Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. 21st September, 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 Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 21st September 2025. Cycle C.
FAITH IN FOCUS: MAKE YOUR MONEY WORK
A genie appeared to a man in a pub and offered him wisdom, beauty or money. He chose wisdom. When the genie had gone the man’s friends asked him to say something wise. So he said, “I should have taken the money!”
Our society prizes money. People with a fat bank account are considered better than those who scrape to make ends meet.
The cult of celebrity is intimately linked with the cult of wealth. Seldom do we stop to ask about the qualities that the rich and poor display, about the type of people they are when divorced from their financial status.
Although some religious leaders thought that wealth was a sign of favour in God’s eyes, Jesus taught that it is no such thing. Today’s parable shows that any thug can become rich. And while money is not evil of itself, it can easily lead to greed, to materialism and superficiality. What Jesus says is that money can get in the way of our being the sort of people God intended us to be.
What marks us out in God’s eyes is not our financial clout but the quality of our lives. It is our relationships with each other that show whether or not we have learned to use what God has given us. Everyone uses money to serve their physical needs, to provide food, warmth and shelter. But what about using it to improve the quality of our dealings with other people? And how do we use our money to consolidate our spiritual relationship with God?
It’s probably the case that if we are mean with the little money we have then we would be equally mean even if we had a fortune. For example, if we don’t give to charity now why do we think we would change if we had more money? The way we use our surplus, our pocket money, and our disposable income points to just how much we are either consumed by amassing wealth or given over to using our money wisely.
For the Christian it is the values of God’s kingdom that must be paramount. However much or little we may possess financially, we cannot serve God if our main concern is to accumulate more for more’s sake.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. Should they cry to me in any distress, I will hear them, and I will be their Lord for ever.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Praise the Lord, who raises the poor.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your son. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: You have laid down your precepts to be carefully kept; may my ways be firm in keeping your statutes.
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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.
SUNDAY 28th SEPTEMBER IS A SPECIAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE HARVEST
Medjugorje pilgrimage- We wish all those parishioners and Fr Mario a safe and fruitful trip to Medjugorje this week. May they return next week renewed, refreshed and fulfilled.
Be aware of Mass changes as a result for this week .
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: this week’s total is £743.80p. Many thanks for your continued support.
Home Mission Sunday- There will be a retiring collection this weekend 20th/21st September.
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 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, 5th OCTOBER 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 have begun on Friday 6.30pm to 7.30pm in St John's church. Those candidates who have already returned the registration forms have been notified by email.
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 Dates for your Diary: On Sunday 12th October: we will be holding our annual International Mass. The Mass will include bidding prayers in languages spoken by our community. There are so many different cultures within St John’s & St Luke’s Parishes & we would like to encourage people to share with us. Please see the sheets at the back of church to sign up to be involved. Please also have a word with Fr Mario. It would also be a great privilege for people to come to Mass in their national dress. Reception at St Anne’s Parish Club 12 Noon. On Sunday 19th October Bishop Mark Davies will be at St John’s for his Pastoral visit. There will be an opportunity to speak to the Bishop after Mass. MFL Ministry retreat day in October – See poster at the back of church for details.
Marriage preparation Courses- There are three courses for 2026. Each course runs over two consecutive Saturdays 9.30am to 4.30 pm each day 1. St Columbas Church Parish Hall on the 7th & 14th of February 2026 Address: Plas Newton Ln Chester, CH2 1SA or 2. Vincent de Paul Church Westleigh Parish Hall on the 28th of February & 7th of March 2026: Address: Groby Road Altrincham WA14 2BQ or 3. Shrewsbury Cathedral Parish Hall on the 21st & 28th of March 2026: Entrance Address: Town Walls Shrewsbury SY1 1UE The Hospitality AGM Following the success of last year’s Day of Reflection, Fr Sean Henry has kindly offered to run another such day for Hospitality members. This will take place on Sat 18 October at Shrewsbury Cathedral. Details to follow.
Stop assisted suicide - further action needed! As the assisted suicide Bill progresses through the Lords, Peers have made it clear that receiving physical letters will have the most influence at this stage of the process. Right To Life UK has launched a new EasyAction tool that creates a personalised letter to be sent in the post to a Peer highlighting a key concern with the Bill, selects a Peer to receive it, and customises the letter so that it is addressed from you. Please take action now and visit www.righttolife.org.uk/aspeersletter to send a letter to Peers asking them to oppose assisted suicide.
ST JOSEPH’S CHOIR St Joseph’s choir, consists of those who sing at 9.30 Mass on Sundays at St Joseph’s, joined by other members of the choir to sing at numerous funerals and weddings and other events in local churches and beyond. We rehearse together every Saturday at ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS CHURCH 11.00 a.m-12.00 noon. New members from all parishes are welcome to join us. Please contact the Parish Office leaving your name and tel number if you would like to join: 0151 652 5767 admin@saint-philip-neri.co.uk
Anointing & Healing Service: to be held at St John's on Friday 3rd October at 7pm. Theme "Then Jesus asked "Who touched me?"" Speaker: Fr Emeka Nwachukwu. Everyone is welcome. See the poster on the notice board at the back of the church.
Ministers of the Word- Readers, Carmel is about to compile the new rota. This will be for seven weeks, taking us to Advent. The dates are 11th October to 23rd November. Can you let Carmel know as soon as possible, of your availability to read on these dates. Thank you.
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Saturday 20th 5.00pm Laurence Reavey RIP
Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ord Time- Evangelii Gaudium 21st 9.30am Hannah Tunna
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 22nd 9.15am Jack McGree Anniv RIP
Tuesday 23rd MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Wednesday - Our Lady of Walsingham 24th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Thursday 25th NO MASS
Friday 26th 9.15am In Honour of St Anne
Saturday 27th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm In Honour of St John
David Charles Martin
Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ord Time 28th 9.30am Gill Davenport
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Special day of prayer for Harvest
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 20th 6.30pm For the Sick, Health Workers & Carers
Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ord Time 21st 11.00am Mary English RIP
Monday 22nd MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Tuesday 23rd 12 Noon Lilian Jones- For the grace of a happy death
Shackleton Family- Special intention
Wednesday – Our Lady of Walsingham 24th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Marita Broderick RIP
Thursday 25th NO MASS
Friday 26th 12 Noon For Families. Frank Carrol RIP
Saturday 27th 6.30pm Sr. Anne Marie Birthday
For All Parishioners of St Anne’s, St John’s & St Luke’s & For Youth
Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ord Time 28th 11.00am George Albert Carl Howard
Special day of prayer for Harvest
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Pope Leo XIV Intentions for September
For Our Relationship with All Of Creation. Let us pray that, inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.
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