Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, 31st 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
Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, 31st August 2025. Cycle C.
A London-based pastor was boasting about how his church had grown from a handful to thousands of members in such a short time. The interviewer asked him what he thought had brought this about. "A top rate dedicated and qualified management team" he replied. "And what about the Holy Spirit?" asked the interviewer. By then it was too late for the pastor to dig himself out of the hole. Don't take the seats on the top table, says Jesus today, because someone more distinguished might have been invited. Of course, there's always someone more distinguished than us. The problem is that we often fail to recognise it. A top-table mentality can be very corrosive. As we grow up we naturally takes things for granted. We get on in life, we get promotion, we acquire status and position and we find ourselves making decisions that affect other people's lives. We know we've got the top-table mentality when we think that we are owed respect by right. We expect to be given preferential treatment, to be obeyed, to have our opinion carry more weight than other people's. Humility does not mean pretending we're not who we are, denying skills and talents or feigning a type of false modesty. Humility rejoices in what it can do, but knows that it can do nothing without God and others. So humility boasts, but it boasts about God who is the source of all gift and talent. Humble people don't stop aiming high. It's just that when they achieve their goal they know who deserves the credit. And since humble people don't push themselves forward for the top places, they are not disappointed not to have them. Nor do they suffer the embarrassment of being taken down a peg when they overstep the mark. Set your sights as high as you like but keep your soul on the ground. The man who fulfilled the cosmic act of salvation did so by humbling himself to become a mere human and although he was God he claimed no glory for himself. It's those who humble themselves, he said, who will be exalted.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON; Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long. O Lord, you are good and forgiving, full of mercy to all who call to you.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: In your goodness, O God, you prepared a home for the poor.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! If anyone loves me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: How great is the goodness, Lord, that you keep for those who fear you.
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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 £449.61p. Many thanks for your continued support.
Retiring Collection for Caritas £265.59p. – Peter would like to thank you all for the warmth of your welcome and your generous 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 pray 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, 7th SEPTEMBER 2025.
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
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!
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 ( Charities supported will be the Foodbank and Macmillan Nurses). 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
Invitation to a Tea Party: to be held at St John’s Junior School on Friday 12th September 2-3pm to discuss ideas for fundraising for the coming academic year. For more details, please see the poster on the notice board at the back of church.
Jubilee of Social Justice: to be held at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral on Saturday, 20th September for all those involved in catholic social action within England and Wales. Holy Mass at 12 Noon, followed by light lunch and Social Action Exhibition in Pontifical Hall. See poster on the notice board at the back of church.
+55 Group will meet on Tuesday 2nd September at St Anne’s Parish Club at 12.30pm. Speaker from Stella Maris – Supporting Seafarers. All welcome
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.
A BIG THANK YOU to all the parishioners/volunteers who turned up this Saturday morning to clear the car park.
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Saturday 30th 5.00pm Tom Kelly RIP
Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 31st 9.30am Birthday Blessings Reuel Michael Ormond
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 1st 9.15am For the Birth of Simon Humphrey
Special Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
Tuesday 2nd 9.15am For the Homeless
7.00pm Novena
Wednesday – St Gregory the Great 3rd 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Thursday 4th NO MASS
Friday 5th 9.15am World Peace
Saturday 6th 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ints Carol Dalziel
Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 7th 9.30am Janina & Teodor Hanczaryk B.day Annv.
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 30th 6.30pm For Parishioners of St. Anne’s,
St. John’s & St. Luke’s and for Youth Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 31st 11.00am Deacon James Armstrong RIP Anniversary
Monday 25th 12 Noon Kath Ward RIP
Special Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
Tuesday 26th 12 Noon Pat Walish RIP
Wednesday 27th 11.00am Funeral Service – Brian Patrick Kelly
7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Frank Carroll RIP
Thursday 28th NO MASS
Friday 29th 12 Noon Shackleton Family Special Intentions
Saturday 30th 6.30pm Eileen Smith RIP
Philomena Higgins Special Intention
Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 31st 11.00am Anna Ashuikeka 10th Anniversary
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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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