to Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, she turned to the Gospel scenes beginning with the wise men who fell down to worship the infant Jesus. In the same way the Church teaches that, “all the faithful of Christ … must venerate this holy sacrament with the worship which is due to the true God (latria) … For in it we believe that the same God is present whom the eternal Father brought into the world, saying ‘Let all the angels of God worship Him’ (Heb. 1:6), whom the Magi fell down to worship (cf Mt 2:11) and whom finally, the apostles adored in Galilee as Scripture testifies” (cf Mt 28:17).4 In the first centuries of the Church, Saint Augustine expressed this call to adore the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood saying, “No one eats that flesh without first adoring it, we should sin were we not to adore it”.5 Eucharistic Adoration is the consequence of the Eucharistic celebration which is itself the Church’s supreme act of adoration, as Pope Benedict explained, “Receiving the Eucharist means adoring him whom we receive”.6
Next Sunday I wish to encourage you to make your own personal pilgrimage by spending some generous time in adoration of Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. Saint John Vianney said this time will be the happiest moments we spend on earth! Let us also make reparation for all our coldness and indifference towards so great a Gift as we recognise that “In the Eucharist Jesus does not give us a ‘thing,’ but himself”.7 May this also be a moment to pray for those in our own families, parishes and our nation as a whole who may have lost sight of so great a Love revealed in the Eucharist, “a love which knows no measure”.8
May this coming Sunday be marked by such adoration renewed not only in the hearts of the delegates gathered in Liverpool but in every parish and community of our Shrewsbury Diocese. Let us hear the invitation in the memorable words of Saint John Paul II, “Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love. Let us be generous in going to meet him in adoration and contemplation that is full of faith … May our adoration never cease”.9
United with you in this Eucharistic faith and adoration,
+ Mark
Bishop of Shrewsbury
4 Decree on the Most Holy Eucharist, Council of Trent, Chapter 5 5 Commentary on the Psalms 98:9
6 Sacramentum Caritatis, n 66
7 Sacramentum Caritatis, n 7
8 Ecclesia de Eucharistia, n 11 9 Dominicae Cenae, n 3
2
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard Forshaw Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, 26th August 2018. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: WHY ARE YOU HERE?
Some of the people who followed Jesus were only there for what they could get out of it. They were happy to think that he might overthrow the Romans because this would give them a chance of an easier life. They were happy to be fed along with the other 5,000 but when he started talking about being food and drink himself they ditched him. How could anyone accept such intolerable language, they said. He was demanding too much. There are people even today who treat religion as an effective form of networking, as a club or a society which it’s good to be seen at.
Others seemed to want to be involved but only on their own terms. They asked what they ought to do if they were to be pleasing to God. But in fact all they really wanted was a list of rules to follow. It’s easier to have a set of laws than to have a relationship with God, because then all you have to do is keep the laws. You don’t have to go the extra mile or show that your love is real. You just have to keep your nose clean. Our century is not short of people for whom obeying the commandments is more important than really knowing God or sharing in Christ’s suffering.
There are always people who are just there for the fun of it. They asked him for a sign, for a miracle, for some form of entertainment. Moses gave our ancestors manna; what trick are you going to do for us? And when yesterday’s miracle was over and done with they moved off in search of something else to interest them. Sometimes today too we see fickle Christians who are never happy unless they’re on a religious high. So they wander from church to church in search of the latest theories, better music, a more original style of preaching, a nicer building or a more charismatic leader. Their lack of staying power betrays a lack of commitment to Jesus.
It’s possible to call yourself a Christian but not to have a relationship with Christ. It’s possible to come to church but for the wrong reasons.
If you are to work for God, said Jesus, then you must believe in the one he has sent. After this, many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him. So why are you here?
Following on from our successful Tuesday night Grace Group, we’re looking to start another all-female Cell Group on Wednesday evenings, starting late September. Initially meeting every week for 6 weeks, we’ll be studying the book of Esther while loving, encouraging and supporting each other through this amazing adventure called faith! If you’re interested and would like to know more, please contact Claire Griffiths on 07985 312703.
Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items for the ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned custard, sugar (small if possible), washing up liquid, tea, tinned spaghetti, small cereal, sponge puddings.
Merseyaid Thank you to everyone who has donated for the refugees. We are no longer able to accept any clothing at present as we do not have a warehouse on the Wirral to sort out and store our donations. This may change in the future and I will keep you informed. Please keep recycling your pre-loved clothing at other outlets. There are always people in need. For any information telephone me 0151 645 7645. Thank you. Cecily Sabino.
WORD FOR TODAY
By our celebration of the liturgy we make Christ truly present among us. We are nourished by his word and fed by his very body and blood. What else could we ask for? Where else could we think of going?
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
If you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box by 12 noon on Thursdays. Many thanks.
| Twenty First
Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B |
26th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Ann Gemmell B.Day Ints
St John’s Parishioners Prayer Meeting |
||
| Monday | 27th | No Mass or Service | |||
| Tuesday | 28th | 9.15am | Ints Alexander Family | ||
| Wednesday | 29th | 9.15am | Service of Word &b Communion | ||
| Thursday | 30th | 7.30am | Ints Bishop Brian Noble | ||
| Friday | 31st | 9.15am | Ints Grace Group | ||
| Saturday | 1st | ||||
| Twenty Second Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 2nd | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
John McIntosh RIP
Intentions Daly Family Prayer Meeting |
||
| Confessions | Saturday 4.15-4.45pm | ||||
| Morning Prayer | 15 minutes before daily Masses | ||||
Money Matters: Thank you for last weekend’s Offertory collection which amounted to £491.89p.
Fr Kenneth Okoli of the Spiritans (the Holy Ghost Fathers) thanks everyone for your welcome last weekend. The retiring collection raised £424.80p. Thank you for your great generosity.
World Meeting of Families: Dublin, Ireland has been chosen by Pope Francis to host this weekend’s World Meeting of Families guided by the theme “The Gospel of Family: Joy to the World”. Held every three years, this major international event brings together families from across the world to celebrate, pray and reflect upon the central importance of marriage and the family as the cornerstone of our lives, of society and of the Church.
Baptisms: The diary for Baptisms is filling up rapidly, so please give us plenty of notice by phoning 645 3314 or emailing us, especially if you have a particular date in mind. We do not want anyone to be disappointed.
Confirmation 2018: This year’s Confirmation Mass with Bishop Mark presiding will be held at St Anne’s Rock Ferry on Friday 23rd November at 7pm. The preparation programme will start in September and is open to candidates in Year 9 and above. For further info please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk
Weddings: If you are intending getting married at St John’s in 2019 please let us know as soon as possible.
Catholic Chaplaincy at Wirral Hospitals. If you or any member of your family or a Catholic neighbour or friend are admitted to any of our local Wirral hospitals and wish to be seen by the Catholic Chaplain or receive the Sacraments during their stay in hospital, please telephone 0151 678 5111 Extn. 2275 and leave the patient’s name and ward along with your request for a visit by the Catholic Chaplain.
Church Flowers A big “thank you” to the ladies who have joined the team following the recent appeal in the bulletin. If anyone else would like to join our happy band of flower arrangers please contact Kath Clements telephone 0151 334 8272. Ideally we would like to create a four week rota which means that we are looking for just 2 or 3 additional volunteers please.
Devotions to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Following on from the very well supported Novena held here at St John’s in June from Tuesday 4th September at 7pm and every First Tuesday of the month thereafter a group of parishioners are going to pray this devotion in Church at 7pm. This will be followed by a monthly Benediction. All are welcome and encouraged to participate in this longstanding devotion of the Church which has and continues to bring many blessings and answers to prayer.
Parish Social/Fundraising Activities. On Tuesday, 4th September at 7.45pm in the Parish Centre there will be a short meeting to discuss future social and fundraising activities in the Parish. What about a Christmas Fair? The Parish Pastoral Team has identified this as a possibility . Would you like to help to make it a reality bringing together our Parish Family and raising much needed money for our Parish. Please do make every effort to come to the meeting on 4th September and if you cannot make it, please let us know your thoughts/views etc.
Adoremus: Delegates should receive their tickets and packs over the next few days. If you have not received your pack by 28th August, please contact Helen.jones@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
During the Congress a varied Parallel Programme of events will be taking place in and around Liverpool which are open n to everyone. For full details of this parallel programme please follow the Adoremus link at www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org.uk.
At St Anne’s, Rock Ferry there will be a Day of Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesday, 5th September from 10.00am to 4.00pm. Mass at 12 noon. This will provide a fitting and immediate preparation for those who are going
to the events in Liverpool and at the same time offer an opportunity for those who cannot attend the congress to spend some time in prayer to support it.
LPA Trip to Shrewsbury: The local parishes are arranging a trip to Shrewsbury on Saturday
29th September. The trip will include Mass and a tour of the Cathedral followed by free time to explore Shrewsbury. A coach will leave St John’s at 8.15am and will depart Shrewsbury at 4pm. If you are interested please sign your name to the list at the back of Church
by 31st August.
The next singing practice will be this Thursday 30th August at 7.30pm in the Day Chapel. These are not CHOIR practices but for ANYONE who enjoys SINGING. All welcome.
Foundation Governors: The Diocese has a number of vacancies for Foundation Governors within our Deanery particularly people with financial experience. If you would be interested in joining a Governing Body then please contact Sue Blackwell at the Curial Offices sue.blackwell@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items for the ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned custard, sugar (small if possible), washing up liquid, tea, tinned spaghetti, small cereal, sponge puddings.
Merseyaid Thank you to everyone who has donated for the refugees. We are no longer able to accept any clothing at present as we do not have a warehouse on the Wirral to sort out and store our donations. This may change in the future and I will keep you informed. Please keep recycling your pre-loved clothing at other outlets. There are always people in need. For any information telephone me 0151 645 7645. Thank you. Cecily Sabino.
WORD OF GOD
This is the bread come down from heaven,not like the bread our ancestors ate:they are dead. But anyone who eats this breadwill live for ever. (John 6: 58)
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
If you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box by 12 noon on Thursdays. Many thanks.
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard Forshaw Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, 19th August 2018. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: I AM
When Moses asked God what his name was, God said it was “I AM” (Yahweh). It was God’s way of saying that he was the source of all being, the author of life, the indescribable one.
In St John’s gospel Jesus calls himself “I AM” on eight occasions. We’re not just talking about “I am…” in a simple way, as when we say “I am going home…I’m hungry…I’m fed up”. We’re talking about “I AM” as a title, a name. So we hear Jesus call himself (with this divine title) the Light of the World, the Gate of the Sheepfold, the Good Shepherd, the Son of God, the Resurrection and the Life, the Way, Truth and Life, and the Vine. And today St John recalls that Jesus said, “I AM the Bread of Life”.
Each time St John quotes this title, “I AM”, he is trying to show the divinity of Jesus. He is trying to show that the teaching of Jesus points to a oneness between himself and the Father. What Jesus has to offer is different from any other teaching, because it comes from God. Unlike any other teaching it offers life. It lasts. The bread that Jesus offers is not like the manna that people of old ate, for they are now dead. But whoever eats his flesh will live for ever.
To accept Jesus as the Bread of Life, the living bread, means that we draw the meaning of life from him. To eat and drink his body and blood means that he is what nourishes all our existence. His person, his teaching and his presence pulsate through all our decisions, our choices and our actions. He becomes the source and cause of our life. We can wander through this world living and breathing like everyone else, but that is no guarantee that we have life within us. But anyone who hears Jesus say “I AM the Bread of Life” and eats and drinks of his flesh and blood has eternal life. Not just in the future but now. For his flesh is real food and his blood is real drink. Are you convinced? I am.
Twentieth
Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B
19th
5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm
James & Janette McLaughlin Annv RIP
John McLean RIP
Prayer Meeting
Monday
20th
9.15am
Service of Word & Communion
Tuesday
21st
9.15am
Service of Word & Communion
Wednesday
22nd
9.15am
Service of Word & Communion
Thursday
23rd
9.15am
Service of Word & Communion
Friday
24th
9.15am
Brian Nicholson RIP
Saturday
25th
Twenty First Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B
26th
5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm
Ann Gemmell B.Day Ints
St John’s Parishioners
Prayer Meeting
Confessions
Saturday 4.15-4.45pm
Morning Prayer
15 minutes before daily Masses
Fr Frank Rice celebrates his 90th birthday today (Sunday 19th August). Please keep Fr Frank in your thoughts and prayers as he now resides in Brookfield Nursing Home in West Kirby.
Money Matters: Thank you for last weekend’s Offertory collection which amounted to £526.55p.
Annual Mission Appeal This weekend Fr Kenneth Okoli will be celebrating both Masses for Fr Bernard and preaching the Annual Mission Appeal (at both St John’s and at St Anne’s) on behalf of the Spiritans (the Holy Ghost Fathers). I know you will give Fr Kenneth a warm welcome and be generous to the retiring collection.
Baptisms: The diary for Baptisms is filling up rapidly, so please give us plenty of notice by phoning 645 3314 or emailing us, especially if you have a particular date in mind. We do not want anyone to be disappointed.
Confirmation 2018: This year’s Confirmation Mass with Bishop Mark presiding will be held at
St Anne’s Rock Ferry on Friday
23rd November at 7pm. The preparation programme will start in September and is open to candidates in Year 9 and above. For further info please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk
Weddings: If you are intending getting married at St John’s in 2019 please let us know as soon as possible.
Catholic Chaplaincy at Wirral Hospitals. If you or any member of your family or a Catholic neighbour or friend are admitted to any of our local Wirral hospitals and wish to be seen by the Catholic Chaplain or receive the Sacraments during their stay in hospital, please telephone 0151 678 5111 Extn. 2275 and leave the patient’s name and ward along with your request for a visit by the Catholic Chaplain.
Church Flowers A big “thank you” to the ladies who have joined the team following the recent appeal in the bulletin. If anyone else would like to join our happy band of flower arrangers please contact Kath Clements telephone 0151 334 8272. Ideally we would like to create a four week rota which means that we are looking for just 2 or 3 additional volunteers please.
Devotions to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Following on from the very well supported Novena held here at St John’s in June from Tuesday 4th September at 7pm and every First Tuesday of the month thereafter a group of parishioners are going to pray this devotion in Church at 7pm. This will be followed by a monthly Benediction. All are welcome and encouraged to participate in this longstanding devotion of the Church which has and continues to bring many blessings and answers to prayer.
Adoremus: Our tickets should be issued in about ten days’ time and then Fr Bernard will be looking for the half price payments from participants.
There will be a Deanery Day of Eucharistic Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament at
St Anne’s, Rock Ferry, on Wednesday
5th September from 10.30am to 4pm including Mass at 12 noon. This will provide a fitting and an immediate preparation for those who are going to the events in Liverpool and at the same time offer an opportunity to those who cannot attend the congress to spend some time in prayer to support it.
Following on from our successful Tuesday night Grace Group, we’re looking to start another all-female Cell Group on Wednesday evenings, starting late September. Initially meeting every week for 6 weeks, we’ll be studying the book of Esther while loving, encouraging and supporting each other through this amazing adventure called faith! If you’re interested and would like to know more, please contact Claire Griffiths on 07985 312703.
LPA Trip to Shrewsbury: The local parishes are arranging a trip to Shrewsbury on Saturday
29th September. The trip will include Mass and a tour of the Cathedral followed by free time to explore Shrewsbury. A coach will leave St John’s at 8.15am and will depart Shrewsbury at 4pm. If you are interested please sign your name to the list at the back of Church by 31st August.
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard Forshaw Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday, 12th August 2018. Cycle B
Foundation Governors: The Diocese has a number of vacancies for Foundation Governors within our Deanery particularly people with financial experience. If you would be interested in joining a Governing Body then please contact Sue Blackwell at the Curial Offices sue.blackwell@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
Caritas Shrewsbury is looking for an experienced and dedicated person to be our Family Support Social Worker. The post is for 21 hours per week working in the Diocese of Shrewsbury, but predominantly in the South Manchester Area. Work pattern: Monday-Friday 9am-4.30pm. For more information and an application pack, please contact Claire Griffiths Tel 0151 652 1281; email Claire.griffiths@caritasshrewsbury.org.uk Please also visit us online at: www.caritasshrewsbury.org.uk Application packs can also be downloaded from our website caritasshrewsbury.org.uk.
Closing date for applications is 16th August, 2018.
Merseyaid Thank you to everyone who has donated for the refugees. We are no longer able to accept any clothing at present as we do not have a warehouse on the Wirral to sort out and store our donations. This may change in the future and I will keep you informed. Please keep recycling your pre-loved clothing at other outlets. There are always people in need. For any information telephone me 0151 645 7645. Thank you. Cecily Sabino.
Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items for the ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned custard, sugar (small if possible), washing up liquid, tea, tinned spaghetti, small cereal, sponge puddings.
WORD OF GOD
Elijah went into the wilderness, a day’s journey,and sitting under a furze bush wished he were dead. (I Kings 19: 4)
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
If you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box by 12 noon on Thursdays. Many thanks.
FAITH IN FOCUS: FED UP?
Elijah became clinically depressed due to events in his life. He had feelings of hopelessness and pessimism. He just wanted to sit down and die. He felt worthless and helpless even though he had won a great victory over the false prophets. He’d lost all interest.
The angel told him to eat and drink, otherwise the journey would be too much for him. He ate and drank the scone bread and the water, and then he received such strength that he walked for forty days and nights (a symbolic figure indicating trial or testing). He needed that food and drink in order to function properly.
Let’s hope that we are not clinically depressed, although it’s a relatively common complaint in modern society. But there can come times when we wonder if we’re making any impact on our surroundings, when we feel as if the odds are stacked against us and perhaps even wonder whether God has given up on us. We go off our food.
Today Jesus tells us that in faith terms we cannot go it alone. We will tire and end up losing heart. We need to stoke up with energy, and that nourishment comes from the bread of life, the eucharist. If we’re fed up then it’s are sure sign we need to be fed.
One of the saddest things is to see someone who doesn’t go to communion because they think they are not good enough. What a mistake! Communion is not a reward for good people. It’s a remedy for those who know how bad they are and want to get better.
If we had to rely on merit before we could receive communion then no one would ever qualify to eat and drink the body and blood of Christ. It is by joining with the believing community, hearing the invitation of God’s word and sharing in the gift of eucharist, that we are kept going. Jesus tells us that his body and blood are what keeps Christians alive. Anyone who eats it will live for ever. And you can’t ask for more than that!
| Eighteenth Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 12th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Ints Margaret Brannon
St John’s Parishioners Prayer Meeting |
||
| Monday | 13th | 9.15am | John McIntosh RIP | ||
| Tuesday | 14th | 9.15am | Service of Word & Communion | ||
| The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 15th | 7.30am
7.30pm |
Gerard Edwards RIP
Vocations |
||
| Thursday | 16th | 9.15am | Ints Kinni Family | ||
| Friday | 17th | 9.15am | Service of Word & Communion | ||
| Saturday | 18th | ||||
| Twentieth Sunday in Ord Time Cycle B | 19th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
James & Janette McLaughlin Annv RIP
John McLean RIP Prayer Meeting |
||
| Confessions | Saturday 4.15-4.45pm | ||||
| Morning Prayer | 15 minutes before daily Masses | ||||
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre will be taking a holiday break during the month of August and will recommence in September. Thanks for your continued support.
Money Matters: Thank you for last weekend’s Offertory collection which amounted to £597.87p.
Annual Mission Appeal Next weekend Fr Kenneth Okoli will be celebrating both Masses for Fr Bernard and preaching the Annual Mission Appeal (at both St John’s and at St Anne’s) on behalf of the Spiritans (the Holy Ghost Fathers). I know you will give Fr Kenneth a warm welcome and be generous to next Sunday’s retiring collection
The Feast of the Assumption is this
Wednesday 15th August. This Feast of Our Blessed Lady ,,,,,,,,,,,,a Holyday of Obligation will be celebrated with the following Masses across our LPA…………….here at St John’s 7.30am & 7.30pm, at St Anne’s, Rock Ferry at 12 noon, at St Luke’s Bebington at 9.15am & 7.30pm and at Christ the King Bromborough at 9.15am.
Baptisms: The diary for Baptisms is filling up rapidly, so please give us plenty of notice by phoning 645 3314 or emailing us, especially if you have a particular date in mind. We do not want anyone to be disappointed.
Confirmation 2018: This year’s Confirmation Mass with Bishop Mark presiding will be held at St Anne’s Rock Ferry on Friday 23rd November at 7pm. The preparation programme will start in September and is open to candidates in Year 9 and above. For further info please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk
Weddings: If you are intending getting married at St John’s in 2019 please let us know as soon as possible.
Catholic Chaplaincy at Wirral Hospitals. If you or any member of your family or a Catholic neighbour or friend are admitted to any of our local Wirral hospitals and wish to be seen by the Catholic Chaplain or receive the Sacraments during their stay in hospital, please telephone 0151 678 5111 Extn. 2275 and leave the patient’s name and ward along with your request for a visit by the Catholic Chaplain.
Church Flowers A big “thank you” to the ladies who have joined the team following the recent appeal in the bulletin. If anyone else would like to join our happy band of flower arrangers please contact Kath Clements telephone 0151 334 8272. Ideally we would like to create a four week rota which means that we are looking for just 2 or 3 additional volunteers please.
Devotions to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Following on from the very well supported Novena held here at St John’s in June from Tuesday 4th September at 7pm and every First Tuesday of the month thereafter a group of parishioners are going to pray this devotion in Church at 7pm. This will be followed by a monthly Benediction. All are welcome and encouraged to participate in this longstanding devotion of the Church which has and continues to bring many blessings and answers to prayer.
Adoremus: Our tickets should be issued in about ten days’ time and then Fr Bernard will be looking for the half price payments from participants.
There will be a Deanery Day of Eucharistic Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament at
St Anne’s, Rock Ferry, on Wednesday
5th September from 10.30am to 4pm including Mass at 12 noon. This will provide a fitting and an immediate preparation for those who are going to the events in Liverpool and at the same time offer an opportunity to those who cannot attend the congress to spend some time in prayer to support it.
LPA Trip to Shrewsbury: The local parishes are arranging a trip to Shrewsbury on Saturday
29th September. The trip will include Mass and a tour of the Cathedral followed by free time to explore Shrewsbury. A coach will leave St John’s at 8.15am and will depart Shrewsbury at 4pm. If you are interested please sign your name to the list at the back of Church.
Following on from the New Beginnings for New Ferry Coffee morning last Wednesday, copies of “Our New Ferry Survey” are on the table at the back of Church. Completed forms should be posted through the presbytery letterbox.
Following on from our successful Tuesday night Grace Group, we’re looking to start another all-female Cell Group on Wednesday evenings, starting late September. Initially meeting every week for 6 weeks, we’ll be studying the book of Esther while loving, encouraging and supporting each other through this amazing adventure called faith! If you’re interested and would like to know more, please contact Claire Griffiths on
07985 312703.
