The First Sunday in Lent, 26th February, 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
The First Sunday of Lent 26th February, 2023. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: PLENTY OF TIME?
One day the devil called a meeting in hell with all his demons. Top of the agenda was the question of how to get people to stop believing in God and end up ignoring sin and being forever at each others’ throats. This would then swell hell’s numbers.
One of the chief demons said, “I have a plan. Let’s tell the people that there is no God and they’ve been tricked.” Another demon said, “No, that’s too obvious. Of course, there’s a just and holy God. Anyone except a fool knows that.”
“Well then,” another demon said, “Let them believe that he is a just and holy God, but tell them that they are so sinful that they’ve had their last chance and now he won’t accept them. That will demoralise them.”
But another said, “No, that won’t work. Everyone knows he’s also a God of mercy, and anyone who recognises their sinfulness and repents is assured of his forgiveness.” “I know exactly what we can do!” another demon exclaimed, “Let them believe there is a God – a just and holy God, full of mercy, but let’s just tell them that there’s plenty of time.”
Lent is the season of penance and self-denial. It’s six weeks when we take stock of our lives and see whether they are taking us closer to God or further away from him. Is there any rush? Should we get urgent about it? Should we begin looking to see if there is a pattern about the way we fall into situations that we know are sinful and do us no good? Are there aspects of our lifestyle that need checking? Are some of our desires questionable? Are we genuinely trying to purify our motives? Do we do enough for others, close to home or those abroad who are in need?
Lent is about action, about opening ourselves to the working of God’s grace, about having a change of heart, a U-turn in the normal pattern of our behaviour. It’s a holy season of self-denial. But don’t worry; there’s plenty of time. Or so the devil says.
———————————————————————————————————————————-
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will deliver him & give him glory, I will grant him length of days.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory! Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON ; One does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
————————————————————————————————————————————
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 each Sunday there will be Stations of the Cross at 3pm.
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. Also, during Lent, there will be Adoration from 10:30 to 12 noon. All most welcome.
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.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE - 'I Have Heard About Your Faith'. 2pm at Higher Bebington URC on Friday 3rd March. All welcome.
In Memoriam- Please pray for the repose of the soul of Marie Josee Brown who died recently. Also for Thomas Williams whose service is on Thursday March 2nd at St John's at 10.30 followed by cremation at Landican at 11.30am. Also for John Webster whose service is on
March 8th at St John's at 10.30. Please continue to pray for the repose of the soul of Frank Morris. Funeral Mass at St Johns on Monday 13th March at 11.00am followed by burial at Bebington (Town Lane ) 12.30pm. May these and all the faithful departed Rest In Peace.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £594.20p. The Retired Priests Collection raised £465.74p. Thank you for your generosity in these difficult times.
CAFOD Family Fast: 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 and including Palm Sunday, 2nd April.
CAFOD- Your support for CAFOD throughout the year allows our Catholic agency to act quickly when disasters strike. More details on CAFOD’s Syria Turkey Emergency Appeal online at: https://cafod.org.uk/give
MISSALS : A number of parishioners commented that they appreciated the Missals which are handed out at Masses at St Anne’s, We have looked into buying some for St John’s but this would be quite an expensive exercise. If you feel that you would like to have these Missals available here, and so that we can gauge the genuine level of interest, please leave a comment to this effect in the Suggestion Box between now and Easter Sunday.
Lenten Reconciliation Service will be held here at St John’s on Friday 17th March at 6pm (PROVISIONALLY – TO BE CONFIRMED IN NEXT WEEK’S NEWSLETTER).
Thank you to all who continue to support this important initiative. Details to follow shortly about recent developments regarding the Traidcraft stall in 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.
Altar-Servers - Please encourage any child who has made their First Holy Communion to consider becoming an Altar-Server. Names to be given to Mike Daly, who will arrange for their training and support.
MASS SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAYS IN MARCH AND APRIL: You may have noticed from the Mass Intentions section that Mass is being celebrated at both St John’s and St Anne’s at 7pm this coming Thursday 02 March, and starting from next week, some changes are planned to the Thursday evening Masses; the timetable for the next 2 months is as follows:
Thursday 02/03: 7pm Mass at both St John’s & St Anne’s
Thursday 09/03: 7pm Mass at St John’s only
Thursday 16/03: 7pm Mass at both Churches
Thursday 23/03: 7pm Mass at St Anne’s only
Thursday 30/03: 7pm Mass at both Churches
Thursday 06/04, Holy Thursday: Masses at both St John’s & St Anne’s
Thursday 13/04: 7pm Mass at St John’s only
Thursday 20/04: 7pm Mass at both Churches
Thursday 27/04: 7pm Mass at St Anne’s only
Watch this space for any updates!
Housekeeper vacancy. A vacancy has arisen for a Housekeeper at St Anne’s presbytery, Rock Ferry for 15 hours per week @ £10 per hour. Applications should be sent to Pauline McCulloch, email recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org by Monday 10 March. For more information, please follow link https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Housekeeper-St-Anne-Feb23.docx
Due to the upcoming retirement of our current RGN/Welfare Officer, the Diocese is looking to appoint a replacement. The Welfare Officer is expected to draw on their nursing skills and experience to effectively assist priests approaching retirement, those in retirement and those on sick leave. They will need to be proactive, caring and demonstrate safe and effective practice through a multidisciplinary approach. They will require a current NMC pin and understand the Catholic faith. For application form please contact Pauline McCulloch recruitment@dioceseofshrewsbury.org. For further information please see link. https://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Welfare-Officer-job-description-Feb-2023.docx Closing date Friday 24 March
———————————————————————————————————————————-
Saturday 25th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ints Burnell Family
First Sunday of Lent 26th 9.30am Alf Shipman Birthday Anniv
11.00am Vincent Schoenstein RIP (St Luke’s)
3.00pm Stations of the Cross
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 27th 9.15am Victims of Disasters
Tuesday 28th 9.15am For an increase in Faith
Wednesday 1st 9.15am Prayers for Wales (St David)
Thursday 2nd 10.30am Funeral Service-Thomas Williams
7.00pm Needy & Hungry in the World
Friday 3rd 9.15am For All Women
Saturday 4th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Welfare of Noelene Evans
Second Sunday of Lent 5th 9.30am Philomena McLean
11.00am Jack & Lilly Rolston Anniv RIP (St Luke’s)
3.00pm Stations of the Cross
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
———————————————————————————————————————————
ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 25th 6.30pm Eileen Law Anniv. First Sunday of Lent 26th 11.15am Joanne Jones 10th Anniv.
Monday 27th 12 Noon Anne McGrory 90th Birthday
Tuesday 28th 12 Noon Decd members of Foss Family
Wednesday 1st 12 Noon Lucy Goodison RIP
Thursday 2nd 7.00pm Canon John Marmion RIP
Friday 3rd 12 Noon Pam Yough RIP
Saturday
Saturday Second 4th 6.30pm Veronica Blong 1st Anniv. Sunday of Lent 5th 11.15am Betty Park RIP
——————————————————————————————————————————
