Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. 3rd August, 2025. Cycle C
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road,
New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish - Priest: Fr Mario Ashuikeka
Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time , 3rd August 2025. Cycle C.
FAITH IN FOCUS: WHAT’S THE POINT?
“Vanity of vanities!” is a famous quotation from the bible, but what does it mean? It’s the preacher’s way in the Book of Ecclesiastes of saying that life seems “meaningless” or “pointless”. What’s it all about? It’s certainly not fair and it seems to take all my time and energy and keep me to the grindstone.
A radio pundit the other day said that there should be more love shown in the work place, because love makes us more productive and that way we will earn more money. Is that the point of life, money? And what’s the point of stashing money away when your children and grandchildren will only fritter it away after you’ve gone? Is it worth the hard work and the restless nights worrying about it, asks our reading today?
There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with our world; God made it and it’s good. But if we limit our sights only to the things of this world then we won’ see very far. We’ll get bogged down in its limitations; our lives will not reflect anything other than our career prospects, our bank balances, our reputations and our comfort. Our cultural horizons will hit the buffers at celebrity, gossip, fashion and trivia, while our significant relationships will be virtually found on Facebook and Twitter.
What makes us tick? What are our values and are any of them transcendent? Do they go beyond the make-up and greasepaint, beyond simply following the crowd in its dream of success?
The preacher in today’s scripture obviously feels that life can be meaningless unless we have a clear idea about the reason we are on this earth. Without such a spiritual compass we are at the whim of a pointless merry-go-round that seems to take more out of us than it gives.
So what’s the driving force in your life? What makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning and confront the world and all its challenges? What motivates you to keep on going and to make your mark? Given that life is short, what makes it worth living? When today’s psalmist came to answer these questions, he put it very simply: Make us know the shortness of our life/that we may gain wisdom of heart/O Lord, you have been our refuge/from one generation to the next.
For life to be meaningful we all need a goal. What’s yours?
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON; O God, come to my assistance; O Lord make haste to help me! You are my rescuer, my help; O Lord, do not delay.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM; O Lord you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Your word is truth, O Lord, consecrate us in the truth. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: You have given us, O Lord, bread from heaven, endowed with all delights and sweetness in every taste.
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SATURDAY IS A SPECIAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR EUROPE
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Devotions/Adoration: Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises) from 10:30am-11:30am. Fr Mario will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation between 11.00am- 11.30am. All morning services will take place in St Anne’s house; at St John’s: all Masses will be held in the Main Church.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: this week’s total is £671.82p. Many thanks for your continued support .
Wirral Walk-Deacon Mike completed his Wirral Walk to raise funds for the SVP of our Parish Communities total to be announced soon.
The Boiler appeal- a separate bank account has been set up specifically to ‘ring fence’ contributions to the new boiler fund. Please make cheques payable to St John’s New Ferry and write 29001/NFJ/DU on the reverse. Cash donations should be placed in an envelope with 29001/BNFJ/DU written on the outside.
Bookings- for the reception & Celebration of Sacraments: Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation & Wedding, please enquire & arrange for these through the parish emails / Secretaries of St. Anne’s & St. John’s. Also contact the Parish Priest/ Administrator through 0151 645 3996.
Funerals should be booked through the Parish Offices by the funeral directors.
Mass Intentions Please complete an intentions envelope. If a particular date is requested give at least THREE week’s notice. If the date has been filled, we will put your intention in as near as possible to the original date. Thank you for your patience and co-operation.
In Memoriam. Please continue to pray for the souls of Bridgit Reilly and Pat Walton who have recently died also for their grieving families. May they and all the faithful departed, rest in the peace of Christ.
Children's Liturgy – takes place during the 9.30am Mass. All are most welcome.
Sunday Morning Teas continue on the first Sunday of each month. Come along for tea/coffee & biscuits whilst enjoying a chat. The next date is SUNDAY, 7th SEPTEMBER 2025. There is no tea/biscuits during August.
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help t o support our local Foodbank as much as you can with both food & funds. All items urgently needed are listed on the notice board at the back of church.
Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation: First Communion will take place on the 15th August, The Feast of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the programme is underway. Confirmation, this year, is at St John's on Wednesday 19th November.
Confirmation preparation classes will start on 12th September 6.30pm to 7.30pm in St John's church. Those candidates who have already returned the registration forms will be notified by email.
The Lourdes Management Team have launched a ‘wish list’ to support our assisted pilgrims. Supporters of the pilgrimage can directly help by purchasing equipment to support their care in the Accueil alongside items to enhance and enrich their all-round experiences in Lourdes. To view the Wishlist and purchase items for the Pilgrimage please scan the QR code below or follow this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/42FRNUVO3GUX?ref_=wl_share
Join March for Life UK on Saturday 6th Sept in London! The right to life underpins every other right we have and without it every other right is rendered meaningless. Unite with thousands of others at this family-friendly event where we recognise the value of life from conception and stand up for all those impacted by abortion. A coach leaves from St Winifride’s Church, 187 Crowmere Rd, Shrewsbury SY2 5LA (6.30am), Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church, 542 Cannock Rd, Wolverhampton WV10 8PG (7.15am), St Mary’s The Mount, Glebe St, Walsall WS1 3NX (8am). Seats cost £30 for adults, £10 under 16, payable in advance. For more info/to book a seat contact Isabel 07773501721, Ben 07885505116 info@marchforlife.co.uk
Foundation GovernorsThe Governors at St John’s Catholic Junior School are currently recruiting additional Foundation Governors. The role would suit someone with an interest in serving our community and supporting the needs of our school children. Being a school governor is about supporting the school leadership in their strategic direction, holding the leadership to account for school performance and ensuring good financial management. Training is provided and this is also a great professional development opportunity. Anyone interested in finding out more about the role can contact the school to arrange an informal chat: Tel: 0151 645 9615 Email: schooloffice@stjohns-junior.wirral.sch.uk or we can be contacted directly via email at chair-governors@stjohns-junior.wirral.sch.uk Gillian Dyche and Tony Rutherford, Co Chairs of Governors
Request for help.- If anyone has a serviceable wheelchair that they would be willing to donate to St John’s church to be available for use in any emergency within church, the Parish Team would be very grateful. Please contact via email or phone if you are able to help. Thank you.
SVP Summer Raffle: Raffle tickets are now on sale at the back of church. £1 per ticket. First prize is £5000, 2nd prize £1000 with 15 x £100 prizes.
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Saturday 2nd 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Praise & Gratitude for All We Have
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 3rd 9.30am The Sumner Family
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 4th 9.15am Eileen Connolly RIP
Tuesday 5th 9.15am World Peace
7.00pm Novena
Wednesday –The Transfiguration of the Lord 6th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Thursday 7th NO MASS
Friday 8th 9.15am Vocations to the Priesthood
Saturday –St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross 9th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Tom Kelly RIP
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 10th 9.30am James McCaffery RIP
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Weekend Masses - Please note that the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed immediately before each Mass. Please use this as a time for prayer & quiet devotion. Please enter the church quietly & remain so. Thank you.
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 2nd 6.30pm Jimmy Blong RIP
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 3rd 11.00am Prison Staff
Monday 4th 12 Noon UCM
Joan Jenkins RIP
7-8.00pm HOURLY HOUR
Tuesday 5th 12 Noon Thanksgiving to St Joseph
Wednesday 6th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Mary & Malachi McBurney
Thursday 7th NO MASS
Friday 8th 12 Noon The Parishioners of St Anne’s, St John’s, St Luke’s in gratitude
Saturday 9th 6.30pm Tom Kelly RIP
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 10th 11.00am Betty McNally 2nd RIP Annv.
The Petris Sisters RIP Annv.
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Pope Leo XIV Intentions for July
Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel. He prays that the Holy Spirit may inform our decisions and that we may learn to listen attentively to God’s gentle voice.
2025 is the Jubilee Holy Year, the 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation of our Lord, an "event of great spiritual, ecclesial, and social significance in the life of the Church." The concept of "Jubilee" has its origins in the Book of Leviticus (chapter 25) as a special year of reconciliation.
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