Easter Sunday, 9th April, 2023, Cycle A
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Mario Ashuikeka and Fr Emmanuel Chukwujekwu
Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
Easter Sunday, 9th April, 2023, Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS:COMING OUT OF THE TOMB; Nations have their tombs. Britain collects its great and good and places them in Westminster Abbey. The Egyptians have the pyramids, the Indians the Taj Mahal and the Russians venerate Lenin in Red Square. We too have our own tombs even though we're not yet dead. We have shady dank places where we retreat to and refuse to come out. We find it easier to remain shut inside rather than come out and be hurt. We lock ourselves away and refuse to forgive when someone has offended us. We sit snugly in our shrouds when getting involved would cause us too much disturbance. We take comfort in isolation rather than being the life and soul of the party. And after a while the grave even seems to be a comfortable place because we feel safe there. The message of Easter and Christ's resurrection is that the stone can be rolled away, we can come out of the tomb into the light and enjoy the new hope afforded by Jesus's victory over death and sin. We can begin to live again. When Jesus was nailed to the cross he nailed our sins to it also. He took our fear of death, our sinfulness, our phobias and our downright stubbornness and conquered them. He knew the depth of our failings and he redeemed them by submitting to death. His triumph was total. From now on there is no evil, no fear, and no sin that can have permanent hold over us if we trust in his promises. The empty tomb is a sign of the futility of human attempts to challenge the power of God. Even execution and death cannot contain the Son of God, let alone the tomb. Today the Church rejoices in a God who loves us so much that he came among us as one of us and gave himself over to his enemies so that they could do their worst. But their worst was not good enough. The power of the resurrection offers us new hope, a fresh start and a broader vision of what life really is about and what it can be for us. It invites us to laugh in the face of what threatens us, to trust in the power of God and to vacate the tombs we create for ourselves. Today is the victory feast of the Lamb: Christ is risen!
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: I have risen, I am with you still, alleluia. You have laid your hand upon me, alleluia. Too wonderful for me, this knowledge, alleluia, alleluia.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: This day was made by the Lord; we rejoice and are glad.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, Alleluia Christ our Passover has been sacrificed; let us celebrate the feast then, in the Lord. Alleluia.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Christ our Passover has been sacrificed, alleluia; therefore let us keep the feast with unleavened bread of purity and truth, alleluia, alleluia.
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Devotions/Adoration: Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy and Divine Praises) from 10:30am-11:30am. Fr Mario will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation between 10.30 and 11.00am. All most welcome. DIVINE MERCY CELEBRATION AND
VENERATION OF 1st CLASS RELIC OF ST FAUSTINA: Led by Fr Peter Prusakiewicz from Poland who travels the world proclaiming and explaining the Divine Mercy devotion and talking about his experience of St Michael the Archangel and Holy Angels, please join us at St Anne’s Rock Ferry from 12 o’clock to 2.30pm on Wednesday 19th April for Holy Mass and a talk, followed by a Eucharistic healing service with veneration of a 1st class relic of St Faustino. There will also be an opportunity to purchase rosaries and the Angels magazine, also information about a Divine Mercy pilgrimage to Poland being organised for September.
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY - 16th April 2023. Confessions 2pm to 2.50pm and Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3pm.
If you have any queries or ideas, continue to contact Deacon Mike Daly on 07542463319 or Carol Dalziel on 07808975011 on any Parish matters, or if you wish to arrange a Baptism, Wedding or Funeral. Also use the box at the back of church for your suggestions.
Mike Daly’s Homilies are available on the Parish Website. Log in details are www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
Mass Intentions If you would like to have a Mass said for your own or someone else’s intentions please fill in one of the Mass offering envelopes at the back of Church, place a donation in it & put it through the presbytery letterbox. Thank you.
For the Easter Services : DUE TO A DAMAGED HAND RAIL THE CHOIR LOFT CANNOT BE USED FOR EASTER SERVICES.
Please continue to keep all of our sick parishioners in your thoughts and prayers.
Children's Liturgy – is during the 9.30am Mass, all are most welcome.
Tea and Coffee: is still suspended for now.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £635.11p. Thank you for your generosity in these difficult times.
Collection for Holy Family Fathers & Brothers of the Youth came to £763.00p. Fr Mario sends a big thank you to everyone who contributed to this grand figure.
Cafod Family Fast Day: Thank you to St Luke’s for their generous donation of £216. There is a letter from Cafod on the notice board at the back of church. St John’s total will be in next week’s newsletter.
In Memoriam- Please keep in your prayers Doreen Fitzgerald who died recently. Doreen’s Funeral will be held at St John’s on Friday, 28th April at 1.30pm followed by Cremation at Landican at 3.00pm. May all the faithful departed rest in the peace of Christ.
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help support your Foodbank with food and funds. All donations need to be non-perishable, please refer to the list on the notice board of items urgently needed. Please continue to support this as much as you can in these difficult times.
Altar-Servers - Please encourage any child who has made their First Holy Communion to consider becoming an Altar-Server. Please give names to Mike Daly, who will arrange for their training and support.
MASS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAYS IN APRIL: You may have noticed from the Mass Intentions section that some changes to the Thursday evening Mass schedule have taken place; the timetable until the end of April is as follows:
Thursday 13/04: NO Mass at St John’s or St Anne’s
Thursday 20/04: 7pm Mass at both Churches
Thursday 27/04: 7pm Mass at St Anne’s only
Watch this space for any updates!
The Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has given permission for re-introduction of Holy Communion under both kinds from Holy Thursday; however, due to the rising levels of Covid in our area, the use of the Chalice will not be implemented at St John's for the foreseeable future.
Confirmation 2023 for St John’s and St Anne’s will be held at St John’s on Wednesday, 22nd November at 7.00pm. Will all candidates in Years 9 and above (or their parents) please contact Mike Daly as soon as possible to record their interest.
SVP Membership Support Officer (MSO) The St Vincent de Paul Society would like to recruit a MSO for the Shrewsbury Diocese. A part time role (15 hours per week) working as part of the SVP Membership Team, to support member recruitment and development, provide general support for members and be the link between local Conferences and National Office. The role is home based but requires the ability to travel around the diocese to make recruitment appeals, work with existing groups, attend meetings and meet with interested parties where appropriate. Own transport essential and travel expenses are paid. For further information and details of how to apply, contact Lance Philpott, Head of Membership at lancep@svp.org.uk Closing date for applications is Sunday 16 April 2023.
A vacancy has arisen within the Inter-Diocesan Fuel team (IFM) for an Administrator, based at the curial office in Birkenhead. The post is full time 35 hours per week, salary: £20K to £22K depending on experience. For further details please see the Diocesan website https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/latest-vacancies/ CV’s should be sent to Pauline McCulloch, recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Closing date: 28 April 2023.
EASTER PRAYER
Help us this Easter, Lord, to focus on you to keep calm and patient during this very uncertain time. Give us the strength to cling on as we put our faith and trust in you, giving us the confidence and assurance that you love us and that we are in your hands, keep us safe and well, we pray, in Jesus name. Amen.
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Saturday Easter 8th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises Vigil Mass 8.00pm Parishioners & their Families
Easter Sunday 9th 9.30am Mary Capper
11.00am Ints Beverley Hancock (St Luke’s)
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 10th 9.15am Peggy McAllister RIP
Tuesday 11th 9.15am Sr Eileen Clement RIP (Servites)
Wednesday 12th 9.15am NO MASS
Thursday 13th 7.00pm NO MASS
Friday 14th 9.15am Ints Fr Bernard Forshaw
Saturday 15th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm James McLoughlin
Second Sunday of Easter, Cycle A 16th 9.30am Stephen Nolan B.day Remem
11.00am Kathleen Richards
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 and quiet devotion during Lent
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday Vigil Mass 8th 8.00pm Mary Duff B.day Remembrance
Easter Sunday 9th 11.15am Daniel Brett Remembrance
Monday 10th 10.30am Jack McCormick Annv.
Tuesday 11th 10.30am Peter Campbell RIP
Wednesday 12th 12 Noon NO MASS
Thursday 13th 7.00pm NO MASS
Friday 14th 12 Noon Funeral Mass – Keith Whiting
Saturday 15th 6.30pm Emily Devonport Special Int
Sunday 16th 11.15am Phil Rooney Annv.
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