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
Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 17th November 2019, Cycle C
WORD OF GOD Take care not to be deceived because many will come using my name and saying, “I am he” and, “The time is near at hand.” Refuse to join them. (Luke 21: 8)
WORDS FOR WORSHIP Let us pray for those countries that have been caught up in natural disasters of flood, earthquake, hurricane and famine , that world governments and agencies may be speedy in their response and relief. Lord, may your kingdom come: May your will be done. Let us pray for those who are searching for meaning in their lives that they may not be distracted and disturbed by false claims, predictions of disaster and gloom-mongering but may come to know the all pervasive care of a loving God. Lord, may your kingdom… Let us pray for those who have died recently and for all the departed members of our families that they may enjoy the light, happiness and peace that is God’s promise to those who endure in faith. Lord, may your kingdom… Let us pray for those who have lost their jobs, for those young people seeking employment for the first time and for those who are finding it hard to make ends meet as they provide for their families. Lord, may your kingdom…
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.
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- 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 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 buy a Catholic paper and to take a look at the Card Rack
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: SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT? We can always find reasons to worry, even when there’s nothing to worry about. Some people love to be frightened into thinking that every flood, hurricane, war or earthquake is somehow a sign that the end of the world is about to hit us. They love to have something to worry about. In today’s gospel Jesus tells us to be worried about three things. But they’re not the ones we expect to hear. First, he tells us to worry about being deceived. Make sure you’re not taken in by claims about the end of the world. If you believe that the predictions of Nostradamus or the prophecies of Malachy are true then it’s time to give in. You should worry, says Jesus, if you’re enticed by these claims to know about the future, by rumours, apparitions of gloom, or plagues and revolutions as forerunners of the end of the world. Yes, worry. Because if you put your trust in these predictions (which are always explained away when they fail to deliver) then you’re far away from trusting in God’s promises. You’ve already been tricked. Secondly, worry about letting people disturb you. The fact that terrorists exist doesn’t mean that one lives next door to you. The fact that people get shot and knifed doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen to you or your family. The fact that new strains of diseases come into being does not mean that half the world is about to be wiped out. Start to worry, says Jesus, when you begin to fear that natural disasters have a sinister meaning. All sorts of fearful things take place in this world, but your endurance will win you your lives. Thirdly, Jesus implicitly tells us to worry if we find that we’ve become distracted. Today’s gospel is a plea to get things into perspective. Where are our priorities? Are we living our lives eating and drinking, so caught up in the ordinariness of daily existence, planning how to spend our lottery win, how to improve our garden and how to get the latest i-sound that we have lost the plot? If you want something to worry about, then worry about how you are preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus. Or maybe that’s not as interesting as worrying about nothing or worrying about something that will never happen?
33rd Sunday in Ord Time 17th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm
Ints Rowlands Family
For the Poor, Sick & Needy
Prayer Meeting
Monday 18th 9.15am Service of Word & Communion
Tuesday 19th 9.15 am Joe Moore Anniv RIP
Wednesday 20th 9.15am Kath Ryan RIP
Thursday 21st 7.30am Audrey Atkinson RIP
Friday 22nd 9.15am John McIntosh RIP
Saturday 23rd
Feast of Christ the King 24th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints Philip & Sara White
St John’s Parish
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Each Saturday 10.30am-11.15am
Morning Prayer
Exposition 15 min before daily Masses
Saturdays 4.00-4.50pm
Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre after 9.30am Mass. Pop in and have a chat.
Confirmation 2019: This year’s Confirmation Mass with Bishop Mark presiding will be held at Christ the King, Bromborough this Thursday 21st November at 7pm. Please keep all the candidates , their sponsors, families and our Catechists in your prayers as they receive this special sacrament.
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass in the Day Chapel. This provides your children with the opportunity to experience the Word of God at a level suitable to their age. Celebrating Children’s Liturgy- A day for those involved in leading Children’s Liturgy this Saturday 23rd November at Saint Joseph’s Parish Centre Birkenhead . Coffee & registration from 10am. The day will finish with prayer at 3pm. Please bring a packed lunch, drinks will be provided. £5 per person.
First Sacraments – Enrolment Mass at 9.30am next Sunday 24th November, the Feast of Christ the King. All Year 3 children and their parents are invited to this special Mass to enrol the children in their Sacramental programme.
St John’s Catholic Pre School September 2020 Admission .Open Evening this Thursday 21st Nov from 4.00-5.30pm. If your child will be 3 years of age by 31st August 2020 they will be able to join us for their Pre School year, starting September 2020.You are welcome to come along to our Open Evening, it is a drop in session where you will be able to view the setting, meet the staff and complete an admission form.Further details from Bernadette – 0151 645 5291 Option No. 2
Wirral Hospitals- Monthly Mass in Arrowe Park Hospital Chapel this Thursday at 12.30pm. The Chapel is located on the first floor. All most welcome.
Youth Matters- The next meeting will be at St Anne’s on Wednesday 27th November at 7pm.
As we begin the Year of the Word a Reflective Scripture / Prayer Service will be held at St John’s Day Chapel on the First Sunday of Advent 1st December from 3pm-4pm led by Fr Thomas . Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on the Sunday readings.
Readers-Thank you to the readers who attended the meeting last Saturday. Copies of Pope Francis’s document are available this weekend in the Day Chapel.
Money Matters: Last weekend’s Offertory collection amounted to £595.13p. Many thanks.
Missio Red Boxes last months collections amounted to £285.73. Thank you to all who continue to support this important cause.
Clergy Education & Training Fund – Special Collection
This weekend the annual Collection for the Clergy Education & Training Fund will be held. On the training and formation of Priests, the future of our Diocese so much depends.
Special Envelopes are available for you to use.
A leaflet about the Fund is also available which explains how you can make a regular donation, how you can take advantage of Gift Aid for your donations and how you can donate online at http://www.dioceseof shrewsbury.org/clergy-education-and-training-fund.
I ask that you give your support in whatever way is possible for the provision of the best formation for a new generation of priests. It is in every sense an investment in the future of the life and mission of the Diocese.
With every good wish,
+Mark
Men’s Group- This month the men’s fellowship revisited the keynote speech from Adoremus, held in Liverpool in 2018.”The Mystery of the Mass- The Source and Summit of Christian Life” It’s very clear and engaging and an inspiring, uplifting reflection of our communion with God.Highly recommended watching for all! Is available on You Tube at https://youtu.be/DRP2u6NkZeU
Next months mens fellowship will focus on the Birth of the Messiah and will meet at 7.30pm on Wed 4th December, in St John’s Presbytery.
BOST Fanfare for Christmas: An evening of festive music, featuring well-loved traditional favourites and exciting new modern Christmas music. Tuesday 10th December at 7.30pm at St Anne’s church. Tickets £8 from St Anne’s.
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
Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 10th November 2019, Cycle C
WORD OF GOD God is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive. (Luke 20:38)
Caritas Shrewsbury currently has 1 vacancy for an Office Administrator (closing date: 22nd November) based at their Head Office on the Wirral. For further details and an Application Pack, please contact them: http://www.caritasshrewsbury.org.uk (‘Job Vacancies’ can be found under the ‘News’ Section) / Tel: 0151 652 1281 / info@caritasshrewsbury.org.uk
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.
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- 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 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 buy a Catholic paper and to take a look at the Card Rack
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: WILL MY DOG BE IN HEAVEN? Jesus had less than a week to live when the events of today’s gospel took place. So it’s perhaps not surprising for him to be talking about life after death and teaching against the Sadducees that there is a resurrection that all created flesh will share in. Because the Sadducees didn’t believe in a resurrection they tried to trick Jesus into giving a stupid answer to their farcical case of a woman who was the surviving widow of her husband and six brothers-in-law. Whose wife would she be in heaven? Yet this is the sort of question that many people ask even today. Will my dog be with me in heaven? Will I recognise people I’ve known here on earth? What will happen if I come face to face with someone who’s been my sworn enemy? What about my best friend who doesn’t believe in God? And what if I don’t like it?! Perhaps the first thing that we must say about heaven is that it’s the fulfilment of all our desires and yearnings for God. Jesus enticed his listeners by saying that no eye had seen nor ear heard what God has in store for us. It goes far beyond what we could ever imagine or hope for. We see God face to face and as we gaze on his glory we are moved to the profoundest level of love, a love which leaves no room for any kind of emptiness or regret. The second thing that we need to remember is that God is eternal, just like the life he offers us. We necessarily live in time but God’s eternal nature means that he experiences infinity at every moment; in fact “moment” is too restricting for a God who exists free from the boundaries of time. After our resurrection we share in that “instantaneousness” of God. We are caught up in the immediacy of God. There is no yesterday or tomorrow about heaven. It’s an eternal “now”. When we view heaven in this way we realise that many of our questions and difficulties about it are simply man-made and woman-inspired. We naturally have a tendency to tie things down to our own experience of reality. Yet today Jesus tells us that the afterlife is radically different from some of the ways we conceive of it. That’s why he says that the Lord is God not of the dead but of the living: for to God all people are in fact alive.
32nd Sunday in Ord Time 10th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Deceased SVP Members
Theresa McLean Anniv RIP
Prayer Meeting
Monday 11th 9.15am
Service of Word & Communion
Tuesday 12th 9.15 am Remembrance Mass
Wednesday 13th 9.15am Stephanie Lane RIP
Thursday 14th 7.30am Bishop Brian Noble RIP
Friday 15th 9.15am Eleanor McGuigan RIP
Saturday 16th 10.00am Deceased Carmelites
33rd
Sunday in Ord Time 17th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints Rowlands Family
For the Poor, Sick & Needy
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Each Saturday 10.30am-11.15am
Morning Prayer
Exposition
15 min before daily Masses
Saturdays 4.00-4.50pm
A Remembrance Sunday Prayer
by Denis McBride C.Ss.R
Our God our Heavenly Father,
look mercifully upon the unrest in our world
and draw all people to yourself and one another
in the sure bond of peace.
We give you ready thanks for the memory
of all those men and women
who laid down their lives
in service of their country.
As we hallow their memory
we bless you for their courage and devotion
even to death.
In your mercy
send your peace into the hearts of all people
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre after 9.30am Mass. Pop in and have a chat.
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass in the Day Chapel. This provides your children with the opportunity to experience the Word of God at a level suitable to their age. Celebrating Children’s Liturgy- A day for those involved in leading Children’s Liturgy on Saturday 23rd November at Saint Joseph’s Parish Centre Birkenhead . Coffee & registration from 10am. The day will finish with prayer at 3pm. Please bring a packed lunch, drinks will be provided. £5 per person.
School News- Year 5/6 children from St John’s Junior School will be celebrating a Remembrance Mass with us here in church on Tuesday at 9.15am. All most welcome. First Sacraments – Enrolment Mass at 9.30am on Sunday 24th November, the Feast of Christ the King.
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. Please keep all the candidates and their families in your prayers.
Youth Matters- Many thanks to those who came to the meeting last Monday at St Anne’s. The next meeting will also be at St Anne’s on Wednesday 27th November at 7pm.
As we begin the Year of the Word a Reflective Scripture / Prayer Service will be
held at St John’s Day Chapel on the First Sunday of Advent 1st December from 3pm-4pm led by Fr Thomas . Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
Money Matters: Last weekend’s Offertory collection amounted to £552.85p. Many thanks.
Clergy Education & Training Fund – Special Collection
Next weekend the annual Collection for the Clergy Education & Training Fund will be held. On the training and formation of Priests, the future of our Diocese so much depends.
Special Envelopes are available for you to use.
A leaflet about the Fund is also available which explains how you can make a regular donation, how you can take advantage of Gift Aid for your donations and how you can donate online at http://www.dioceseof shrewsbury.org/clergy-education-and-training-fund.
I ask that you give your support in whatever way is possible for the provision of the best formation for a new generation of priests. It is in every sense an investment in the future of the life and mission of the Diocese.
With every good wish,
+Mark
Men’s Group- This month the men’s fellowship revisited the keynote speech from Adoremus, held in Liverpool in 2018.”The Mystery of the Mass- The Source and Summit of Christian Life” It’s very clear and ingaging and an inspiring, uplifting reflection of our communion with God.Highly recommended watching for all! Is available on You Tube at https://youtu.be/DRP2u6NkZeU
Next months mens fellowship will focus on the Birth of the Messiah and will meet at 7.30pm on Wednesday 4th December, in St John’s Presbytery. Plans for meetings in 2020 include great men of the Bible.
BOST Fanfare for Christmas: An evening of festive music, featuring well-loved traditional favourites and exciting new modern Christmas music. Tuesday 10th December at 7.30pm at St Anne’s church. Tickets £8 from St Anne’s.
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
Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time 3rd November 2019, Cycle C
WORD OF GOD In your sight, Lord, the whole world is like a grain of dust that tips the scales like a drop of morning dew falling on the ground. Yet you are merciful to all, because you can do all things and overlook men’s sins so that they can repent. (Wisdom 11:22-23)
WORDS FOR WORSHIP May God the Father make you worthy of his call and fulfil all your desires for goodness. May Jesus Christ complete all that you have been doing through faith and lead you to the glory of heaven. May the Holy Spirit inspire your every action that you may be gathered by him on the Day of the Lord. And may almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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.
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- 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 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 buy a Catholic paper and to take a look at the Card Rack
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 THE FIRST MOVE There was a sign outside a church that read, “Don’t let your funeral be the next time you come and visit us!” We can understand what it meant; it was encouraging people to think about the place of God in their lives and their response to God’s workings. But, actually, the sign is fundamentally flawed. Why? Because it encourages people to think that they are the ones who must make the first move. It gives the impression that God is sitting back waiting for them to decide to start doing something about their lives. And that simply isn’t true! The amazing thing about God’s dealings with us is that he always makes the first move. Think of Zacchaeus in today’s gospel. He’d heard all the rumours about Jesus and wanted to see for himself. Being a small man he climbed up a sycamore tree to get a good view. But before he could say anything, before he could make his mind up, it was Jesus who made the first move and told him he was coming home with him to stay for a while. When Zacchaeus heard what Jesus had to say he was immediately moved to repent and give half his property to the poor. (He’d cheated people by charging them too much tax and then keeping most of the money himself.) God never ceases reaching out to us. We find this hard to cope with because we think that God is so concerned with weighty global problems that he has no time for us and our particular situations. Yet the opposite is true. When we feel drawn to God it is only because God’s grace has been offered us in the first place. Our lives are a response to Christ’s example of sacrifice and love; our response comes from hearing God’s word; our actions are inspired by God’s Spirit working in us, if only we take the time to discern it. At the Eucharist we thank God for never abandoning us and for continually offering us the chance to enjoy the life that Christ promised. Amazingly, God never stops leading us on to deeper trust and love. And all he asks in return is that we respond.
31st Sunday in Ord Time 3rd 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints of Fennell & McGuigan Families
Fr Frank Rice RIP
Prayer Meeting
Monday 4th 9.15am
7.00pm Stephen Fattery Anniv RIP
Monthly Novena
Tuesday 5th 9.15 am Service of Word & Communion
Wednesday 6th No Mass or Service
Thursday 7th 7.00pm Remembrance Mass
Friday 8th 12noon Funeral Mass
Stephanie Lane
Saturday 9th
32nd
Sunday in Ord Time 10th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Deceased SVP
Theresa McLean Anniv RIP
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Each Saturday 10.30am-11.15am
Morning Prayer
Exposition 15 min before daily Masses
Saturdays 4.00-4.50pm
Funeral Arrangements For Bishop Brian Noble
Tuesday 5th November- Bishop Brian’s mortal remains will be received into Shrewsbury Cathedral at 5pm with the Prayers of the Vigil and Reception. His body will rest before the Altar until the Vigil Mass at 7pm. His mortal remains will then be transferred to rest overnight at St Joseph’s Birkenhead.
Wednesday 6th November- Bishop Brian’s mortal remains will be transferred to the Church of Saint Michael and All Angels, Birkenhead at 10am where his body will rest before the Altar until the Requiem Mass at 12 noon.
His mortal remains will then be laid to rest at St Winefride’s Churchyard, Neston.
May they and all the faithful departed Rest in Peace.
In Memorium-Please remember Stephanie Lane Funeral Mass is at St John’s this Friday at 12 Noon.
The Annual Mass of Remembrance for all those who have died since last November will be celebrated on Thursday at 7pm. All most welcome.
Money Matters: Last weekend’s Offertory collection amounted to £538.26p. Many thanks.
CAFOD Harvest Fast Day Envelopes collection totalled £496.69p ( of which £340 was also gift-aided). Thank you for your continued generosity.
Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre after 9.30am Mass. Pop in and have a chat.
Traidcraft goods are on sale after Masses this weekend.
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass in the Day Chapel. This provides your children with the opportunity to experience the Word of God at a level suitable to their age. Celebrating Children’s Liturgy- A day for those involved in leading Children’s Liturgy of the Word. On Saturday 23rd November 2019 at Saint Joseph’s Parish Centre Birkenhead CH42 7JY. Coffee & registration from 10am. The day will finish with prayer at 3pm. Please bring a packed lunch, drinks will be provided. £5 per person.
First Sacraments Preparation Key Dates 2019/2020 Sun 24th Nov Feast of Christ the King-Enrolment for First Sacraments at 9.30am Mass. Thurs 13th February – First Forgiveness Service at St John’s Church at 6.30pm. Saturday 25th April- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am. Saturday 2nd May- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am. Children who do not attend St John’s School and wish to receive these First Sacraments, please get in touch with Fr Bernard before the end of October.
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 is now underway. For information please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk .
Meeting with Shrewsbury Youth Mission Team- Following on from the visit of Sandy Fairley to our Local Parishes last weekend, there will be a meeting this Monday 4th November at 7.30pm in St Anne’s Presbytery for all those interested in helping with youth activity in our Local Parishes.
Readers- Please make every effort to attend a meeting in the Day Chapel next Saturday 9th November at 10am to look at the readings for Advent Year A and Christmas time. Thank you .
Next Saturday 9 Nov at 11.00 am at the Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool there is a Mass to celebrate Catholic Education. Everyone associated with Upton Hall School and Holt Hill Convent is warmly invited.
As we begin the Year of the Word
held at St John’s on Sunday 1st December from 3pm-4pm led by Fr Thomas . Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception to be held Saturday 7th December 2019 at 12 noon at St. Peter’s Church, 16 Green Lane, Hazel Grove, Stockport, SK7 4EA, followed by refreshments in the parish centre. We will also be celebrating John Campbell’s service to the pilgrimage as Chief Branc, if you have any pictures or memories of John please send them to events@teamshrewsbury.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: http://www.stjohnevang.co.uk http://www.lpa24.org
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 27th October 2019, Cycle C
WORD OF GOD The Lord is no respecter of personages…he does not ignore the orphan’s supplication, nor the widow’s as she pours out her story. (Ecclesiasticus 35: 13-14)
WORDS FOR WORSHIP God invites us to be honest in our prayer and to be earnest in requesting our real needs. Let us now use the words Jesus taught us as we pray to the Father for our daily bread: Our Father…
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.
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- 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 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 buy a Catholic paper and to take a look at the Card Rack
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: TAKING THE MASK OFF Because she was in a hurry, a woman wanted to find a parking space close to the supermarket door. As she asked God to help her, she saw a car backing out of the car park right next to the store front, and she said, “Never mind, God. I’ve found one myself!” Some of us have an inflated view of our own abilities. Even when we look in the bathroom mirror when we get up in the morning, we see someone else’s face! We see the person we would like to be rather than the person who is actually staring back at us. That’s because the mask that we put on for everyone else to see becomes confused with the real person behind the eyes. Not one of us escapes from this. We wear all sorts of different masks depending on whom we are talking to and what we want them to think of us. We present an image, a projection of someone we would like to be. When we pray, we can keep this mask on, but it is quite useless. That’s because the one person who knows us better than we know ourselves is God. All our being, all our faults and failings, weaknesses and strengths, hopes and fears, lie like an open book before God. There is no point in pretending to be someone else. God knows who we are. Humility in prayer means being yourself before God, but your real self. You don’t have to use religious words to get a hearing. You don’t have to make out that you are doing more than you are or that you are better than you are. The humble man in today’s gospel simply said, “Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.” God accepts us in prayer for what we are, warts and all. If we can simply place ourselves before God and ask the Lord to let us feel his presence then our prayer is authentic. Being honest and humble in prayer ultimately makes us humble and honest about ourselves. It strips us of the layers of self-deception and self-importance. Then we’ll not only be more able to hear what God is really saying to us, but we’ll be better able to change.
.
30th Sunday in Ord Time 27th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints Gerry & Phil Topping
Ints Coulson Family
Prayer Meeting
Monday 28th 9.15am Jimmy Patterson RIP
Tuesday 29th 12 noon Funeral Service
Mary Elizabeth O’Neill
Wednesday 30th 9.15 am Bob Purfield RIP
Thursday 31st 9.15am Service of Word & Communion
Friday All Saints Day 1st 7.30am
7.30pm St John’s Parish
Nora McCormick RIP
Saturday All Souls Day 2nd 10.00am For all the faithful departed
31st
Sunday in Ord Time 3rd 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints of Fennell & McGuigan Families
Fr Frank Rice RIP
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Each Saturday 10.30am-11.15am
Morning Prayer
Exposition 15 min before daily Masses
Saturdays 4.00-4.50pm
In Memorium-Please pray for the repose of the soul of Mary Elizabeth O’Neill whose Funeral Service will be held here at St John’s on Tuesday at 12 Noon. Also please remember Stephanie Lane whose Funeral Mass is at St John’s on Friday 8th November at 12 Noon.
Funeral Arrangements For Bishop Brian Noble
Tuesday 5th November- Bishop Brian’s mortal remains will be received into Shrewsbury Cathedral at 5pm with the Prayers of the Vigil and Reception. His body will rest before the Altar until the Vigil Mass at 7pm. His mortal remains will then be transferred to rest overnight at St Joseph’s Birkenhead.
Wednesday 6th November- Bishop Brian’s mortal remains will be transferred to the Church of Saint Michael and All Angels, Birkenhead at 10am where his body will rest before the Altar until the Requiem Mass at 12 noon.
His mortal remains will then be laid to rest at St Winefride’s Churchyard, Neston.
Please find inserted in this newsletter Bishop Mark’s Pastoral Letter following the death of Bishop Brian.
May they and all the faithful departed Rest in Peace.
November Lists Please ensure that all names for the November List are handed into the Presbytery by this Sunday. Please mark the envelopes FAO Ann Murray and please print all names clearly. The Annual Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated on Thursday 7th November at 7pm.
Money Matters: Last weekend’s Offertory collection amounted to £642.88p. Many thanks.
Cafod Family Fast Day envelopes are on the table at the back of church and can be returned in the Offertory basket’s.
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass in the Day Chapel. This provides your children with the opportunity to experience the Word of God at a level suitable to their age.
Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre after 9.30am Mass. Pop in and have a chat.
Traidcraft goods will be on sale after both Masses next weekend.
Wedding Bells- Congratulations, best wishes and prayers to Jonathan Devlin and Jade Citrine, married here at St John’s yesterday. If anyone is intending to get married at St John’s in 2020 and hasn’t already made contact with us , please do so in the next week or so.
All Saint’s Day Friday 1st November- (a Holy Day of Obligation) Masses at St John’s at 7.30am and 7.30pm.
All Souls Day Saturday 2nd November- Mass at St John’s at 10am.
First Sacraments Preparation Key Dates 2019/2020 Sun 24th Nov Feast of Christ the King-Enrolment for First Sacraments at 9.30am Mass. Thurs 13th February – First Forgiveness Service at St John’s Church at 6.30pm.
Saturday 25th April- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am. Saturday 2nd May- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am. Children who do not attend St John’s School and wish to receive these First Sacraments, please get in touch with Fr Bernard before the end of October.
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 is now underway. For information please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk .
Diocesan Mass to Celebrate Grandparents and the role they play
in the lives of their grandchildren next
Saturday 2nd November ~ 12 noon
at St Alban’s Church Mill Lane, Wallasey, CH44 5UD Principal Celebrant: Canon Philip Moor VG
Refreshments will be provided afterwards in the Parish Centre. All most welcome.
On Saturday 9 November 2019 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. Everyone associated with Upton Hall School and Holt Hill Convent is warmly invited.
As we begin the Year of the Word an Advent LPA Prayer event will be held at St John’s on Sunday 1st December from 3pm-4pm led by Fr Thomas ( the new Parish Priest at Christ the King). More details to follow.
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
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
Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time 20th October 2019, Cycle C
WORDS FOR WORSHIP Let us pray for parents that they may lead their children to know a loving God and may teach them the joys of a lifetime of prayer to the One who holds all things in the palm of his hand. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer. Let us pray for ourselves that we may never become dejected if we pray for something that does not come about, but may persevere in that conversation with God which feeds our faith Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer. Let us pray for those who are seeking meaning in their lives and a way of making sense of the ups and downs that characterise their days, that they may find the comfort of faith in God Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer. Let us pray for those men and women who have dedicated themselves to an enclosed religious life and who spend their days praying for the needs of the Church and the outside world Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
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.
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- 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 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 buy a Catholic paper and to take a look at the Card Rack
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: DON’T GIVE UP The widow in today’s gospel was worried. She had a legal grievance and she needed a “man” to unlock the doors of Jewish society. Because she had no clout the judge kept putting her off until eventually he heard her case just for a quiet life. Jesus uses this story to teach us that we should never stop praying. Prayer increases our faith and feeds our life with God. The great Christians of the past constantly tell us that we should keep going in our prayer, no matter how worried we are and no matter how long it seems to take. Worry is a destructive thing. It only allies us to thoughts of disaster and unpleasantness. It causes us to fall into the rut of negative thinking and this starts to erode our mind-set and curtail our happiness. Yet it is possible to channel worry into prayer. If, instead of sitting and thinking the worst, we make our worries into petitions to God and begin to praise and thank God for what we do have, we can get a sense of the wholeness of God’s presence and come to an understanding of that peace of God that cannot be taken away from us. Even the greatest men and women get knocked down in life, but what separates them from the rest is that they get right back up. Perseverance in prayer is a virtue. That’s because it’s the actual praying that gives us the strength to go on. Giving up praying when in trouble is like giving up eating when you are ill. You are only going to get worse. But we have to pray positively. If we feel that God won’t answer, then he probably won’t. We need to pray with confidence, firmly believing that God wants us to have what we need and what is good for us. Jesus would not have told us that our prayers will be answered if it were not true. And how do we know that our prayer has “worked”? Only God can grasp the full picture of what is good for us. Sometimes our prayer can be answered speedily. At other times God has reasons for delaying. Sometimes God may improve on our prayer by granting us something even better than what we asked for. And do remember that even when the answer is “No”, it’s still an answer to prayer. So don’t give up.
.
29th Sunday in Ord Time 20th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints St John’s Parish
Ints Daly Family
Prayer Meeting
Monday 21st 9.15am Audrey Atkinson RIP
Tuesday 22nd 9.15am For Vocations
Wednesday 23rd 9.15 am William Kealey
Thursday 24th 7.30am Ints Alexander Family
Friday 25th 9.15am Joyce McKeown RIP
Saturday 26th 12 Noon Wedding Mass
30th Sunday in Ord Time 27th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints Gerry & Phil Topping
Ints Coulson Family
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Each Saturday 10.30am-11.15am
Morning Prayer
Exposition 15 min before daily Masses
Saturdays 4.00-4.50pm
World Mission Sunday & the beginning of One World Week 20th – 27th October Pope Francis has designated October as an Extraordinary month of mission. He calls us to renew our missionary commitment to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all people and Nations through Missio his Charity for overseas mission. Missio Red Mission Boxes should be emptied this month and their contents brought into the Presbytery by Sunday 27th October. On this World Mission Sunday there is a Holy Hour in the Spirit of Taize at St Anne’s Rock Ferry at 4pm. All most welcome.
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass in the Day Chapel. This provides your children with the opportunity to experience the Word of God at a level suitable to their age.
Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre after 9.30am Mass. Pop in and have a chat.
The Parish Pastoral Team will now meet again this Tuesday at 7.30pm. If you have any suggestions or ideas for them to consider, please put a note in the Suggestion Box at the back of Church or send an email to the Parish email address.
First Sacraments Preparation Key Dates 2019/2020 Sun 24th Nov Feast of Christ the King-Enrolment for First Sacraments at 9.30am Mass. Thurs 13th February – First Forgiveness Service at St John’s Church at 6.30pm. Saturday 25th April- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am. Saturday 2nd May- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am. Children who do not attend St John’s School and wish to receive these First Sacraments, please get in touch with Fr Bernard before the end of October.
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 is now underway. For information please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk .
Wedding- Congratulations, best wishes and prayers to Jonathan Devlin and Jade Citrine… Wedding Mass next Saturday at 12 Noon.
In Memorium-Please pray for the repose of the soul of Mary Elizabeth O’Neill whose Funeral Service will be held here at St John’s on Tuesday 29th October at 12 Noon. May she and all the faithful departed Rest in Peace.
November Lists Please ensure that all names for the November List are handed into the Presbytery by Sunday 27th October. Please mark the envelopes FAO Ann Murray and please print all names clearly. The Annual Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated on Thursday 7th November at 7pm.
Money Matters: Last weekend’s Offertory collection amounted to £604.73p. Many thanks.
Cafod Family Fast Day envelopes are on the table at the back of church and can be returned in the Offertory basket’s anytime up to & including the 26/27 October.
Thank you to everyone who supported the SVP Coffee Morning and raffle after last weekend’s Masses. The grand total raised was £590.17 which our SVP Team will ensure is put to good use in our parish and local community.
Diocesan Mass to Celebrate Grandparents and the role they play
in the lives of their grandchildren
Saturday 2nd November ~ 12 noon
at St Alban’s Church Mill Lane, Wallasey, CH44 5UD Principal Celebrant: Canon Philip Moor VG
Refreshments will be provided afterwards in the Parish Centre. All most welcome.
On Saturday 9 November 2019 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. Everyone associated with Upton Hall School and Holt Hill Convent is warmly invited.
As we begin the Year of the Word an Advent LPA Prayer event will be held at St John’s on Sunday 1st December from 3pm-4pm led by Fr Thomas ( the new Parish Priest at Christ the King). More details to follow.
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
Wirral Hospitals, if anyone else would like to join Catholic Hospital Chaplaincy Team please have a word with Deacon Les Arch (St Joseph’s 0151 652 5767)or Fr Bernard.
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
Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time 13th October 2019, Cycle C
WORDS FOR WORSHIP
Lord Jesus, you cure the sick and restore lepers to health: Lord, have mercy . Christ Jesus, you wash away our sin and bring us to life with God Christ, have mercy. Lord Jesus, you invite us to the banquet of praise and thanksgiving: Lord, have mercy. May almighty God cleanse us of our sin, restore us to health and lead us to the joys of everlasting life. Amen.
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.
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- 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 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 buy a Catholic paper and to take a look at the Card Rack
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: SHOWING GRATITUDE A man who worked for a charitable trust said that it was amazing how people reacted when told that their application for a grant had been approved. No one was ever ungrateful and quite a few people even suggested they would take him out for a meal to show their gratitude. But it was against the rules! We’re all pretty good at showing our gratitude on the spot when someone gives us something. You can see it in the person of Naaman the leper when he is cured in today’s reading. He almost goes “over the top”, wanting to give a present to Elisha! Yet the gospel story of the ten lepers is very different. Only one came back to thank Jesus for his cure. The other nine were so caught up in their new-found health that they never bothered to come back and say thank you. Perhaps they intended to seek out Jesus later, but their thoughts were elsewhere. It can’t be that they didn’t appreciate their luck. They were embarking on a new life, restored to the society that had kept them apart. It was simply that, like most of us, we take so much for granted. We don’t realise how lucky we are until something is taken from us, and then we begin to realise how fortunate we were all the time without realising it. In prayer we are tempted to forget about thanksgiving even though it should be the springboard for all that we bring to God. We are inclined to start by asking for things, bringing our concerns and worries to God. Yet our reason for believing that God will give us what we need is surely based on what he has done for us in the past? And this implies the duty of thanksgiving. If you find thanksgiving difficult, then just sit for a moment and think about the three things you most take for granted that you could not do without. Think about who it is that provides you with them. Then the rest should be easy…thanks be to God.
28th Sunday in Ord Time 13th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Brian Ellis Anniv RIP
In Thanksgiving
Prayer Meeting
Monday 14th 9.15am John Hooker RIP
Tuesday 15th 9.15am Ints Peggy McAllister
Wednesday 16th 9.15 am Ints Brenda &Dave Bell
Thursday 17th 11.00am Funeral Mass
Audrey Atkinson
Friday 18th 9.15am For Sick and Housebound
Saturday 19th 10.00am Fr Frank RIce
29th Sunday in Ord Time 20th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints St John’s Parish
Ints Daly Family
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Each Saturday 10.30am-11.15am
Morning Prayer
Exposition 15 min before daily Masses
Saturdays 4.00-4.50pm
Inside this newsletter is Bishop Mark’s Pastoral Letter on the Canonisation of St John Henry Newman which takes place in Rome today.
Extraordinary Month of Mission… Pope Francis has designated October an Extraordinary month of mission. Missio Red Mission Boxes should be emptied this month and their contents brought into the Presbytery before Sunday 27th October.
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass in the Day Chapel. This provides your children with the opportunity to experience the Word of God at a level suitable to their age.
Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre after 9.30am Mass. Pop in and have a chat.
Money Matters: Last weekend’s Offertory collection amounted to £596.34p. Many thanks.
Thank you to those who supported the SVP Coffee Morning on Friday . The Raffle continues after both Masses this weekend so that everyone is included.
Cafod Family Fast Day envelopes are on the table at the back of church and can be returned in the Offertory basket’s anytime up to & including the 26/27 October.
In Memorium-Please pray for Audrey Atkinson whose Funeral Mass will be here at St John’s on Thursday at 11am, celebrated by her son Fr Anselm OSB. May she and all the faithful departed Rest in Peace.
November Lists Please ensure that all names for the November List are handed into the Presbytery by Sunday 27th October. Please mark the envelopes FAO Ann Murray and please print all names clearly. The Annual Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated on Thursday 7th November at 7pm.
School News- St John’s Infant Year 2 Mass in church on Tuesday at 9.15am. Parents, grandparents and parishioners most welcome.
St John’s Mini Vinnies will be hosting a Cafod Café in the School Hall from 2.00pm-3.00pm this Thursday 17th Oct. All most welcome. Please contact the school office before then on 0151 645 9615 to confirm attendance for numbers, thank you.
The Parish Pastoral Team will now meet again on Tuesday 22nd of October at 7.30pm. If you have any suggestions/ideas for them to consider, please put a note in the Suggestion Box at the back of Church or send an email to the Parish email address.
Arrowe Park Hospital Monthly Mass – This Thursday 17th Oct at 12.3pm in the hospital Chapel, located on the First Floor. All most welcome. The next Mass will be on Thursday 21st Nov at 12.30pm.
First Sacraments Preparation Key Dates 2019/2020 Sun 24th Nov Feast of Christ the King-Enrolment for First Sacraments at 9.30am Mass. Thurs 13th February – First Forgiveness Service at St John’s Church at 6.30pm. Saturday 25th April- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am. Saturday 2nd May- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am. Children who do not attend St John’s School and wish to receive these First Sacraments, please get in touch with Fr Bernard before the end of October.
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 is now underway. For information please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk .
Diocesan Mass to Celebrate Grandparents and the role they play
in the lives of their grandchildren
Saturday 2nd November ~ 12 noon
at St Alban’s Church Mill Lane, Wallasey, CH44 5UD Principal Celebrant: Canon Philip Moor VG
Refreshments will be provided afterwards in the Parish Centre. All most welcome.
On Saturday 9 November 2019 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. Everyone associated with Upton Hall School and Holt Hill Convent is warmly invited.
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
Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 6th October 2019, Cycle C
WORDS FOR WORSHIP Blessed be God the Father who keeps you firm in faith and sustains your hope in the promises made through his Son: Blessed be God for ever! Blessed be Jesus Christ our Lord who takes away your timidity and increases your resolve in the face of hardship: Blessed be God for ever! Blessed be the Holy Spirit who grants you the gifts of power, love and self-control that you may witness to the presence of God: Blessed be God for ever! And may the God whom you bless return his blessing upon you, the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
St Anne’s Parish Centre, Highfield Rd, Rock Ferry….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`
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.
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- 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 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 buy a Catholic paper and to take a look at the Card Rack
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: DOES PRAYER REALLY WORK? The first four Sundays of October this year invite us to consider different aspects of prayer. We can sense the frustration in today’s first reading of someone who seems to be calling on God in distress and yet nothing appears to be happening. Is prayer nothing more than mouthing words that can have no real effect on our situation? Is God simply playing with us? A good question to ask is “What do I think I am doing when I pray?” Often we are letting God know what we feel and asking him to change things to the way we want them to be. At worst we end up thinking that we are informing God, and at best we find ourselves pouring our heart out. Pouring our heart out is no bad thing. In fact, it’s what Jesus asks us to do in prayer. We don’t actually have to use any words to do this: we can simply and silently place ourselves consciously in God’s presence. And when we do this, we may find ourselves listening to God rather than talking. God is able to penetrate our busy thick skins and communicate his word to us. When we are aware that God wants to get through to us, we are on the first step to letting him change us. For prayer is not about changing God but about conforming ourselves to the will of God. This does not mean that we stop praying for people in need, for things to be otherwise, but it does mean that we start to ask God to mould us, to allow ourselves to be used as part of his plans. God will often turn our ideas upside down in prayer, especially by pointing out that we don’t understand the whole picture. If we seem to pray and pray and nothing happens, then either we are doing something wrong or God couldn’t care less. It’s more likely to be the former. Prayer does work when we put our own interests second and ask God to change us.
27th Sunday in Ord Time 6th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints Aileen Edwards
St John’s Parishioners
Prayer Meeting
Monday 7th 9.15am Mass for World Peace
Tuesday 8th 9.15am Sean Divine RIP
Wednesday 9th 9.15 am Service of Word & Communion
Thursday 10th 7.30am John Skilton RIP
Friday 11th 9.15am Linda Unwin RIP
Saturday 12th
28th Sunday in Ord Time 13th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Brian Ellis Anniv RIP
In Thanksgiving
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Each Saturday 10.30am-11.15am
Morning Prayer
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 15 min before daily Masses
Saturdays 4.00-4.50pm
Extraordinary Month of Mission… Pope Francis has designated October an Extraordinary month of mission. He calls us to renew our Missionary Commitment to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all people and nations through Missio.
God our Father, when your Son Jesus Christ rose from the dead, he commissioned his followers to ‘go and make disciples of all nations.’ Through our Baptism you sent us out to continue this mission among all peoples. Empower us by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be courageous and enthusiastic in bearing witness to the Gospel, so that the mission entrusted to us, which is still far from completion, may bring life and light to the world. May all peoples experience the saving love and generous mercy of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass in the Day Chapel. This provides your children with the opportunity to experience the Word of God at a level suitable to their age.
Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre after 9.30am Mass. Pop in and have a chat.
First Sacraments Preparation Key Dates 2019/2020 Sacramental Preparation Dates 2019 Sun 24th Nov Feast of Christ the King- Enrolment for First Sacraments at 9.30am Mass. Thurs 13th February – First Forgiveness Service at St John’s Church at 6.30pm. Saturday 25th April- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am. Saturday 2nd May- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am.
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 is starting this week and is open to candidates in Year 9 and above. For information please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk .
November Lists Please ensure that all names for the November List are handed into the Presbytery by Sunday 27th October. Please mark the envelopes FAO Ann Murray and please print all names clearly. The Annual Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated on Thursday 7th November at 7pm.
Money Matters: Last weekend’s Offertory collection amounted to £569.41p. Many thanks.
Cafod Family Fast Day envelopes are on the table at the back of church and can be returned in the Offertory baskest’s anytime up to & including the 26/27 October.
This weekend Traidcraft goods will be on sale at the back of church after Mass. Please try to support this important cause.
Benediction in Honour of St. Therese of Lisieux: with Veneration of her First Class Relic. Carmelite Monastery, Grosvenor Place, Birkenhead this Sunday 6th October at 3.00pm.
St John’s Men’s Group will begin meeting monthly, this Monday at 7.30pm in the presbytery. Further details from James Lindley jlindley198@gmail.com
SVP Coffee Morning this Friday from after 9.15 am Mass until 12 Noon in the Parish Centre.
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
Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 29th September 2019, Cycle C
WORDS FOR WORSHIP Lord Jesus, you call us to give bread to the hungry and food to those in need: Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you give sight to the blind and raise up those who are bowed down:
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you keep faith for ever and are just to those who are oppressed: Lord, have mercy. May almighty God have mercy on us, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
St Anne’s Parish Centre, Highfield Rd, Rock Ferry….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`
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.
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- 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 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 buy a Catholic paper and to take a look at the Card Rack
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: BLURRED VISION In the story of Lazarus and Dives (the Latin name for the Rich Man) it’s interesting to note that while on earth Dives never actually saw Lazarus. He lay starving and sore-ridden on Dives’ doorstep but Dives only clapped eyes on him when they were both dead. Presumably day after day as Dives went in and out, organizing his parties for his friends, going to buy his purple clothes (equivalent to our designer labels today) he never stopped to see Lazarus lying there. Not much has changed even today. Wealth can blind us to the needs of those around us. We end up moving in different circles and become insensitive to what’s actually going on for others. Rich countries become anaesthetised to the pain of starving nations. The leaders of some nations live a rich lifestyle while their citizens live in a dustbowl. Chief executives award themselves massive annual bonuses while hundreds in their company lose their jobs in production shake-ups. Inside traders on the stock exchange make a killing while shareholders lose their savings. Civil servants are more bothered about their pensions than serving the public. Electricians charge exorbitant call-out fees when they have only travelled a couple of miles. Church officials hide behind canon law, preferring sacrifice to mercy. Sportsmen and women get so caught up in winning that they will use any means to come out on top. Drug dealers are so stupefied by the money they make that they never stop to think of the effect their drugs have on the users. The list is endless. We become blind to what we are really doing. But before we start criticising others let’s stop and examine ourselves. Where are the Lazaruses in our lives? Do we wander around blindly accepting what’s on our doorstep or are we moved to see beyond our own concerns? Have we become deadened to the consequences of the way we act? You can’t help feeling sorry for Dives. He wasn’t a “bad” person; he just never opened his eyes wide enough. He never realised what was happening on his own doorstep because his wealth blinded him to it all. His self-contained satisfaction prevented him from reaching out. What’s your excuse?
26th Sunday in Ord Time 29th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints Eileen Gordan
For Our Sick Parishioners
Prayer Meeting
Monday 30th 9.15am Service of Word & Communion
Tuesday 1st 9.15am
7.00pm Ints Sisters of Carmel
Monthly Novena to Our Lady
Wednesday 2nd 9.15 am Service of Word & Communion
Thursday 3rd 7.00pm Fr Frank Rice
Friday 4th 9.15am For the Poor and Hungry
Saturday 5th
26th Sunday in Ord Time 6th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints Aileen Edwards
St John’s Parishioners
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Each Saturday 10.30am-11.15am
Morning Prayer
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 15 min before daily Masses
Saturdays 4.00-4.50pm
A warm welcome to Fr. Paul Mooney MHM, based at Herbert House, Freshfield, who is celebrating our Sunday Masses this weekend in Fr. Bernard’s absence.
Extraordinary Month of Mission… Pope Francis has designated October an Extraordinary month of mission. He calls us to renew our Missionary Commitment to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all people and nations through Missio.
God our Father, when your Son Jesus Christ rose from the dead, he commissioned his followers to ‘go and make disciples of all nations.’ Through our Baptism you sent us out to continue this mission among all peoples. Empower us by the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be courageous and enthusiastic in bearing witness to the Gospel, so that the mission entrusted to us, which is still far from completion, may bring life and light to the world. May all peoples experience the saving love and generous mercy of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass in the Day Chapel. This provides your children with the opportunity to experience the Word of God at a level suitable to their age.
Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre after 9.30am Mass. Pop in and have a chat.
First Sacraments Preparation Key Dates 2019/2020 Sacramental Preparation Dates 2019 Sun 24th Nov Feast of Christ the King- Enrolment for First Sacraments at 9.30am Mass. Thurs 13th February – First Forgiveness Service at St John’s Church at 6.30pm. Saturday 25th April- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am. Saturday 2nd May- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am.
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 is starting this week and is open to candidates in Year 9 and above. For information please email us at st.annes@hotmail.co.uk .
The Monthly Novena to Our Lady Of Perpetual Succour will be held in church on Tuesday at 7pm. All most welcome- If you have not participated in this before it offers a time of quiet prayer and reflection before the well known icon of Our Blessed Lady.
A MEMORIAL MASS FOR FR. FRANK RICE will be celebrated in church on Thursday at 7pm ( the eve of the Feast of St Francis of Assisi ). All welcome.
November Lists Please ensure that all names for the November List are handed into the Presbytery by Sunday 27th October. Please mark the envelopes FAO Ann Murray and please print all names clearly. The Annual Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated on Thursday 7th November at 7pm.
Money Matters: Last weekend’s Offertory collection amounted to £575.33p. Many thanks. The Retiring Collection for the work of St John’s SVP Conference at the end of both Masses last weekend totalled £282.07p. Thank you for your generosity.
Friday is Cafod Family Fast Day. The 9.15am Mass will be offered for the poor and hungry of the world. Cafod Family Fast Day envelopes are on the table at the back of church and can be returned in the Offertory baskest’s anytime in up to & including the 26/27 October.
LPA Half Day of Reflection for all Parish Ministers… ie Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, Musicians etc led by Fr Tom Cunnah at Christ the King, Bromborough next Saturday 5th October 9.30am start, finishing with Mass at 12.30pm .
Next weekend Traidcraft goods will be on sale at the back of church after both Masses.
Benediction in Honour of St. Therese of Lisieux: with Veneration of her First Class Relic. Carmelite Monastery, Grosvenor Place, Birkenhead next Sunday 6th October at 3.00pm.
St John’s Men’s Group will begin meeting monthly, on Monday 7th October at 7.30pm in the presbytery. Further details from James Lindley jlindley198@gmail.com
SVP Coffee Morning Friday 11th October from after 9.15 am Mass until 12 Noon in the Parish Centre.
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
Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 22nd September 2019, Cycle C
WORDS FOR WORSHIP Let us pray for the Church that it may be a beacon of social justice and champion the rights of the oppressed throughout the world. In your loving mercy, Lord: Hear and grant our prayer. Let us pray for those who are economically exploited, for those in developing countries who are employed for long hours in return for little pay, for those who are victims of international human trafficking and those who are struggling to repay excessive interests on loans.
In your loving… Let us pray for ourselves that while we use our own money to enjoy the good things of life we may not lose sight of our responsibility towards those who have little or nothing.
In your loving… Let us pray for politicians that they may serve their electorate selflessly, for judges that they may apply the law without favour or bias, and for all who serve in public office that they may provide justice to all sections of society. In your loving…
St Anne’s Parish Centre, Highfield Rd, Rock Ferry….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
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.
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- 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 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 buy a Catholic paper and to take a look at the Card Rack
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: TOMMY’S POUND Tommy’s mum had flu and was unable to go to church one Sunday morning but she was determined not to let that stop her son from going. So she sent him off to church and gave him two pound coins, one for the collection and one to get himself an ice-cream on the way home. As he went off down the street Tommy was tossing one of the coins in the air and checking if it was head or tails. Eventually he dropped the coin and it went down the grid. “Sorry, God” he said, “I’ve just lost yours!” In fact, in a certain sense, all money belongs to God. That’s because money represents the product of skill, talent and enterprise. Although we can claim credit for the hard work, we have no hold over the other elements, since they are God-given. In reality we don’t actually own the money we have; we are managers or stewards of it for God. So, whether we are financially rich or economically poor, our bank balance is a mirror of our share in God’s riches, not in our own wealth. Christians, like all other people, are called to manage the produce of God’s creation, using money which is a great power for good We are only too aware that after we are dead and gone the money passes into the hands of others who in their turn are called to be good stewards of it. There is nothing wrong with having money. Everyone needs it. But it’s precisely there that the rub comes. How do we use our money? The miser who sits at home counting his money (or even checking on it via the internet!) has already been corrupted by it. Do we let money get the better of us, making us boast about it, tempting us to buy things just because we can and allowing us to feel superior to others because we are richer? Do we give in to “retail therapy” or do we put our money to good use for the benefit of others? Do we see to our own financial responsibilities and then use the rest for the improvement of those whose needs are great? Most people with money face a real dilemma at some point in their lives. Their problem centres around whether they are primarily focused on making and saving money or whether they are resolute about using the money to serve God. Which of the two is their priority? One of them has to be, since you can’t have two priorities. And as Tommy found out at a very young age, you can’t serve both God and money.
25th Sunday in Ord Time 22nd 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm In Thanksgiving P McAlister
Jack McGree Anniv RIP
Prayer Meeting
Monday 23rd 10.00am Funeral Mass
Kathleen Morley
Tuesday 24th 9.15am Ints Tony Hyland
Wednesday 25th 9.15 am Elizabeth Gribbin RIP
Thursday 26th 7.30 am Intentions of St John’s SVP
Friday 27th No Mass or Service
Saturday 28th
26th Sunday in Ord Time 29th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Ints Eileen Gordan
For Our Sick Parishioners
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Each Saturday 10.30am-11.15am
Morning Prayer
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 15 min before daily Masses
Saturdays 4.00-4.50pm
Money Matters: Last weekend’s Offertory collection amounted to £682.60p. Many thanks. There is a Retiring Collection for the work of St John’s SVP Conference at the end of both Masses this weekend. Please be generous.
£353 was donated to Dementia UK at Father Frank’s Vigil Mass on 5th September. Joan Hannam, the Rice Family and I thank you for your generosity to this very worthwhile cause.
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass in the Day Chapel. This provides your children with the opportunity to experience the Word of God a level suitable to their age.
Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre after 9.30am Mass. Pop in and have a chat.
In Memorium-. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Kath Morley- Funeral Mass at 10am this Monday. May she and all the faithful departed rest in peace. A Memorial Mass for Fr Frank Rice will be celebrated in church at 7pm on Thursday 3rd October ( the eve of the Feast of St Francis of Assisi ). All most welcome.
St John’s Junior School Sacramental Preparation Dates 2019 Sun 24th Nov Feast of Christ the King- Enrolment for First Sacraments at 9.30am Mass. Thurs 13th February – First Forgiveness Service at St John’s Church at 6.30pm. Saturday 25th April- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am. Saturday 2nd May- First Holy Communion Mass at 10.30am.
Last Call for 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.
Wirral Hospitals- Thank you to those who supported the Mass at Arrowe Park Hospital last Thursday lunchtime. This will now become a monthly feature on the third Thursday of every month. This September the Diocese and the Hospital Trust are re-establishing and strengthening the Catholic Chaplaincy Team. If anyone would like to join the team please have a word with Deacon Les Arch ( St Joseph’s – 0151 652-5767) or Father Bernard.
The North Ness Boys- three brothers from Shetland each with God given musical talents will give a concert in aid of Laughter Africa in St Anne’s Parish Centre, Rock Ferry this Sunday from 7.30pm-11.00pm. Tickets £5 and further details from Bob Rimmer on 07910449284.
Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning- next Friday at St Anne’s Parish Centre, Rock Ferry 10am-1pm. £2.50 entrance (cake,tea/coffee included). Raffle, Tombola Stall, Cakes, Sales Table, Bring & Buy, Books. All most welcome.
New Ferry Residents Association Public Meeting and AGM You are invited to a public meeting at 7pm this Monday at Windsor Close Community Centre. Topics that will be debated are . Latest update on the Council’s regeneration plans . Latest news on New Ferry Community Land Trust . Ask the Councillors . Ask the Police , Election of Officers to the Residents Association
SVP meeting on Thursday at 6.30pm in the Presbytery. Confirmation Catechists meet on Friday at 6.30pm in the Presbytery.
Dates for your Diary LPA Half Day of Reflection for Parish Ministers… ie Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, Musicians etc led by Fr Tom Cunnah at Christ the King, Bromborough on Saturday 5th October 9.30am start, finishing with Mass at 12.30pm . Benediction in Honour of St. Therese of Lisieux: with Veneration of her First Class Relic. Carmelite Monastery, Grosvenor Place, Birkenhead on Sunday 6th October at 3.00pm. St John’s Men’s Group will begin meeting monthly, on Monday 7th October at 7.30pm in the presbytery. Further details from James Lindley jlindley198@gmail.com SVP Coffee Morning Friday 11th October from after 9.15 am Mass until 12 Noon in the Parish Centre. Taize Service for World Mission Sunday at St Anne’s, Rock Ferry on Sunday 20th October at 4.00pm. St John’s Annual Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated on Thursday 7th November at 7.00pm.
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
Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 15th September 2019, Cycle C
WORDS FOR WORSHIP
Lord Jesus, you take our sins upon yourself so that we might be blameless in God’s sight:Lord, have mercy.
Christ Jesus, you invite us to recognise our faults and to turn from our sin:Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you call us back home to our Father to join in the feast of forgiveness:Lord, have mercy.
May almighty God have mercy on us, strengthen us in all goodness and lead us home to everlasting life. Amen.
St Anne’s Parish Centre, Highfield Rd, Rock Ferry….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 The North Ness Boys- three brothers from Shetland each with God given musical talents will give a concert in aid of Laughter Africa in the Parish Centre next Sunday 22nd September 7.30pm-11.00pm. Tickets £5 and further info from Bob Rimmer on 07910449284 or Marie Doyle on 0151 645-3996
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- 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 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 buy a Catholic paper and to take a look at the Card Rack
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: FIVE STEPS BACK HOME
What was it about the prodigal son that took him back home when everything had gone wrong? He took five steps to get back to the family atmosphere of his father’s house.
First, he recognised the senselessness of his sinful condition. This can be hard. We fool ourselves that our sin is really quite harmless or maybe even just a bit of fun. Yet eventually the realisation comes upon us that what we are doing is not making us fuller people but simply stunting our development. We are brought short and forced to face the truth that the grass is in fact greener where we used to be.
Repentance is the second step. The awakening brought about by the hopelessness of our situation leads us to accept that we’ve been going in the wrong direction long enough and it’s time to turn around and go back. It forces us to admit that we alone are responsible for the mess we are in; sin is our choice and nobody forces us. And what the prodigal son really wanted was not just some food but the restoration of his relationship with his father.
Repentance must always be accompanied by honesty. There’s no point in making excuses for what we have done. The son could have blamed the home situation, his father or his brother, the farmer who gave him a job with the pigs, etc. But the less we are found making excuses the more likely we are to be serious about changing our way of life.
When he repented the son displayed humility. He simply acknowledged that he had sinned, was sorry and did not deserve to be called a son any more. He knew he had disgraced his family and friends, accepted it and was determined to do something about it. He set no conditions to his confession.
Then he made his resolution to go back home. He didn’t ask for time to consider things, procrastinate and put things off. He did something about it, left his sorry situation and determined to start things afresh.
Five steps. But the only ones that would take him back to the feast. And us?
24th Sunday in Ord Time 15th 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm Fr Frank Rice RIP
Ints Celia & Mike Daly (40th)
Prayer Meeting
Monday 16th 9.15am Ints Joan Anton
Tuesday 17th 9.15am Thanksgiving to St Anthony
Wednesday 18th 9.15 am For Sick & Retired Priests
Thursday 19th 9.15 am Service of Word & Communion
Friday 20th 9.15am Ted Corrigan RIP
Saturday 21st
25th Sunday in Ord Time 22nd 5.00pm
9.30am
7.30pm In Thanksgiving P McAlister
Jack McGree Anniv RIP
Prayer Meeting
Confessions Each Saturday 10.30am-11.15am
Morning Prayer
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 15 min before daily Masses
Saturdays 4.00-4.50pm
In Memorium-. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Kath Morley- Funeral Mass at 10am on Monday 23rd September. Also for Bernard Cavanagh Funeral Service this Wednesday 18th September in church at 1.30pm. May they and all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Children’s Liturgy at Sunday 9.30am Mass in the Day Chapel. This provides your children with the opportunity to experience the Word of God a level suitable to their age.
Tea & Coffee in the Parish Centre after 9.30am Mass. Pop in and have a chat.
Schools News- All our schools have had a good start to the new school year. Teachers and other staff members from our Wirral Catholic Schools gathered for a beginning of year Mass at St Anne’s, Rock Ferry last Thursday evening. This week the Governors of our Junior School will be meeting on Monday evening and likewise the Governors of our Infant School will meet on Wednesday evening. Father Bernard will celebrate a Mass of Welcome for the Year 3 children and their families in the Junior School on Thursday.
Wirral Hospitals-This Thursday at 12.30pm we begin a series of monthly Masses in the Chapel at Arrowe Park Hospital. All are most welcome… patients, visitors, staff and people from the local parishes. This September the Diocese and the Hospital Trust are re-establishing and strengthening the Catholic Chaplaincy Team. If anyone would like to join the team please have a word with Deacon Les Arch ( St Joseph’s – 0151 652-5767) or Father Bernard.
Last Call for 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.
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 Ellesmere Port and these sessions will be held on Saturdays. For more information and dates visit; http://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/education/ccrs
Money Matters: Last weekend’s Offertory collection amounted to £636.77p. Many thanks. Next weekend there will be a retiring collection for the work of St John’s SVP Conference.
Dates for your Diary LPA Half Day of Reflection for Parish Ministers… ie Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, Musicians etc led by Fr Tom Cunnah at Christ the King, Bromborough on Saturday 5th October 9.30am start, finishing with Mass at 12.30pm . Benediction in Honour of St. Therese of Lisieux: with Veneration of her First Class Relic. Carmelite Monastery, Grosvenor Place, Birkenhead on Sunday 6th October at 3.00pm. St John’s Men’s Group ( similar to the Grace Group for the ladies) will begin meeting monthly, on Monday 7th October at 7.30pm in the presbytery. Further info please email James Lindley jlindley198@gmail.com SVP Coffee Morning Friday 11th October from after 9.15 am Mass until 12 Noon in the Parish Centre. Taize Service for World Mission Sunday at St Anne’s, Rock Ferry on Sunday 20th October at 4.00pm. St John’s Annual Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated in Church on Thursday 7th November at 7.00pm.
New Ferry Residents Association Public Meeting and AGM You are invited to a public meeting at 7pm on Monday 23rd September at Windsor Close Community Centre. Topics that will be debated are . Latest update on the Council’s regeneration plans . Latest news on New Ferry Community Land Trust . Ask the Councillors . Ask the Police , Election of Officers to the Residents Association
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.
