Second Sunday of Advent, 8th December, 2024. 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
Second Sunday of Advent, 8th December, 2024. Cycle C
FAITH IN FOCUS: THE DAY OF CHRIST: “Wait till your father gets back” is a dire threat that has rung in the ears of many a naughty child. What will happen when the other parent returns home? Will it all end in tears? Some Christians talk about Advent and the Day of Christ as if it were like a looming menace that hangs over the Church and the world. Their prayers and hymns are full of apocalyptic references to the end of times and their preaching is geared to frightening people into moral change in order to stave off a vengeful judgement. If we buy into this way of thinking it’s easy to end up either terrified or presuming that we’re on the side of the good and everyone else is “going to get it” when Christ comes again. So we either shrivel as Christians or we have a sense of smugness about what is going to happen at the second coming. We’ll be alright but they’ll get it in the neck… If Advent is a season of joy then it’s because we are waiting for our God to come not to condemn us but to set us free. Christ will come as a liberator not a dogcatcher. If Jesus reveals the type of God that we have, then why should we be afraid when he comes to take us to that same God? Our Advent liturgy encourages us to be joyful in our celebration. We can hardly sing “Come, Lord Jesus” if we think we are ushering in an execution! But at the same time we are not Christian Cheshire cats or professing Polyannas whose worship is removed from real life. Celebrating the joy of Advent only takes place authentically when we are doing all in our power to make God’s kingdom a reality in our lives. That’s why St Paul today urges the Philippians to keep trying to become pure and blameless in preparation for the Day of Christ. Joyful active preparation for the Day of Christ produces genuine worship.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: O people of Sion, behold, the Lord will come to save the nations, and the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we are glad.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight, and all mankind shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Jerusalem, arise and stand upon the heights, and behold the joy which comes to you from God.
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Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope which is so necessary to man. Advent’s intention is to awaken the most profound and basic emotional memory within us, namely the memory of God who became a child. This is a healing memory; it brings hope. The purpose of the Church’s year is to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart’s memory so that it can discern the star of hope.
Advent Penitential Service will be held at St John’s at 7:00pm on17th December. All most welcome
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. From now on all morning services will take place in St Anne’s house and from Monday 28th October at St John’s Monday and Friday Masses will be held in the Day Chapel, Tuesday and Wednesday Masses will remain in the main Church.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: amounted to £858.95p. Many thanks for your continued support.
Collection for Flowers for the Church: There will be a retiring collection over THIS WEEKEND the 7th/8th December. A BIG THANK YOU to our team of flower arrangers for the displays over the past 12 months.
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 0151-645-3314 You can also get in touch with Carol Dalziel on 7808975011 or Ann Murray on 07745490279 regarding general parish queries.
SJE’s Parish Safeguarding Officer is Celia Daly, who can be contacted on 0151-645 9256 on all safeguarding matters.
Mass Intentions If you would like to have a Mass said for your own or someone else’s intentions , fill in one of the Mass offering envelopes at the back of Church, place a donation in it & put it through the Presbytery letterbox. Please give at least three weeks’ notice as we are receiving a large number of requests for particular dates and days.
In Memoriam: Please pray for the repose of the soul of Mary Fitzgerald who died recently. Funeral Mass will be held at St John’s on Wednesday, 18th December at 1.30am followed by Landican at 1.00pm. Please also pray for the repose of the soul of Christine McLoughlin (Mary Moore’s sister-in-Law) who died recently. Funeral Mass will be held at St Joseph’s, North Road on Wednesday 11th December at 1pm followed by Landican at 2.30pm. Please keep Mary and Christine and their families in your prayers. May Mary and Christine, and all the faithful departed, 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 THIS SUNDAY 8th December .
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help to 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. Please also take a copy of the Advent Reverse Calendar on the table at the back of church.
Holy Communion Under Both Kinds will be distributed from the First Sunday of Advent. Initially there will be one chalice and if you wish to receive from the chalice please join the parishioners at the appropriate side of the altar. The number of chalices will be reviewed. Intinction, which is the dipping of the host into the chalice, is only allowed to be performed by the Priest and Deacon.
CONSULTATION ON SCHOOL ADMISSION ARRANGEMENTS 2026/27: St John’s Catholic Infant School is carrying out a consultation on the proposed admission arrangements for admission in September 2026/27. Admission arrangements are the overall procedure, practices and oversubscription criteria used in deciding the allocation of school places. The consultation is being carried out by the Governing Body. There has been a slight change to the admission policy from previous years. This relates to the oversubscription criteria and is based on the numbers of children that have been admitted under each criteria that is relevant to our school. The Governing Body is fulfilling its statutory duty to consult at least every seven years. The proposed admission arrangements are published on the schools website and can be viewed at https://www.stjohnsinfantschool.co.uk/admissionsor by contacting Miss C Sharkey at schooloffice@stjohns-infant.wirral.sch.uk (on behalf of Governing Body). Any comments on the proposed admission arrangements should be sent toschooloffice@stjohns-infant.wirral.sch.uk for the attention of Mrs Talbot / Ms Larkin (Chair of Governors). The consultation opens on Monday 18th November and closes on Friday 27th December 2024. HARD COPIES ARE ON THE TABLE AT THE BACK OF CHURCH.
CAFOD School Volunteers Needed! Could you visit your local Catholic school to talk about the work of CAFOD? We are looking for volunteers in the Shrewsbury Diocese to deliver school assemblies and workshops to inspire children and young people to make a difference and take action. For further information please contact Anna on 07710 094449 or email aletizia@cafod.org.uk
Advent Series of Talks: You are invited o a series of talks in Advent to coincide with the launch of the New Lectionary at the Parish Hall, Holy Angels, Hale Barns, Altrincham, WA15 0HG. At 7pm on Wednesday 11th and 18th December. For further information please contact Natalie Orefice by email Natalie.orefice@dioceseofshrewsbury.org or telephone 07730526826. See poster at the back of church.
THE BIG CARD will be at the back of church from THIS Saturday, 7th December. Please write your Christmas message at a suggested minimum donation of £1. All proceeds will go towards the work of The Ark. Please support this very good cause and thank you for your support over the years.
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Saturday 7th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Nora McCormick B.day Rem
Second Sunday of Advent Cycle C 8th 9.30am Eileen Spencer RIP
3.00pm Benediction
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 9th 9.30am Paddy Preece RIP Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tuesday 10th 9.15am School Mass Infants Yr 1 & Yr 2 in the Main Church
Simon Mitchell RIP
Wednesday 11th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Thursday 12th NO MASS
Friday 13th 9.15am Betty Fryer RIP
Saturday 14th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Decd Rels/Fnds of Sue & Roger Davies
Third Sunday of Advent Cycle C 15th 9.30am Oliver Newnes 20th B.day Rem.
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 7th 6.30pm Andrea King Birthday Wishes
Second Sunday of Advent Cycle C 8th 11.00am Enrolment Mass
Deardens Birthdays
Monday 9th 11.00am Rosary
12 Noon Helen O’Grady B’day Wishes
Tuesday 10th 12 Noon O’Brien & Maher Families
Wednesday 11th MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Thursday 12th NO MASS
Friday 13th 12 Noon Agnes McDonald 1st Anniv. RIP
Saturday 14th 6.30pm Jean Murray Healing
Third Sunday of Advent Cycle C 15th 11.00am Lewis & Christopher Doyle B.day Rem
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Pope Francis’s Prayer Intentions for December
For Pilgrims of Hope
Let us pray that the coming Church Jubilee Year 2025 strengthens us in our faith; helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in the midst of our lives, transforming us into pilgrims of Christian hope.
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