The Second Sunday of Advent, 4th December, 2022, 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.comWebsites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com www.lpa24.org
The Second Sunday of Advent, 4th December, 2022. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: HALF MEASURES?
There are some people for whom half measures just aren’t good enough. We all know of people who put us to shame by their indefatigable commitment to the cause they have espoused. It might be someone who has been cured of cancer and now spends all their time raising funds for research. Perhaps it’s a politician risking their life by opposing corruption in their country, or someone campaigning tirelessly for the voiceless. Maybe it’s just an ordinary person who spends their entire life looking after a bed-ridden family member. Whatever they do, they put all their energy into it.
John the Baptist was such a person. He was no quiet preacher, not content to give his message in an unobtrusive way nor unconcerned by those who rejected it or failed to hear it. He was a disturbing character. Living on the edge of the desert, wearing strange clothes and eating a weird diet, his message struck panic into people, causing vast crowds to repent and to come and be baptised in the Jordan. That the kingdom of heaven is close at hand was his rally call.
When the Pharisees and Sadducees claimed to have repented he turned on them. Produce the evidence. If you really knew what this kingdom of heaven was all about then you wouldn’t be so self-satisfied. They had learnt how to practise their religion half-heartedly while seeming to keep all the rules.
So what about us? As Advent begins do we feel any sense of urgency about our need for continual repentance, or do we think of it as just another milestone in the calendar? Will the word of God this Advent make any difference to our attitude? Will it affect the way we behave towards God and each other? Do we most resemble the Jewish leaders taking their religion in their stride or the crowds who heard John’s message and realised that there can be no half measures when it comes to changing the way we live? Advent is the time for making our choice.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: O People of Sion, behold, the Lord will come to save the nations, and the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart.
RESPONSE TO THE PSALM: In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails.
GOSPEL ACCLAIMATION: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight, and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Jerusalem, arise and stand upon the heights, and behold the joy which comes to you from God.
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Devotions/Adoration: From now on, unless advised otherwise, Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy and Divine Praises) from 10:30am to 11:30am each Saturday morning.
Fr Mario will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during Saturday Morning Devotions at 10.30-11.00am. All most welcome.
ADVENT SERVICES: There will be Holy Hour each Sunday during Advent at 3pm in the Main Church. St Anne’s will be holding a Rosary Service at 2pm on the 8th December, The Feast of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There will be a full programme of services in next week’s newsletter.
If you have any queries or ideas, please 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.
Mike Daly has been sending out his Homilies each week to many of you since the Covid Lockdown first started. He has now stopped this and instead they will be printed on the Parish Website which everyone can access from the 1st November. Log in details to the Website 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 now taking place during the 9.30am Mass, all are welcome.
Tea and Coffee after 9.30am Mass each Sunday. To be held in the Meeting Room through the Music Store Room, but the exit will now be via the front door of the house. All are welcome.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection amounted to £398.21p. Thank you. Please try to be as generous as you can to our parish in these difficult times. The Clergy Education & Training Fund collection totalled £150.00p. Cafod Family Fast collection amounted to £436. Thank you for your generosity.
The Loop System in the church is now fully operational. To benefit, please set your hearing aid to the "T" setting and adjust your volume as appropriate.
Mother’s Prayers - Please see the poster about this group of mothers from our parish who meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 7pm, to pray for their children and grandchildren and offer each other support. The next meeting is Tuesday 20th December. All most welcome.
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.
From Lisa Martinez, Diocesan Mission Catechesis Team :‘You Are A Gift’ – Saturday 10th December at St Wilfrid’s, Northwich. A day of talks and discussion examining our true identity through the Theology of the Body and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Fr David Marsden, a Clinical psychologist, and Dr Christine Ward will be the guest speakers at this one-day event which is dedicated to unpacking the beautiful teaching of this great work of St Pope John Paul II. Booking essential at tobnetworkuk@gmail.com or more information from lisa.martinez@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
If you know of any St John's parishioners, who would welcome a home visit by members of the S.V.P, please email St John's with details and we will pass on the information, which is treated confidentially, to Steve Bell, President of St John's SVP. Please ask the person or persons involved if they would like a visit before passing on their details. stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com
We, the LPA 21, are immensely glad to invite you all for Relic Exhibition of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who, ‘the only saint in JEANS’ is surely a model and inspiration for our Children and Youth today. We are hosting it in St. Alban’s Parish Hall, Liscard, Wallasey, from December 3rd to 4th 10.30am till 5 pm. In view of making the Exhibition an Eucharist-led journey, we have organized Holy Hour, Benediction, Witnessing, Eucharistic Teachings and Veneration of the Relic with special emphasis on the Spirituality of St. Peter Julian Eymard, the Apostle of the Eucharist from 3 pm to 5 pm at St. Alban’s Church, Liscard on December 3 and the same will be at St. Joseph’s Church, Seacombe on December 4th. There will be some activities and workshops for children and teenagers as well. We look forward for your support and co-operation.
Partnering Nigeria: Fr. Mario and Fr. Emmanuel are going to connect our church with a catholic church in Nigeria. The idea is to share, care and show God’s love to one another. We are starting at Christmas. If you would like to write a card or letter and enclose a donation, they will be collected by Maria Fryer and forwarded to Nigeria by Fr. Mario. See Poster on the notice board at the back of church.
An Exhibition of Christian Icons will be held at St Teresa’s in Wilmslow from 11th-18th December. For details please see the poster on the notice board at the back of church.
Wirral Foodbank Christmas Appeal: Please help support your Foodbank with food and funds this Christmas. In the 3 weeks leading up to Christmas the Foodbank will provide over 800 food parcels for local individuals and families in crisis. 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 and thank you for your continued generosity.
THE BIG CARD will be at the back of church from Saturday 10th December. Please write your Christmas message at a suggested minimum donation of £1. All proceeds will go towards the work of The Ark. Please support this very good cause and thank you for your generosity over the years.
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The Second Sunday in Advent,
Cycle A
Sunday 4th
5.00pm Margaret Greenshields RIP
9.30am Ints Philomena Topping
11.00am Private Ints G McTernan
3.00pm Holy Hour
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 5th
9.15am Bernard McGuigan RIP
Tuesday 6th
9.15am Rev Philip White RIP
Wednesday 7th
9.15am Thanksgiving-Charnock Wedding
Thursday 8th
7.00pm St John’s & St Luke’s Parishes
Friday 9th
9.15am Nora McCormick 90th Birthday Remembrance
Saturday 10th
10:30am Devotions - Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
The Third Sunday in Advent,
Cycle A
Sunday 11th
5.00pm Fr Frank Rice RIP
9.30am Oliver Newnes 18th Birthday RIP
11.00am Monica Astu
3.00pm Holy Hour
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
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Advent Prayer:
In this Season of Advent
inspire us to be a people of HOPE.
Encourage us not to be greedy for material possessions, but for justice
and truth,
Enflame us with a love for others, which crosses boundaries of race, religion and nationality.
Stir within us an appreciation of the immense beauty of the earth.
Be with us, Lord, at this time, that we may be a people of HOPE.
Amen.
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Please take a copy of the Parish Newsletter for anyone else who would appreciate receiving a copy. Also, there is a selection of cards in the Card Rack; please put money in the box provided.
If you have a notice for the bulletin, please email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box by 12 noon on Wednesdays. Many thanks.
Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 27th March 2023. Cost £699.00 per person sharing. Price includes flight, all transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full board. All entertainment and excursions included. Day trips to Westport, Ballintubber Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Fr. Peyton Centre & National Museum.
Single supplement £150.00. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com. See poster on notice board at the back of church.
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