Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Sunday 26th October, 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 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 26th October 2025. Cycle C.
IN FOCUS: TAKING THE MASK OFF: Because she was in a hurry, a woman wanted to find a parking space close to the supermarket door. As she asked God to help her, she saw a car backing out of the car park right next to the store front, and she said, "Never mind, God. I've found one myself!" Some of us have an inflated view of our own abilities. Even when we look in the bathroom mirror when we get up in the morning, we see someone else's face! We see the person we would like to be rather than the person who is actually staring back at us. That's because the mask that we put on for everyone else to see becomes confused with the real person behind the eyes. No one of us escapes from this. We wear all sorts of different masks depending on whom we are talking to and what we want them to think of us. We present an image, a projection of someone we would like to be. When we pray, we can keep this mask on, but it is quite useless. That's because the one person who knows us better than we know ourselves is God. All our being, all our faults and failings, weaknesses and strengths, hopes and fears, lie like an open book before God. There is no point in pretending to be someone else. God knows who we are. Humility in prayer means being yourself before God, but your real self. You don't have to use religious words to get a hearing. You don't have to make out that you are doing more than you are or that you are better than you are. The humble man in today's gospel simply said, "Lord, be merciful to me a sinner." God accepts us in prayer for what we are, warts and all. If we can simply place ourselves before God and ask the Lord to let us feel his presence then our prayer is authentic. Being honest and humble in prayer ultimately makes us humble and honest about ourselves. It strips us of the layers of self-deception and self-importance. Then we'll not only be more able to hear what God is really saying to us, but we'll be better able to change.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice; turn to the Lord and his strength; constantly seek his face.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM This poor man called; the Lord heard him.
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: We will ring out our joy at your saving help and exult in the name of our God.
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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 £604.70p. Many thanks for your continued support.
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. A big thank you to the two recent donations received.
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 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 is SUNDAY, 2nd NOVEMBER 2025. 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. Confirmation preparation classes are on Friday 6.30pm to 7.30pm in St John's church.
Jubilee for Catechists with Bishop Mark Davies, the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph and Natalie Orefice, Diocesan Director of Evangelisation and Catechesis. On Saturday 15th November at St Joseph's Eucharistic Shrine, Tatton St, Stockport SK1 1EJ. Book a free place here: https://bit.ly/Jubilee-for-Catechists PLEASE SEE THE 2 POSTERS ON THE NOTICE BOARD AT THE BACK OF CHURCH
SVP- Turning Concern Into Action -If you know of anybody who needs help or a listening ear, please contact the SVP at St John's/St Anne's by calling or sending a text message to 07391644871
You are warmly invited to sign up for The Bible Timeline Course—a world-renowned, FREE OF CHARGE 8-week course presented LIVE ONLINE by Mauro Iannicelli. Register- comeandsee.org See poster in church.
OCTOBER MONTH OF THE ROSARY: As usual a pilgrim statue of Our Lady has been circulating the parish in October. If you would like to have the statue in your home please see Maria Fryer. The statue has also visited St John’s Junior School and Infant School this year.
VACANCY FOR FOOD BANK TRUSTEE: Closing date for applications is Friday 31st October 2025. Please email manager@wirralfoodbank.org.uk and include in the subject header “Trustee Wirral Foodbank.” In your email, please outline your background and what you think you would bring to the role, mentioning any specific skills/experiences that you think are important. For further information please email manager@wirralfoodbank.org.uk or contact Richard Roberts, General Manager, Wirral Foodbank: 07518034579. Full job description on the Foodbank Notice board at the back of church
JOB VACANCY: The Diocese of Wrexham is currently looking to appoint a Personal Assistant to the Right Rev Bishop Brignall, the position will be based in Wrexham. For a job description/more information please Pauline.McCulloch@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date: November 10th, 2025. Interview dates: 18th and 19th November, 2025. Part time, permanent (25 Hours, 5 hours each day)
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 2-4pm. See poster at the back of church for further details. Father Christmas will be there! Donations for raffle prizes would be greatly appreciated.
55+ Group Meeting- will be at St Anne’s Parish Hall on 4th November at 12.30pm for a fish and chip lunch. Please bring your own knife and fork.
November Lists: Please ensure that all names for the November List are handed into the presbytery by Sunday, 26th October. This allows time to compile the lists. Please mark the envelopes "For the attention of Ann Murray" and please print all names clearly. Many thanks.
CAFOD Family Fast : Please take a CAFOD envelope, available on the table at the back of church. (If you are a taxpayer, please complete the Gift Aid section). Please return your envelopes by SUNDAY, 26th October. Thank you for your continued support to CAFOD.
Missio Red Box Collection: Thank you to all who contribute to Missio via the Red Boxes; please return the current contents of your boxes to St John's. There are also offertory envelopes at the back of church. If you are a taxpayer, please complete the back of the envelope and return them and the Red Boxes by the end of October.
The LMA 9 Pro-Life Group is hosting Ira Winter, of Fiat Fertility Care, for a talk on "God's Design For Fertility" to which all are welcome. Her talk will bring out the wonders of procreation in ways which are still too little known. She will also explain the potential of Natural Reproductive Medicine for couples struggling to conceive or wishing to space pregnancies. The talk will take place on Thursday, 30th October at 7pm at St Mary's Caritas Centre, Delamere Rd, Crewe CW1 2JX.
Stop assisted suicide - further action needed! Sending a physical letter carries particular weight with Members of the House of Lords. Right To Life UK has created a simple tool that generates personalised letters to Peers, each focused on a specific area of concern. You can then print them, or copy them out by hand, sign, and post them. Please take action now and visit www.righttolife.org.uk/aspeersletter to send a letter to Peers asking them to oppose assisted suicide.
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Saturday 25th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Theresa Duggan RIP
Thirtieth Sunday in Ord Time 26th 9.30am In Honour of St Anne
Lynne & Jack Murray RIP
Azubike Emmanuel Nnadi RIP
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 27th 9.15am In Honour of St John – Helen Otuisa RIP
Tuesday- Simon & Jude 28th 9.15am Sheilagh Green
Wednesday 29th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Dec’d Family & Frnds of Joan Turner
Thursday 30th NO MASS
Friday 31st 9.15am Damian Roberts RIP
Saturday 1st 10.00am Cenacle Mass- All Saints
10.30am Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm ALL SAINTS - World Peace
ALL SAINTS 2nd 9.30am Eileen Spencer RIP 1st Anniversary
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 25th 6.30pm Fredrick Woolfall Birthday
Shirley Cooper RIP
Thirtieth Sunday in Ord Time 26th 11.00am Helen Otuisa (Nee Ashuikeka) RIP
For Families
Monday 27th 12 Noon For Maher & O’Brian Families Ints
Tuesday 28th 12 Noon For Parishioners of St Anne’s, St Luke’s, St John’s & for the Youth
Wednesday 29th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Thursday 30th NO MASS
Friday 31st 12 Noon Kath Ward RIP
1-3pm Rosary
Saturday 1st 6.30pm William McGenity RIP
Michael & Judith Sharkey
ALL SAINTS 2nd 11.00am Pat Simmons RIP
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Pope Leo's Intentions for October:
October is the time to turn with a renewed dedication to praying the Rosary and seeking Our Lady's intercession for the protection of human life and an increased respect for human dignity. We must continue to pray for a culture of life in our state, nation, and world
Remember clocks go back one hour on Saturday 25th October.
Our Parishes enjoyed a visit from Bishop Mark last weekend.
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