Seventeenth Sunday in Time Ordinary. 27th July, 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
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time , 27th July 2025. Cycle C.
FAITH IN FOCUS: JACKPOT PRAYER?
A woman who was on a diet came into work with a huge chocolate cream cake. When her friends asked if she had stopped dieting she told them that God wanted her to have the cake. “I saw it in the bakery and prayed to God to let there be a parking spot outside, if he wanted me to have the cake. And on the 10th time round, there was the parking place!”
Prayer is a strange thing. Some people feel the need to tell God a shopping list of things that they want, as if he didn’t already know what they need! And often we ourselves don’t realise what we really need and we pray for things that we think will make life better, but which everyone else knows will be our ruin. The same happens when an alcoholic prays for a bottle of whisky.
There are those who tend to think that prayer is like a religious fruit machine, a divine one-arm-bandit. You put your request in, pull the handle and eventually you hit the jackpot. Of course, this would be to treat God like some sort of robot that did not have our welfare at heart. It’s the sort of prayer that people make to win the lottery.
So it’s hardly surprising that people talk about unanswered prayer. The very thought that God would completely ignore us when we turn to him is ridiculous. But scripture tells us that sometimes we are asking for the wrong thing or with the wrong motives and that’s why we don’t receive what we want. Prayer is always answered; it’s just that sometimes the answer is “no”, or it comes in a way we didn’t expect.
When we look at the prayer that Jesus taught us, the Our Father or the Lord’s Prayer, we notice that there is a lot of emphasis at the beginning on God’s will being done in all things, and the values of God’s kingdom permeating our thoughts and actions. Maybe if we remained open in our prayer, telling God of our needs and desires, but asking him to help us become conformed to his will, then we would start to change our approach to prayer, wanting to be part of God’s plan rather than getting him to change his plans to suit ours. Prayer would become a request to change us.
And maybe that’s why we have to wait until the second half of the Our Father before we get round to asking for things…
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON; God is in his holy place, God who unites those who dwell in his house; he himself gives might and strength to his people.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM; On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! The Word was made flesh and lived among us; to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all his benefits.
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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 £377.95p. Many thanks for your continued support .
Special Collection- for The Apostleship of the Sea final total £359.95p. Thank you.
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.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes The theme for the Diocesan Jubilee Pilgrimage to Lourdes is With Mary, Pilgrims of Hope'. Our Youth section leaves on Wednesday, the main pilgrimage coach and the Juniors coach leave on Thursday, and the planes on Friday. There are almost 430 pilgrims this year, which is our biggest number since covid. Many thanks for your help and support in encouraging parishioners to join us in Lourdes this year.
On Sunday 27 July we will be joining the International Mass at 9.30am (8.30am UK time) and on Monday 28 July we will be joining with Hexham & Newcastle Diocese at the Grotto for Mass at 10am (9am UK time). Both Masses and other liturgies will be available to watch on Lourdes TV which can be accessed via www.lourdes-france.com .
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 Governors The 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.
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Saturday Ss Joachim & Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary 26th 5.00pm In Honour of St Anne– Sister Jeanette
(Recovery)
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 27th 9.30am In Honour of St John – Jenny Inglis
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 28th 9.15am For Youth throughout the World
Tuesday Ss Mary, Martha & Lazarus 29th 9.15am For Mothers & Expectant Mothers
Wednesday 30th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
For Lonely & Forgotten in Society
Thursday St Ignatius 31st NO MASS
Friday St Alphonsus 1st 9.15am For the Sick within Our Parishes
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
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 26th 10.30am Church Opens for a Day of Prayer
6.30pm For Families
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 27th 11.00am For Fr Mario & the Parishioners of St Anne’s – With Thanks
St Anne’s Feast Day Celebration in the Parish Centre
Monday 28th 12 Noon Ronald Jones RIP
Tuesday 29th 11.30am Funeral Mass – Joan Jenkins
Zeka Parks RIP
Wednesday 30th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Thursday 31st NO MASS
Friday 1st 12 Noon Felice Dirigo
Saturday 2nd 6.30pm Jimmy Blong RIP
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 3rd 11.00am Prison Staff
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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.
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