Most Recent Newsletter
24/04/2021
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury
(reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard
Forshaw
Deacon:
Revd Michael Daly
Phone:
0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Palm Sunday
of the Passion of the Lord, Sunday 28th March,
2021. Cycle B
PRAYER FOR THOSE IN THE WORLD SUFFERING FROM
CORONAVIRUS
Father of goodness and love, hear our prayers for all those in
the world suffering from Coronavirus and for all who are in need at this
desperate time. Amid the physical and mental suffering, may they find
consolation in your healing presence.
Show your mercy as you cure illness, make broken bodies whole and free
downcast spirits. May these special people find lasting health and deliverance,
and so join you in thanking you for all your gifts. We
ask this through the Lord Jesus who healed those who believed. Amen.
(a prayer prayed by Pope Francis at his
General Audience on Wed 24th March 2021)
Wirral Foodbank: continues to need your help and support,
Full details of how to donate to Wirral Foodbank can be found at
htpps/wirralfoodbank.org.uk/give-help. People who need emergency food
and support at this time can contact the Wirral Emergency Food Hub on 0151 666
5050
The Parish
Newsletter & the Wednesday Word are available as you leave Church (via the
front side door). Please take a copy for yourself and anyone else who would
appreciate receiving this newsletter. There is some Lenten literature on the
table at the back of church. Please feel free to take this home with you also.
If you have a notice for the bulletin please
email it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter
box
FAITH IN FOCUS: JUST A WEEK
If
a week is a long time in politics then it certainly is in Christianity. The
week we’re about to embark upon is the most momentous one for Christians and
that’s why Holy Week is sometimes also called the Great Week.It all begins well
on the Sunday with the crowds cheering the man they believe will set them free.
He’s given a royal welcome as he enters Jerusalem and there’s a sense of
expectation in the air. Most of us can identify with that crowd. There are times when our faith in Christ is
easy, when God seems to be smiling down on us and when we could easily join the
crowd with its banners and singing.The high of Sunday continues until Thursday
when the Last Supper is held. There’s joy as Jesus institutes the eucharist
along with the command to serve each other in the way that he has shown. But a
cloud looms on the horizon as Judas takes in thirty pieces of silver and gives
away his master with a kiss. If we can identify with the crowd then we can
surely see the figure of Judas in the many ways that we betray the faith that
God has in us. Sometimes we allow ourselves to be tempted by a lot less than
money and a kiss.How can Good Friday be good, given what happened? Its goodness
stems from the fact that a vict
ory was won. It’s
true that we all share in the sin of the world that Christ died for. But by the
same token we all share in the triumph of the cross. From now on, sin and
death, evil and pain can have no permanent hold over us. We have access to a
life that is real and ultimately indestructible.And just as we think the week
is about to end in a fizzle, we come across a Saturday night surprise. Jesus,
whom they crucified, has risen. His enemies are confounded and he will go on to
impart the Spirit of life to those who believe in him. If we want to join the
cheering crowd ever again, then it must be because of this resurrection. It’s
the centre of our faith and gives meaning to everything we say and do in our
relationship with God. Anyone can have life, but not everyone knows that it can
be eternal.
What a week!
|
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the
|
28th |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am 3.00pm |
Leo Shore RIP John McLean Annv. RIP St Luke’s Parish Stations of the Cross |
|
|
Monday |
29th |
9.15am |
Fr Frank Rice RIP |
|
|
Tuesday |
30th |
9.15am 11.00am |
Teresa Young RIP Funeral Mass – Patricia Ann Cullen |
|
|
Wednesday |
31st |
9.15am |
Josie McGree Annv. RIP |
|
|
Holy Thursday |
1st |
7.00pm |
Mass of the Lord’s Supper Ints Bishop Mark & |
|
|
Good Friday |
2nd |
10.30am 3.00pm |
Stations of the Cross Celebration of the Lord’s Passion |
|
|
Holy Saturday |
3rd |
7.00pm |
Easter Vigil Mass – St John’s & St Luke’s Parishes |
|
|
Easter Sunday |
4th |
9.30am
11.00am |
Easter Mass – Betty Crebbin Annv. RIP Covid 19 Victims |
|
Public
Masses;
continue in our churches. You must book in for
weekend Masses using the pink form (
available
from the front of the Church) or by sending an email to
stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com. Please remember
social distancing at all times inside and outside the church, face coverings
must be worn inside the church and please continue to use the hand sanitiser on
entering and leaving. Please do not come to church if you are feeling unwell or
have any Covid 19 symptoms. If you are able and willing to help with stewarding
duties at our Lenten, Holy Week and Easter Services please let Fr Bernard know
asap.
Holy
Week & Easter 2021
(under Covid 19 restrictions)
This Weekend = Palm Sunday: Masses Saturday 5pm, Sunday
9.30am & 11.00am.
Palms will be blessed at the beginning of each Mass
and distributed at the end of Mass.
Stations of the Cross at 3.00pm: led by
Deacon Mike Daly.
Mon, Tue & Wed of Holy Week: Exposition
of the Blessed Sacrament
(each morning) from 8.30am -9.10am. Mass at 9.15am.
On Wednesday the Diocesan Chrism Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Mark at Shrewsbury
Cathedral.
Holy
Thursday
: Mass of the
Lord’s Supper at 7pm
. (Sadly
no Washing of the Feet or Watching at the Altar of Repose this year). Good Friday: a Day of Fasting and
Abstinence.
Stations of
the Cross:
at
10.30am
. Liturgy of
the Passion
at
3.00pm …….
the veneration of the Cross will be a little different
this year.
Holy Saturday: Socially
distanced Confessions from 10.30am to 11.30am in the Day Chapel.
Easter
Vigil
: at 7pm: (Sadly no New Fire this year and no candles to be lit during the Vigil
Mass).
Easter
Sunday
: Masses
at 9.30am and 11.00am.
For the Triduum Services (i.e. there
is a separate white booking in form available in the Church which must be
returned through St John’s Presbytery letterbox or emailed to
stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com no later than 10am on Tuesday 30th
March
Fr Bernard
will be leading Holy Week Assemblies in each of our schools
(sometimes virtually) highlighting the importance
and significance of this special time of year.
Church Cleaning: This week after Tues 9.15am Mass and at 9.15am on Thursday……….. please do come along and help
us if you can,
Baptisms & Weddings in 2021 and beyond. Bookings are now being taken for Baptisms and Weddings at St John’s from July 2021 onwards. We our operating on a
first come first served basis. Please get in touch by email or phone.
Prayers
for the Sick and Housebound:
Please remember all
our Sick, Housebound and self- isolating parishioners in your daily prayers and
if anyone is in need of a visit/Holy Communion this Holy Week and Easter please
let Fr Bernard know.
In
Memorium
:
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Patricia Ann Cullen. Funeral Mass
celebrated by Fr Paschal on
Tuesday 30th March at 11.00am. May she rest in peace.
Last Weekend’s Offertory Collection amounted to £460.05p.
Thank you. Please note that the offertory basket is on the table at the back of
Church for your donations. You can also push offertory envelopes/donations
through the presbytery letterbox or take out a standing order.
Collection
on Good Friday is for the Holy Places
Easter
Flowers:
Donations of £225.80p were received. Thank you for your continued generosity and
many thanks to our team of ladies for their beautiful altar flower
arrangements.
PLEASE
CONSIDER GIFT AID:
Gift Aid enables parishes to
reclaim tax on donations that are ALREADY being made at the Offertory and in
many other ways, such as donations for special purposes and retiring
collections. Donors simply make a declaration that
they wish their donations to qualify for a tax refund under the Gift Aid
Scheme. This declaration may be made on a Gift Aid Declaration Form (available
from Fr. Bernard or Carol Dalziel) or it can be made over the telephone, fax or
by email to the Diocesan office. The
donor only has to give their name and address, to confirm that they are paying
sufficient income tax and that they wish to be part of the Gift Aid Scheme. Gift Aid involves no commitment to give any
particular amount and no long-term commitment. The donor may cancel their membership of the
scheme at any time. There are only two
conditions with which donors must comply; firstly, that they must be paying at
least as much income tax as is reclaimed on their total charitable donations in
the tax year and secondly that all donations on which a tax refund is to be
claimed will be given either by Offertory Envelopes, by Cheque or by Banker’s Standing Order. It does not matter which rate
of income tax the donor pays. Tax may be reclaimed on any
donation(s) given in the above ways at no additional cost to the donor. These
may consist of Offertory Donations at Mass, Christmas and Easter Offerings,
special Retiring Collections that are taken from time-to-time, Mass Offerings,
or any “one-off’ donation(s) made in response to an appeal for a specific
purpose. If
you would like to set up a monthly Standing Order in favour of St John’s rather
than use weekly envelopes, please ask Fr Bernard or Carol Dalziel for the corresponding
Form. Thank you
Divine Mercy Sunday
this year falls on Sunday 11th April
: Here at St John’s there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
& Confessions on that Sunday from 2pm to 2.50pm
followed by the Divine Mercy Devotions & Benediction at 3pm. Remember the Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good
Friday……….please pray it for your family intentions and the intentions of our
parish.
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury
(reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard
Forshaw
Deacon:
Revd Michael Daly
Phone:
0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Fifth Sunday
of Lent, 21st March, 2021. Cycle B
Prayer for Lent
Father of Mercy bring us face to face with our own weaknesses when
we are tempted to judge others. May
we find peace and life in simply stepping back and allowing you to be the
merciful Judge of us all. Amen.
WORD FOR TODAY
Once more Jesus presents us with a
paradox: if we want to live we must die; if we want to be alive for Christ and
his kingdom then we must be dead to selfishness and sin. To have is to give
away; to rule is to serve
.
Wirral Foodbank: continues to need your help and support, Full details of how to donate to
Wirral Foodbank can be found at
htpps/wirralfoodbank.org.uk/give-help People who need emergency food and support at this time can
contact the Wirral Emergency Food Hub on 0151 666 5050
Traidcraft goods will be on sale THIS WEEKEND after
Masses in the Day Chapel.
The
Parish Newsletter & the Wednesday Word are available as you leave Church (via
the front side door). Please take a copy for yourself and anyone else who would
appreciate receiving this newsletter. There is some Lenten literature on the
table at the back of church. Please feel free to take this home with you also.
If you have a notice for the bulletin please email
it to the parish email address or put it through the presbytery letter box
BRITISH SUMMER TIME BEGINS NEXT
SATURDAY, 27TH MARCH.
REMEMBER TO PUT YOUR CLOCKS FORWARD ONE HOUR NEXT
SATURDAY EVENING.
FAITH IN FOCUS: TOO MUCH TO LOSE?
For the last month we’ve been making our way through Lent on
a voyage towards Easter. It’s as if we’ve taken to the road with Christ on his
journey up to Jerusalem where he (and we) will embrace death so as to rise
above it to a life that never ends.
But
as we’ve journeyed with Christ we’ve been listening to his words guiding us
along our route to Easter. These words take on a different colour each year in
a three-year cycle that the Church’s liturgy uses. But this year the theme of
Jesus’ message has been unmistakable: you must embrace the wisdom of God that
the world considers to be sheer foolishness.
Jesus could have tried to buy us off with some easy words,
like politicians who promise everything in return for votes. He could have told
us that we can get to heaven just by praying and paying. He could have offered
us salvation by keeping the law and being seen in the right places. He could
have suggested a quick fix but he chose to offer the tougher route.
We’ve listened to a series of paradoxes over the last few
weeks and today Jesus tells us that just as a grain of wheat must be buried
before it can sprout, so too we have to die if we are to enjoy life. His
message is one of self-sacrifice, cross-bearing, total service and a love which
counts no costs. And unlike other philosophies that underline the skills and
talents of their adherents, Jesus tells us that we reach our perfection the
more like a servant we become, and that we achieve our dignity by putting
ourselves last rather that first.
This message isn’t for everyone. It’s not for people who like
to be thought of as important but now find they must consider themselves last
of all. Not for people who prize possessions, now being told to give to the
poor. Not for those who invest everything in the here and now. Not for those
with status who fear that they’ll lose their respectability. Not for wise
people who see it as sheer foolishness. Is it for you?
|
Fifth Sunday of Lent |
21st |
5.00pm 9.30am
11.00am 3.00pm |
Josie Murray RIP Ints Peter & Kath Clements Golden Wedding Annv St Luke’s Parish Stations of the Cross |
|
|
Monday |
22nd |
9.15am |
NO MASS |
|
|
Tuesday |
23rd |
9.15am |
Susan Heathcote RIP |
|
|
Wednesday |
24th |
9.15am |
Barbara Forshaw RIP |
|
|
Thursday |
25th |
7.00pm |
Nora & John McManus |
|
|
Friday |
26th |
9.15am |
NO MASS |
|
|
Saturday |
27th |
|
|
|
|
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the |
28th |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am 3.00pm |
Leo Shore RIP John McLean Annv. RIP St Luke’s Parish Stations of the Cross |
|
Public Masses; continue in our
churches. You must book in for weekend Masses using the pink form (
available from the front of the Church) or by sending an email to stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com. Please remember
social distancing at all times inside and outside the church, face coverings
must be worn inside the church and please continue to use the hand sanitiser on
entering and leaving. Please do not come to church if you are feeling unwell or
have any Covid 19 symptoms. If you are able and willing to help with stewarding
duties at our Lenten, Holy Week and Easter Services please let Fr Bernard know
asap.
Lent 2021 at St John’s Church
Sunday
Masses;
Sat
5.00pm Sun 9.30am & 11am
Stations
of the Cross
Each Sunday at 3.00pm. This week led by Fr
Bernard. Next week (Palm Sunday) led by Deacon Mike Daly
Weekday
Masses;
Tuesday
& Wednesday at 9.15am.
Thursday
at 7pm.
During this Fifth Week of Lent Tuesday
= Day of National Reflection and Prayer re COVID 19:
This Tuesday marks the anniversary of the
first national lockdown. HM. Government invites us to mark the day by keeping a
minute’s silence at 12noon and lighting a candle in a window or the
porch
of our homes at 8pm.
The
Bishops of England & Wales invite us to make Tuesday a Day of Prayer in the
presence of the
Blessed
Sacrament.
Accordingly here at St John’s there will be
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 7.30am until 9.15am Mass. Please do your best to join in this
prayer initiative perhaps on your way to work/school/college Thursday = the Feast of the Annunciation; The Rosary
will be prayed from 6.30pm onwards prior to Mass
at 7pm. All most welcome. Next Saturday: from 10.30
-11.30am
in Church there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and
the opportunity to celebrate a socially distanced Confession with Fr Bernard,
Fr Paschal, Fr Thomas…………
All most welcome. Next Saturday: from 10.30
-11.30am
in Church there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and
the opportunity to celebrate a socially distanced Confession with Fr Bernard,
Fr Paschal, Fr Thomas…………
a good & fitting preparation for
Easter
Holy
Week & Easter
2021
Next Weekend = Palm Sunday. Masses
at the usual times Sat 5pm: Sun 9.30am and 11.00am. Holy Thursday: Mass
of the Last Supper at 7pm. Good Friday: Stations
of the Cross at 10.30am. Liturgy
of the Passion at 3.00pm.
Easter Vigil: Mass at 7.00pm.
Easter Sunday: Masses at 9.30am & 11.00am
For the Triduum Services (i.e. there
is a separate white booking in form available in the Church which must be
returned through St John’s Presbytery letterbox or emailed to
stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com no later than 10am on Tuesday 30th
March
Fr Bernard
will be leading Holy Week Assemblies in each of our schools
(sometimes virtually) highlighting the importance
and significance of this special time of year..
Church
Cleaning
– Every Tuesday after 9.15am Mass. Please stay behind if you can
and lend a hand with this essential task in these Covid 19 times and in
this season of Lent.
Baptisms & Weddings in 2021 and beyond. Bookings are now being taken for Baptisms and Weddings at St John’s from July 2021 onwards. We our operating on a
first come first served basis. Please get in touch by email or phone.
Prayers
for the Sick and Housebound:
Please remember all
our Sick, Housebound and self- isolating parishioners in your daily prayers and
if anyone is in need of a visit/Holy Communion this Holy Week and Easter please
let Fr Bernard know .
In
Memorium
:
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Patricia Ann Cullen. Funeral Mass
celebrated by Fr Paschal
on
Tuesday
30th March at 11.00am
. May she Rest in Peace.
Last Weekend’s Offertory Collection amounted to £415.83p.
Thank you. Please note that the offertory basket is on the table at the back of
Church for your donations. You can also push offertory envelopes/donations
through the presbytery letterbox or take out a standing order
.
Easter
Flowers:
Thank you for your generosity last weekend. The basket for donations towards
the Holy Week & Easter Flowers and displays will remain on the table at the
back of Church
until
after
this
weekend’s
Masses.
PLEASE CONSIDER GIFT AID:
Gift Aid enables parishes to
reclaim tax on donations that are ALREADY being made at the Offertory and in
many other ways, such as donations for special purposes and retiring
collections. Donors simply make a
declaration that they wish their donations to qualify for a tax refund under
the Gift Aid Scheme. This declaration may be made on a Gift Aid Declaration
Form (available from Fr. Bernard or Carol Dalziel) or it can be made over the
telephone, fax or by email to the Diocesan office. The
donor only has to give their name and address, to confirm that they are paying
sufficient income tax and that they wish to be part of the Gift Aid Scheme. Gift Aid involves no commitment to give any
particular amount and no long-term commitment. The donor may cancel their membership of the
scheme at any time. There are only two
conditions with which donors must comply; firstly, that they must be paying at
least as much income tax as is reclaimed on their total charitable donations in
the tax year and secondly that all donations on which a tax refund is to be
claimed will be given either by Offertory Envelopes, by Cheque or by Banker’s Standing Order. It does not matter which rate
of income tax the donor pays. Tax may be reclaimed on any
donation(s) given in the above ways at no additional cost to the donor. These
may consist of Offertory Donations at Mass, Christmas and Easter Offerings,
special Retiring Collections that are taken from time-to-time, Mass Offerings,
or any “one-off’ donation(s) made in response to an appeal for a specific
purpose.
If you would like
to set up a monthly Standing Order in favour of St John’s rather than use
weekly envelopes, please ask Fr Bernard or Carol Dalziel for the corresponding
Form. Thank you
Divine Mercy Sunday this year falls on Sunday 11th
April
: Here at St John’s there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
& Confessions on that Sunday from 2pm to 2.50pm
followed by the Divine Mercy Devotions & Benediction at 3pm. Remember the Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good
Friday……….please pray it for your family intentions and the intentions of our
parish.
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury
(reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard
Forshaw
Deacon:
Revd Michael Daly
Phone:
0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Fourth
Sunday of Lent, 14th March, 2021. Cycle B
MOTHERS
DAY PRAYER
All-loving God, we give thanks and
praise for mothers young and old. We
pray for young mothers, who give life and count toes and tend to our every
need; May they be blessed with patience and tenderness to care for their families
and themselves with joy.
We pray for our own mothers who
have nurtured and cared for us; May they continue to guide us in strong and
gentle ways.
We remember mothers who are
separated from their children because of war, poverty or conflict; May they
feel the loving embrace of our God who wipes every tear away.
We pray for women who are not
mothers but still love and shape us with motherly care and compassion.
We remember mothers, grandmothers,
and great-grandmothers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our
memory and nourish us with their love. Amen.
Word for Today: contrary to popular opinion, God does
not want anyone to perish. He sent his
Son into the world not to condemn it but to offer it the chance of a quality of
life that outshines anything currently available. Anyone who believes in his Son can have this
quality of life.
Wirral Foodbank: continues to need your help and support, Full details of how to donate to
Wirral Foodbank can be found at
htpps/wirralfoodbank.org.uk/give-help People who need emergency food and support at this time can
contact the Wirral Emergency Food Hub on 0151 666 5050
The
Parish Newsletter & the Wednesday Word are available as you leave Church (via
the front side door). Please take a copy for yourself and anyone else who would
appreciate receiving this newsletter. There is some Lenten literature on the
table at the back of church. Please feel free to take this home with you also.
If
you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address
or put it through the presbytery letter box
FAITH IN FOCUS: GOD ON OUR SIDE
On television you can sometimes see people in the crowd at
sports events holding up a placard that simply says “John 3:16”. They are
Christians who want to get you to find out what the text says in John’s gospel:
“God loved the world so much that he sent his only Son so that anyone who
believes in him may not be lost but have eternal life”.
You
can see why they hold up that particular reference. In a sense it sums up the
whole purpose of the incarnation. It captures the heart of the gospel message
in one verse. And yet it comes as something of a surprise to many people. In
popular culture God is portrayed as a severe character, as someone who is just
dying for us to put a foot wrong so that he can send down lightning bolts,
earthquakes and floods and condemn the whole lot of us.
However, as this text from today’s gospel reminds us, God sent his Son not because he detested the
world but because he loves it so much. And the purpose of the Son’s coming to
earth was not to wreak destruction but to ensure salvation.
God became one of us. A fellow human being is also our God:
Jesus the Christ. And strange though it seems, God is on our side and is rich
in love. When we choose to ignore what’s good for us we come face to face with
God. But what’s God’s preferred remedy? Is it punishment and death? No. It’s
mercy and grace.
People who try to discredit religion say that it thrives on
fear, that it only makes its followers psychologically dependent on a greater
being that holds the threat of annihilation over them. Maybe they should read
this text. God sent his Son because he loves us and doesn’t want us to miss out
on the fullness of life.
So as we continue our journey through Lent we move towards
the Easter manifestation of God’s true glory, of his victory over all that
threatens to hold us down and drag us back. While we ready ourselves for the
great feast we can rejoice in the fact that God is on our side and we can thank
him just for being our God and for bothering to have us as his sons and
daughters, the ones he loved so much that he sent his only Son to.
|
Fourth Sunday of Lent |
14th |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am 3.00pm |
Jamie Armstrong RIP Ints Tony Carmichael St Luke’s Parish Stations of the Cross |
|
|
Monday |
15th |
NO MASS |
|
|
|
Tuesday |
16th |
9.15am |
Ints Peggy McAllister |
|
|
Wednesday |
17th |
9.15am |
Ints of Philip White |
|
|
Thursday |
18th |
2.00pm
7.00pm |
Funeral Mass – Peter Roberts Madeline Sweeney RIP |
|
|
Friday |
19th |
9.15am |
NO MASS |
|
|
Saturday |
20th |
|
|
|
|
Fifth Sunday of Lent |
21st |
5.00pm 9.30am
11.00am 3.00pm |
Josie Murray RIP Ints Peter & Kath Clements Golden Wedding Annv St Luke’s Parish Stations of the Cross |
|
Public Masses; continue in our
churches. You must book in for weekend Masses using the pink form (
available from the front of the Church) or by sending an email to stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com. Please remember
social distancing at all times inside and outside the church, face coverings
must be worn inside the church and please continue to use the hand sanitiser on
entering and leaving. Please do not come to church if you are feeling unwell or
have any Covid 19 symptoms. If you are able and willing to help with stewarding
duties at our Lenten, Holy Week and Easter Services please let Fr Bernard know
asap.
Lent 2021 at St John’s Church
Sunday
Masses;
Sat
5.00pm Sun 9.30am & 11am
Stations
of the Cross
Each Sunday at 3.00pm. This week led by Fr. Paschal.
Weekday
Masses;
Tuesday
& Wednesday at 9.15am.
Thursday
at 7pm.
Full
details of the Holy Week and Easter Liturgies to be celebrated in St John’s
Church will be published in next week’s bulletin.
Feasts this Week: On Wednesday we celebrate the Feast of St Patrick with
Mass at 9.15am. Friday
is the Feast of St Joseph and in
this Year of St Joseph that will be celebrated with a Vigil
Mass on Thursday evening at 7.00pm.
Church
Cleaning
–
Every Tuesday after 9.15am Mass. Please stay behind if you can and lend a hand
with this essential task in these Covid 19 times and in this season of
Lent.
Exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament in Church and socially distanced Confessions in the Day Chapel
each Saturday from 10.30am to
11.30am.
On Saturday 27th March Fr Paschal and Fr Thomas will
be available with Fr Bernard to celebrate the Sacrament of
Reconciliation /hear Confessions with parishioners from all our LPA parishes.
Prayers
for the Sick-
please pray for the sick and all those self-isolating in our
parish. If anyone is in need of a visit please let Fr Bernard know. Your
prayers are still requested at this time for Deacon Philip White and Canon
Brendan Hoban.
In
Memorium
:
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of Peter Roberts, Funeral
Mass Thursday 18th March
here
at St John’s at
2pm. May they Rest in Peace.
Last Weekend’s Offertory Collection amounted to £418.83p
.Thank you. Please note that the offertory basket is on the table at the back
of Church for your donations. You can also push offertory envelopes/donations
through the presbytery letterbox or take out a standing order.
Easter
Flowers:
Thank you for your generosity last weekend. The basket for donations towards
the Holy Week & Easter Flowers and displays will remain on the table at the
back of Church until after next weekend’s Masses.
PLEASE CONSIDER GIFT AID:
Gift Aid enables parishes to reclaim tax on
donations that are ALREADY being made at the Offertory and in many other ways,
such as donations for special purposes and retiring collections. Donors simply make a
declaration that they wish their donations to qualify for a tax refund under
the Gift Aid Scheme. This declaration may be made on a Gift Aid Declaration
Form (available from Fr. Bernard or Carol Dalziel) or it can be made over the
telephone, fax or by email to the Diocesan office.
The
donor only has to give their name and address, to confirm that they are paying
sufficient income tax and that they wish to be part of the Gift Aid Scheme. Gift Aid involves no commitment to give any
particular amount and no long-term commitment. The donor may cancel their membership of the
scheme at any time. There are only two
conditions with which donors must comply; firstly, that they must be paying at
least as much income tax as is reclaimed on their total charitable donations in
the tax year and secondly that all donations on which a tax refund is to be
claimed will be given either by Offertory Envelopes, by Cheque or by Banker’s Standing Order. It does not matter which rate
of income tax the donor pays. Tax may be reclaimed on any
donation(s) given in the above ways at no additional cost to the donor. These
may consist of Offertory Donations at Mass, Christmas and Easter Offerings,
special Retiring Collections that are taken from time-to-time, Mass Offerings,
or any “one-off’ donation(s) made in response to an appeal for a specific purpose.
If you would like to set up a monthly Standing Order in favour of St
John’s rather than use weekly envelopes, please ask Fr Bernard or Carol Dalziel
for the corresponding Form. Thank you
CAFOD Family Fast Day
this Lent CAFOD envelopes are available at the back of church and can be handed
in anytime between now and Palm Sunday
28th /29th March
Richard
Blundell’s Big walk for Water for Cafod took place around our parish a few
weeks ago. So far Richard has raised in excess of £359. Donations can still be
made directly to his just giving page at
www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-blundell5.
Traidcraft goods will be on sale after
weekend Masses on
20th/21st March in the Day Chapel.
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury
(reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard
Forshaw
Deacon:
Revd Michael Daly
Phone:
0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Third Sunday
of Lent, 7th March, 2021. Cycle B
Do you want to fast this Lent?
Many
of you will have already seen these beautiful words of Pope Francis but they
are worth sharing again, especially for those who haven’t seen them.
Fast
from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
Wirral Foodbank: continues to need your help and support, Full details of how to donate to
Wirral Foodbank can be found at
htpps/wirralfoodbank.org.uk/give-help People who need emergency food and support at this time can
contact the Wirral Emergency Food Hub on 0151 666 5050
The
Parish Newsletter & the Wednesday Word are available as you leave Church (via
the front side door). Please take a copy for yourself and anyone else who would
appreciate receiving this newsletter. There is some Lenten literature on the
table at the back of church. Please feel free to take this home with you also.
If
you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address
or put it through the presbytery letter box
FAITH IN FOCUS: WHAT A FOOL!
Have
you noticed how the media, particularly the television and cinema, treat the
clergy of the Christian Churches? Actually, they treat them like fools. The
Anglican is parodied as a harmless fop (think of the vicar in Dad’s Army), the
Catholic portrayed often as an alcoholic (as in Father Ted) and the Methodist
or Free Church minister derided as a fun-hating misery.
By caricaturing the clergy like this you caricature the
religion. And why do it? Because what Christians believe appears stupid. It
doesn’t make sense to anyone else. In fact, it seems sheer foolishness. That’s
why it frightens others and invites mockery.
Who in their right mind would believe in a God who is the
creator and life-force of all that exists? Surely we all know that science has
done away with the need for God?Who apart from a madman or woman would believe
that the baby born into the world two thousand years ago is actually the
embodiment on earth of the divine being?
Only a fool would accept the teaching that says we have to
die in order really to enjoy life. It’s an idiot’s creed to put others’ needs
before your own. Surely you need a feeble mind to see victory in the public and
humiliating execution of your leader?
How can there be any mileage in following a man who turns the
accepted values of society on their head, calling for the first to be the last,
the leader to be a servant, for people to put relative store in what they enjoy
here on earth because they’re promised something even greater in an
afterlife?We need a Lenten reality check to realise that we are fools to many
in our society. The teaching of Christ does not seek to be respectable but
radical and it alienates just as much as it endears. St Paul gets to the heart
of it today saying, “Here we are preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews an
obstacle that they cannot get over, to the pagans madness, but to those who
have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power
and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom and
God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” Don’t be fooled into thinking that your faith
is seen as respectable. Most people think it’s stupid.
|
Third Sunday of Lent |
28th |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am 3.00pm |
George Lawson RIP Ints Bernadette Heaney St Luke’s Parish Stations of the Cross |
|
|
Monday |
8th |
|
|
|
|
Tuesday |
9th |
9.15am 7.00pm |
Betty Brabander RIP Novena |
|
|
Wednesday |
10th |
9.15am |
NO MASS |
|
|
Thursday |
11th |
7.00pm |
Cath Shore Annv. |
|
|
Friday |
12th |
10.30am |
Funeral Mass – George Lawson |
|
|
Saturday |
13th |
|
|
|
|
Fourth Sunday of Lent |
14th |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am 3.00pm |
Jamie Armstrong RIP Ints Tony Carmichael St Luke’s Parish Stations of the Cross |
|
Public Masses; continue in our churches You must book in for weekend Masses using
the pink form (
available from the front of
the Church) or by sending an email to
stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com. Please remember
social distancing at all times inside and outside the church, face coverings
must be worn inside the church and please continue to use the hand sanitiser on
entering and leaving. Please do not come to church if you are feeling unwell or
have any Covid 19 symptoms. If you are able and willing to help with stewarding
duties at our Lenten, Holy Week and Easter Services please let Fr Bernard know
asap.
As our schools fully reopen on
Monday
: Mrs. Bulmer and Mrs.
Mullins, would like to say a big “thank you” to everyone in the St. John’s
community for your ongoing support and prayers throughout this very challenging
time and for keeping our children safe and well. Our Head teachers & school
staff are really looking forward to welcoming the children back into the school
family on Monday when they can be with their friends again. Please continue to
keep all our schools in your prayers and hopefully it won’t be too long before
we can have year group/class Masses in Church again and Masses and Assembles in
our schools.
Prayers for the Sick- please pray for
the sick and all those self-isolating in our parish. If anyone is in need of a
visit please let Fr Bernard know. Your prayers are still requested at this time
for Deacon Phillip White and Canon Brendan Hoban.
Lent 2021 at St John’s Church
Sunday
Masses;
Sat
5.00pm Sun 9.30am & 11am
Stations
of the Cross
Each Sunday at 3.00pm. This week led by Fr.
Bernard. Next week led by
Fr.
Paschal.
Weekday
Masses;
Tuesday
& Wednesday at 9.15am.
Thursday
at 7pm.
There will be no Mass on Wednesday
morning 10th March.
Novena
to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
Tuesday
at 7.00pm
Exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament in Church and socially distanced Confessions in the Day Chapel
each Saturday from 10.30am to 11.30am. On Saturday 27th March Fr Paschal and
Fr Thomas will be available with Fr
Bernard to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation /hear Confessions with
parishioners from all our LPA parishes.
In
Memorium
:
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of George Lawson, Funeral Mass at
St John’s on
Friday
12th March at 10.30am
and for the soul of Peter Roberts, Funeral Mass Thursday 18th March
here
at St John’s at
2pm. May they Rest in Peace.
Last Weekend’s Offertory Collection amounted to £506.32p
.Thank you. Please note that the offertory basket is on the table at the back
of Church for your donations. You can also push offertory envelopes/donations
through the presbytery letterbox or take out a standing order
.
PLEASE CONSIDER GIFT AID:
Gift Aid enables parishes to reclaim tax on
donations that are ALREADY being made at the Offertory and in many other ways,
such as donations for special purposes and retiring collections. Donors simply make a
declaration that they wish their donations to qualify for a tax refund under
the Gift Aid Scheme. This declaration may be made on a Gift Aid Declaration
Form (available from Fr. Bernard or Carol Dalziel) or it can be made over the
telephone, fax or by email to the Diocesan office.
The donor only has to give their name and address,
to confirm that they are paying sufficient income tax and that they wish to be
part of the Gift Aid Scheme.
Gift Aid involves no commitment to give any particular amount and no
long-term commitment. The donor may cancel their membership of the scheme at
any time. There are only two conditions
with which donors must comply; firstly, that they must be paying at least as
much income tax as is reclaimed on their total charitable donations in the tax
year and secondly that all donations on which a tax refund is to be claimed
will be given either by Offertory Envelopes, by Cheque or by Banker’s Standing
Order. It does not matter which rate of income tax the donor pays.
Tax may be reclaimed on any donation(s) given in the above ways at no
additional cost to the donor. These may consist of Offertory Donations at Mass,
Christmas and Easter Offerings, special Retiring Collections that are taken
from time-to-time, Mass Offerings, or any “one-off’ donation(s) made in
response to an appeal for a specific purpose.
If
you would like to set up a monthly Standing Order in favour of St John’s rather
than use weekly envelopes, please ask Fr Bernard or Carol Dalziel for the corresponding
Form. Thank you
Church
Cleaning
–
Every Tuesday after 9.15am Mass. Please stay behind if you can and lend a hand
with this essential task in these Covid 19 times and in this season of
Lent.
CAFOD
Family Fast Day this Lent was on Friday.
CAFOD envelopes are available at the back of church and can be handed in
anytime between now and Palm Sunday
28th /29th March.
Richard Blundell’s Big Walk for Water for Cafod-Took place around the parish on the 20th February. So far
Richard has raised £284 donations can still be made directly to his Just Giving
page at:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-blundell5 but if people would prefer to leave a cash
donation in the basket at the back of church that’s fine also. CAFOD’s page with the details can be found
here:
https://cafod.org.uk/Fundraise/Organise-an-event/Big-Walk-for-Water
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury
(reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard
Forshaw
Deacon:
Revd Michael Daly
Phone:
0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
Second
Sunday of Lent 28th February, 2021 Cycle B
WORDS FOR WORSHIP
With
God on our side who can be against us? Let us now turn to the Father in the
words our saviour gave us: Our Father…
Wirral Foodbank: continues to need your help and support, Full details of how to donate to
Wirral Foodbank can be found at
htpps/wirralfoodbank.org.uk/give-help
People who need emergency food and support at this time can
contact the Wirral Emergency Food Hub on 0151 666 5050
The Parish
Newsletter & the Wednesday Word are available as you leave Church (via the
front side door). Please take a copy for yourself and anyone else who would
appreciate receiving this newsletter. There is some Lenten literature on the
table at the back of church. Please feel free to take this home with you also.
If
you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address
or put it through the presbytery letter box
FAITH IN FOCUS: A KNITTING MONKEY?
In the midst of all the economic doom and gloom about the global
recession our news programmes try to find the occasional thing to cheer us up.
So after yet another High Street name has gone bankrupt we are treated to a
story about a monkey that can knit or an octogenarian who has just gone over
Niagara Falls in a barrel. It helps us to see that there is light at the end of
the tunnel. But of course it doesn’t take the recession away.
The disciples had their moments of gloom too. Just before today’s gospel
account of the Transfiguration Jesus had been talking to them about taking up
their cross and suffering, about losing their lives for the sake of the gospel.
That can’t have cheered them up much. But the Transfiguration had the opposite
effect on them. They were privileged to see Jesus talking with Moses and
Elijah, to see his appearance changed before their very eyes and to hear the
voice of God coming from the cloud.
It
was a boost to their faith, to put it mildly. Such an experience would keep
them going strong through all sorts of setbacks that lay in store for them.
That’s why Peter wanted to set up three tents, so that he could keep going back
and savouring the moment again. If the temptations of Jesus last week represent
him as human, then this week’s Transfiguration show his divine side. The three
disciples caught a glimpse of his glory, a glory that is normally hidden from
view in this life. What
keeps you going in your life of faith? In the ups and downs of daily life there
are times when we wonder if it is all worthwhile and yet there are other
moments when the presence of God breaks through loud and clear and we feel that
we could almost reach out and touch God’s presence. Lent is a time for taking stock. Perhaps one
thing we could take stock of is how we come across God in our daily lives. If
you had three tents and could put something in each of them that would speak to
you about the close presence of God, about those moments when you can almost
smell God, what would you put in each one of them? You can have anything you
want, except a monkey that knits!
|
Second Sunday of Lent |
28th |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am |
Des Capper RIP Clare Cooper RIP Teodor Hanzaryk (8thAnni) |
|
|
Monday |
1st |
|
|
|
|
Tuesday |
2nd |
9.15am |
Gerry Topping RIP |
|
|
Wednesday |
3rd |
9.15am |
Betty Finan RIP |
|
|
Thursday |
4th
|
7.00pm |
Peter Keating RIP |
|
|
Friday |
5th |
|
||
|
Saturday |
6th |
|
|
|
|
Third Sunday of Lent |
7th |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am |
George Lawson RIP Ints Bernadette Heaney St Luke’s Parish |
|
Public Masses; continue in our
churches You must book in for weekend Masses using
the pink form (
available from the front of
the Church) or by sending an email to
stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com. Please remember
social distancing at all times inside and outside the church, face coverings
must be worn inside the church and please continue to use the hand sanitiser on
entering and leaving. Please do not come to church if you are feeling unwell or
have any Covid 19 symptoms. If you are able and willing to help with stewarding
duties at our Lenten, Holy Week and Easter Services please let Fr Bernard know
asap.
Baptisms, First Communions, Weddings etc…following Government &
Diocesan advice this week. I ‘m afraid we won’t be able to proceed with these
until the end of May. Those wishing to book Baptisms or Weddings please email
: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com
or phone 0151 645
–3314
Prayers
for the Sick-
please pray for
the sick and all those self-isolating in our parish. If anyone is in need of a
visit please let Fr Bernard know. Your
prayers are still requested at this time for Deacon Phillip White and Canon
Brendan Hoban.
Lent 2021
at St John’s Church
Sunday Masses;
Sat 5.00pm Sun 9.30am & 11am
Weekday Masses;
Tuesday & Wednesday at 9.15am.
Thursday at 7pm
Stations of the Cross Each Sunday at
3.00pm. This week led by Deacon Mike Daly.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (in Church)
and socially distanced Confessions (in the Day Chapel) Saturday’s
from 10.30am-11.30am.
World Day of Prayer this Friday 5th March at 2pm at Christ Church,
Higher Bebington. All most welcome.
In
Memorium
:
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of
George Lawson, Funeral Mass at St John’s on Friday 12th
March at 10.30am and for the soul of Peter Roberts, Funeral Mass
Thursday 18th March here at St John’s at 2pm. May they Rest in Peace.
Last Weekend’s Offertory Collection amounted to a
more promising £464.59p .Thank you.
Please note that the offertory basket is on the table at the back of Church for
your donations. You can also push offertory envelopes/donations through the
presbytery letterbox or take out a standing order
.
Church Cleaning– Every Tuesday after 9.15am Mass. Please stay behind if you can and
lend a hand with this essential task in these Covid 19 times and in this
season of Lent.
CAFOD
Family Fast Day this Lent was on Friday.
CAFOD envelopes are available at the back of church and can be handed in
anytime between now and Palm Sunday 28th /29th March.
Richard Blundell’s Big Walk for
Water for Cafod-
Took place around the parish last week 20th Feb. So far Richard has raised
£284 donations can still be made directly to his Just Giving page at:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-blundell5 but if people would prefer to
leave a cash donation in the basket at the back of church that’s fine also.
CAFOD’s
page with the details can be found here:
https://cafod.org.uk/Fundraise/Organise-an-event/Big-Walk-for-Water
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury
(reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard
Forshaw
Deacon:
Revd Michael Daly
Phone:
0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
First Sunday
of Lent 21st February, 2021 Cycle B
WORDS FOR WORSHIP
Lord
Jesus, you rescue us from sin by the waters of baptism: Lord, have mercy. Lord,
have mercy. Christ Jesus, you show us
the way to new life :Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord
Jesus, by your death on the cross you lead us to the Father: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
May
almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting
life. Amen.
Wirral Foodbank: continues to need your help and support, Full details of how to donate to
Wirral Foodbank can be found at
htpps/wirralfoodbank.org.uk/give-help
People who need emergency food and support at this time can
contact the Wirral Emergency Food Hub on 0151 666 5050
The Parish
Newsletter & the Wednesday Word are available as you leave Church (via the
front side door). Please take a copy for yourself and anyone else who would
appreciate receiving this newsletter. There is some Lenten literature on the
table at the back of church. Please feel free to take this home with you also.
If
you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address
or put it through the presbytery letter box
FAITH IN FOCUS:DO-IT-YOURSELF GRACE?
The problem with temptation is that we only recognise it after it’s
over. When we are actually being tempted we see what’s on offer as completely
normal. That’s why the smoker really believes that this little after-dinner
light-up will not get them hooked once more, why the gambler is convinced that
this bet on the cert means he’ll never need to worry about money again, and the
woman passing the pub is confident that she can enjoy this tipple without
stepping onto the downward spiral.
When
the Spirit led Jesus out into the desert he was tempted by the devil. It’s
reassuring to know that even Jesus was tempted. But how was he able to resist
the temptations? He could do it because he wasn’t there alone; he was living in
the Spirit. It was this close link with the Spirit that allowed him to refuse
to give in.
Our society is hooked on the
idea that we can improve ourselves by our own merits. Buy a self-help book and
you’ll be able to levitate, speak Yiddish in three days and cook gourmet meals
while composing your latest harpsichord sonata. All you have to do is pull
yourself together and make the effort.
Sometimes Christians are guilty of borrowing this flawed attitude and
applying it to the way we relate to God and the way we deal with the spiritual
challenges of our lives. So we end up thinking that when it comes to temptation
the only solution is to be firm, to exercise our willpower and everything will
fall into place. This is usually referred to as the “muscular Christian”
syndrome. But
however many little victories we may win by using this method, the only way to
defeat temptation permanently is recognise that we need God’s help, God’s
grace, the life of his Spirit. We cannot save ourselves; only Jesus Christ can.
We cannot flex our spiritual muscles and overcome sin; only God’s grace can do
that for us. If it were otherwise, then there would have been no need for
Christ to die on the cross.
As this Lent begins we
are reminded that temptation is part of daily life. But we are offered another
forty days to seek out God’s Spirit, to look for his life, to find the grace to resist temptation. And when we see others
who have fallen at the hurdles of temptation, we become aware that there but
for the grace of God go I.
|
First Sunday of Lent |
21st |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am |
Joe Moore RIP Brian Cummings RIP Neil Murray RIP |
|
|
Monday |
22nd |
|
|
|
|
Tuesday |
23rd |
9.15am |
Helen Fielding RIP |
|
|
Wednesday |
24th |
9.15am |
Ints Brannon & Kenny |
|
|
Thursday |
25th
|
7.00pm |
Ints Phillip & Sara White |
|
|
Friday |
26th |
|
||
|
Saturday |
27th |
|
|
|
|
Second Sunday of Lent |
28th |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am |
Des Capper RIP Clare Cooper RIP St Luke’s Parish |
|
Please find enclosed with this newsletter a copy of Bishop Mark’s
Lenten Pastoral Letter entitled “ Building on the Foundation of the Eucharist”
Public Masses; continue in our
churches You must book in for weekend Masses using
the pink form (
available from the front of
the Church) or by sending an email to
stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com by 10am on Saturday
morning. Please remember social distancing at all times inside and outside the
church, face coverings must be worn inside the church and please continue to
use the hand sanitiser on entering and leaving. Please do not come to church if
you are feeling unwell or have any Covid 19 symptoms. If you are able and
willing to help with stewarding duties at our Lenten Holy Week and Easter
Services please let Fr Bernard know sometime this week.
Church Cleaning– Every Tuesday after 9.15am Mass. Please stay behind if you can and
lend a hand with this essential task in these Covid 19 times and in this
season of Lent.
Lent 2021 at St John’s Church
Sunday Masses;
Sat 5.00pm Sun 9.30am & 11am
Weekday Masses;
Tuesday & Wednesday at 9.15am.
Thursday at 7pm
Stations of the Cross Each Sunday at
3.00pm. This week led by Fr Bernard.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (in Church)
and socially distanced Confessions (in the Day Chapel) Saturday’s
from 10.30am-11.30am.
World Day of Prayer on Friday 5th March at 2pm at Christ Church,
Higher Bebington. All most welcome
In
Memorium
:
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of
George Lawson, Funeral Mass at St John’s on Friday 12th
March at 10.30am and for the soul of Peter Roberts, Funeral Mass Thursday
18th March here at St John’s
at 2pm. May they Rest in Peace.
Prayers
for the Sick-
please pray for
the sick and all those self-isolating in our parish. If anyone is in need of a
visit/ phone call, please let Fr Bernard know. Your
prayers are requested especially at this time for Deacon Phillip White and
Canon Brendan Hoban.
Last Weekend’s Offertory Collection
amounted to a disappointing £325.83p . Please note that the offertory basket is
on the table at the back of Church for your donations. You can also push
offertory envelopes/donations through the presbytery letterbox or take out a
standing order
.
Caritas Diocese of Shrewsbury thank you for your very generous donations, to the bucket at the back
of church collection, during Advent and Christmas, which realized £223.78p.
CAFOD Family Fast Day this Lent is on Friday. CAFOD envelopes are available at the back of
church and can be handed in anytime between now and Palm Sunday 28th
/29th March.
Richard Blundell’s Big Walk for
Water for Cafod-
Took place around the parish yesterday 20th Feb. Donations
can be made directly to my Just Giving page at:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-blundell5 but if people would prefer to
leave a cash donation at church that’s fine also.
CAFOD’s
page with the details can be found here:
https://cafod.org.uk/Fundraise/Organise-an-event/Big-Walk-for-Water
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury
(reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard
Forshaw
Deacon:
Revd Michael Daly
Phone:
0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 14th February, 2021 Cycle B
WORD OF GOD
A
leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees :“If you want to” he said “you can
cure me.” (Mark 1:40)
WORDS FOR WORSHIP Lord
Jesus, you cleanse us from the disease of our sin: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have
mercy.
Christ
Jesus, you restore us to health and true happiness: Christ, have mercy. Christ,
have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you are the hope of all who believe in you: Lord, have
mercy. Lord, have mercy.
In his goodness may almighty God have mercy on us, cleanse us from our
sin and lead us safe rejoicing to everlasting life. Amen.
Wirral Foodbank: continues to need your help and support, Full details of how to donate to
Wirral Foodbank can be found at
htpps/wirralfoodbank.org.uk/give-help
People who need emergency food and support at this time can contact
the Wirral Emergency Food Hub on 0151 666 5050
The Parish
Newsletter & the Wednesday Word are available as you leave Church (via the
front side door). Please take a copy for yourself and anyone else who would
appreciate receiving information about St John’s Parish at this time.
If
you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address
or put it through the presbytery letter box
FAITH IN FOCUS: FEELING SUPERIOR
It’s become fashionable to compare the modern-day disease of AIDS and
HIV with leprosy. They’re not connected medically but they sometimes have the
same effect on those who suffer with the illness: they become isolated, shunned
and in some cases looked down upon. Certainly
lepers were despised at the time of Jesus. They were not allowed to live in the
towns or to mix with other people. They carried a bell or made some noise when
approaching people so that everyone had a chance to move away from them. They
wore torn clothes and shielded their faces. And there was no way in which they
were allowed to practise their religion like the rest of society. They were
outcasts.
When St Mark reports the curing of the leper in the first chapter of his
gospel there is much more at stake than a simple healing of an individual. Mark
is anxious to point out from the start that there is no such thing as a no-go
area for Jesus, since he has come to offer salvation to all, irrespective of
who they are. There are no people who are beyond the pale, no sinners who have
committed such sins that they cannot hope for forgiveness, no people who don’t
qualify for the promises of God. So
as well as looking at what happened to the leper we also have to keep in mind
the effect on the crowd that witnessed the miracle. They would have been
shocked that Jesus had anything to do with a man whom their law said was
untouchable. And they would have been confused that a religious man, a rabbi,
seemed to be acting against what their religion had taught them. Maybe
today’s gospel can teach us two things. The first is to ask ourselves whether
we think that there are some people who are beyond forgiveness. Are there some
crimes that merit permanent exclusion from society? Or maybe we are tempted to
think that we ourselves have behaved in such a way that we do not deserve to
have God bother about us any more?
And the second thing is to be honest about the
way we view other people. Our society loves to have its lepers because it makes
us feel superior. We’re not like them. We’re clean. Are there people that we
feel superior to? And if so, why?
|
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
14th |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am |
Michael &Gill Azurdia RIP For Married People St Luke’s Parish |
|
|
Monday |
15th |
|
|
|
|
Shrove Tuesday |
16th |
9.15am |
Ines Chavez-Tellez RIP |
|
|
Ash Wednesday |
17th |
10.00am 7.00pm |
Ints Canon B Hoban St John’s Parish |
|
|
Thursday |
18th
|
1.00pm
7.00pm |
Funeral Service Kathleen O’Neill Arthur Brockway RIP |
|
|
Friday |
19th |
12.30pm |
Funeral Mass Betty Finan |
|
|
Saturday |
20th |
|
|
|
|
First Sunday of Lent |
21st |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am |
Joe Moore RIP Brian Cummings RIP St Luke’s Parish |
|
Public Masses; continue in our
churches You must still book in for weekend Masses
using the pink form (
available from the front of
the Church) or by sending an email to
stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com by 10am on Saturday
morning. Please remember social distancing at all times inside and outside the
church, face coverings must be worn inside the church and please continue to
use the hand sanitiser on entering and leaving. Please do not come to church if
you are feeling unwell or have any Covid 19 symptoms.
It is important that we all stay in touch with one another
by phone, email, zoom or doorstep contact. If anyone is in need of material or
spiritual help please do not hesitate to
get in touch by phone 0151 645 3314/ or
email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com
Church Cleaning– Every Tuesday after 9.15am Mass. Please stay behind if you can
lend a hand with this essential task in these Covid 19 times and as Lent
approaches.
Lent 2021
at St John’s Church
This Wednesday= Ash Wednesday –a day of Fasting and Abstinence. Masses
with the Blessing & Distribution of Ashes at 10am & 7pm. In
these Covid 19 times we will explain exactly how that is to be done this
weekend. We will not use the weekend booking form for these Masses but to
satisfy the “Track and Trace” requirements you will need to let Fr Bernard know
which Mass you intend to come to via
email, phone (0151 645 3314) or with a note posted through the presbytery
letterbox by 11am on Tuesday 16th.
Sunday Masses;
Sat 5.00pm Sun 9.30am & 11am
Weekday Masses;
Tuesday & Wednesday at 9.15am.
Thursday at 7pm
Stations of the Cross Each Sunday at
3.00pm
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (in Church)
and socially distanced Confessions (in the Day Chapel) Saturday’s
from 10.30am-11.30am.
Prayers for the Sick- please pray for the sick and all those self-isolating
in our parish. If anyone is in need of a visit/ phone call, please do let Fr
Bernard know.
Last Weekend’s Offertory Collection
amounted to £423.65p . Please note that the offertory basket is on the table at
the back of Church for your donations. You can also push offertory
envelopes/donations through the presbytery letterbox or take out a standing
order
. CAFOD Family Fast Day this Lent is on Fri 26th
Feb. More details in next week’s bulletin.
In
Memorium
:
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of Kathleen O’Neill, Funeral
Service at St John’s on Thursday at 1pm. Also for Betty Finan, Funeral
Mass at St John’s on Friday at 12.30pm. And
also for George Lawson, Funeral Mass at St John’s on Friday 12th
March at 10.30am.Please also remember in your prayers Dr Michael Azurdia and
his wife Gill and Brian Cummings who died recently. May they all
Rest in Peace.
Thinking about becoming a Catholic- recently, people have started to reflect upon the bigger
questions of life, and explore their faith. If you have been thinking about
becoming a Catholic please get in touch.
Richard Blundel’s Big Walk for
Water for Cafod
next Sat
20th February, 2.00 pm start. It’s a 5 mile walk for CAFOD to raise money
to combat water poverty. Richard’s route takes him through parts of Bebington,
New Ferry, Port Sunlight and Spital – He’ll be passing by church at about 2.15pm
were he will have a photo with Fr Bernard. Donations can be made directly to my
Just Giving page at:
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/richard-blundell5 but if people would prefer to
leave a cash donation in a basket at the back of church that’s fine also. CAFOD’s
page with the details can be found here:
https://cafod.org.uk/Fundraise/Organise-an-event/Big-Walk-for-Water
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury
(reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard
Forshaw
Deacon:
Revd Michael Daly
Phone:
0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
The Fifth
Sunday in Ordinary Time 7th February, 2021 Cycle B
WORDS FOR WORSHIP
Let
us pray for those of our community who are sick, for those who care for them at
home and for those who use their skills in the hospitals and nursing homes of
our area. Lord, in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for those who like Job feel hopeless and helpless, that they
may be blessed with the care and support of those who love them and may be
helped to see an end to the problems that beset them. Lord…
As the economic downturn continues to affect our country let us pray
that we might be attentive to those around us who are in a worse position than
we are, and let us remember those in parts of the world who have nothing to
call their own. Lord…
On
Education Sunday we pray for those of our parish who are involved in the world
of teaching and learning: for the children of our schools and colleges, for
their teachers and for those who make decisions that affect their future
education at local and national level. Lord…
Wirral Foodbank: continues to need your help and support, Full details of how to donate to
Wirral Foodbank can be found at
htpps/wirralfoodbank.org.uk/give-help
People who need emergency food and support at this time can
contact the Wirral Emergency Food Hub on 0151 666 5050
The Parish
Newsletter & the Wednesday Word are available as you leave Church (via the front
side door). Please take a copy for yourself and anyone else who would
appreciate receiving information about St John’s Parish at this time.
If
you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address
or put it through the presbytery letter box
FAITH IN FOCUS:EVERY SILVER LINING HAS A CLOUD!
The worst thing you can do to someone who’s depressed is to tell them to
pull themselves together. They simply can’t, because they don’t see things the
way we do and from their point of view all the positives seem to have
vanished.
That’s
the mood that Job is in today in our scripture reading. He’s suffering a
restlessness: when it’s night he longs for the dawn but when the new day comes
he wishes it was night again. He’s hopeless and helpless.
It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon of depression, although most of us
just like a good moan and we occasionally end up feeling sorry for ourselves.
We complain about the rise in food prices in the economic downturn but then we
still spend our money on things that we don’t really need or that don’t do us
any good. But
imagine if you really did lose all hope and the future seemed bleak. Where
would you turn? What would be the compass points of your existence that would
guide you through the dark days? In today’s gospel we hear that Jesus cured
many people of mental illness who were brought to him by their family and
friends. When everything else seemed to have failed they knew that he wouldn’t
let them down. “Casting out devils” meant healing mental disturbance and this
was a large part of the healing ministry of Christ.
Just because we believe in Jesus does not mean that we will never suffer
from depression; in fact, depression is sometimes the only way a person can
survive an awful experience. It’s the mind’s way of defending itself for a
while. And it’s not the case that Christians look at the world with
rose-coloured glasses. We don’t just see a wonderful world; we go through the
same troughs as every other person. But faith gives a purpose to our suffering.
It teaches us that whatever we undergo we are not alone. Besides any medical
treatment that we might receive, we also know that Jesus himself has already
taken on the deepest suffering possible and has overcome it. Being a Christian
means being part of a community that cares, a community that sees the hurt of
one person as affecting the whole Body of Christ, the Church. Look around you.
|
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
7th |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am |
Ted Welsh RIP Gerry Topping 1st Aniv St Luke’s Parish |
|
|
Monday |
8th |
|
|
|
|
Tuesday |
9th |
9.15am |
Sylvia Nugent RIP |
|
|
Wednesday |
10th |
9.15am |
Alex Hoban RIP |
|
|
Thursday |
11th
|
9.15am |
For Covid Sufferers & NHS Personnel & Carers |
|
|
Friday |
12th |
|
||
|
Saturday |
13th |
|
|
|
|
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
14th |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am |
Michael &Gill Azurdia RIP For Married People St Luke’s Parish |
|
Public Masses; continue in our churches You must still book in for weekend
Masses using the pink form (available from the front of the Church) or by
sending an email to
stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com by 10am on Saturday morning. Please
remember social distancing at all times inside and outside the church, face coverings
must be worn inside the church and please continue to use the hand sanitiser on
entering and leaving. Please do not come to church if you are feeling unwell or
have any Covid 19 symptoms.
Exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament-
Saturday’s from 10.30-11.30am in Church. The
Rosary is prayed for all parish/ family/ individual needs and intentions at
11.10am. Please join us in person, in Church, or pray the Rosary at the same
time from your home.
Church
Cleaning
– Every Tuesday after 9.15am Mass.
Please stay
behind if you can lend a hand with this essential task in these Covid 19
times even if you can’t come every week. Many
hands make light the work!
It is important that we all stay in touch with one another
by phone, email, zoom or doorstep contact. If anyone is in need of material or spiritual
help please do not hesitate to get in
touch by phone 0151 645 3314/ or
email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com
Prayers for the Sick- please pray for the sick and all those self-isolating
in our parish. If anyone is in need of a visit/ phone call, please do let Fr
Bernard know. Thursday is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day
of Prayer for the Sick. A copy of Pope Francis’ Message for this Special
Day of Prayer is posted on the Church notice board or you can read it on the
Vatican website. The Rosary will be prayed on Thursday at 8.45am before the
9.15am Mass for Covid Sufferers and NHS Personnel and Carers.
Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes will be live streamed on church
services tv,
https://www.churchservices.tv/svdpknutsford from St Vincent’s, Knutsford at 9.30am on 11th Feb .We will be
hosting a zoom social gathering that evening at 8pm, for details to join in
please email
secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk or text/call 07451249267.
Weekend’s Offertory Collection
amounted to £342.40p a slight drop on last week. Please note that the offertory
basket is on the table at the back of Church for your donations. You can also
push offertory envelopes/donations through the presbytery letterbox or take out
a standing order
.
In
Memorium
:
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of Kathleen O’Neill, Funeral
Service at St John’s on Thursday 18th Feb at 1pm. Also for Betty
Finan, Funeral Mass at St John’s on Friday 19th Feb at 12.30pm. Please also remember in your prayers Dr
Michael Azurdia and his wife Gill who died in Arrowe Park Hospital recently and Brian Cummings who died last
weekend. May they all Rest in Peace.
Baptisms, First Communions, Weddings ,,,there is now a
considerable backlog. We hope & pray that we may be able to proceed with
these after Easter. Please keep in touch with Fr Bernard.
Thinking about becoming a Catholic- recently, people have started to reflect upon the bigger
questions of life, and explore their faith. If you have been thinking about
becoming a Catholic please get in touch.
Lent is coming
around quite quickly, with Ash Wednesday on the 17th February.
There will be two Masses here at St John’s on that significant day. At 10am (Fr
Paschal) and at 7pm (Fr Bernard). Ashes will be blessed and distributed at both
Masses and in these Covid 19 times we will explain exactly how that is to be
done next weekend. We will not use the weekend booking form for these Masses
but to satisfy the “Track and Trace” requirements you will need to let Fr
Bernard know which Mass you intend to come to
via email, phone (0151 645 3314) or with a note posted through the presbytery
letterbox by 11am on Tuesday 16th February.
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road, New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury
(reg. charity 234025)
Parish Priest: Fr Bernard
Forshaw
Deacon:
Revd Michael Daly
Phone:
0151 645 3314
Email: stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites: www.stjohnevang.co.uk www.lpa24.org
The Fourth
Sunday in Ordinary Time 31st January, 2021 Cycle B
WORD OF GOD
Here is a teaching that is new and with authority behind it. (Mark 1:27)
WORDS FOR WORSHIP
May God the Father be ever at your side that you may live according to
the wisdom of his eternal word. Amen.
May God the Son be your guide and lead you into the ways of truth and
justice .Amen. May God
the Holy Spirit inspire you to be prophets of the Good News in your lives of
service to each other .Amen.
And
may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit come
down upon you and remain with you always. Amen.
Wirral Foodbank: continues to need your help and support, Full details of how to donate to
Wirral Foodbank can be found at
htpps/wirralfoodbank.org.uk/give-help
People who need emergency food and support at this time can
contact the Wirral Emergency Food Hub on 0151 666 5050
The Parish
Newsletter & the Wednesday Word are available as you leave Church (via the
front side door). Please take a copy for yourself and anyone else who would
appreciate receiving information about St John’s Parish at this time.
If
you have a notice for the bulletin please email it to the parish email address
or put it through the presbytery letter box
FAITH IN FOCUS: ON WHOSE AUTHORITY?
There are two types of authority. One type goes with the job. Most
people do what they are asked when approached by a police officer because they
recognise that this person carries a certain authority. This authority demands
that people obey it. It’s the same type of authority that a teacher might claim
over the pupils or students in a school. Or maybe it’s your boss at work who
demands this authority, and it’s better to knuckle under than to lose your
job.
The second type of authority is one that is earned. We might agree that
a particular politician carries a good deal of authority because of their track
record. They’ve earned the respect. You might choose to send your child to a
piano teacher because he or she has a reputation for bringing out the best in
those they teach. Footballers may hold their manager in esteem not because he
has the power to sack them but because he knows what he’s talking about and has
won shed-loads of cups and trophies.
From
the outset of his gospel St Mark points out that Jesus spoke with authority.
The authority he had was the type that he earned because of what he said. He
knew what he was talking about, and in today’s reading people comment on how
what he says and does seems to make sense. Even spirits obey him.
Strangely,
the word “authority” in Latin is connected with the word that means to “grow”.
If a person has true authority then what they teach makes people grow; it
improves the situation; it makes things better. When
people heard Jesus preaching they saw that what he taught was not some code of
rules and regulations but was a message that improved people’s situation. He
cured people, set their minds at rest, forgave them, lifted them up, gave them
back their self-esteem and set them on the path that leads to happiness. He
offered them something that made sense in the here and now and which beckoned
them to a future of eternal happiness.
That was the basis of his authority and that’s why people who heard his
message followed him. And it’s the only reason why today we still do.
|
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
31st |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am |
Ralf & Betty Fryer RIP John McIntosh RIP St Luke’s Parish |
|
|
Monday |
1st |
|
|
|
|
Tuesday |
2nd |
9.15am |
St John’s Parish & Schools |
|
|
Wednesday |
3rd |
9.15am |
Michael Hilliard RIP |
|
|
Thursday |
4th
|
10.00am |
Funeral Service at Landican For Thomas Igoe |
|
|
Friday |
5th |
|
||
|
Saturday |
6th |
|
|
|
|
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
7th |
5.00pm 9.30am 11.00am |
Ted Welsh RIP Gerry Topping 1st Aniv St Luke’s Parish |
|
Exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament-
Saturday’s from 10.30-11.30am in Church. The
Rosary is prayed for all parish/ family/ individual needs and intentions at
11.10am. Please join us in person, in Church, or pray the Rosary at the same
time from your home.
Public Masses; continue in our churches You must still book in for weekend
Masses using the pink form (available from the front of the Church) or by
sending an email to
stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com by 10am on Saturday morning. Please
remember social distancing at all times inside and outside the church, face coverings
must be worn inside the church and please continue to use the hand sanitiser on
entering and leaving. Please do not come to church if you are feeling unwell or
have any Covid 19 symptoms.
Tuesday is the Feast Day of the Presentation of Our Lord
(Candlemass Day)
. Candles will be blessed and distributed at the beginning of the
9.15am Mass (Please note that this month the Novena prayers to Our Lady of
Perpetual Succour will be incorporated into this Mass)
Church Cleaning– Every Tuesday after 9.15am
Mass.
Please stay
behind if you can lend a hand with this essential task in these Covid 19
times even if you can’t come every week. Many
hands make light the work!
It is important that we all stay in touch with one another
by phone, email, zoom or doorstep contact. If anyone is in need of material or
spiritual help please do not hesitate to
get in touch by phone 0151 645 3314/ or
email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com
Baptisms, First Communions, Weddings ,,,there
is now a considerable backlog. We hope & pray that we may be able to proceed
with these after Easter. Please keep in touch with Fr Bernard.
Prayers for the Sick- please pray for the sick, housebound and all those
self-isolating in our parish. If anyone is in need of a visit/ phone call,
please do let us know,
In
Memorium
:
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of Thomas Kevin Igoe:, Funeral
Service at Landican Cemetery this Thus 4th Feb at 10am.
also
for Kathleen O’Neill, Funeral Service at St John’s on Thursday 18th
Feb at 1pm.
and
for Betty Finan, Funeral Mass at St John’s on Friday 19th Feb
at 12.30pm. Please pray
for these and for all who have died from Covid 19 in the Liverpool Region. Please
also remember in your prayers Dr Michael Azurdia and his wife Gillian who have
died in Arrowe Park Hospital with Covid 19 during the past week. May they and all
The Faithful Departed rest in peace.
Pat
Bevan and family wish to thank you most sincerely for your prayers & kind
expressions of sympathy upon the death of Ted Bevan.
Thinking
about becoming a Catholic-
recently, people have started to reflect upon the bigger
questions of life, and explore their faith. If you have been thinking about
becoming a Catholic please get in touch either by phone or email.
Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes will be live streamed on church
services tv,
https://www.churchservices.tv/svdpknutsford from St Vincent’s, Knutsford at 9.30am on 11th Feb .We will be
hosting a zoom social gathering that evening at 8pm, fot details to join in
please email
secretary@teamshrewsbury.co.uk or text/call 07451249267.
Last Weekend’s Offertory Collection
amounted to £363.34p a slight improvement on the previous week. Please note
that a basket is now on the table at the back of Church for your Offertory Donation. You can also push offertory envelopes/donations
through the presbytery letterbox or take out a standing order
.
Retired Priest Fund-
Because of the current circumstances we are not taking a retiring collection at
this time. But if you would like to contribute to this fund, which helps meet
the future needs of our sick and retired priests, please put your donation in
an envelope, clearly marked for this purpose, through the presbytery letter box
by 10.30am this Sunday If you wish to Gift Aid your donation, please
make your donation online. go to
www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/retired-priests-fund An
electronic version of a leaflet about the Fund is available
www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/retired-priests-fund
