Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 17th August, 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
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time , 17th August 2025. Cycle C.
FAITH IN FOCUS: RAISING EYEBROWS?
From time to time we have to remind ourselves just what it means to be a Christian. That’s why today we hear a passage from a chapter of Luke’s gospel that examines different aspects of being a disciple. People who have been Christians from infancy tend not to experience the challenge of following Christ as much as those who are converted in later life. Cradle Christians are prone to play down the significance of their baptism. After all we were baptised as children just as we were given certain injections to inoculate us against diseases.As a result we grow up with the attitude that our Christianity is just one string to our bow. We may be members of the local amateur dramatic society, we may support the local football team and we are also Christians.
But today Jesus warns us that if we are true Christians then we will be the cause of division. That’s because the message of Christ is radically disturbing; it overturns accepted wisdom and agitates people. When we speak out about our vision of God’s world it upsets others. When we say what we think about moral decisions and the way life should be enjoyed we run the risk of antagonising.This is because to be a Christian means making a decision to proclaim a vision of God that is usually at odds with what society values. It’s not that we set out deliberately to make life uncomfortable for others. It’s simply that the message of the gospel is subversive: it turns everything on its head. Telling a world that prizes success that the only way to prosper is to die to self is not geared to making you very popular. It angers those who do not accept Christ and it causes division.
If we are ever tempted to think of our religion as normal, as being an obvious way of living in the twenty-first century, then we have to read the gospel again. It is a challenge to our world and its values, and so we should not be surprised if people find it hard to take. Maybe if we are finding opposition to our faith it is a sign that we are close to Christ; for he said he had come not to bring peace but division. If, on the other hand, our faith raises no more eyebrows than our membership of the local flower arranging club then perhaps we’ve either lost sight of what our faith really is or we’re afraid to let it show.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON; Turn your eyes, O God, our shield; and look on the face of your anointed one; one day within our courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Lord, come to our aid!
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Open our heart, O Lord, to accept, the words of your son. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: With the Lord there is mercy; and plentiful redemption.
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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 £601.06p. 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.
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.
Confirmation: Confirmation, this year, is at St John's on Wednesday 19th November at 7.00pm. 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
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
Stop assisted suicide - action needed! The Leadbeater assisted suicide Bill is expected to have its Second Reading in the House of Lords on Friday 12 September. Right To Life UK has launched an Easy Action tool to help you write to a few Peers with a tailored message to highlight key concerns with the Bill. Please take action now and visit www.righttolife.org.uk/aspeers to ask Peers to oppose assisted suicide - it takes just 30 seconds!
Thank you from the Parish Team: to Lesley, who has kindly donated a wheelchair for emergency use within St John’s. The wheelchair will be kept in the candle room which is through the door at the right hand corner at the back of church.
SVP Summer Raffle: Raffle tickets are now on sale at the back of church. £1 per ticket. First prize is £5000, 2nd prize £1000 with 15 x £100 additional prizes.
Steps of Hope – This summer a local volunteer will walk from his home in Upton to attend a Sunday Mass at all 23 churches in the Wirral Deaneries to raise money for Caritas-Shrewsbury. Our Diocesan charity helping children, families and communities. The walks will total 65 miles (100Km). To donate please use the link. The volunteer will be at St John’s TODAY, 17th August GiveTap Donation or the QR on the poster at the back of church. Please also consider regular giving to support their vital work. www.caritasshrewsbury.org.uk
St. Luke's are hosting cream tea afternoon at 76 Church Rd. Bebington on Saturday the 6th September from 2 till 4 pm, for our three parishes ( Charity to be decided ). ALL ARE WELCOME
Jubilee Evangelisation Event Sharing Hope with a Broken World with guest speaker Mark Saunders on Saturday 13th September 10.30am-2.15pm at St Joseph's Eucharistic Shrine, Tatton St, Stockport SK1 1EJ. To book email: natalie.orefice@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
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.
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Saturday 16th 10.30am NO Devotions this morning
5.00pm Philip Shipman Annv. RIP
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 17th 9.30am Betty & Eric Crebbin Rem RIP
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 18th 9.15am In Honour of St Luke – Pray for the Sick, Health Workers & Carers
Tuesday 19th 9.15am The Old & Vulnerable in our Society
Wednesday – St Bernard 20th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
James Wynne RIP
Thursday 21st NO MASS
Friday – The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary 22nd 9.15am The Halewood Family
Saturday 23rd 5.00pm Luciana Gerald Sadri 3rd Annv. RIP
Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time 24th 9.30am Eileen Spencer 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 16th 12.30pm Carmelite Mass
6.30pm Carol Dalziel
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 17th 11.00am Garry Sayers Healing & Recovery
Monday 18th 12 Noon For Sick, Health Workers & Carers
Tuesday 19th 12 Noon Ken Calley
Wednesday 20th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
James Wynne RIP
Thursday 21st NO MASS
Friday The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary 22nd 12 Noon Pat Walsh RIP
Saturday 23rd 6.30pm Wilfred White Anniversary
Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time 24th 11.00am Francis Okah Ordiah 25th RIP Remembrance
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Pope Leo XIV Intentions for August
“Let us pray that societies where coexistence seems more difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious, or ideological reasons.”
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