Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 7th 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
Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 7th September 2025. Cycle C.
FAITH IN FOCUS: IS THERE A CHRISTIAN IN THE HOUSE?
You may be in the church building, but are you in Christ? Your name is on the parish records, but is it in the book of life? You may be in the Church, but is Christ in you? Being in a classroom does not make you a teacher. Being in a surgery doesn’t make you a doctor. And being in a church building doesn’t make you a disciple! Jesus preaches in such a way that we either get on board or abandon ship. Either we will follow Christ or forsake him. Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. He is making his way to the cross. He is on his way to betrayal, flogging, mocking, scourging, and beating. His own people have rejected him. He is on his way to Jerusalem to die for the very people who will murder him. They have called him Beelzebub. They have accused him of breaking the law. They have numbered him with the publicans and sinners. Jesus knows his disciples will suffer the same fate and only a true disciple can endure such persecution. Before you decide to buy that new home cinema system you have to sit down and work out whether you have enough money to pay for it, whether in cash or instalments. And it’s the same thing when it comes to being a disciple of Christ. There is a cost involved. Jesus never tried to get big crowds. In fact, he said things that would put the faint-hearted off. To follow him, he said, you must love your family but never let them get in the way of your responding fully to God’s call. Those who appreciate the wisdom of God’s plan are prepared to give up wealth, reputation, security and even their own lives if it is demanded. This does not come cheap. It’s easy to say that we would do all this for God, but how well are we faring in the ordinary things of life, the little demands that are put upon us? This is a good guide to how much we are being true to our calling as disciples. Being a Christian means accepting all our family and social responsibilities but giving Christ top priority. There can be no part-time Christians.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: You are just, O Lord, and your judgement is right: treat your servant in accord with your merciful love.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: O Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to the next.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! I call you friends, says the Lord, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father .Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God; my soul is thirsting for God, the living 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.
No Sunday Prayer Group until 21st September.
St John’s Junior School children and staff will join us for 9.15am Mass on Tuesday morning to celebrate the beginning of the new academic year.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: this week’s total is £535.84p. Many thanks for your continued support.
Home Mission Sunday- There will be a retiring collection for this over the weekend of 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 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, 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 Friday 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!
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
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.
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.
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.
Pilgrimage of the Jubilee icons, will be arriving at St John’s Infant school on Monday 15th September.
Deacon Les will be running a Marriage Preparation Course on Saturday 13th September 10am to 4pm at the Presbytery at St Joseph’s, Willowbank Road, Birkenhead for those wishing to get married in our Deanery. Please can you advertise in your newsletters and ask those interested to phone the Parish Office on 0151 652 5767 and leave a message on the answerphone to book 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 March 2026: Entrance Address: Town Walls Shrewsbury SY1 1UE.
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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.
Monday- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 8th 9.15am Ints Margi & Eileen In Thanksgiving
Tuesday 9th 9.15am Eileen Spencer RIP
Wednesday 10th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Vocations
Thursday 11th NO MASS
Friday 12th 9.15am Mass in the Infant School
Prisoners & Their Families
Saturday 13th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Vera Brockway RIP
Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time The Exaltation of the Holy Cross 14th 9.30am Brenda Hawes
3.00pm Benediction
Day of special prayer for Education
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 6th 6.30pm Eileen Smith RIP
Philomena Higgins Special Intention
Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 7th 11.00am Anna Ashuikeka 10th Anniversary
Monday- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 8th 12 Noon Lill Baily Birthday
Kathleen Ward RIP
Tuesday 9th 11.30am Funeral Mass- Mrs Kathleen Ward
Brendan Darey RIP
Wednesday 10th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Thursday 11th NO MASS
Friday 12th 11.30am Margaret Ramsey
12.30pm Funeral Mass – William McGenity
Saturday 13th 6.30pm Jose Mamczur RIP
Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 14th 11.00am Lewis & Marie Doyle 60th Wedding Anniversary Remembrance
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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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