The First Sunday of Lent, 9th March 2025. 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
The First Sunday of Lent, 9th March, 2025. Cycle C
FAITH IN FOCUS: JUST TESTING
We tend to think of temptation in terms of a sin magnet. It’s the opposite pole to where we should be and like all magnetic opposites we’re attracted to it even though we know it’s wrong. The cake on the plate just seems to have a power that draws us; it attracts us because that’s what temptation does. It surprises a lot of people that this is not really the meaning of temptation in the scriptures. The Greek word that we call temptation means something rather different. It means a “testing” or a “proving” of a person’s fidelity, integrity, virtue or constancy. So if I tempt you, I’m not simply trying to get you to eat the cake; what I am really doing is measuring your ability to remain faithful to your principles, seeing whether you really are the person you claim to be. That’s what the devil did with Jesus in the desert. He put him to the test by first getting him to doubt himself (offering him greater status and power) and then getting him to be over-confident (jumping off the roof of the temple, sure that the angels would catch him).The point of this episode is not that Jesus didn’t fancy jumping off. It’s that he didn’t allow himself to be deflected from being the person he knew he was. The devil tested him but Jesus didn’t budge. In a strange way temptations can be constructive things because they can become growth points in our relationship with God and other people. I can “prove” my true qualities when I am offered the choice to reject God. Of course, it’s important to remember that no temptation, however repulsive to us, is ever a sin. In order to redeem us, as a human being Jesus was tempted at the roots of our human nature and yet he never sinned.
Temptation strengthened Jesus’ resolve to carry out the mission he received from the Father. As we begin our Lenten journey this week can see temptations either as a threat to us or else as moments when we can reaffirm our commitment to following Christ. Why not put it to the test?
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will deliver him and give him glory, I will grant him length of days
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Be with me, O Lord, in my distress.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: 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 by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
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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 11.00am- 11.30am.
All morning services will take place in St Anne’s house; 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.
Starting Wednesday 19th March at 9.15am we will be having our lovely novena to Our Lady with a Lenten theme of reflections. There will also be Stations of the Cross. There will be a poster in the sacristy for those who would like to put their names down to lead.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: this week’s total was £526.08p. Many thanks for your continued support.
Tony Murphy, who gave an appeal for Across Jumbulance to Lourdes, sends his sincere thanks for the joint collection received from St John’s and St Luke’s totalling £578.80p.
Further to the recent Boiler appeal, a separate bank account has now been set up specifically to ‘ring fence’ contributions to the new boiler fund. Please make cheques payable to St John’s New Ferry and write 29001/NFJ/DU on the reverse. Cash donations should be placed in an envelope with 29001/BNFJ/DU written on the outside.
Thank you for the further generous donations received towards the Boiler Fund.
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 get in touch with 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. We are receiving numerous Mass intentions for the same dates. Every effort is taken, but it is impossible to fulfil every request as dates have already been filled and, therefore, we will deal with them on a first come first serve basis. If a particular date is requested please give at least THREE week’s notice. If the date has been filled, we will put your intention in as near as possible to the original date. Thank you for your patience and co-operation.
In Memoriam: Please pray for the repose of the soul of Norah Elliott who died recently. Norah’s Funeral Mass will take place here at St John’s on this Wednesday, 12th March at 9.30am and then Landican Crematorium at 11am. Please also pray for Roy Turner who died recently. Roy’s Funeral Mass will be held at St Anne’s on Friday, 21st March at 12 Noon and then Landican Crematorium at 1.30pm. Please keep Norah and Roy’s families in your prayers at this time. Please continue to pray for all our parishioners who have recently died and their grieving families. May they 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 SUNDAY 6th APRIL 2025.
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.
First Holy Communion Preparation Classes The children of the parish have now enrolled on their programme of preparation for First Forgiveness and Holy Communion. Please keep them in your prayers as they grow in their faith journey.
Lenten lunches- Soup will be served after 12 o’clock Mass at St Anne’s church every Friday during Lent. If you are available to help please contact Paddy on 07862 11712.
CAFOD Family Fast Day 16th March: Please take a CAFOD envelope, available on the table at the back of church. (If you are a taxpayer, please complete the Gift Aid section). Please return your envelopes by SUNDAY, 16th March. Thank you for your continued support and generosity to CAFOD.
Day by Day Booklets for Lent are now on sale, price £1. They are on the table at the back of the church. Please leave in the Lourdes Appeal and also the Day by Day booklets.
Parishes of Saints Anne, John & Luke Pilgrimage to St Josephs (Eucharistic Shrine), Stockport Thursday 5th June Price £15 per person. Please bring your own packed lunch. THERE IS A SIGN UP SHEET ON THE TABLE AT THE BACK OF CHURCH IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US ON THE DAY. See Poster at the back of church for the timetable.
FATIMA & MEDJUGORIE 2025: if you are interested in joining Fr Mario on pilgrimage to Fatima on 10th June for 5 days (£650) or to Medjugorie on 16th September for 8 days (£749), please contact Maria Fryer on 07576243343. Flying from Manchester, airport transfer, tour guide, bed, breakfast and evening meal included.
St Philip Neri Parish (St Joseph's and St Micheal and All Angels) are holding a Concert -"A Night at the Musicals" performed by the Warrington Male Voice Choir. Tickets price £8.00 are available from the Parish Office at St Joseph's 652 5767 or via contacting Deacon Gerard Boyle 07742659728.
Bookings for 2025 Jubilee Pilgrimage to Lourdes are now open. The brochure and booking forms are available to download from the Pilgrimage website www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk .
Prayer for Lent:
God of goodness and mercy, Hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love.
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Saturday 8th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Eileen Spencer RIP
The First Sunday of Lent 9th 9.30am Lucy Lawton
3.00pm Benediction
7.30pm NO Prayer Meeting until 23rd March
Monday 10th 9.15am Decd Rels/Fnds Dunn & Manning Families
Tuesday 11th 9.15am Ints Carol Dalziel
Wednesday 12th 9.30am Funeral Mass – Norah Elliot
NO EVENING MASS AT ST JOHN’S
Thursday 13th NO MASS
Friday 14th 9.15am Michael Christopher Coughlan RIP
Saturday 15th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm James Armstrong 9yr Old Special Grandson RIP
The Second Sunday of Lent 16th 9.30am John Moore RIP
3.00pm Stations of the Cross
7.30pm NO Prayer Meeting until 23rd March
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 8th 6.30pm Anne Entwistle
First Sunday of Lent 9th 11.00am Maureen Whelan RIP
Martin Gorman Birthday Remb.
Monday 10th 12noon Bertha Finneran RIP
Tuesday 11th 12noon Jimmy Hannon RIP
Wednesday 12th NO EVENING MASS AT ST JOHNS
Thursday 13th NO MASS
Friday 14th 12noon Eileen O’Rourke RIP
Saturday 15th 6.30pm Joseph Locke RIP
Second Sunday of Lent 16th 11.00am Mary O’Gorman RIP
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Jubilee Retreat with a Focus on the Family. Come and learn about the biblical roots of a year of jubilee, and why a jubilee year includes an important focus on the family. Come and understand what that can mean for us today, in and through Jesus Christ. Venue: St. Columba’s Church Hall, Plas Newton Lane, Chester CH2 1SA. Date & Time: Saturday 15th March 2025, 9.45 am- 1.00 pm. To register and for more information, please get in touch with Monika Golembiewska at monika.golembiewska@dioceseofshrewsbury.org, Mobile: 07549 226794, or Jane Deegan jane.deegan@dioceseofshrewsbury.org Mobile: 07517 906435
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