The Presentation of the Lord. Sunday, 2nd February, 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 Presentation of the Lord 2nd February 2025, Cycle C
An Extract from Seasons of the Word by Fr Denis McBride C.Ss.R
A young Walter leans on the doorbell of his grandfather’s house and waits impatiently as the old man opens the door. It’s his grandfather’s 80th birthday and he has bought him a carefully chosen present. His grandfather unwraps the package to reveal a large photograph album. “Thought you could do with that”, Walter says, “to keep all those old photos in”. “Thanks, son”, says grandfather. “That’s the trouble with old age, trying to put all your memories in order. Don’t know where to start. You’d better come and help me”. Memory is a way we all bring time to mind, and of course the thing about the past is that the longer we live there’s more to it! In today’s gospel we meet an old prophet and an old prophetess. As old people they are connected to the past and with memory; Luke presents them as anawim- the devout remnant of those who stayed faithful to the ancient promises of God. Simeon and Anna long to see the fulfilment of those promises. Their waiting is not in vain. The hopes of Simeon are fulfilled, for he sees in Jesus the promised salvation of God. And Anna, whose timing is exquisite, since “she came by just at that moment, praises God for what has happened. In the person of Jesus, all the ancient promises are fulfilled. When Jesus was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem the Temple accepted him as a child; but when he became a man the Temple said “No” to the person he had become and the values he stood for. Today we are not being presented with a child who is a bundle to cuddle that no one can resist. We are presented with the one to whom we all can resist and do. And that is the challenge of each Eucharist: we can take Jesus to ourselves, we can share his life, and pledge ourselves to his Gospel. No matter what age we are, we are presented with the same challenge: can we take the Lord into our lives, say yes to who he is, and the person he wants us to be? When we say yes to that, then we too can go our way in peace.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Your merciful love, O God, we have received in the midst of your temple. Your praise, O God, like your name, reaches the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with saving justice.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: Who is the king of glory? It is the Lord.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! The light to enlighten the Gentiles and give glory to Israel, your people. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: My eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples.
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SATURDAY IS A SPECIAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING
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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.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: this week’s total was-£424.90p. Many thanks for your continued support.
Priests Retirement Fund- totalled £427.90p. Thank you.
The next Healing Service is due to take place on the first Friday in April. All most welcome.
Thank you on behalf of Wirral Churches Ark Project for your wonderful donation of £100.
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 also get in touch with Carol Dalziel on 7808975011 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.
In Memoriam: Please continue to pray for the repose of the soul of Kath Adamson, mother of Mike Adamson. Funeral Mass at St John’s this Monday 3rd February at 9.30am then Landican Central Chapel at 11am. Please also pray for Mary Capper who died recently. Funeral Mass at St John’s this Wednesday 5th February at 11.00am followed by cremation at Landican’s South Chapel at 12.30pm. Please keep all their families in your prayers. 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 this SUNDAY 2nd FEBRUARY 2025.
55+ Group – will meet on Tuesday 4th February at St Anne’s Parish Hall at 12.30pm. Further update for Laughter Africa from James Tyrrell – All 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.
The Registration for First Holy Communion Preparation Classes has now started and the preparation classes for the children will commence at the beginning of February. Kindly contact the parish office for the registration form. These forms are for children who do not attend a catholic school.
From Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality: Father Pat Munroe will celebrate Holy Mass on Tuesday 11th February for the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes . Hospitality members are invited to join him at 7.00pm at St Hugh and St John, West Timperley WA14 5NB . If you have any questions, or need further information, please contact secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk
LOURDES ROADSHOW: In this Jubilee Year of 2025, Bishop Mark has asked that our diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes will be our Jubilee Pilgrimage. To help raise the profile of the pilgrimage and to answer any questions your parishioners might have, we have organised two roadshows for those who are interested in joining our annual diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. Our second roadshow will be on 15th February 2pm-4pm at St Anthony’s, Wythenshawe. Information and register of interest cards will be available, and members of the Lourdes Management Team will be present to answer any questions.
PRESENTATION OF THE LORD (February 2nd)
Christ himself says, “I am the light of the world”. And we are the light, we ourselves, if we receive it from him.... But how do we receive it, how do we make it shine? The candle tells us: by burning, and being consumed in the burning. A spark of fire, a ray of love, an inevitable immolation are celebrated over that pure, straight candle, as, pouring forth its gift of light, it exhausts itself in silent sacrifice. (Pope Paul VI)
WINTER THROATS (February 3rd): The feast of St Blaise has traditionally been used for the blessing of throats. Two (unlit!) candles are placed around the throat of a person while the following prayer is said:
Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
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Saturday 1st 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Maria Randles RIP
The Presentation of the Lord 2nd 9.30am John McNulty RIP
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 3rd 9.30am Funeral Mass – Kath Adamson
Tuesday 4th 9.15am Patrick & Bernard Smith RIP
7.00pm Novena
Wednesday 5th 11.00am Funeral Mass- Mary Capper
7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Thursday 6th NO MASS
Friday 7th 9.15am Helen Westerbridge RIP
Saturday 8th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ted Corrigan RIP
The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 9th 9.30am Eileen Spencer RIP
3.00pm 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 1st 6.30pm Patrick Power Death Anniversary
The Presentation of the Lord 2nd 11.00am Bert Suffield RIP
Carlito Creencia Cueno Healing
Monday 3rd 12 noon Teddy & Rosa Higginson RIP
Tuesday 4th 12 noon Marie Codd Healing
Wednesday 5th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Nick & Pauline Codd RIP
Kay Riordon Birthday
Thursday 6th NO MASS
Friday 7th 12 noon Allan Hughes healing
Saturday 8th 6.30pm Norah White Birthday
The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 9th 11.00am Michael Coughlan RIP
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Pope Francis’s Prayer Intentions for February 2025
For vocations to the priesthood and religious life
Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ's mission in the priesthood and religious life.
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