Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 8th February, 2026. Cycle A
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
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 8th February, 2026. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: PASS THE SALT!
In Jesus' day salt was very precious. Some people were even paid in it. (Our word "salary" is from the word for salt-payment.) Since there were no fridges or freezers people used it to preserve food as well as to flavour it. In fact, there is even today an Arabic expression of friendship that says, "There's salt between us". The obvious thing about salt is that it pervades everything it comes into contact with. You can't just have part of your soup that is salty. The whole lot gets transformed. And today Jesus tells his disciples that they are the salt of the earth. They are to bring flavour and taste to the earth, to all the people and situations they find themselves in. So often Christians appear as killjoys whose message is one of a life of deprivation and self-denial that would appeal to no normal person. Yet Jesus is saying that our job is to bring good news to a society that is becoming increasingly fearful and feeling under threat. The message of the gospel is one that is intended to add the flavour to life, to give life some seasoning, to leave a nice taste in the mouth. And we are called to be that salt.
He also calls us the light of the world. The Jews he was speaking to had no electricity. They used oil wicks. Without matches it took an age to light these lamps and so, for safety reasons, when people went out of their homes for a while, they put the lamp under a container where it could burn without danger of catching fire. As soon as they came back in they took it from under the pot and put it on a stand. As our world comes under the grip of real or imagined terrorist threats, as conflicts break out here and there, and as once more we hear of countries suffering famine and disaster, where can we look to shed some light on the situation? The only true source of light is God since there is no darkness in God. Jesus today tells us that we are to be the light of the world. By living his life, by witnessing to him, to the power his gospel has to transform, we reflect not our own light but God's. You are the salt of the earth, but what happens if the salt loses its flavour? You are the light of the world, but what happens if the light grows dim? Pass the salt!
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: O come let us worship God and bow low before the God who made us, for he is the Lord our God
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! I am the light of the world, says the Lord, anyone who follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Let them thank the Lord for his mercy, his wonders for the children of men, for he satisfies the thirsty soul, and the hungry he fills with good things.
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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: Masses will be held in the Day Chapel.
SUNDAY IS A DAY OF SPECIAL FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFICKING
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: amounted to £914.85p. Many thanks for your continued generosity and support. There will be a retiring collection over THIS weekend for altar flowers.
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. Many thanks to the generous donation received this weekend.
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 weeks’ 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 pray for the soul of Betty Houston (the mother of our organist Maria) who died recently. Funeral Mass to be held at St John’s on Thursday, 19th February at 12 Noon followed by Landican Crematorium at 2.00pm. Please keep Betty and her family in your prayers and continue to pray for all the faithful departed that they may rest in the peace of Christ.
Children's Liturgy – takes place during the 9.30am Mass. All are most welcome.
Sunday Morning Teas continue on the first Sunday of each month. Come along for tea/coffee & biscuits whilst enjoying a chat. The next date will be SUNDAY, 1st MARCH. All welcome.
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help to support our local Foodbank as much as you can with both food & funds. All items urgently needed are listed on the notice board at the back .
BAPTISMS: From the beginning of April Baptisms will be held on the Third Saturday and Sunday of each month only with a maximum number of 4 families on each day. When submitting the Baptism Application Form please bear this in mind. Meetings will be arranged with Fr Mario for the parents and Godparents before Baptisms take place. There will be no Baptisms during June and December. Please contact the Parish office with any queries on 645 3314 or by email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com
We Dare to Ask: You can order your Five-week Lenten Course: We Dare to Ask which is a resource for small group faith-sharing and for individual meditation, featuring five sessions each exploring our baptismal vocation, preparing us for the renewal of our baptismal promises at Easter. The booklets can be ordered by emailing aec@rcaos.org.uk The deadline is 19th January 2026. The resource can be ordered via this link: We Dare to Ask — Agency for Evangelisation and Catechesis Please see poster on the notice board at the back of church.
IMPORTANT NOTICE – TWO PILGRIMAGES: Assisi & Loreto Pilgrimage: Jubilee of St Francis: 28th-3rd July. Cost £995. 6 days from Manchester. For this year of St Francis we have arranged a pilgrimage to Assisi. It is important that we know soon who wants to go as we need twenty people for pilgrimage to go ahead AND Medjugorje: 15th-22nd September. Cost £799. 8 days from Manchester. See Posters at the back of church for more details. If you are interested, please contact Maria Fryer 07576243343.
First Holy Communion this year will take place on Sunday 24th May and Sunday 16th August. Preparation Courses will start in March and June. Registration Forms can be obtained from the Parish Office 645 3324 and by email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com. If your child attends a non-Catholic school Forms can also be obtained from the above. Please see poster on the notice board at the back of church.
World Day of Prayer: We are having a service about Nigeria at 2pm on Friday 6th March. The Theme is:. "I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28-30), focusing on peace, solace, and addressing burdens like poverty and systemic oppression. If you are interested please speak to Maria Fryer or Brenda Bell.
Cafod Lent Fast Day Meeting Wednesday 11th February 4-6pm at St Alban’s Parish Hall, Mill Lane, Liscard, Wallasey CH44 5XB. The meeting is for all CAFOD volunteers, supporters and anyone who is interested in learning more about the work of CAFOD.
CONGRATULATIONS to Plessington College on their annual awards success. Over 140 awards were given over 26 subject areas both academically and personally. The full article is on the notice board at the back of church.
VACANCY: A vacancy has arisen for a Housekeeper at St Anne’s Presbytery for 12 hours per week @£13.45p per hour. Applications to Pauline McCulloch by 20th February. Email recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbuy.org. More information: https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/
The Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage Management Committee invites you to drop in to one of our road shows to learn more about joining our annual diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2026, as we celebrate our 75th annual pilgrimage, at any of the following locations: 21/02/26 - Christ the King, Bromborough, CH62 6AT - 11am - 12.30pm and 07/03/26 - Saint Patrick’s, Wellington, Telford, TF1 3AP - 12.30pm - 2pm
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Saturday 7th 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Betty Fryer
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8th 9.30am Francesca Storer RIP
3.00pm Benediction
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 9th 9.15am November Lists & World Peace
Tuesday - St Scholastica 10th 9.15am For all Students and Teachers in our Schools
Wednesday – 11th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Ints Sr. Anne Marie
Ints Bishop Mark Davies. Annv to the Priesthood (1984)
World Day of Prayer for the Sick
Thursday 12th NO MASS
Friday 13th 9.15am Nance Shipman Annv. RIP
Saturday 14th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Thanksgiving for safe delivery of Baby Luke Connor
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 15th 9.30am Joan Isabella Maher RIP
Ints Charlie Hosie & Pete Houldin
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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Saturday 7th 6.30pm Norah white B’Day Remb.
Anne & George McGrory Remb.
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8th 11.00am Ronald Harrop RIP
Day of Special Prayer for Victims of Trafficking
Monday 9th 12 Noon Elsa Kemp RIP
Tuesday 10th 12 Noon Nessie Flanagan RIP
Wednesday 11th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Thursday 12th NO MASS
Friday 13th 12 Noon Fr. Bernard Forshaw
Saturday 14th 6.30pm Chester Belmar RIP
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 15th 11.00am Emmanuel Ezeh
Day of Special Prayer for the Unemployed
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Day by Day: There are 2 booklets for sale on the table at the back of church. One for LENT and the other for EASTER. Cost £1.20p each. We have put in a regular order and the booklets will be available each month. They are a good resource to accompany the daily readings.
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