Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 28th January, 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
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 28th January, 2026. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: FISHING
If you follow me, it’s people you’ll catch, says Jesus in today’s gospel. We all agree that we want to follow Jesus and come closer to God. But why are we so shy about fishing for others? Why do we find it hard to try and bring others to Christ? Is it a cultural thing? Have we bought into the great deception that it’s not the done thing to parade our faith on our sleeve? Yet if our faith is the single most important thing about our whole lives, how can we think of wearing it in our pocket? If our Christian belief is the one thing that makes sense of our existence, that provides us with the wherewithal to cope with what life throws at us, then how can we think of keeping it to ourselves and not trying to get others to experience it?
Don’t talk about religion or politics, the saying goes. But if religion is about the ultimate meaning of life and politics is about how we organise it, then not to talk about either of them condemns us to the pleasantries of surface-living. Yet life’s issues are deeper than talking about the weather, and faith’s issues touch the core of reality.
Could it be that we’re afraid of talking to others about our faith because we think we will be shown to be lacking? Is it because we feel ashamed and embarrassed because religious people are often caricatured as cranks in the media? Is it because we don’t want to disturb people? Would we not disturb someone whose coat was on fire? Would we never tell a crying child that the toy needs to be switched on before it will work properly?
If we’re not prepared to lead people towards God, then who is? And yet leading people to God is part of our “contract”. To be a follower of Christ implies that we too proclaim the good news to the ends of the earth. Or at the very least to the ends of our street. If we talk to others and they begin to ask us questions that we can’t answer, then it’s a simple task to put them in touch with those who can. We’re not expected to be geniuses or oracles. We’re not expected to become full-time missionaries in some far-flung country. We’re not expected to become experts on all matters of faith and religion. But we are expected to do a bit of fishing.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: O Sing a new song to the Lord; sing to the Lord all the earth. In his presence are majesty and splendour, strength and honour in his holy place.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Lord make me know your ways..
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! The kingdom of God is close at hand; believe in the Good News. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Look toward the Lord and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed.
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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 OPENENESS TO THE WORD OF GOD
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: amounted to £845.90p
Collection for Priests Retirement Fund amounted to £343.40p. 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.
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 Anne Else who died recently. Funeral Mass to be held at St John’s on Wednesday 28th January at 9.15am followed by Landican Crematorium at 10.30am. Please keep Anne 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 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
To ALL Readers: A Blessing Service for Ministers of the Word will take place during both Masses over THIS weekend of 24th/25th January.
Thank You Celebration: Fr. Mario would like to invite all the Parish Volunteers and Helpers to a thank you celebration to be held in the Pariah Hall THIS Sunday 25th of January 2026 after the 11am Mass.
National Marriage Week runs between the 7th and14th of February 2026. For more details, please see notice at the back of church.
St John’s Junior School: On Tuesday 27th January we will be having a special Mass at 2:00pm at St John’s Junior School for all those who volunteer to be prayer sponsors to the children who will be making their first Sacraments. Please put the date and time in the diary. Don’t worry if you cannot attend this Mass – we would still very much like you to put your name down. Thank you on behalf of the children. Your prayers are very much appreciated. PLEASE TELEPHONE THE SCHOOL ON 0151 645 9615 TO LET US KNOW IF YOU ARE ABLE TO ATTEND OR NOT. Many thanks
THANK YOU to all those who have already signed up to be prayer sponsors for our children. Please keep the children in all of your prayers.
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 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. More information will be available in the newsletter next week.
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.
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Saturday 24th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ruth Smith (Carmelite Community)
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 25th 9.30am David McDermott RIP
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday – Ss Timothy & Titus 26th 9.15am In Honour of St Anne – Pray for Families
Tuesday – St Angela Merici 27th 2.00pm Mass in Junior School - In Honour of St John – Pray for all Parishes, young people & good relations in the Parishes
Wednesday – St Thomas Aquinas 28th 9.15am Funeral Mass – Anne Else
MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Thursday 29th NO MASS
Friday 30th 9.15am Julie Connolly Get Well
Saturday – St John Bosco 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
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 24th 12.30pm Carmelite Mass
6.30pm For Maisie & Joan Graham
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 25th 11.00am Pat & Philip McCarthy & their Family
Day of Special Prayer For the openness to the Word of God
Monday 26th 12 Noon For all those remembered in the Jesse Tree
For Families
Tuesday 27th 12 Noon For all the Parishioners of Ss. Anne, John & Luke and For Youth
Wednesday 28th 9.15am MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Thursday 29th NO MASS
Friday 30th 12 Noon Elsa Kemp RIP
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
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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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