The Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 16th November, 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
The Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time,16th November 2025. Cycle C
FAITH IN FOCUS: CAPITAL GROWTH
Young Antonio's voice was high and squeaky and so he did not pass the auditions for the Cremona Boys' Choir. When he took violin lessons, the neighbours persuaded his parents to make him stop. Yet Antonio still wanted to make music. His friends gave him a hard time because his only talent was whittling wood. When Antonio was older he served as an apprentice to a violinmaker.
His knack for whittling grew into a skill of carving and his hobby became his craft. He worked patiently and faithfully. By the time he died, he left over 1,500 violins, each one bearing a label that read, "Antonio Stradivarius." They are the most sought-after violins in the world and sell for more than £1,000,000 each. Antonio couldn't sing or play or preach or teach but his responsibility was to use his ability, and his violins are still making beautiful music today.
Our potential is God's gift to us. What we do with it is our gift to God. Are you investing what you've been given, regardless of how much it is? Or, have you buried your blessing and kept it hidden from others?
We can sometimes confuse hiding our talents with humility, with not wanting to push ourselves forward. Yet if we stop to think for just a moment we'll soon realise that, whatever our talent is, it is God-given. God has entrusted us with skills and talents to be used for his divine purpose. And no one else can ever be you and me. We're unique, with unique gifts that God has welded into our character and personality. And it's part of God's plan from the beginning of time that we should use what we have been given so that the good news of the gospel might be spread and people should come to experience God through you and me.
Today's gospel reminds us that life will not last forever on this earth. The master is returning and we are returning to our master. What answer will we have to give him when he asks what we have done with all that he gave us? Will we have buried it, or will we have produced a capital return?
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: The Lord said: I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction. You will call upon me, and I will answer you, and I will lead back your captives from every place
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: The Lord comes to rule the peoples with fairness
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia. Stay awake praying at all times for the strength to stand with confidence before the Son of Man. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: To be near God is my happiness, to place my hope in the God the Lord.
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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 Day Chapel,
SUNDAY 16th NOVEMBER IS A SPECIAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE POOR
Please give a warm welcome to the students from Plessington College Yrs 7, 8 & 9 who will be joining us to celebrate Mass on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Also welcome our young children from St John’s Infants Year1 who will also be joining us for Mass on Tuesday. Parents, grandparents and all parishioners are welcome.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: this week’s total is £629.75p. Many thanks for your continued support and generosity. There will be a retiring collection THIS weekend of for the Clergy Education & Training Fund.
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 pray for the soul of Norah Martin who sadly died last weekend. Funeral details to follow. Please keep Norah and her family, especially Billy, 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. Due to the Parish Christmas Party, the next date is SUNDAY, 4TH JANUARY 2026. All welcome.
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.
Confirmation: Confirmation, this year, is at St John's on Wednesday 19th November at 7.00pm. Please keep all the candidates in your prayers, as they take the next step on their journey of faith.
Following two very successful one-day conferences in London, the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis for the Diocese of Shrewsbury and the Baptism Collaborative are organising a similar opportunity for northern-based clergy, catechists and all interested to Reimagine Baptism. It is taking place on Friday 28 November 2025 for Clergy and repeated on Saturday 29 November 2025 for all others. It will be held at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Tatton Street, St Petersgate, Stockport, SK1 1EJ. To book a place email natalie.orefice@dioceseofshrewsbury.org. Please find poster attached. The Keynote talk will be given by Abbot Hugh Allen O.Praem, the recently appointed Mission Director at the Bishops’ conference.
Advent Day by Day Booklets: containing daily readings throughout Advent are on sale for £1.20p and are on the table at the back of church.
Christmas Party – Our parishes of St John’s, St Luke & St Anne will be celebrating our Christmas Party at St Anne’s Social Club on Sunday 7th December from 12-4pm. See poster at the back of church for further details. Father Christmas will be there! Donations for raffle prizes would be greatly appreciated and placed in the box at the back of church. Tickets are now on sale. Donations of sandwiches and cakes would be gratefully received. If you are able to contribute please fill in and ingredients sheet (on the back table) and bring it with you.
This year’s Annual Remembrance Mass was a moving celebration here at St John’s when we remembered and celebrated the lives of all who have died, particularly those over the past twelve months.
Festive Stays 2025: Could you lay an extra place at your table this Christmas for an international student? Each year the charity EIL UK receives hundreds of applications from international students studying at British universities hoping to experience Christmas or New Year in a British home. If you could offer friendship and host an overseas university student for a 3 night stay between 24th and 27th December 2025, drop us a line at host@wiluk.org to find out more about this rich and rewarding experience and how you can be part of the HOST UK programme.
Preparation Classes for First Holy Communion: will start today, Sunday 16th November, during the Children’s Liturgy. The Sacrament will be celebrated on Christmas Day here at St John’s. Application Forms can be obtained from the Parish office and by email to stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com
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Saturday 15th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy &Divine Praises
5.00pm Francis Sullivan Annv RIP
Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 16th 9.30am Brian Jones B.Day Annv
Azubike Emmanuel Nnadi RIP
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday – St Hilda 17th 9.15am Plessington Y7 in church –
Leo Shore RIP
Tuesday 18th 9.15am Plessington Y8 & Infants Y1 in church-
In Honour of St Luke
Wednesday 19th 9.15am Plessington Y9 in church – For the Poor
7.00pm Confirmation at St John’s
Thursday 20th NO MASS
Friday – Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 21st 9.15am Deceased Rels & Frnds of Reavey Family
Saturday – St Celia 22nd 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Parishioners of St John’s & St Luke’s
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 23rd 9.30am Margaret Brannock 1st Annv RIP
Azubike Emmanuel Nnadi 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 15th 12.30pm Carmelite Mass
6.30pm Anne & George McGrory 70th Wedding Aniversary Remb
Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 16th 11.00am Joanne Jones B’day Remembrance
WORD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE POOR
Monday 17th 12 Noon Alan Richardson RIP
Tuesday 18th 11.30am Funeral Mass – Ellen Hornby
John F Moriarty RIP
Wednesday 19th 7.00pm Confirmation at St John’s Only
Thursday 20th NO MASS
Friday 21st 12 Noon For Sick, Health Workers & Carers Kath Ward RIP
Saturday 22nd 6.30pm Kathleen Murphy RIP
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 23rd 11.00am Pat Simmons RIP
DAY OF SPECIAL PRAYER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
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Pope Leo’s Prayer Intention for November
For the prevention of suicide
Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care, and love they need in their community, and be open to the beauty of life.
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