Mary, Mother of God, 1st January, 2022, Cycle A
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.comWebsites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com www.lpa24.org
Mary, Mother of God 1st January, 2023. Cycle A
FOCUS: MOTHERHOOD, MEDITATION AND MODELLING
It seems such an obvious thing to say, but Mary is the Mother of God. It's obvious because we hear it said so many times in our lives, yet astounding when we pause to think what it really means. "Bearer of God" was the very first title officially given to Mary by the Church several centuries after her death. A God who is so powerful that he could have chosen to come down to earth as some sort of spectacular phantasm, to arrive here with armies and cohorts, or at least to come here already grown as an adult, this God chose to become a baby that was carried by a young girl and nurtured in a primitive village of the Middle East. We honour Mary for being chosen, one of our own human race, to co-operate with God in this mysterious and mystifying reality. For she is the Mother of Jesus, and Jesus is God. Yet she can't have been just any kind of girl. It must have taken a special personality to be attentive to what God was asking of her. Religious art traditionally depicts Mary in prayer when the angel announced she was to be the mother of Jesus. Just carrying Jesus for nine months wasn't enough. Mary had to enter in faith into God's plan, even though she didn't understand its full implications. And this meant that she had to be the sort of reflective person that is open and attentive to God's presence and voice. St Luke tells us that she pondered all these things in her heart. Her life of meditation must have thrown up so many strange and frightening questions. But in prayer she talked with God. Mary is a model of our response in faith to God. She is the pattern of trust and surrender that is demanded of all those who are baptised into Christ's Church. One of the more recent titles given to the Virgin Mary was by Pope Paul VI who called her "Mother of the Church". For what she did to serve God in her life is what is demanded of each of us: to be attentive to what God is asking of us personally, to place our trust in God's powerful presence and grace, and then to find God in all the circumstances of our lives as we respond in Christ to the challenges that meet us daily.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Be my protector, O God, a mighty stronghold to save me. For you are my rock, my stronghold! Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: They are happy who follow God’s law!
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Speak, Lord, your servant is listening; you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: They ate and had their fill, and what they craved the Lord gave them: they were not disappointed in what they craved.
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As you can see from the Mass Table ALL MASSES will be celebrated at St Anne’s until repairs are completed at St John’s. Please be aware of the change of time for the Sunday 11.00am Mass to 11.15am. THERE IS AMPLE PARKING BEHIND ST ANNE’S CHURCH.
Devotions/Adoration: ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
If you have any queries or ideas, please 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.
Mike Daly’s Homilies are now available on the Parish Website. Log in details to the Website 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.
Please continue to keep all of our sick parishioners in your thoughts and prayers.
CARITAS AT CHRISTMAS APPEAL: As a result of the burst pipes and the moving of all our services to St Anne’s until repairs are completed, AND, AS WE CELEBRATE OUR SERVICES, PLEASE DONATE YOUR OFFERINGS TO ST ANNE’S CARITAS CRIB APPEAL. Your offerings at the Crib during the Christmas Season will support the work of Caritas Diocese of Shrewsbury (formerly the Catholic Children’s Society) who offer much care and support to needy families. 100% of your donations will go to those in the most vulnerable situations within the diocese, ensuring they receive crisis food vouchers and practical support as quickly as possible when it is most needed. Thank you for your continued support and generosity.
Children's Liturgy will resume when the repairs are completed at St John’s.
Tea and Coffee after 9.30am Mass each Sunday. To be held in the Meeting Room through the Music Store Room, but the exit will now be via the front door of the house. All are welcome. THERE WILL BE NO TEA/COFFEE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Last Weeks’ Christmas Offertory Collection amounted to £1117.87p. Thank you for your generosity.
The Loop System in the church is now fully operational. To benefit, please set your hearing aid to the "T" setting and adjust your volume as appropriate.
Mother’s Prayers - Please see the poster about this group of mothers from our parish who meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 7pm, to pray for their children and grandchildren and offer each other support. The next meeting is Tuesday 16th January. All most welcome, DEPENDING UPON THE REPAIR OF THE LEAK.
If you know of any St John's parishioners, who would welcome a home visit by members of the S.V.P, please email St John's with details and we will pass on the information, which is treated confidentially, to Steve Bell, President of St John's SVP. Please ask the person or persons involved if they would like a visit before passing on their details. stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com
Partnering Nigeria: Fr. Mario and Fr. Emmanuel are going to connect our church with a catholic church in Nigeria. The idea is to share, care and show God’s love to one another. We are starting at Christmas. If you would like to write a card or letter and enclose a donation, they will be collected by Maria Fryer and forwarded to Nigeria by Fr. Mario. See Poster on the notice board at the back of church.
Wirral Foodbank Christmas Appeal: Please help support your Foodbank with food and funds this New Year. 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 and thank you for your continued generosity.
THE BIG CARD: Due to the situation with the burst pipes, we will hold a retiring collection for The Ark when we return to church after repairs are completed.
CHRISTMAS COME AND SING! WEDNESDAY 4th JANUARY 2023 is being held at ST MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS’ CHURCH WOODCHURCH: A last opportunity to sing carols and Christmas songs before the Epiphany! Doors open at 10.00 Tea and coffee will be served from 10.00amSinging from 10.45am-12.00 Noon. St Joseph’s Choir, St Michael’s Music Group, Wirral 3Ls Choir and other groups will lead the music and a warm invitation is extended to parishioners.
If you have a notice for the bulletin, please email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box by 12 noon on Wednesdays. Many thanks.
We welcome Russ to our next ‘Come & See’ day on 7th January. EVERYONE VERY WELCOME Russ Parker, our next speaker, was ordained in 1981 having previously served as a Baptist Pastor in Merseyside where he was born. He is married to Roz and has two adult children and three grandchildren. He was vicar in Coalville in Leicester before joining the Acorn Christian Healing Foundation in 1990. He remained with them for 24 years and was their International Director for 18 years. He has written 16 books including ‘Healing Wounded History – Reconciling People and Healing Places’ and ‘Forgiveness is Healing’. Venue Irenaeus Centre 32 Great George’s Road I22 1RD from 10am-4pm. Packed lunch recommended. To book email- jenny@irenaeus.co.uk
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Saturday 31st 5.00pm Elspeth Foister RIP
Sunday 1st 9.30am Shaun Corrigan RIP
Mary, Mother of 11.15am Stan Korn Annv RIP God – ALL MASSES AT ST ANNE’S
NO PRAYER MEETING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
Monday 2nd 9.15am The poor of the world
Tuesday 3rd 9.15am Leo & Cath Shore RIP
Wednesday 4th 9.15am For world peace
Thursday 5th 7.00pm For all the sick
Friday 6th Epiphany of the Lord
9.15am For all our school children
Saturday 7th 5.00pm Bernard McGuigan RIP
Sunday 8th The Baptism of the Lord-
ALL MASSES AT ST ANNE’S
9.30am Anne Tower RIP
11.15am Maureen Concannon RIP
——————————————————————————————————————————— Please take a copy of the Parish Newsletter for anyone else who would appreciate receiving a copy. Also, there is a selection of cards in the Card Rack; please put money in the box provided.
Holy Mary, mother fair, Filled with love for God, Pray for us in all our needs.
Pray for us today.
New Year's Prayer
As the dawn breaks on a new year, let us give thanks for all we hold dear: our health, our family and our friends. Let us release our grudges, our anger and our pains, for these are nothing but binding chains. Let us live each day in the most loving ways, the God-conscious way.
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