The Fifth Sunday of Lent, 17th March, 2024. Cycle B
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
The Fifth Sunday of Lent, Sunday, 17th March, 2024, Cycle B,
FAITH IN FOCUS: TOO MUCH TO LOSE?
For the last month we’ve been making our way through Lent on a voyage towards Easter. It’s as if we’ve taken to the road with Christ on his journey up to Jerusalem where he (& we) will embrace death so as to rise above it to a life that never ends.
But as we’ve journeyed with Christ we’ve been listening to his words guiding us along our route to Easter. These words take on a different colour each year in a three-year cycle that the Church’s liturgy uses. But this year the theme of Jesus’ message has been unmistakable: you must embrace the wisdom of God. Jesus could have tried to buy us off with some easy words, like politicians who promise everything in return for votes. He could have told us that we can get to heaven just by praying & paying. He could have offered us salvation by keeping the law & being seen in the right places. He could have suggested a quick fix but he chose to offer the tougher route.
We’ve listened to a series of paradoxes over the last few weeks & today Jesus tells us that just as a grain of wheat must be buried before it can sprout, so too we have to die if we are to enjoy life. His message is one of self-sacrifice, cross-bearing, total service & a love which counts no costs. & unlike other philosophies that underline the skills & talents of their adherents, Jesus tells us that we reach our perfection the more like a servant we become, & that we achieve our dignity by putting ourselves last rather that first.
This message isn’t for everyone. It’s not for people who like to be thought of as important but now find they must consider themselves last of all. Not for people who prize possessions, now being told to give to the poor. Not for those who invest everything in the here & now. Not for those with status who fear that they’ll lose their respectability. Not for wise people who see it as sheer foolishness. Is it for you?
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Give me justice, O God, & plead my cause against a nation that is faithless. From the deceitful & cunning rescue me, for you, O God, are my strength.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: A pure heart create for me, O God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Praise to you O Christ, King of eternal glory! If a man serves me, says the Lord, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Amen, Amen I say to you: Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground & dies, t remains a single grain. But if it dies it bears much fruit
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Mass Times for the Solemnity of St Joseph: Vigil Mass on 18th March at St John’s at 6.30pm (No 9.15am morning Mass on this day); 19th March 9.30am at St John’s; 12 Noon at St Anne’s.
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 10.30 & 11.00. All are welcome.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £454.00p. Many thanks for your continued support.
If you have any queries regarding parish matters or if you wish to arrange a Baptism, Wedding or Funeral please contact Fr Mario on 0151-645 3996. You can also get in touch with Carol Dalziel on 07808975011 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.
Children's Liturgy – takes place during the 9.30am Mass. All are most welcome
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. Thank you. Wirral Foodbank. We would like to start a new rota to drop off the donations to the warehouse in Birkenhead. The food is all non perishable & can be dropped off at the Wirral warehouse anytime Monday to Thursday between 10am & 1.30pm. My name is Cecily Sabino; I go to 9.30am Mass on Sunday. If you can help please contact Fr. Mario on 645 3996 or let me know that you are interested my tel no is 07901105591 so we can have a chat. Thank you.
Wirral Foodbank is recruiting for a Community Organiser & Campaigns Manager. This is an exciting opportunity to join our team. The post is fully funded by Trussell Trust & is for two-year fixed contract. For more information go to Community Organiser & Campaigns Manager.
Sunday Morning Teas continue on the first Sunday of each month. Come along for tea/coffee & biscuits whilst enjoying a chat with your fellow parishioners. Next date is Sunday 7th April.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2024: Brochures & booking forms are now available on the Pilgrimage website: www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk or by ringing 07773 324264, or if you are aged 16 – 22 please email youth@dioceseofshrewsbury.org for an application form to join the youth section of our Pilgrimage. This year our Pilgrimage dates are: by air from Friday 26 July to Thursday 1 August, by coach from Thursday 25/07 to Friday 02/08 & for our young people from Wednesday 24/07 to Friday 02/08. If you are a first-time pilgrim or a returning pilgrim, we look forward to you joining us in Lourdes this year.
PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORIE WITH FR MARIO 22nd to 26th June £549 pp sharing or £635 for a single room. Flying from Manchester, 4 star hotel including breakfast & evening meal, local guide & we will be in Medjugorie for the 43rd Anniversary. Telephone Maria on 07576243343 if interested.
CAFOD Family Fast Day: CAFOD envelopes are available on the table at the back of church. (If you are a taxpayer, please complete the Gift Aid section). Envelopes can be returned up to & including Palm Sunday, 24th March. Thank you for your continued support & generosity.
Stations of the Cross will be held at 3:00pm each Sunday during Lent & will be led by a different group each week. This Sunday’s leaders will be Sarah Storer & the Mini Vinnies.
A Rehearsal Session for All Altar Servers who would like to serve during the Easter Triduum will be held at St Anne's on Saturday 23rd March from 12.15pm. All are welcome. More details Amy Burgess 07595163193.
MASSES/SERVICES FOR HOLY WEEK BEING HELD AT
ST JOHN’S & ST ANNE’S
Holy Thursday to be held at St Anne’s at 7.00pm
Good Friday Children’s Stations of the Cross to be held at St Anne’s at 10.00am
Good Friday Service to be held at St John’s at 3.00pm
Saturday Easter Vigil Mass to be held at St Anne’s at 8.00pm
Easter Sunday Mass times as normal:
9.30am St John’s & 11.00am St Anne’s
Lent Talks: Why not join us for Being the Beloved, a series of short talks by Henri Nouwen, priest & influential spiritual writer & teacher. The final talk will be at St Anne’s at 6pm on Wednesday 20th March. For more details email stevens.dstevens2@gmail.com
Readers: A copy of the current Rota is on the notice board at the back of Church. Please let me know if you are available to read at the Good Friday Service at St John’s at 3.00pm.
New readers are always most welcome - please give your name, tel.no. & email address to Fr Mario, or to me, or post your details through the Presbytery door; I usually attend the 9.30am Sunday Mass. Pease also advise if you could be available for the 5.00pm weekly Saturday evening Mass as we only have a small pool of readers for this Service. Thank you – Carmel Harrison.
Chrism Mass: will be held at St Michael & All Angels, Woodchurch on Wednesday, 27th March at 7.00pm.
Evening of Recollection: for all Eucharistic Ministers & Readers from St John’s & St Luke’s & St Anne’s to be held at St Anne’s on Tuesday, 26th March 6-7.30pm to prepare for Holy Week & Easter.
Lent Course: Father Michael Coughlan has asked us to share information about the Lent Course entitled: Journeying with Jesus: a companion’s guide by Fr Denis McBride CSsR, each Tuesday evening in Lent at 7.00pm in Our Lady’s Presbytery, Cavendish Street CH41 8AQ. The playlist can be accessed on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8fO6FLk0X8&list=PLAxn1pJuKMKrNTQYvfoUW9VG1Alb_pT86
Spring Sing with Warrington Male Voice Choir, plus Special Guests Wirral 3Ls Choir, will be held at St Michael & All Angels,Woodchurch on Saturday 13th April 7.30pm. Doors open 7pm. Tickets £8. See poster at the back of the church for details.
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Saturday 16th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Philomena Fletcher RIP
Fifth Sunday of Lent 17th 9.30am Brian Corr RIP
3.00pm Stations of the Cross
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday Vigil Mass for Feast of St Joseph 18th 6.30pm For the Sick, Health Workers & Carers
Tuesday Feast of St Joseph 19th 9.30am Ints Sabino Family
Wednesday 20th 9.15am The Homeless
Thursday 21st 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Friday 22nd 9.15am Victor Shipman B.day Rem
Saturday 23rd 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ints Carol Dalziel
Palm Sunday 24th 9.30am Phillie McLean 1st Annv
3.00pm Stations of the Cross
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.
ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 16th 6.30pm Michael Noglik Sp.Int.
Fifth Sunday of Lent 17th 11.00am For the People of our Parish
Monday 18th 12 Noon Chris Locke RIP
Tuesday 19th 12 Noon Tucker Hetherington RIP
Wednesday 20th 12.Noon Anne Forshaw
Thursday 21st 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Brian Glover 7th Anniv.
Friday 22nd 12 Noon Ann & Thomas Blakemore Anniv.
Saturday 23rd 6.30pm Ann McGrory RIP
Palm Sunday 24th 11.00am Martin Patric Gorman 2nd Annv.
———————————————————————————————————— St Patrick Blessing:
Christ with me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ in me
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