Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 1st 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
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 1st February, 2026. Cycle A
IN FOCUS: MEEK NOT WEAK
One of the prayers that children are taught to say begins with the words “Gentle Jesus, meek and mild…” Maybe it’s partly because we present Jesus to children as the baby in the manger, as the good boy who always did what Mary and Joseph told him, that children can end up with an immature image of him. Meek doesn’t mean weak, gentle doesn’t mean ineffectual and lowly doesn’t mean cringing. At the heart of these Beatitudes lies the concept of humility. And humility is a very powerful weapon in anyone’s armoury. Humility allows us to acknowledge the poverty of our own resources and yet at the same time to recognise that with God’s grace nothing is impossible. When we take a look at the Beatitudes in Matthew’s gospel for today we are immediately struck by the fact that everything that Jesus is advocating is exactly what our modern-day world considers weakness. Poverty, lowliness, persecution, mourning etc., are things to be avoided like the plague. Nobody wants these. Yet Jesus says that Christians will be truly happy if they embrace these values. This is because if Christians are truly humble, if they realise that without God they are really powerless, then they can achieve whatever is needed. Humility is not a call to stand in the background but a challenge to step up and do what it takes. Sometimes it’s hard to be a Christian because people equate Christianity with “being nice”. They fail to see the radical calling of the Beatitudes that sets Christians at odds with what society prizes highly. And so in a world that preaches locking people up and throwing away the key Christians preach forgiveness a and mercy. Faced with globalisation and profit Christians preach justice and equity. As nations spend more and more of their annual budget on arms and invasions Christians call for peacemaking. The Beatitudes point to values that go beyond this world for they promise an eternal happiness. To accept them requires a good deal of meekness. And to be meek you have to be strong.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Save us, O Lord our God! And gather us from the nations, to give thanks to your holy name, and make it our glory to praise you.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Let your face shine on your servant. Save me in your merciful love. O Lord, let me never be put to shame, for I call on you.
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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 PRAYER FOR RACIAL JUSTICE
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: amounted to £449.35p. Many thanks for your continued generosity and support. There will be a retiring collection over the weekend 7th/8th February 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 week.
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 THIS SUNDAY, 1st FEBRUARY. 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
National Marriage Week runs between the 7th and14th of February 2026. For more details, please see notice at the back of church.
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. There will be an opportunity to see the body of St Carlos Acutis and visit the Holy House in Loreto. 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. For more details on the Pilgrimages see posters on the notice board at the back of church. If 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.
Group meets on Tuesday 3rd February at 12.30pm at St Anne’s Parish Centre. Speaker from Zoe’s Place: Baby & Children’s Hospice. All are welcome.
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.
SVP: Perhaps there are parishioners who are considering joining the SVP. On Saturday 31st January and Sunday 8th February Mark Baylis will give an update regarding the role of the SVP in our Parishes.
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Saturday 31st 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Helen Westerside RIP
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st 9.30am Norah Martin RIP
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday – Presentation of the Lord – Candlemas Day 2nd 9.15am Junior School in Church – Celebrating Grandparents
Betty Houston RIP
Tuesday – St Werburgh 3rd 9.15am Infants School Yr1 Mass in School
7.00pm Novena
Wednesday 4th 12 Noon MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Thursday 5th NO MASS
Friday - Ss Paul Miki & Companions 6th 9.15am Friends/Family of Revill & Connolly Families
Saturday 7th 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Betty Fryer RIP
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 8th 9.30am Francesca Storer RIP
3.00pm Benediction
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 31st 6.30pm Elizabeth Ziegler
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st 11.00am For the soul of Donald Adonis
Day of Special Prayer for Racial Justice
Monday – Presentation of the Lord 2nd 12 Noon UCM
Anne Burkey
Tuesday 3rd 12 Noon Ellen Hornby RIP
Wednesday 4th 12 Noon Funeral Mass- Nessie Flanagan
No Evening Mass
Thursday 5th NO MASS
Friday 6th 12 Noon Mary Barton RIP
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
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Pope Leo’s Prayer Intentions for February:
For children with incurable diseases: Let us pray that children suffering from incurable diseases and their families receive the necessary medical care and support, never losing strength and hope. —————————————————————————————————————-
