The Second Sunday of Lent, 16th 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 Second Sunday of Lent, 16th March, 2025. Cycle C
FAITH IN FOCUS: THE QUICK FIX
You can't help feeling sorry for Peter in today's gospel. He goes with James and John up the mountain to pray with Jesus. But the three disciples don't appear to have the same sticking power as Jesus, and they begin to nod off. Then an incredible event takes place: the aspect of Jesus's face becomes changed and his clothing turns a brilliant white as he is transfigured before their very eyes. Heavy with sleep, Peter makes out that Jesus is talking with Moses and Elijah and decides this is so wonderful that he'll set up three tents for them. In this way he'll be able to enjoy the scene any time he wants! It was only God's voice speaking from the cloud (telling them that Jesus was his Son) that made him see sense. There was much more at stake than met the eye. We can't laugh at Peter because there's something of him in all of us. We'd all love to have a deep religious experience on tap. We'd be happy with a God-in-the-box to call on whenever we needed reassurance. We too are quite capable of setting up three tents to contain our God. But, of course, life's not like that and neither is God. The call of Abraham in today's reading is much closer to the mark. God made him a tremendous promise: he would be the father of countless generations who would inherit the land and enjoy God's favour. But that was when the trouble began, as he was led into uncharted waters and called upon by God to be tested in so many ways. It took courage and perseverance for him to follow God's call. Hence his title, "Our Father in Faith”. There is no quick and easy way to faith. It has to be nourished and tended daily. The voice from the cloud tells us that if we want to reach perfection, to enjoy life to the full, then we must listen to the words of God's Son. And in Lent we are reminded each week of our need to turn away from those things which are not of God, those things which seem good at the time but which do us only harm in the long term. Lent is a time for being even more attentive to the word of God in scripture and for putting it into practice in the way we treat others. There is no quick fix, only faith and perseverance.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Of you my heart has spoken: Seek his face. It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; hide not your face from me.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: The Lord is my light and my help.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory. From the bright cloud the Father’s voice was heard: “This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him”. Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.
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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 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 £538.15p. Many thanks for your continued support.
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 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 Roy’s family 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 return your envelopes by SUNDAY, 16th March. Thank you for your continued support and generosity to CAFOD.
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) on Friday, 4th April at 7.30pm 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.
Booking for 2025 Jubilee Pilgrimage to Lourdes is now open. The brochure and booking forms are available to download from the Pilgrimage website www.shrewsburypilgrimage.co.uk .
Anointing & Healing Service, Friday 7th April at 7pm at St John’s. Speaker: Fr Chris Thomas. Theme: “And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it” (Mk 16:20) All most welcome.
New Offertory Envelope Boxes can be collected at the back of church. If your name is not on the boxes, please take a blank box of envelopes.
Standing Orders are not gift aided unless you completed a Gift Aid Form at the same time. If you would like to gift aid your Standing Order offering, Gift Aid Forms are available from Ann Murray.
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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 3rd March
Monday 17th 9.15am Baby Ella White RIP
Tuesday 18th 9.15am In Honour of St Luke - Pray for the Sick, Health Workers & Carers
6.00pm Vigil Mass for Feast of St Joseph
Wednesday Feast of St Joseph 19th 9.30am Infant School will be joining us today
For all Families
Lenten Novena will follow immediately after 9.30am Mass
NO EVENING MASS AT ST ANNE’S
Thursday 20th NO MASS
Friday 21st 9.15am Ints Brenda & Colin Slater
Saturday 22nd 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Ints Sr. Anne Marie
The Third Sunday of Lent 23rd 9.30am Roy Turner RIP
3.00pm Stations of the Cross
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 15th 12.30pm Carmelite Mass
6.30pm Joseph Locke RIP
Second Sunday of Lent 16th 11.00am Mary O’Gorman RIP.
Monday 17th 12noon Philip O’Sullivan RIP
Intentions Shackleton Family
Tuesday 18th 1.30pm Funeral Mass – Ronald Jones
Dudley Dyer Intentions
Wednesday Feast of St Joseph 19th 12 noon Sr. Rita McCabe RIP
For the Sick, Health Workers & Carers
NO EVENING MASS
Thursday 20th NO MASS
Friday 21st 12noon Funeral Mass – Roy Turner
Joseph Locke RIP
Saturday 22nd 6.30pm Carina Nugent RIP
Third Sunday of Lent 23rd 11.00am Martin Gorman 3rd Annv
Charlie Gorman 1st Annv
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