The First Sunday of Advent, 3rd December, 2023. 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 First Sunday of Advent 3rd December, 2023. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: COME ON DOWN!
As we begin our Advent season today, in preparation for the coming of Christ, Isaiah makes an urgent plea to God. He uses the same catch-phrase as the TV programme "The Price is Right" by saying to God "Come on down, tear the heavens open".
Whenever we celebrate Advent we are involved on three levels: past, present and future. And at each level we make that same plea: Come on down!
We look to the past, to history. We recall that the Jewish people were waiting for a Messiah who would lead them to political and religious freedom. In this setting we see Mary and Joseph and we witness the birth of Jesus in the stable at Bethlehem.
We look to the present, to today. Jesus has not stopped coming to us in our day to day lives. He comes and speaks to us in the word of God, in the sacraments we celebrate, in the faces of those who bear God's impression both in need and in joy.
We also look to the future. Christ will come again in glory when the plan of God is finally fulfilled. This coming will usher in the end of the world and all will be revealed for what it truly is. So Advent is wake-up time. It's the four-week season when we look for the ways in which Jesus comes to visit us. It's easy to get caught up in an Advent that is just a pale religious reflection of the world's commercial season. It's easy to get stuck simply on the level of the past and start getting nostalgic and gooey about the trappings of Christmas, getting no further than the crib, the angels and the star. Yet if we are to celebrate the liturgy of Advent then we have to engage on all three levels.
Yes, we do remember the past events of Bethlehem. But our Advent and Christmas celebrations are imbued with the need to be alert and awake to the Christ who challenges us daily in our interaction with others, the same Christ who will come again to judge us on the way we responded to his invitation to love.
And we know that we are really capturing the spirit of the season if, like Isaiah, we can say and mean it when we ask God to "Come on down!"
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: To you, I lift up my soul, O my God. In you, I have trusted; let me not be put to shame. Nor let my enemies exult over me; and let none who hope in you be put to shame.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: God of hosts bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving help. Alleluia, Alleluia.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: The Lord will bestow his bounty and our earth shall yield its increase.
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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.
Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour will be held this Tuesday at 7pm. All welcome.
Pope Francis’s Intentions for December: For persons with disabilities
we pray that people living with disabilities may be at the centre of attention in society, and that institutions may offer inclusive programs which value their active participation.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £514.80p. £20 donation towards the fuel bills. Thank you for your continued generosity in these difficult times.
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.
Children's Liturgy – takes place during the 9.30am Mass. All are most welcome.
In Memoriam: Please keep in your prayers the repose of the soul of Margaret Brannock who died earlier this week. Margaret has been a faithful parishioner to St John’s for many years. Margaret’s Funeral Mass will be held at St Anne’s on Wednesday, 13th December at 12 Noon followed by Burial at Frankby Cemetery 1.30pm. Please keep Margaret’s family and all those parishioners and friends who have died recently in your prayers and may they and all the faithful departed rest in the peace of Christ.
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help support your Foodbank with food & funds. All donations need to be listed on the notice board of items urgently needed. Please continue to support this as much as you can in these difficult times.
Food Christmas Appeal: A Reverse Advent Calendar has been produced and copies are on the table at the back of church. If you are able to help, do take a copy, this would be an ideal way to assist less fortunate families in our area. Thank you for your continued generosity to all our appeals for help. They are greatly appreciated. Wirral Foodbank.
Fr Mario's Appeal - How to help: The easiest way to contribute to parish funds is via the collection plate - cash or cheques (made payable to St John's New Ferry) are equally acceptable .If you are a tax payer and have an existing Gift Aid declaration and envelopes, please use these so that tax can be claimed back. Bank transfers: Lloyds Bank, sort code 30-15-52, account no. 54641168, in the name of St John's New Ferry. Please use your name as a reference so that Gift Aid can be claimed if possible. Or contact Carol on 07808 975011.
St John’s Parish Christmas Party will be held on Friday 15th December at 7pm in the Lyceum Club, Port Sunlight. Tickets are £5 adults, £2.50 children. Tickets on sale after Mass. We will also hold a raffle to raise funds for the Parish. Donations will be gratefully received, please put in the box at back of church.
Wirral 3Ls Choir Christmas Concert will be held at St John’s on Wednesday, 6th December, 10.45am-12.15pm (Tea/coffee available from 10am). Admission £4 available from choir members and Wirral 3Ls Office. See Poster on the notice board at the back of church.
Collection for Flowers for the Church: There will be a retiring collection over THE WEEKEND of the 9th/10th December. A BIG THANK YOU to our team of flower arrangers for the displays over the past 12 months.
Statement to be read at all Masses over the weekend of 25th/26th November for the Parishes of St Anne’s , Rock Ferry, St John’s New Ferry and St Luke’s , Bebington: following consultation between Fr Mario and parishioners, myself and Canon Niall Mullaley, Regional Dean, the Bishop agreed the suggested new Mass times for St Anne’s, St John’s and St Luke’s as follows:-
The Saturday Vigil Masses, 5pm at St John’s and 6.30pm at St Anne’s remain the same for the time being (these Masses will be reconsidered at a later date).
The Sunday morning Mass at St John’s remains at 9.30am.
The Sunday morning Mass at St Anne’s to be moved to 11am.
The 11am Sunday morning Mass at St John’s will be discontinued.
The changes will allow Fr Mario to celebrate all the Masses himself and the new Mass time schedule is to be implemented before Christmas. I would like to thank Canon Niall and the local Deanery Clergy who have supported Fr Mario celebrating the extra Masses over these last few months, they will continue to help and support Fr Mario when required. Thank you for your understanding with these Mass changes, please continue to support Fr Mario and your parishes as you always have done. With an assurance of my prayers as we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King. God bless. Canon Philip Moor, Vicar General, Diocese of Shrewsbury, 25th November, 2023.
NEW MASS TIMES WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 10th DECEMBER 2023.
Advent Day by Day Booklets containing daily readings throughout Advent are on the table at the back of church. They are £1 but free to take a copy and, if you are able to, please leave a donation in the Books and Cards Box by the card table/stand.
Mass Intention Requests; Please give at least three weeks’ notice for your Mass intention as we are receiving a large number of requests for particular dates. We try to accommodate everyone but if your preferred date has been taken we will place your intention in the nearest available date. Special Parish Services and Funerals will, of course, take precedent. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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Saturday 2nd 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & vine Praises
5.00pm Pat & Ted Bevan RIP
The First Sunday of Advent Cycle B 3rd 9.30am Teresa Young RIP
11.00am Georgina Barrett RIP (St Luke’s)
3.00pm Holy Hour & Benediction
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 4th 9.15am John Blakeway RIP
Tuesday 5th 9.15am Jose, Nora McGree & Decd Rels& Fnds of McGree Family
7.00pm Novena
Wednesday 6th 9.00am Susan Peers RIP
Thursday 7th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Ralph & Betty Fryer RIP
Feast of the Immaculate Conception 8th 9.30am Fr Frank Rice RIP
Saturday 9th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Decd Rels & Fnds of Kenny & Brannon Families
The Second Sunday of Advent Cycle B 10th 9.30am Oliver Newnes RI|P
3.00pm Holy Hour & Benediction
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 2nd 6.30pm Frank Lavin RIP
The First Sunday of Advent Cycle B 3rd 11.00am Kathleen Cartmell RIP
Monday 4th 12 Noon Brendan Galvin 1st Ann
Tuesday 5th 12 Noon Agnes McDonald RIP
Wednesday 6th 11am Pat & Mick McDermott RIP
Thursday 7th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Friday 8th 12 Noon Ann Blakemore Anniv
Saturday 9th 6.30pm Tracy McGinty RIP
The Second Sunday of Advent Cycle B 10th 11.00am Sir Emmanuel Uzor Anniv
—————————————————————————————————————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 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 continually to rehearse her great history of memories, to awaken the heart’s memory so that it can discern the star of Hope....
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