Fourth Sunday of Easter, 11th May 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
Fourth Sunday of Easter, 11th May 2025. Cycle C.
FAITH IN FOCUS: CARING
Today is a day of prayer for vocations, but it's much more than that. It is about the call God makes to each one of us to care. There's an advert on TV which shows an ordinary person washing the feet of an elderly lady. Nothing extraordinary about that. But it goes on to say that if you can do this, you could have a job as a carer. Strange, isn't it, that we should need such a thing as institutionalised care? For care is at the heart of the Christian's vocation. And in a world where looking after your own interests counts as number one, going out of your way for others is considered an optional oddity. Yet we are called to care for each other like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, cares for us. You and I are called to be a Good Shepherd and there's no shortage of opportunities, paid and unpaid. Good Shepherds really care about their children, spend time with them and keep supporting them even when they fail. In our schools they are those teachers who are interested in the students more than in their subject, who go that extra mile to bring out the hidden talents of the young people entrusted to them. They are the doctors and nurses in our hospitals who can see beyond the trying circumstances of red tape and bureaucracy to the face of the sick person who stands before them fearful and hurting. Good Shepherds are those countless people in local and national government whose motives spring from a burning desire for the welfare of their communities rather than political fame and fortune. And, of course, there is no shortage of Good Shepherds to be found in those who dedicate their lives as priests or religious for the service of the Gospel. So Good Shepherd Sunday is not about sheep, grass and mountains. It's about real life. And while Jesus really is the Good Shepherd, his work requires others to follow in his footsteps. Including you and me; if we care.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: The merciful love of the Lord fills the earth; by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: We are his people, the sheep of his flock.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own sheep and my own know me. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: The Good Shepherd has risen, who laid down his life for his sheep and willingly died for his flock, alleluia.
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Sunday 11th May is a day of special prayer for Vocations.
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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 £821.18p. Many thanks for your continued support and generosity.
Retiring Collection for St John’s SVP- will be held over the weekend of 17/18th May. Please be as generous as you can to this worthy cause.
Further to the recent Boiler appeal, a separate bank account has now 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.
Thank you for the further generous donations received towards the Boiler Fund.
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 0151-645-3314 You can get in touch with Ann Murray on 07745490279 regarding general parish queries.
Mass Intentions Please complete an intentions envelope which are on the table at the back of church. If a particular date is requested please 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. Let us continue to pray for the soul of our dear Pope Francis. Please also continue to pray for all our parishioners who have recently died and 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, 1st June 2025.
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.
First Sacraments: Please continue to pray for all our young people preparing for their First Holy Communion and all the prayer sponsors who are supporting them.
Parishes of Saints Anne, John & Luke Pilgrimage to St Josephs (Eucharistic Shrine), Stockport Thursday 5th June Price £15 per person. We have 6 places available. If anyone else would like to come please can they give me (Diane) a ring on 07946916339. Diane Baylis will be collecting your money after Mass on Saturday evenings and Liz Jones will be available after Mass on Sunday mornings.
FATIMA & MEDJUGORIE 2025: if you are interested in joining Fr Mario on pilgrimage to Fatima on 10th June for 5 days (£650) or to Medjugorie on 16th September for 8 days (£749), please contact Maria Fryer on 07576243343. Flying from Manchester, airport transfer, tour guide, bed, breakfast and evening meal included.
Supporting the Vocation to Marriage & Family Life: Calling those interested in supporting the vocation of marriage and family a retreat day on 7th June, 9.30am-4.00pm at Parish Hall, Holy angels Church, Wicker Lane, Hale Barnes WA15 0HG. To Register please contact: Monika at monika.golembiewska@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Mobile: 07549226794 or Jane at jane.deegan@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Mobile: 07517 906435.
Assisted suicide Bill - less than 1 week left! Report Stage of the assisted suicide Bill is 16 May. It is vital that you contact your MP urgently about this issue. Please take action now and visit www.righttolife.org.uk/ASVote to email your MP - it takes just 30 seconds! If you have the time, please also visit your MP - you can arrange a meeting now by visiting www.righttolife.org.uk/meetyourMP
The Governors of St John’s Catholic Infant School would like to let all Parishioners and their families know that the school has places available for children starting Foundation 2 and Pre School this coming September 2025. For further information, please contact the school office – Tel. 0151 645 5291 or email schooloffice@stjohns-infant.wirral.sch.uk
St Andrews Church, Bebington are advertising for a part time Administrative Officer to work in our church office, and would be grateful if you can advertise this at St John’s (feel free to pass it on to anyone else you know who may be interested). The deadline for applications is 11 May.
Our own Joanne Corrigan has completed her first London Marathon and her son Leo was able to finish the last 5 Kilometres supported by his Dad and Godmother . Joanne has raised the money for St John’s Hospice in thanks for the wonderful care given to her Dad Ted . If you would like to donate you can give a donation to any of the Mum’s in our Children’s Liturgy Team or online
www.justgiving.com/page/joanne-sara-corrigan-1725042843825 Thank You
Lourdes Hospitality: Following a very positive meeting held early April, where we explored the role of the Hospitality, you are invited to continue this reflection at a further meeting. We hope to build on the previous lively discussions and consider areas for further development. The meeting will take place on Wed 21 May at 7pm at St Columba’s, Plas Newton Lane, Chester CH2 1SA. Confirm your attendance at secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk
The Parish Communities of St Anne, St John & St Luke – wish to celebrate Couples’ Day on 22nd June 2025 at St Anne’s Parish Centre at 12 noon. See poster. All welcome.
World Day of Prayer for Vocations (11th May 2025) – Have you considered exploring a vocation to the diocesan priesthood in imitation of Jesus the Good Shepherd? A first step might be to speak to your parish priest or contact the diocesan vocations director at vocationsdirector@dioceseofshrewsbury.org who can help you with discernment. We have a simple website www.Shrewsburyvocations.org where you can explore more. Further resources are available at www.ukvocation.org or www.ukpriest.org.
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Saturday 10th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Winifred Shaw
Fourth Sunday of Easter 11th 9.30am Betty & Eric Crebbin RIP
3.00pm Benediction
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 12th 9.15am Ints Joseph King (sick)
Tuesday 13th 9.15am Kevin Fitzpatrick 4th Anniversary
Infant School Attending
Wednesday 14th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Thursday 15th NO MASS
Friday 16th 9.15am Moira Roberts RIP
Saturday 17th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Tina Kelly RIP
Fifth Sunday of Easter 18th 9.30am In honour of St Luke –
Luciana Sadri Remembrance
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 10th 6.30pm Pat Belmar (Get Well Soon)
Fourth Sunday of Easter 11th 11.00am Mary Francis Petris 2nd Anniv RIP
Monday 12th 12 Noon Sr. Rita McCabe RIP
Sithulisile Thule Nyoni RIP
Tuesday 13th 12 Noon Bob Leavy RIP
Wednesday 14th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Anne Gorman
Thursday 15th NO MASS
Friday 16th 12 Noon Anne Tighe RIP
Joseph Locke RIP
Saturday 17th 12.30pm Carmelite Mass
6.30pm Ronnie Jones RIP
Fifth Sunday of Easter 18th 11.00am Les Duff Anniversary
Maurice Maher RIP
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May is the Month of Our Blessed Mother
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