Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, 16th 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
Second Sunday of Easter, 16th April, 2023, Cycle A
Divine Mercy Sunday
FAITH IN FOCUS: WHAT THOMAS NEVER DID: Did you know that Thomas never actually put his hands and fingers into Jesus's side? We all seem to have grown up with the idea that once he had done that, then he believed. But in fact he didn't need to. We can't really blame Thomas for insisting on some evidence when the others told him that they had seen the risen Jesus. Unless I can… I refuse to believe. Yet when Jesus appears a second time to them eight days later, and Thomas is with them this time, Jesus almost teases him. Come and feel the holes in my hands. Thomas doesn't bother to do that. He immediately says, "My Lord and my God!"2000 years later we know that there can be no physical proof for our faith. How can an empty grave be evidence? We do not see ghosts and no one whispers into our ears. So why do we believe that Jesus is risen from the dead? Because scripture, tradition and our own experience tells us so. We believe because God's word tells us that Jesus triumphed over death and returned with a risen life, a glorious body and a sure hope for us. St Peter tells us that this promise and hope is something that can never be spoilt or soiled, can never vanish or fade away. Because it has been sealed by God. No doubt most of us believe because our parents believed. The constant faith of the Church over the years has handed down from the apostles the fact that Jesus rose and appeared after his death. The wonders worked by the disciples at the outset of the Church were attributed to the power of the risen Lord. Our faith in the resurrection makes us living voices of tradition, an unbroken shout of victory. Perhaps the most vital proof of Christ's resurrection comes through the lives of those whose faith sparks our own. Maybe the faith of a slowly dying pope, of a Mother Teresa, a faithful partner, a tireless parent, a devoted carer, an energetic parish worker or… Christ appears to us daily in disguise. The resurrection is the central tenet of our faith. If it didn't happen then we can all pack up. But it did happen and it challenges us to look for the risen Christ in whatever shape he appears to us in daily life, so that when we meet him we may have no need of physical evidence but, like Thomas, simply acknowledge, "My Lord and my God!"
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Like newborn infants, you must long for the pure, spiritual milk, that in him you may grow in salvation, alleluia!
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good for his love has no hand.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, Alleluia! Jesus said “You will believe because you see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Bring your hand and feel the place of the nails, and do not be unbelieving but believing, alleluia!
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The 9.15pm Mass on Tuesday, 18th April is in Honour of St Luke and the intentions are for the sick, health workers and carers.
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.
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 £1038.53p.
Holy Places £278.65p. Thank you for your generosity in these difficult times.
Cafod Family Fast Day: Total amount £475.01p. Of this total, £325.00p was gift aided. Many thanks for this grand amount.
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 Doreen and 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 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.
THREE PARISH SOCIAL: KING’S CORONATION CELERATION: Will be held at St Anne’s Social Club, Highfield Road, Rock Ferry, 12.30-4pm on Tuesday, 9th May. Tickets £5. Shared Table (details to follow), bar, entertainment and a raffle. This will be our first joint social event .Please come along and have a great time celebrating the Coronation TOGETHER!! VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED TO HELP DURING THE CELEBRATION. Please contact Diane Baylis if you can help. Tickets from Diane Baylis & Liz McIntosh. Diane Baylis No 07946916338.
Confirmation 2023 for St John’s and St Anne’s will be held at St John’s on Wednesday the 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.
Divine Mercy Prayer
You expired, O Jesus,
but the source of life gushed forth for souls
and an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelope the whole world
and empty yourself out upon us.
O Blood and Water,
which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus
as a fount of mercy for us,
I trust in you.
Amen.
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Saturday 15th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm James McLoughlin RIP
Second Sunday of 16th 9.30am Stephen Nolan B.day Remem Easter, Cycle A 11.00am Kathleen Richards
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 17th 9.15am Peggy McAllister RIP
Tuesday 18th 9.15am In Honour of St Luke
Wednesday 19th 12 Noon MASS AT ST ANNE’S - DIVINE MERCY CELEBRATION
Thursday 20th 7 .00pm Ints of Pope Francis
Friday 21st 9.15am For Vocations to the Priesthood
Saturday 22nd 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Philip White RIP
Third Sunday of Easter, Cycle A 23rd 9.30am Teresa Young RIP
11.00am Doreen Fitzgerald RIP (St Luke’s)
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.
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 15th 6.30pm Emily Devonport Special Int
Second Sunday of Easter 16th 11.15am Phil Rooney Annv.
Monday 17th 12 Noon Mary Whitty RIP
Tuesday 18th 12 Noon Sr. Marie McGhee Sp. Int
Wednesday 19th 12 Noon The sick, Health Workers and Carers
Thursday 20th 7.00pm Jim McNally Ann.
Friday 21st 12 Noon Sheila Plaistowe RIP
Saturday 22nd 6.30pm Tony Botka
Third Sunday of Easter 23rd 11.15am Doyle Family Intentions
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