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 18th August 2019, Cycle C
WORD OF GOD
Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. (Luke 12: 51)
WORD FOR TODAY
Christianity is not about being popular. Jesus preached the gospel in and out of season and was unconcerned about making enemies. Is our brand of Christianity faith to his or are we prone to soften off when we think others might consider us strange? Do we have the courage of our convictions? Are we prepared to stand up and be counted?
Wirral Foodbank: Thank you to all those who contribute to the Foodbank, helping to support people in crisis in our Local Community. The total raised this week is on the Notice Board at the back of Church along with details of the Foodbank and the services it offers. Please keep your donations coming- the school holidays can be the hardest time of year; Items urgently needed- tinned fruit, instant mash, squash, sponge puddings, hot chocolate, shower gel, washing up liquid, jam and UHT milk. Once again if you have any spare plastic bags or even an idea on how they are able to distribute food/goods without the need for plastic bags, it will be gratefully received.
Please remember the Card Rack at the back of the Church. This is now well stocked with Mass Cards, First Communion Cards etc. Do not forget to buy your Catholic Paper.
Please take a look at the Notice Boards at the back of Church for details of other Local Events over the next few weeks, and don’t forget to take a copy of the Catholic Voice and buy a Catholic paper.
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: RAISING EYEBROWS?
From time to time we have to remind ourselves just what it means to be a Christian. That’s why today we hear a passage from a chapter of Luke’s gospel that examines different aspects of being a disciple. People who have been Christians from infancy tend not to experience the challenge of following Christ as much as those who are converted in later life. Cradle Christians are prone to play down the significance of their baptism. After all we were baptised as children just as we were given certain injections to inoculate us against diseases. As a result we grow up with the attitude that our Christianity is just one string to our bow. We may be members of the local amateur dramatic society, we may support the local football team and we are also Christians. But today Jesus warns us that if we are true Christians then we will be the cause of division. That’s because the message of Christ is radically disturbing; it overturns accepted wisdom and agitates people. When we speak out about our vision of God’s world it upsets others. When we say what we think about moral decisions and the way life should be enjoyed we run the risk of antagonising. This is because to be a Christian means making a fundamental decision to proclaim a vision of God that is usually at odds with what society values. It’s not that we set out deliberately to make life uncomfortable for others. It’s simply that the message of the gospel is subversive: it turns everything on its head. Telling a world that prizes success that the only way to prosper is to die to self is not geared to making you very popular. It angers those who do not accept Christ and it causes division. If we are ever tempted to think of our religion as normal, as being an obvious way of living in the twenty-first century, then we have to read the gospel again. It is a challenge to our world and its values, and so we should not be surprised if people find it hard to take. Maybe if we are finding opposition to our faith it is a sign that we are close to Christ; for he said he had come not to bring peace but division. If, on the other hand, our faith raises no more eyebrows than our membership of the local flower arranging club then perhaps we’ve either lost sight of what our faith really is or we’re afraid to let it show.
| 20th Sunday in Ord Time | 18th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Ints Peggy McAllister
Milly Hawes Annv RIP Prayer Meeting |
|
| Monday | 19th | 9.15am | Barbara Hemmings RIP | |
| Tuesday | 20th | 9.15am | Service of the Word & Communion | |
| Wednesday | 21st | 11.30 am | Funeral Mass
James Patterson |
|
| Thursday | 22nddd | 7.30am | Ints Father Frank Rice | |
| Friday | 23rd | 9.15am | Ints Ruth Foran | |
| Saturday | 24th | |||
| 21st Sunday in Ord Time | 25th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Ted Corrigan RIP
Ints St John’s Parish Prayer Meeting |
|
| Confessions Each Saturday | 10.30am-11.15am | |||
| Morning Prayer
From September 7th there will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament each Saturday |
15 min before daily Masses
From 4.15pm – 5pm |
|||
Mass Intentions- If you would like a Mass to be celebrated for someone, living or dead, please use the Mass Offering envelopes which can be found on the table at the back of Church or in the Sacristy. If you wish for a certain date/ time, then please also write that on the envelope. We will try our very best to accommodate this, depending on availability. Mass cards are available from the card rack at the back of Church.
Please keep in your prayers those young people from our Parish & your families who are receiving important examination results at this time.
Tea & Coffee. There will be no tea/coffee after the 9.30am on Sunday during the month of August. We will resume the first Sunday in September.
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass will resume again on the second Sunday of September…..after the school holidays
Lately Dead: Your prayers are requested for James Patterson who died recently and whose Funeral Mass will take place here at St John’s on Wednesday at 11.30am. May he and all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Baptisms: The diary for Baptisms is filling up so please give us plenty of notice by phoning 645 3314 or emailing us especially if you have a particular date in mind.
Confirmation 2019: This year’s Confirmation Mass with Bishop Mark presiding will be held at Christ the King, Bromborough on Thursday 21st November at 7pm. The preparation programme will start in September and is open to candidates in Year 9 and above. For information please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk as soon as possible and certainly before the 7th September.
Money Matters: Last week’s collection amounted to £529.75p. Thank you.
St John’s SVP Group meets in the presbytery on Thursday at 6.30pm
Parish Pastoral Team- Next meeting is on Thursday 5th September. If you have any suggestions/ideas/ thoughts for the team to consider, please put a note in the Suggestion Box at the back of Church or through the Presbytery letter box or send an email to the Parish email address.
Foundation Governors: The Diocese has a number of vacancies for Foundation Governors within our Deanery. If you would be interested in joining a Governing Body then please contact Sue Blackwell at the Curial Offices sue.blackwell@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
Catholic Certificate for Religious Studies…. Recommended for any teacher who wants to teach in a Catholic School, as well as those seeking to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Faith and Theology. Two CCRS sessions are being offered within the Diocese in the new School Year. The venue closest to here is Our Lady’s Ellsemere Port and these sessions will be held on Saturdays. For more information and dates visit; www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/education/ccrs
Welcome Café’s – which distribute surplus supermarket food at no cost to you are held every Tuesday at St Anne’s Parish Centre, Highfield Road Rock Ferry from 11am-1pm. And also every Friday at St Werburgh’s Parish Centre, Grange Precinct, Birkenhead from 11am-1pm. All are welcome to use this facility- there is no reason for anyone to go hungry this Summer.
St Anne’s Parish Centre, Rock Ferry has now been fully refurbished and is open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons, If you wish to book the centre for Baptism Celebrations, Wedding Receptions, Funeral Gatherings etc please contact manager Ben Howard Tel 07435 966586 or email bha@ypcevents.com
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 11th August 2019, Cycle C
WORD OF GOD
Happy those servants whom, the master finds awake when he returns.
(Luke 12: 37)
WORD FOR TODAY
Would you be ready to meet God if the call came today? Are there areas of your life that need sorting out, areas that would greatly improve the quality of your daily life? Few of us can answer yes to both questions. Today’s liturgy invites us once more to renewal.
Fully Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 23rd September 2019. £599.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight with 10kg hand luggage, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full Irish Breakfast each morning and 4 Course Dinner each evening. Lunch on days out. All entertainment and excursions included. Wheelchair accessible rooms in the hotel. Limited single rooms at supplement of £100. Groups and Individual bookings welcome. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com. Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613
Please remember the Card Rack at the back of the Church. This is now well stocked with Mass Cards, First Communion Cards etc. Do not forget to buy your Catholic Paper.
Please take a look at the Notice Boards at the back of Church for details of other Local Events over the next few weeks, and don’t forget to take a copy of the Catholic Voice and buy a Catholic paper.
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: TIME-TALENT-TREASURE
What exactly are we stewards of? Jesus tells us that we are to remain awake and ready for his return like managers whose boss has gone away for an unknown period.
We are stewards or managers of our time. Imagine that every day someone deposited £1,440 in your bank account and it had to be spent before midnight otherwise it would be transferred to someone else. You would soon learn to make good use of the money and spend it wisely, helping all those people that you knew would benefit from it. In fact, God gives us 1,440 minutes in each day. How do we use them? When midnight strikes have we wasted some of them or left them unused, never to be recaptured? Have we spent some on things that don’t matter in the light of eternity? Using our time well is a sign that we are taking Jesus’ lesson on stewardship seriously.
We are called to be stewards of our talent. God never created anyone with no talent. Some of us have very high profile talents. We may be good at music or sport; we may have a gift for public speaking or painting, for car maintenance or accounting. We also have spiritual gifts and talents that are not so immediately visible. Perhaps we have a natural ability for reaching out to people, for listening, for offering sound advice, for cheering people up, for praying, for building up community. What is your talent and how do you manage it?
Finally, we are stewards of our treasure. Jesus says, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. We don’t actually own anything. All our possessions are on trust for the next generation since we can’t take anything with us when we go. We are simply allowed to have use of them. And rich or poor, we have to give an account to God of the way we make use of our material possessions. Do we hoard or are we generous? If we give money to a charity do we think of it as kindness or as justice? Do we put our “treasure” to its best use or do we save it for a rainy day?
How we managed our time, our talent and our treasure is what Jesus will ask us when he meets us. And none of us knows when that will be.
| 19th Sunday in Ord Time | 11th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Ints Sr Veronica Hangley RSC
Joan Longland RIP Prayer Meeting |
|
| Monday | 12th | 9.15am | Service of the Word & Communion | |
| Tuesday | 13th | 9.15am | Ints Louise & Paul Murray (25th Wedding Annv.) | |
| Wednesday | 14th | 9.15 am | Service of the Word & Communion | |
| Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | 15th | 7.30am
7.30pm |
John McIntosh RIP
Ints Brenda & John Bell |
|
| Friday | 16th | 9.15am | Ints Collette Sarson | |
| Saturday | 17th | |||
| 20th Sunday in Ord Time | 18th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Ints Peggy McAllister
Milly Hawes Annv RIP Prayer Meeting |
|
| Confessions Each Saturday from | 10.30am-11.15am | |||
| Morning Prayer | 15 min before daily Masses | |||
Thursday 15th August The Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady ……a Holyday………… will be celebrated at St John’s with Masses in Church at 7.30am and 7.30pm, Before the evening Mass there will be a time of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament from 6.45pm onwards .
Please keep in your prayers those young people from our Parish & your families who are receiving important examination results over the next 2 weeks Thursday 15th Aug = A Level Results. Thursday 22nd Aug = GCSE Results
Tea & Coffee. There will be no tea/coffee after the 9.30am on Sunday during the month of August. We will resume the first Sunday in September.
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass will resume again on the second Sunday of September…..after the school holidays
Lately Dead: Your prayers are requested for James Patterson who died recently and whose Funeral Mass will take place here at St John’s on Wednesday, 21st August at 11.30am. May he and all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Baptisms: The diary for Baptisms is filling up so please give us plenty of notice by phoning 645 3314 or emailing us especially if you have a particular date in mind.
Confirmation 2019: This year’s Confirmation Mass with Bishop Mark presiding will be held at Christ the King, Bromborough towards the end of November. The preparation programme will start in September and is open to candidates in Year 9 and above. For information please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk
Weddings: If you are intending to get married at St John’s in 2020 please let us know as soon as possible.
Money Matters: Last week’s collection amounted to £613.34p. Thank you.
St John’s SVP Group meets in the presbytery on Thursday at 6.30pm
LPA Annual Trip to Shrewsbury: Tuesday 24th September: The trip will include Mass and a tour of the Cathedral followed by free time to explore Shrewsbury. Further details in next week’s newsletter.
Foundation Governors: The Diocese has a number of vacancies for Foundation Governors within our Deanery. If you would be interested in joining a Governing Body then please contact Sue Blackwell at the Curial Offices sue.blackwell@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
Wirral Foodbank: Please continue to support the Foodbank; The need is as great as ever. ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned potatoes, tinned fruit, instant mash, squash, sponge puddings, hot chocolate, shower gel, washing up liquid, jam and UHT milk. FOODBANK IS DESPARATELY IN NEED OF CARRIER BAGS TO HELP WITH FOOD DISTRIBUTION. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THEM IF, WHEN DONATING FOOD, YOU COULD INCLUDE ANY CARRIER BAGS YOU CAN SPARE. THANK YOU.
Welcome Café’s Just a reminder and a word of encouragement to use the Diocesan Welcome Café’s. These distribute surplus supermarket food at no cost to the individual and are held every Tuesday at St Anne’s Parish Centre, Highfield Road Rock Ferry from 11am-1pm. Also every Friday at St Werburgh’s Parish Centre, Grange Precinct, Birkenhead from 11am-1pm.
St Anne’s Parish Centre, Rock Ferry has now been fully refurbished and is open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons, If you wish to book the centre for Baptism Celebrations, Wedding Receptions, Funeral Gatherings etc please contact manager Ben Howard Tel 07435 966586 or email bha@ypcevents.com
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: http://www.stjohnevang.co.uk http://www.lpa24.org
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 4th August 2019, Cycle C
WORD OF GOD
A man who has laboured wisely,skilfully and successfullymust leave what is his ownto someone who has not toiled for it at all. (Ecclesiastes 2:21)
WORD FOR TODAY
When we own everything we ever dreamed of, what will we do next? Fulfilment here and life in the hereafter is all that matters. And possessions cannot guarantee this for they are basically hollow. Today’s reading reminds us that seeking after earthly success is nothing more than vanity.
Fully Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 23rd September 2019. £599.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight with 10kg hand luggage, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full Irish Breakfast each morning and 4 Course Dinner each evening. Lunch on days out. All entertainment and excursions included. Wheelchair accessible rooms in the hotel. Limited single rooms at supplement of £100. Groups and Individual bookings welcome. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com. Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613
Please remember the Card Rack at the back of the Church. This is now well stocked with Mass Cards, First Communion Cards etc. Do not forget to buy your Catholic Paper.
Please take a look at the Notice Boards at the back of Church for details of other Local Events over the next few weeks, and don’t forget to take a copy of the Catholic Voice and buy a Catholic paper.
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: FOUND A PENNY LOST A POUND
The preacher in today’s reading summed it all up: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity!” The Hebrew word for vanity means “emptiness” or a mere “breath of air”, something that is insubstantial, here today and gone tomorrow. What the preacher is trying to get across is that there is no point in getting involved with working, earning and enjoying possessions if at the same time we miss out on the real happiness of life.
A young man once found a £20 note on the pavement. From that time on he never lifted his eyes from the ground when walking. In the course of 40 years he accumulated 29,516 buttons, 54,172 pins, 7 pennies, a bent back and a miserly disposition. At the same time, he lost the glories of the sunlight, the smiles of friends, the songs of birds, the beauties of flowers, trees, blue skies and all that is worth living for in life: the opportunity to serve his fellow men and women, to spread happiness and to walk with God.
Most of us have to work in order to live. But we don’t have to join the rat race. We need money to buy food and clothes but if we don’t enjoy what we are doing then we live unfulfilled lives. Nothing that we possess actually belongs to us; it passes to the next generation.
Jesus tells us that our life is not made secure by what we own but by our relationship with God and others, particularly with our families. We can become distracted by what the world considers important – money, power, status – and if we are distracted, then our toil and work is like the breath of wind here one minute, gone the next.
It is only through God that my toil, my work, my enjoyment of life can have meaning and purpose. It is in that relationship with God that I can be free to work, free to use the fruits of my labour to serve God and the people around me. In that relationship with God I can be free to love and care, free from the bonds of greed to enjoy life, to discover the beauty of relationships with those who care for me as I am, and the thrill of knowing that when this life is ended, I will be given eternal wealth.
18th Sunday in Ord Time 4th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints Father Owen Gallagher
Ints St John’s Parish
Prayer Meeting
Monday 5th 9.15am Ints Les Duff
Tuesday 6th 11.00am
7.00pm Funeral Mass –
Margaret Bowden
Novena
Wednesday 7th 9.15 am Service of Word & Communion
Thursday 8th 7.30am Ints Elaine Summersgill
Friday 9th 9.15am Dymphna Byrne Annv. RIP
Saturday 10th
19th Sunday in Ord Time 11th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints Sr Veronica Hangley RSC
Joan Longland RIP
Prayer Meeting
Confessions From Next Saturday 10.30am-11.15am
Morning Prayer 15 min before daily Masses
Tea & Coffee. There will be no tea/coffee after the 9.30am on Sunday during the month of August. We will resume the first Sunday in September.
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass will resume again on the second Sunday of September…..after the school holidays
Monthly Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour will be held this Tuesday 6th August at 7pm followed by Benediction.
Lately Dead: Your prayers are requested for Margaret Mary Bowden and James Patterson 2 parishioners who have died recently. Margaret Bowden’s Funeral Mass is this Tuesday 6th August at 11.00am. The date and time of James Patterson’s Funeral Mass is yet to be finalised. May they and all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Baptisms: The diary for Baptisms is filling up so please give us plenty of notice by phoning 645 3314 or emailing us especially if you have a particular date in mind.
Confirmation 2019: This year’s Confirmation Mass with Bishop Mark presiding will be held at Christ the King, Bromborough towards the end of November. The preparation programme will start in September and is open to candidates in Year 9 and above. For information please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk
Weddings: If you are intending to get married at St John’s in 2020 please let us know as soon as possible.
Prayers for the Sick; Please continue to remember all our sick and housebound parishioners in your prayers and if anyone is in need of a visit/Holy Communion, please let us know via phone or email. If you are going into hospital for treatment and staying for a few days it would be best to ask to receive the Sacrament of the Sick before your admission. If you are receiving treatment at home for a serious illness, the Sacrament of the Sick may also be appropriate. So please do not be afraid to ask.
Money Matters: Last week’s collection amounted to £449.29p. Thank you.
St John’s SVP Group meets in the presbytery on Thursday at 6.30pm
LPA Trip to Shrewsbury. The local parishes are arranging the Annual trip to Shrewsbury on Tuesday 24th September. Further details to follow
On Thursday 15th August The Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady ……a Holyday………… will be celebrated at St John’s with Masses in Church at 7.30am and 7.30pm, Before the evening Mass there will be a time of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament from 6.45pm onwards.
The Diocese of Shrewsbury is looking to recruit a Youth Mission Team in schools and parishes across the Member to engage with young people Diocese. The Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team (SYMT) comprises of full time employees and lay and clergy volunteers. The full-time employee will be a key member of the team led by the Director. The successful candidate will be a faithful practising Catholic, happily living their faith and willing to give positive witness to young people and serve as a representative of the Bishop and Diocese of Shrewsbury. Full details and application forms can be found at http;//dioceseofshrewsbury.org/about-us/curia/vacancies. Completed applications should be returned to recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org.
Wirral Foodbank: Please continue to support the Foodbank; The need is as great as ever. ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned potatoes, tinned fruit, instant mash, squash, sponge puddings, hot chocolate, shower gel, washing up liquid, jam and UHT milk. FOODBANK IS DESPARATELY IN NEED OF CARRIER BAGS TO HELP WITH FOOD DISTRIBUTION. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THEM IF, WHEN DONATING FOOD, YOU COULD INCLUDE ANY CARRIER BAGS YOU CAN SPARE. THANK YOU.
Welcome Café’s Just a reminder and a word of encouragement to use the Diocesan Welcome Café’s. These distribute surplus supermarket food at no cost to the individual and are held every Tuesday at St Anne’s Parish Centre, Highfield Road Rock Ferry from 11am-1pm. Also every Friday at St Werburgh’s Parish Centre, Grange Precinct, Birkenhead from 11am-1pm.
St Anne’s Parish Centre, Rock Ferry has now been fully refurbished and is open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons, If you wish to book the centre for Baptism Celebrations, Wedding Receptions, Funeral Gatherings etc please contact manager Ben Howard Tel 07435 966586 or email bha@ypcevents.com
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 DalyPhone: 0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.comWebsites:www.stjohnevang.co.ukwww.lpa24.org
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 28th July, 2019,Cycle C
WORD OF GOD
Father, may your name be held holy,your kingdom come;give us each day our daily bread,and forgive us our sins,for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us. And do not put us to the test.
(Luke 11: 2-4)
WORDS FOR WORSHIP
Lord Jesus, you teach us to pray so that we may know the will of your Father:
Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you grant us our daily bread and forgive us our sins:
Christ, have mercy.Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you inspire us by your Spirit to be citizens of the heavenly kingdom:Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.
May almighty God forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others. May he show us his mercy and lead us rejoicing to everlasting life. Amen.
Fully Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 23rd September 2019. £599.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight with 10kg hand luggage, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full Irish Breakfast each morning and 4 Course Dinner each evening. Lunch on days out. All entertainment and excursions included. Wheelchair accessible rooms in the hotel. Limited single rooms at supplement of £100. Groups and Individual bookings welcome. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 oremail knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613
Please remember the Card Rack at the back of the Church. This is now well stocked with Mass Cards, First Communion Cards etc. Do not forget to buy your Catholic Paper.
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 by12 noon on Thursdays.Many thanks.
FAITH IN FOCUS: PRAY LIKE THIS
The apostles already knew how to pray when they asked Jesus to teach them. They had prayed in common in the synagogues and must have had their quiet moments with God. But they sensed that Jesus had a different way of praying that he relied on so much to achieve his mission. What Jesus did was to teach them the difference between prayers and prayer. Anyone can say prayers but not everyone can pray. What was this technique of Jesus all about?
Pray to God not out of duty, says Jesus, but because he is your Father. Talk to him as a child would to a parent. And don’t begin by asking for things. Begin by recognising the holiness of his name, by sharing his great desire for a kingdom on earth that shares the values of heaven. Pray that what God wants may become a reality. And when you do ask for things, just ask for what you really need, not for what you fancy you’d like. Do this honestly, recognising that your faults are overlooked by God only if you too are prepared to show unconditional forgiveness to others. Ask for the courage to do this even though it might hurt. Ask God to keep you safe from harm and never to let you get to the point where you may be prepared to abandon your faith in his promises in exchange for some earthly pleasure or convenience.
The “Our Father” or the “Lord’s Prayer” contains all these ingredients and is a useful prayer for saying in common. But it’s only a model. When Jesus taught the apostles to pray, he wasn’t telling them to keep saying these words in their hearts. He was saying, “This is the sort of approach and attitude you should come before God with”. If we included all of this in our prayer we would soon grow in our relationship with our Father. Finally, we have to remember that God is not a spiritual one-armed bandit. If we put enough prayers in we don’t automatically get what we want. Perhaps prayer isn’t so much about changing God’s mind as about making us sensitive to what our real needs are and what God wants from us. Maybe prayer gives us a clearer vision and the courage to meet the challenge. That way we always get what we need.
17th Sunday in Ord Time 28th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Peter Bowman RIP
Moira Roberts RIP
Prayer Meeting
Monday 29th 9.15am No Mass or Service
Tuesday 30th 9.15am John McIntosh RIP
Wednesday 31st 9.15 am Lourdes Pilgrims
Thursday 1st 7.30am Ints Jones Family
Friday 2nd 9.15am Tom Sarson RIP
Saturday 3rd
18th Sunday in Ord Time 4th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints Father Owen Gallagher
Ints St John’s Parish
Prayer Meeting
ConfessionsNext Saturday 4.15pm-4.45pm
Morning Prayer 15 min before daily Masses
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass will resume again on the second Sunday of September…..after the school holidays
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre. A great opportunity to meet and make friends.
Baptisms: The diary for Baptisms isfilling up so please give us plenty of notice by phoning 645 3314 or emailing us especially if you have a particular date in mind.
Confirmation 2019: This year’s Confirmation Mass with Bishop Mark presidingwill be held at Christ the King, Bromborough towards the end of November. The preparation programme will start in September and is open to candidates in Year 9 and above. For information please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk
Weddings: If you are intending to get married at St John’s in 2020 please let us know as soon as possible.
Prayers for the Sick ;Please continue to remember all our sick and housebound parishioners in your prayers and if anyone is in need of a visit/Holy Communion, please let us know via phone or email. If you are going into hospital for treatment and staying for a few days it would be best to ask to receive the Sacrament of the Sick before your admission. If you are receiving treatment at home for a serious illness, the Sacrament of the Sick may also be appropriate. So pleasedo not be afraid to ask.
Lately Dead: Your prayers are requested for Margaret Mary Bowden of Grove Square, New Ferry who died last weekend Funeral Mass at St Johns on Tuesday 6th August at 11.00am. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Money Matters:Last week’s collection amounted to £553.82p. Thank you.
Thank you to all who supported, and continue to support this important activity each month.
The 2019 Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes is now underway. It is possible to tune into the live feed for the International Mass which is at 8.30am BST this Sunday and the Grotto Mass at 7.30am this Monday. The link is http://www.lourdes-france.org and then select Lourdes TV.
Monthly Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour………Tuesday 6th August at 7pm followed by Benediction.
LPA Trip to Shrewsbury. The local parishes are arranging the Annual trip to Shrewsbury on Tuesday 24th September. Full details in the bulletin next week.
St John’s SVP Groupmeets in the presbytery on Thursday at 6.30pm
The Diocese of Shrewsbury is looking to recruit a Youth Mission Team in schools and parishes across the Member to engage with young people Diocese. The Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team (SYMT) comprises of full time employees and lay and clergy volunteers. The full-time employee will be a key member of the team led by the Director. The successful candidate will be a faithful practising Catholic, happily living their faith and willing to give positive witness to young people and serve as a representative of the Bishop and Diocese of Shrewsbury. Full details and application forms can be found at http;//dioceseofshrewsbury.org/about-us/curia/vacancies. Completed applications should be returned to recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org.
Wirral Foodbank: Please continue to support the Foodbank; The need is as great as ever. ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED:Tinned potatoes, tinned fruit, instant mash, squash, sponge puddings, hot chocolate, shower gel, washing up liquid, jam and UHT milk. FOODBANK IS DESPARATELY IN NEED OF CARRIER BAGS TO HELP WITH FOOD DISTRIBUTION. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THEM IF, WHEN DONATING FOOD, YOU COULD INCLUDE ANY CARRIER BAGS YOU CAN SPARE. THANK YOU.
Welcome Café’s Just a reminder and a word of encouragement to use the Diocesan Welcome Café’s. These distribute surplus supermarket food at no cost to the individual and are held every Tuesday at St Anne’s Parish Centre, Highfield Road Rock Ferry from 11am-1pm. Also every Friday at St Werburgh’s Parish Centre, Grange Precinct, Birkenhead from 11am-1pm.
Please take a look at the Notice Boards at the back of Church for details of other Local Events over the next few weeks, and don’t forget to take a copy of the Catholic Voice and buy a Catholic paper.
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: http://www.stjohnevang.co.uk http://www.lpa24.org
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 21st July, 2019, Cycle C
WORD OF GOD
It is Mary who has chosen the better part;it is not to be taken from her.
(Luke 10: 42)
WORDS FOR WORSHIP
Lord, we have placed before you our own needs and those of the world. Help us to be attentive to others, to take time to listen and to respond. Make us good hosts, like Mary of Bethany, so that we may be active in good works and always anxious to meet the needs of those whom your love places as our guests. We make this and all our prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fully Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 23rd September 2019. £599.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight with 10kg hand luggage, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full Irish Breakfast each morning and 4 Course Dinner each evening. Lunch on days out. All entertainment and excursions included. Wheelchair accessible rooms in the hotel. Limited single rooms at supplement of £100. Groups and Individual bookings welcome. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613
Please remember the Card Rack at the back of the Church. This is now well stocked with Mass Cards, First Communion Cards etc. Do not forget to buy your Catholic Paper.
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: HOSPITALITY
Imagine that you and your husband or wife are in your eighties and are told you are going to have a baby. And this is because you showed hospitality to three strangers. That’s what happened to Abraham and Sarah: Isaac was born.
A similar situation arises with Martha and Mary who are playing host to Jesus. Martha moans that Mary is sitting around while she has to do all the work. Yet Jesus praises Mary for being a good host and says that she is the one who will benefit from what she has done.
It’s easy to polarise Martha and Mary and make it a straight fight between activity and rest, work and contemplation. But this misses the point.
When we have visitors for a meal there is no point in sitting around chatting if we haven’t prepared the food. But nor would we want to sit people down to eat as soon as they knock on the door. A good host knows how to set guests at ease, to make them comfortable, to let them settle down, get things off their chest and relax.
In our Christian lives we need the balance between Martha and Mary. If the Church were just a talking-shop then nothing would ever get done and we would all be hypocrites. Yet if we just rushed around incessantly organising fundraisers and holding special services then we would soon run out of steam and probably out of motive.
We must never be so taken up with the work of the Lord that we forget the Lord of the work. Our work as Christians is to serve others in order to serve God. This means that the people we meet are given to us by God as occasions for seeing his face. If we are to respond to God in others then we need to cultivate the habit of talking to God, of trying to discern God’s voice in our work, our family, our socialising. What Martha shows us today is that we can become bound up with our “doing” to the extent that we never really meet God in the things that we are doing.
God is alive and well and will be offering you the chance to play host to him several times in the coming week. Will you have the nous to sit, to listen and to relax with him?
16th Sunday in Ord Time 21st 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Edward Hyland RIP
Ted Corrigan RIP
Prayer Meeting
Monday 22nd 9.15am Norah McCormack RIP
Tuesday 23rd 9.15am No Mass or Service
Wednesday 24th 9.15 am Tim Delaney Anniv RIP
Thursday 25th 7.30am Peter Doran RIP
Friday 26th 9.15am No Mass or Service
Saturday 27th
17th Sunday in Ord Time 28th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Peter Bowman RIP
Moira Roberts RIP
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Next Saturday 4.15pm-4.45pm
Morning Prayer 15 min before daily Masses
During the 5pm Mass this Saturday 20th July, Brenda and Dave Bell will receive a special blessing on their Golden Wedding Anniversary. May God continue to bless their Marriage and their family.
Children’s Liturgy- will resume again after the school holidays.
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre.
Friday is the Feast of St Anne. There won’t be a Mass here at St John’s on that day but all are most welcome to the 12noon Mass at St Anne’s which will be preceded by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions from 11am onwards.
Prayers for the Sick ; Please continue to remember all our sick and housebound parishioners in your prayers and if anyone is in need of a visit/Holy Communion, please let us know via phone or email. If you are going into hospital for treatment and staying for a few days it would be best to ask to receive the Sacrament of the Sick before your admission. If you are receiving treatment at home for a serious illness, the Sacrament of the Sick may also be appropriate. So please do not be afraid to ask.
Lately Dead Your prayers are requested for David Sharkey ( father of Catherine Sharkey- teacher at St John’s Infant School) who has died recently. Funeral Mass at St Paul’s Beechwood on Monday at 11.30am. Also for Tom Sarson (brother of Colette Sarson) whose Funeral Mass is at St Anne’s, Rock Ferry on Tuesday at 9.30am. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Money Matters: Last week’s collection amounted to £573.46p. Thank you.
Traidcraft goods will be on sale after all Masses this weekend. Please take time to have a look and support this worthwhile cause.
School News –Wishing our children & young people a happy and safe holiday and wishing all our school staff and governors a restful and peaceful time. Thanks for all the hard work and for all that has been achieved in the past school year.
The Grace Group- meets in the presbytery on Tuesday at 7pm.
St John’s SVP Group meets in the presbytery on Thursday at 6.30pm
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes- The Pilgrimage sets off at the end of this week with several of our parishioners participating. This year there are over 750 pilgrims which is an increase on the last couple of years. It is possible to tune into the live feed for the international Mass which is at 8.30am BST on Sunday 28th July and the Grotto Mass at 7.30am BST on Monday 29th July. The link is http://www.lourdes-france.org and then select Lourdes TV.
The Diocese of Shrewsbury is looking to recruit a Youth Mission Team in schools and parishes across the Member to engage with young people Diocese. The Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team (SYMT) comprises of full time employees and lay and clergy volunteers. The full-time employee will be a key member of the team led by the Director. The successful candidate will be a faithful practising Catholic, happily living their faith and willing to give positive witness to young people and serve as a representative of the Bishop and Diocese of Shrewsbury. Full details and application forms can be found at http;//dioceseofshrewsbury.org/about-us/curia/vacancies. Completed applications should be returned to recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org.
Wirral Foodbank: Please continue to support the Foodbank; The need is as great as ever. ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned potatoes, tinned fruit, instant mash, squash, sponge puddings, hot chocolate, shower gel, washing up liquid, jam and UHT milk. FOODBANK IS DESPARATELY IN NEED OF CARRIER BAGS TO HELP WITH FOOD DISTRIBUTION. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THEM IF, WHEN DONATING FOOD, YOU COULD INCLUDE ANY CARRIER BAGS YOU CAN SPARE. THANK YOU.
Welcome Café’s Just a reminder and a word of encouragement to use the Diocesan Welcome Café’s. These distribute surplus supermarket food at no cost to the individual and are held every Tuesday at St Anne’s Parish Centre, Highfield Road Rock Ferry from 11am-1pm. Also every Friday at St Werburgh’s Parish Centre, Grange Precinct, Birkenhead from 11am-1pm.
Please take a look at the Notice Boards at the back of Church for details of other Local Events over the next few weeks, and don’t forget to take a copy of the Catholic Voice and buy a Catholic paper.
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: http://www.stjohnevang.co.uk http://www.lpa24.org
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 14th July, 2019, Cycle C
WORD OF GOD
For this Law that I enjoin on you today is not beyond your strength or beyond your reach. (Deuteronomy 30: 11)
WORDS FOR WORSHIP
Let us pray for those who suffer from violence throughout the world, but especially in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Holy Land.
In your loving kindness, Lord:Grant us your peace.
Let us pray for the victims of crime in our own nation, for those whose lives have been inconvenienced or irreparably damaged through violence, robbery or deception. In your loving kindness, Lord:Grant us your peace.
Let us pray for those who work in the caring professions, particularly for doctors and nurses, for ambulance staff, social workers and for Samaritans.
In your loving kindness, Lord:Grant us your peace.
Let us pray for our young people who are leaving school at this time of the year, that they may be supported in their choice to seek further education or employment and that they may be happy and fulfilled in what they do.
In your loving kindness, Lord:Grant us your peace.
Wirral Foodbank: Please continue to give to the Foodbank; The need is as great as ever. Although we were very well supported with donations at Easter, the need for our food has risen by 54% on this period last year, so the food is being given out very quickly. ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned potatoes, tinned fruit, instant mash, squash, sponge puddings, hot chocolate, shower gel, washing up liquid, jam and UHT milk. FOODBANK IS DESPARATELY IN NEED OF CARRIER BAGS TO HELP WITH FOOD DISTRIBUTION. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THEM IF, WHEN DONATING FOOD, YOU COULD INCLUDE ANY CARRIER BAGS YU CAN SPARE, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
Please remember the Card Rack at the back of the Church. This is now well stocked with Mass Cards, First Communion Cards etc. Do not forget to buy your Catholic Paper.
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: KITCHEN SINK HEROES
Jesus rubs up everyone in today’s gospel. First he angers the Jewish establishment by telling a story about a man who was mugged, ignored by two clergymen and helped by a member of the hated ethnic minority. Then he shuts the legal boffins up by saying that you don’t need a degree in jurisprudence to understand God’s Law. Just a bit of common sense will do. You can know the Law but still be incapable of love.
In fact, that’s what God said through Moses in today’s reading from Deuteronomy: “This Law is not beyond your strength or beyond your reach…it is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart.” Yet we have problems thinking that God’s Law should be so easy. Coming from a superhero culture we tend to expect some great heroic sacrifice will be asked of us, some death-defying feat that will hit the front pages of the newspapers. But God simply says: look around and make sure your neighbour is OK. Christian morality is as simple as that. Love your neighbour.
Today’s Samaritans are not those who go off to save the Third World but those who keep an eye out for the elderly or sick person on their street. They’re the kitchen sink heroes whose daily acts of kindness show that everyone is their neighbour. We shouldn’t need to ask, “Who is my neighbour?” Rather, we should listen for the call within us to become close to those in need around us.
St David said, “Do the little things well”. Perhaps that’s what God is trying to tell us today. For if we want to fulfil God’s Law, then we will do so by opening our eyes and ears and responding to people of all races and creeds when they need us. This is not something so difficult that only professionals can grasp it. It’s obvious, says God. It’s what we would want others to do for us, and we can do it for others simply by doing the little things well.
15th Sunday in Ord Time 14th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm St John’s Parishioners
Jim Jones Anniv RIP
Prayer Meeting
Monday 15th 9.15am Madge Callaghan Anniv
Tuesday 16th 9.15am Ints of Elaine Mullins
Wednesday 17th 10.00am St John’s Leavers in school
Thursday 18th 7.30am Fr Michael Murray RIP
Friday 19th 9.15am Barbara Forshaw RIP
Saturday 20th 10.00am Sisters of Carmel Mass
16th Sunday in Ord Time 21st 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Edward Hyland RIP
Ted Corrigan RIP
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Next Saturday 4.15pm-4.45pm
Morning Prayer
15 minutes before daily Masses
Children’s Liturgy: Each Sunday during 9.30am Mass in the side/day chapel. All welcome.
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre.
Prayers for the Sick ; Please continue to remember all our sick and housebound parishioners in your daily prayers and if anyone is in need of a visit/Holy Communion, please let us know. If you are going into hospital for treatment (particularly surgery) and stay for a few days (or more) it would be best to ask to receive the Sacrament of the Sick before your admission. If you are receiving treatment at home for a serious illness, the Sacrament of the Sick may also be appropriate. So please do not be afraid to ask.
Lately Dead Your prayers are requested for David Sharkey ( father of Catherine Sharkey- teacher at St John’s Infant School) who has died recently. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Money Matters: Last week’s collection amounted to £594.21p. Thank you.
School News – We are now into the last week of the school year. St John’s Junior School will hold a full school Mass in church on Tuesday at 9.15am to which all parishioners are most welcome. The Year 6 Leavers Mass is at 10am in school and due to limited space is for parents and children only.
St John’s Parish Pastoral Team meet on Wednesday at 7.30pm in the presbytery. If you have any thoughts or suggestions for the team to consider please use the Suggestion Box at the back of church or put a note through the presbytery letter box.
St John’s SVP Group meets in the presbytery on Thursday at 6.30pm
The Bereavement Group -Thank you to all those who organised and supported the Bereavement Service on Thursday evening. If you were unable to be with us you will find your loved one’s named candle on a window ledge in church. Please take it home and light it in memory of your loved one.
Readers: There will be a meeting for all parish readers this Saturday at 10.30am in Church. Please make every effort to attend. Thank you.
Father Owen Gallagher was ordained to the Priesthood on Saturday at St. Michael and All Angels, Woodchurch . It was a special day for him and we continue to remember him in our prayers and thank God for the gift of another priest for the Diocese of Shrewsbury.
The Diocese of Shrewsbury is looking to recruit a Youth Mission Team in schools and parishes across the Member to engage with young people Diocese. The Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team (SYMT) comprises of full time employees and lay and clergy volunteers. The full-time employee will be a key member of the team led by the Director. The successful candidate will be a faithful practising Catholic, happily living their faith and willing to give positive witness to young people and serve as a representative of the Bishop and Diocese of Shrewsbury. Full details and application forms can be found at http;//dioceseofshrewsbury.org/about-us/curia/vacancies. Completed applications should be returned to recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org.
Fully Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 23rd September 2019. £599.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight with 10kg hand luggage, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full Irish Breakfast each morning and 4 Course Dinner each evening. Lunch on days out. All entertainment and excursions included. Wheelchair accessible rooms in the hotel. Limited single rooms at supplement of £100. Groups and Individual bookings welcome. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613
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: http://www.stjohnevang.co.uk http://www.lpa24.org
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 7th July, 2019, Cycle C
WORD OF GOD
For thus says the Lord:Now towards Jerusalem I send flowing peace, like a river,and like a stream in spate the glory of the nations.
(Isaiah 66: 12)
WORDS FOR WORSHIP
In places of conflict and war may God turn the hearts of men and women from recrimination to reconciliation. Amen.
May God fill your homes and your families with well being and harmony in all you undertake. Amen.
May the Lord inspire those who work as diplomats and envoys and sustain them in their efforts to bring peace to our world. Amen.
And may the God of justice and peace bless you, the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Wirral Foodbank: Please continue to give to the Foodbank; The need is as great as ever. Although we were very well supported with donations at Easter, the need for our food has risen by 54% on this period last year, so the food is being given out very quickly. ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned potatoes, tinned fruit, instant mash, squash, sponge puddings, hot chocolate, shower gel, washing up liquid, jam and UHT milk. FOODBANK IS DESPARATELY IN NEED OF CARRIER BAGS TO HELP WITH FOOD DISTRIBUTION. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THEM IF, WHEN DONATING FOOD, YOU COULD INCLUDE ANY CARRIER BAGS YU CAN SPARE, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
Please remember the Card Rack at the back of the Church. This is now well stocked with Mass Cards, First Communion Cards etc. Do not forget to buy your Catholic Paper.
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: MAKING PEACE
Peace is complex matter. We tend to think of it as a thing, something that can be won or lost, something that brings about an end to war and terrorism. So we think of peace as a lack of conflict, a time when we don’t have to worry about those unclaimed packages on the train, when arrests on suspicion of terrorism are a thing of the past.
In reality this is not peace; it’s only a type of truce, because peace can never be the absence of something. It’s always the presence of something. Peace is not a static situation where nobody is fighting against anyone else. It is a dynamic thing which has to be worked for, and then supported and maintained by justice.
It doesn’t take a genius to know that the peace God promised through Isaiah two and half thousand years ago has only been enjoyed for very brief periods. Jerusalem is, of course, the centre of daily attacks and outrages. Yet God promises to send peace there like a flowing river. So where is it? Perhaps we can say two things. The first is that each of us has to play our part in making peace. We may be tempted to think that our individual efforts to be peaceful people can have little effect in Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel and Palestine. Of course, to a degree this is true. But if everyone worked to make their own patch of the world a just and peaceful place, then the chance of global peace would be greater.
The second point is that the Christian Church cannot simply preach peace, sing about it and lament its absence. We have to make representations so that just and equitable decisions are made in our name that affect the lives of others. We have to support those who are fighting for civil and political structures that respect the rights of other people. Everyone is in favour of peace, but we have to work to see that peace does not come at the price of some people’s rights and freedom.
The peace that Jesus promised is one which the world cannot give. Yet even the world’s peace is worth fighting for.
14th Sunday in Ord Time 7th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm St John’s Parishioners
Ints Fr John Rafferty – Golden Jubilee
Prayer Meeting
Monday 8th 10.30am Funeral Service
Mary Thomas
Tuesday 9th 9.15am Lewis Doyle RIP
Wednesday 10th 9.15am Service of Word & Communion
Thursday 11th 7.30am
7.30pm Patricia Dobbie RIP
Bereavement Service
Friday 12th 9.15am Service of Word & Communion
Saturday 13th
15th Sunday in Ord Time 14th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm St John’s Parishioners
Jim Jones Anniv RIP
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Next Saturday 4.15pm-4.45pm
Morning Prayer
15 minutes before daily Masses
Children’s Liturgy: Each Sunday during 9.30am Mass in the side/day chapel. All welcome.
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre.
Prayers for the Sick ; Please continue to remember all our sick and housebound parishioners in your daily prayers and if anyone is in need of a visit/Holy Communion, please let us know. If you are going into hospital for treatment (particularly surgery) and stay for a few days (or more) it would be best to ask to receive the Sacrament of the Sick before your admission. If you are receiving treatment at home for a serious illness, the Sacrament of the Sick may also be appropriate. So please do not be afraid to ask.
Lately Dead Your prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of Mary Thomas a parishioner who died recently. Funeral Service in Church on Monday at 10.30am and for Fr Michael Murray, Retired Priest of the Diocese. Reception of the Body and Vigil Mass at St Anthony’s Church, Wythenshawe on Tuesday at 7.00pm. Funeral Mass again at St Anthony’s Church, Portway, Wythenshawe M22 6WR on Wednesday at 11.00am. May their souls and the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.
Money Matters: Last week’s collection amounted to £546.80p. Thank you. Last week’s Retiring Collection for Peter’s Pence raised £320.31.
School News – St John’s Infant School will be joining us for the 9.15am Mass on Tuesday and this will be celebrated in the main church. St John’s Juniors School will be holding a Full Governors Meeting on Thursday beginning at 5pm in the school. Will all Governors please attend this important meeting.
During the coming week Section 48-RE Inspections will be carried out at St John’s Infant School and St John Plessington Catholic College. Please remember all our Catholic Schools in your prayers.
St John’s SVP Group meets in the presbytery on Thursday at 6.30pm
The Bereavement Group will be holding their annual memorial service on Thursday, at 7.30pm. Invitations have been sent out to bereaved families. . We invite you to come along and support those members of our parish family who are coming to terms with the loss of their loved ones. The service will include scripture readings, poetry and hymns, followed by light refreshments.
Readers: There will be a meeting for all parish readers on Saturday, 20th July at 10.30am in Church. Please make every effort to attend. Thank you.
A New Priest
The Rev. Owen Gallagher will be ordained to the Priesthood next Saturday at St. Michael and All Angels, Woodchurch at 11.00am. We remember him in our prayers this week and thank God for the gift of another priest for the Diocese of Shrewsbury.
The Diocese of Shrewsbury is looking to recruit a Youth Mission Team in schools and parishes across the Member to engage with young people Diocese. The Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team (SYMT) comprises of full time employees and lay and clergy volunteers. The full-time employee will be a key member of the team led by the Director. The successful candidate will be a faithful practising Catholic, happily living their faith and willing to give positive witness to young people and serve as a representative of the Bishop and Diocese of Shrewsbury. Full details and application forms can be found at http;//dioceseofshrewsbury.org/about-us/curia/vacancies. Completed applications should be returned to recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org. Closing date Friday 12th July 2019.
Fully Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 23rd September 2019. £599.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight with 10kg hand luggage, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full Irish Breakfast each morning and 4 Course Dinner each evening. Lunch on days out. All entertainment and excursions included. Wheelchair accessible rooms in the hotel. Limited single rooms at supplement of £100. Groups and Individual bookings welcome. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613
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: http://www.stjohnevang.co.uk http://www.lpa24.org
Feast of Ss Peter and Paul, 30th June, 2019, Cycle C
WORD OF GOD
You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the under world can never hold out against it. (Matthew 16:18)
WORD FOR TODAY
Peter and Paul are credited with being so fired up by their faith that they couldn’t help passing it on. And so from generation to generation the teaching of Christ has come down to us. Who are we passing it on to? And how?
Wirral Foodbank: Please continue to give to the Foodbank; The need is as great as ever. Although we were very well supported with donations at Easter, the need for our food has risen by 54% on this period last year, so the food is being given out very quickly. ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned potatoes, tinned fruit, instant mash, squash, sponge puddings, hot chocolate, shower gel, washing up liquid, jam and UHT milk. FOODBANK IS DESPARATELY IN NEED OF CARRIER BAGS TO HELP WITH FOOD DISTRIBUTION. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THEM IF, WHEN DONATING FOOD, YOU COULD INCLUDE ANY CARRIER BAGS YU CAN SPARE, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
Please remember the Card Rack at the back of the Church. This is now well stocked with Mass Cards, First Communion Cards etc. Do not forget to buy your Catholic Paper.
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: PETER AND PAUL
The pages of the four gospels clearly show Peter to be the leader of the apostles, chosen by Jesus to have a special relationship with him. With James and John he was privileged to witness events like the Transfiguration
and the agony in Gethsemane. His mother-in-law was cured by Jesus. He was sent with John to prepare for the last Passover before Jesus’ death. His name is first on every list of apostles.
But the Gospels also include some unflattering details about Peter. He clearly was no public relations person. It’s a great comfort for us ordinary mortals to know that Peter also has his human weakness, even in the presence of Jesus.
Paul converted to Christianity after being its persecutor. His central conviction was simple and absolute: only God can save humanity. No human effort—even the most scrupulous observance of law—can create a human good which we can bring to God as reparation for sin or payment for grace. To be saved from itself, from sin, from the devil and from death, humanity must open itself completely to the saving power of Jesus.
Today we celebrate two great saints who are proof that God can work through anybody. We have St. Peter, a brash, thick-headed fisherman, inclined to say whatever popped into his head without thinking, and St. Paul, that well educated Pharisee who persecuted the Church, later becoming its great champion. Today’s feast, then, is a celebration of the Church’s unity (and a good example to us in Community). Anyone who has read Acts or Galatians, will recall that Saints Peter and Paul did not always think or act in perfect harmony. They came from different backgrounds, they had different methods of evangelism, and they didn’t always get along, but they were vitally important to the emerging Christian Church.
Both helped to spread the faith of the early Church, following in the footsteps of Christ. That these two extremes could allow the Holy Spirit to work through them is certainly proof that God can work through each of us, as long as we are willing to answer “yes” to God’s call.
Feast of Ss Peter and Paul 30th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Grace Howe RIP
St John’s Parishioners
Prayer Meeting
Monday 1st 9.15am Service of Word & Communion
Tuesday 2nd 9.15am
7.00pm Service of Word & Communion
Novena
Wednesday 3rd 9.15am Service of Word & Communion
Thursday 4th 7.30am Service of Word & Communion
Friday 5th 9.15am Service of Word & Communion
Saturday 6th 12 Noon Golden Jubilee Mass for Sister Pat Kenny
14th Sunday in Ord Time 7th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm St John’s Parishioners
Ints Fr John Rafferty – Golden Jubilee
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Next Saturday 4.15pm-4.45pm
Morning Prayer
15 minutes before daily Masses
Children’s Liturgy: Each Sunday during 9.30am Mass in the side/day chapel. All welcome.
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre.
Golden Jubilee Mass for Sister Pat Kenny: Sister Pat celebrates her Golden Jubilee as a Sister of Charity this summer. Please note that all parishioners are warmly invited to next Saturday’s 12noon Mass in Church joining the Kenny family and the Sisters of Charity in giving thanks to God for Sister Pat’s 50 years dedicated religious service in this country and abroad .
Prayers for the Sick ; Please continue to remember all our sick and housebound parishioners in your daily prayers and if anyone is in need of a visit/Holy Communion, please let us know.
Lately Dead Your prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of Mary Thomas a parishioner who died recently. Funeral Service in Church Monday 8th July at 10.30am and for Fr Michael
Murray, Retired Priest of the Diocese. Reception of the Body and Vigil Mass at St Anthony’s Church, Wythenshawe on Tuesday 9th July at 7.00pm. Funeral Mass again at St Anthony’s Church, Portway, Wythenshawe M22 6WR on Wednesday 10th July at 11.00am. May their souls and the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.
Money Matters: Last week’s collection amounted to £632.01p. Thank you. A Retiring Collection will be held THIS weekend for Peter’s Pence. The collection is a gesture of solidarity. Through it, every member of the faithful can participate in the Pope’s activity. It is an activity that supports the most needy and ecclesial communities in difficulty who approach the Apostolic See for help. Pope Francis says “Solidarity is taking responsibility for the problem of the other.” Please give what you can. Thank you.
Novena to Perpetual Succour: Many thanks to those who participated in the recent nine days of prayer and to those who organised it and led it. As this coming Tuesday is the First Tuesday of July the Novena will be prayed in Church as usual at 7pm.
St Anselm’s College SVP 80th Anniversary. The College is hosting and celebrating a Mass of Thanksgiving on Tuesday 2nd July at 6.00 pm in the College Hall. All old Anselmians and College SVP members and their families are welcome to attend. There will be light refreshments served afterwards. Please inform us of your attendance for catering purposes.”
St John’s SVP Group meets in the presbytery on Thursday at 6.30pm
Readers: There will be a meeting for all parish readers on Saturday, 20th July at 10.30am in Church. Please make every effort to attend. Thank you.
The Bereavement Group will be holding their annual memorial service on Thursday, 11th July at 7.30pm. Invitations have been sent out to bereaved families. Please return the tear off slip in the stamped envelope provided as soon as possible to assist us with numbers for catering. We invite you to come along and support those members of our parish family who are coming to terms with the loss of their loved ones. The service will include scripture readings, poetry and hymns, followed by light refreshments.
The Diocese of Shrewsbury is looking to recruit a Youth Mission Team in schools and parishes across the Member to engage with young people Diocese. The Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team (SYMT) comprises of full time employees and lay and clergy volunteers. The full-time employee will be a key member of the team led by the Director. The successful candidate will be a faithful practising Catholic, happily living their faith and willing to give positive witness to young people and serve as a representative of the Bishop and Diocese of Shrewsbury. Full details and application forms can be found at http;//dioceseofshrewsbury.org/about-us/curia/vacancies. Completed applications should be returned to recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org. Closing date Friday 12th July 2019.
Fully Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 23rd September 2019. £599.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight with 10kg hand luggage, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full Irish Breakfast each morning and 4 Course Dinner each evening. Lunch on days out. All entertainment and excursions included. Wheelchair accessible rooms in the hotel. Limited single rooms at supplement of £100. Groups and Individual bookings welcome. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613
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: http://www.stjohnevang.co.uk http://www.lpa24.org
Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) 23rd June, 2019, Cycle C
Fully Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 23rd September 2019. £599.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight with 10kg hand luggage, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full Irish Breakfast each morning and 4 Course Dinner each evening. Lunch on days out. All entertainment and excursions included. Wheelchair accessible rooms in the hotel. Limited single rooms at supplement of £100. Groups and Individual bookings welcome. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613
Wirral Hospice St John’s – in the grounds of Clatterbridge Hospital-the garden at the Hospice will be open next Saturday and Sunday from 11.30am- 4.30pm. Adults admission £4.00, children free. Pimms tent and home-made produce available. Please support this important local charity.
Wirral Foodbank: Please continue to give to the Foodbank; The need is as great as ever. Although we were very well supported with donations at Easter, the need for our food has risen by 54% on this period last year, so the food is being given out very quickly. ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned potatoes, tinned fruit, instant mash, squash, sponge puddings, hot chocolate, shower gel, washing up liquid, jam and UHT milk.
Please remember the Card Rack at the back of the Church. This is now well stocked with Mass Cards, First Communion Cards etc. Do not forget to buy your Catholic Paper.
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: The Body and Blood of Christ
The feast of Corpus et Sanguis Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ) is a vivid reminder to us that, although Jesus has ascended to heaven, he is truly present among us here on earth. Traditionally we say that he is present in four ways:
Jesus is present in the message of his word. When the scriptures are proclaimed, Jesus speaks.
Jesus is present in his people, the Body of Christ, those who gather in his name to praise and worship God.
Jesus is present in the person of the minister who like Jesus calls to repentance, baptises and leads the faithful on their journey towards the Father.
Jesus is present in the sacraments, but especially in the eucharist which is the pledge of his abiding presence among us. When we eat his body and drink his blood we make his death and resurrection a reality in our midst until he comes again.
So we reserve the eucharist in our tabernacles. We do this first and foremost so that people who are not able to join the parish community through sickness may still take their place at the family table when they receive the communion of the sick. And we see Christ’s presence in the tabernacle as the focal point of our devotion and prayer, a devotion that is unpacked and celebrated on this very ancient feast of the Church’s year.
Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ 23rd 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Pat McGann
St John’s Parishioners
Prayer Meeting
Monday 24th 9.15am Tony Wallis RIP
Tuesday 25th 9.15am Ints Brannock & Connolly Fams
Wednesday 26th 9.15am Paul Connor RIP
Thursday 27th 9.15am Joe Moore RIP
Friday 28th No Mass or Service
Saturday 29th
Sunday Feast of Ss Peter & Paul 30th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Grace Howe RIP
St John’s Parishioners
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Next Saturday 4.15pm-4.45pm
Morning Prayer
15 minutes before daily Masses
Children’s Liturgy: Each Sunday during 9.30am Mass in the side/day chapel. All welcome.
Prayers for the Sick ; Please continue to remember all our sick and housebound parishioners in your daily prayers and if anyone is in need of a visit/Holy Communion, please let us know.
This weekend is the Feast of the Body & Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). At both Masses our Eucharistic Ministers are invited to make their Annual Renewal of Commitment. Please report to the Sacristy before Mass.
This week we look forward to welcoming Year 1 of our Infant School to Mass on Tuesday at 9.15am. On Wednesday morning we will welcome St John’s Junior School for a whole school Mass on the theme of St Peter and St Paul in preparation for next weekend’s Feast.
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week
in the Parish Centre.
Traidcraft goods will be on sale after both Masses this weekend. Please take a look at what is on offer
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Nine Day Novena continues here at St John’s The Programme is as follows:
Sunday 23rd June After Mass
Monday 24th June 7pm
Tuesday 25th June 7pm
Wednesday 26th June 7pm
Thursday 27th June 9.15am
The Novena concludes with the celebration of Mass at 9.15am on Thursday- the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.
St John’s SVP Group meets in the presbytery on Thursday at 6.30pm.
Friday is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I will be at the celebration of the Diocesan Priesthood Mass at Westminster Cathedral in London along with Bishop Mark and several other priests from our diocese so there will not be a Mass at St John’s on Friday. However Canon Hoban will be celebrating a Mass at St Anne’s at 12 noon to which all are most welcome.
Money Matters: Last week’s collection amounted to £523.75p. Thank you. Last weekend’s collection for the Lay Volunteer Missionary Movement amounted to £615.00. Thank you for your generosity. The recent collection for Church Flowers amounted to £340.00 which will allow our volunteers to keep our wonderful Church looking so beautiful.
A Retiring Collection will be held next weekend for Peter’s Pence. The collection is a gesture of solidarity. Through it, every member of the faithful can participate in the Pope’s activity. It is an activity that supports the most needy and ecclesial communities in difficulty who approach the Apostolic See for help. Pope Francis says “Solidarity is taking responsibility for the problem of the other.” Please give what you can. Thank you.
Wirral Irish Club; This summer marks the 21st Anniversary of the Irish Club. To celebrate this significant anniversary a Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated in St Anne’s Church this Wednesday at 11.30am followed by a social gathering in the Parish Centre. All past and present members are most welcome and families too.
Parish Auction: St Luke’s Bebington will be holding a Parish Auction on Wednesday 26th June, at the ground floor of the Lever Club, Port Sunlight (next to Port Sunlight Station) at 7.30pm. During the course of the evening there will be a quiz and the Grand Summer Raffle. Everyone is welcome, admission is free.
MISSIO are holding their Annual Summer Mass for Red Box Volunteers, supporters and all who are interested at St Michael & All Angels Church, Woodchurch ,this Saturday 29th June at 12 noon. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Mark and Fr. Tony Chantry, National Director of Missio will preach. The Mass will be followed by refreshments in the school. All most welcome.
The Bereavement Group will be holding their annual memorial service on Thursday, 11th July at 7.30pm. Invitations have been sent out to bereaved families. Please return the tear off slip in the stamped envelope provided as soon as possible to assist us with numbers for catering. We invite you to come along and support those members of our parish family who are coming to terms with the loss of their loved ones. The service will include scripture readings, poetry and hymns, followed by light refreshments.
The Diocese of Shrewsbury is looking to recruit a Youth Mission Team Member to engage with young people in schools and parishes across the Diocese. The Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team (SYMT) comprises of full time employees and lay and clergy volunteers. The full-time employee will be a key member of the team led by the Director. The successful candidate will be a faithful practising Catholic, happily living their faith and willing to give positive witness to young people and serve as a representative of the Bishop and Diocese of Shrewsbury. Full details and application forms can be found at http;//dioceseofshrewsbury.org/about-us/curia/vacancies. Completed applications should be returned to recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org. Closing date Friday 12th July 2019.
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: http://www.stjohnevang.co.uk http://www.lpa24.org
The Most Holy Trinity 16th June, 2019, Cycle C
Wirral Foodbank: Please continue to give to the Foodbank; The need is as great as ever. Although we were very well supported with donations at Easter, the need for our food has risen by 54% on this period last year, so the food is being given out very quickly. ITEMS URGENTLY NEEDED: Tinned potatoes, tinned fruit, instant mash, squash, sponge puddings, hot chocolate, shower gel, washing up liquid, jam and UHT milk.
Trade Craft Stall will be available over the weekend of Saturday/Sunday
22nd/23rd June. Please take time to look through the cards and goods on sale.
Please remember the Card Rack at the back of the Church. This is now well stocked with Mass Cards, First Communion Cards etc. Do not forget to buy your Catholic Paper.
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: FATHOMING GOD
Dear Sons and Daughters,
I thought I’d drop you a brief line today since, after all, Trinity is my special feast. Though perhaps I should remember that your finite minds would find it easier on Trinity Sunday if I say “our” feast. The other two agree with me on this!
You know, of course, I am the only one with a total grasp on reality. That’s because I exist infinitely; I had no beginning and will have no end, unlike you who are limited to time and space. One day, of course, you will join me in this never-ending happiness. I’m really looking forward to that day. Well, actually, it’s already arrived for me but that would take too long to explain. It pleases me that you are trying to be holy. It doesn’t matter whether you achieve it or not, because it’s the trying that’s important. What you are really doing is trying to become more like me. That’s because I possess the only real holiness: it comes naturally to me. And when you love, too, you are like a kitchen towel that blots up my love and passes it on to others.
One of the pleasures of being God is watching how much progress you are making on earth. DNA, space probes, computers, health cures: it’s all very impressive but sometimes I wonder what took you so long. And I have a good laugh when you try to take the credit for it all. It’s the same when you talk about the origins of life and of the universe. Big bangs, gases, planetary collisions. Well, yes, it’s all pretty close to the mark, but who do you think made the gases in the first place? Yes, I know it’s rude to boast. Still, don’t think just because I am the one you’re all trying to catch up with, without really knowing it, that I am too busy or important to be bothered about your own individual cares and concerns. I have always loved you, even before you were born, and that’s why I came down to earth. And even when people talk about me as if I were a thing from the past, and behave in ways that contradict all I’ve ever said, I won’t stop loving. But that’s probably hard for you to understand, even though I’ve made you little less than gods. In the meantime I send you my blessing.
Best wishes from your loving Father.
PS The other two send their regards.
The Most Holy Trinity 16th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm St John’s Parishioners
Evans Family
Prayer Meeting
Monday 17th 9.15am Service of Word & Communion
Tuesday 18th 9.15am Patricia Dobbie RIP
Wednesday 19th 9.15am Private Intention I McIver
Thursday 20th 7.30am Lewis Doyle RIP
Friday 21st 9.15am Ted Corrigan RIP
Saturday 22nd
Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ 23rd 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Pat McGann
St John’s Parishioners
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Next Saturday 4.15pm-4.45pm
Morning Prayer
15 minutes before daily Masses
Sunday is a Special Day of Prayer for the Day of Life
Children’s Liturgy: We are recommencing Children’s Liturgy this weekend at Sunday 9.30am Mass in the side/day chapel
Prayers for the Sick ; Please continue to remember all our sick and housebound parishioners in your daily prayers and if anyone is in need of a visit/Holy Communion, please let us know.
Next weekend is the Feast of the Body & Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). At both Masses our Eucharistic Ministers are invited to make their Annual Renewal Commitment.
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Nine Day Novena will be held here at St John’s 19th-27th June. The Programme is as follows:
Wednesday 19th June 7pm
Thursday 20th June 7pm
Friday 21st June 7pm
Saturday 22nd June 4.15pm
Sunday 23rd June After Mass
Monday 24th June 7pm
Tuesday 25th June 7pm
Wednesday 26th June 7pm
Thursday 27th June 9.15am
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre.
St John’s SVP Group meets in the presbytery on Thursday at 6.30pm.
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 Thursday 20th June 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.
Money Matters: Last week’s collection amounted to £635.05p. Thank you. A copy of the Parish’s Financial Summary/ Comparison sheet is posted on the notice board at the back of Church. The bottom line figure is that the slight loss of 2017/2018 has been turned into a healthy profit of £7,000 plus in 20118/2019 thanks to your continued generosity, a growth in sacramental activity and an increase in mass attendance. Many thanks to Carol Dalziel for the tremendous amount of work she does preparing and monitoring the accounts, to Steve Bell for his work with Gift Aid and to all our counters and collectors. THIS Weekend members of the Lay Volunteer Missionary Movement will be making the Annual Mission Appeal at both Masses.
St John’s Junior School. The whole school will be celebrating Mass in St John’s church on Wednesday
26th June to mark the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul. All Parents, family members and parishioners are warmly welcome.
Wirral Irish Club; This summer marks the 21st Anniversary of the Irish Club. To celebrate this significant anniversary a Thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated in Church on Wednesday 26th June followed by a social gathering in the Parish Centre. All past and present members are most welcome and families too.
MISSIO are holding their Annual Summer Mass for Red Box Volunteers, supporters and all who are interested at St Michael & All Angels Church, Woodchurch on Saturday 29th June at 12 noon. RSVP to generaloffice@mission.org.uk or just come along.
The Bereavement Group will be holding their annual memorial service on Thursday, 11th July at 7.30pm. Invitations have been sent out to bereaved families. Please return the tear off slip in the stamped envelope provided as soon as possible to assist us with numbers for catering. We invite you to come along and support those members of our parish family who are coming to terms with the loss of their loved ones. The service will include scripture readings, poetry and hymns, followed by light refreshments.
Fully Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 23rd September 2019. £599.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight with 10kg hand luggage, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full Irish Breakfast each morning and 4 Course Dinner each evening. Lunch on days out. All entertainment and excursions included. Wheelchair accessible rooms in the hotel. Limited single rooms at supplement of £100. Groups and Individual bookings welcome. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613
THIS Sunday 16 June at 3pm Bishop Mark will lead the third Pause for Hope service to be held in Saint Columba’s church in Chester (Plas Newton Lane CH2 1SA). Pause for Hope is an ecumenical service offering all those affected by cancer a chance to come together in a spirit of prayer. It is an opportunity to pray for those living with cancer, for loved ones, carers, doctors, nurses and that scientist searching for a cure for cancer. The service is open to everyone and will include a reflection by Lynne Moorhead from the Hospice of the Good Shepherd. Following the time of prayer there will be refreshments in the parish centre. For more information about Pause for Hope please see their website http://www.pauseforhope.org.uk
