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, 25th February 2018. Cycle B
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!
Pilgrimage to Walsingham – ‘England’s Nazareth’ In collaboration with local coach company, Parrs: this spring and summer 2018 the National Shrine are arranging two regional residential pilgrimages to Walsingham from Liverpool. They will be on Friday 6th April to 9th April 2018 (Liverpool Regional Pilgrimage I) and on Friday 17th August to Monday 20th August 2018 (Liverpool Regional Pilgrimage II). The cost of the pilgrimage will be £185pp (standard room) and £225pp (on-suite room) and will include travel via Executive coach, accommodation and evening meals, plus an afternoon trip to a place of interest. For further information or to book, please contact Tony or Marc, from Parrs, Tel. 01514 277669.
Fully escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Ireland, 23rd July 2018. £649 per person sharing. Price includes flights with 10kg hand luggage, all taxes, luxury transfers, 4 nights’ in Knock House Hotel with full Irish Breakfast each morning and 4 Course Dinner each evening. All entertainment, excursions and guided tours included. Wheelchair accessible rooms in the hotel. Limited single rooms at supplement of £100. Groups and Individual bookings welcome. Contact Patricia on 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com. Knock Pilgrimages is a member of the Travel Trust Association and is fully protected by ATOL T7613. See Poster on notice board at the back of Church.
WORD OF GOD
Abraham,because you have not refused me your son, your only son, I will shower blessings on you. (Genesis 22:16-17)
. Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items for the ADLENT APPEAL AND Easter Egg Donations. . Wirral Foodbank AGM is on Thursday 8th March at 7pm at Birkenhead Town Hall. Guest Speaker Rt. Hon Frank Field, MP will be speaking on the subject of Poverty, Present and Future.
All welcome.
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
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 Thursdays. Many thanks.
| Second Sunday of Lent
Cycle B |
25th | 5.00pm
9.30am 3.00pm 7.30pm |
Intentions Louise Murray
Intentions Teresa & Ernie Young & Family Stations of the Cross Prayer Meeting |
|
| Monday | 26th | 9.15am | Ints Forshaw & Parr Fams | |
| Tuesday | 27th | 9.15am | Tommy McPhail (Ill) | |
| Wednesday | 28th | 9.15am | McLaughlin Fam/Fnds RIP | |
| Thursday | 1st | 7.30am | Merci Castaneda | |
| Friday | 2nd | 9.15am | Intentions of CAFOD | |
| Saturday | 3rd | |||
| Third Sunday of Lent
Cycle B |
4th | 5.00pm
9.30am 3.00pm 7.30pm |
Rels/Fnds Brannock
Family RIP St John’s Parishioners Stations of the Cross Prayer Meeting |
|
| Children’s liturgy Sundays during 9.30 Mass. | ||||
| Confessions | Saturday 4.15-4.45pm | |||
| Morning Prayer | 15 minutes before daily masses | |||
LENT 2018 ST JOHN’S PROGRAMME OF MASSES AND SERVICES
| Each Thursday in Lent | Morning Mass at 7.30am |
| Each Saturday in Lent | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions 11.00am until 12 Noon |
| Each Sunday in Lent | Stations of the Cross at 3.00pm in Main Church |
| CAFOD Soup Lunches
Friday 9th & 16th March |
Mass 11.30am followed by soup lunch in the Parish Centre |
LENT 2018 BEBINGTON Churches Together
Lenten Lunches
| DATE | VENUE |
| Wednesday, 28th February | Christ Church,
Port Sunlight |
| Wednesday, 7th March | St Luke’s |
| Wednesday, 14th March | Christ Church,
Hr. Bebington |
| Wednesday , 21st March | St John’s, New Ferry |
Meeting at 10.30am for tea/coffee. Service begins at 11am and a soup lunch follows
Lately Dead: Please remember in your prayers
Ronald Jackson, Cel McGrath, Fr Stephen Dwyer all who have died recently. Ronald Jackson’s Funeral Mass will be at St John’s on Tuesday 6th March at 12 noon.
Cel McGrath’s Funeral Mass will be at Christ the King, Bromborough on Tuesday 6th March at 2.00pm.
Fr Stephen Dwyer’s Funeral arrangements are still to be confirmed by the Diocese. May they and all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Readers: If you are UNAVAILABLE during the Easter Period (24th March-1st April) please inform Dot Humphrey as soon as possible. Thank you.
Money Matters: Offertory: £570.03p
Priest’s Retirement Fund £ 411.68p
Thank you for your continued generosity
CAFOD Family Fast Day (last Friday) Envelopes are also on the table at the back of Church. Please take one and fill it with your offering/loose change and return into the offertory bag any weekend between now and Palm Sunday – 25th March
Lenten LPA Event: Margaret Lillis will be offering a Lenten Talk on Tuesday 27th February from 7.30 – 9.00. The title is: Exploring Lent: Scripture, Eucharist and Discipleship. The talk will take place in the church of Christ the King, Bromborough.
Lenten LPA Event: Fr. David Roberts will be offering a Lenten Talk on Tuesday 6th March from 7.30 – 9.00. The title is: Exploring our Catholic Faith through 10 Objects. The talk will take place in the church of Christ the King, Bromborough.
A “Welcome Café” in association with FairShare is now being held every Tuesday from 11.00am to 1pm at
St Anne’s Parish Centre, Highfield Road, Rock Ferry. Free Tea,Coffee and food to eat in or take home. FairShare are the UK’s largest charity fighting hunger and food waste. It’s really quite simple. They redistribute fresh, in date and good to eat surplus food to the local community.Why not go along on Tuesday and see how FairShare can help/support you and your family in these difficult times.
Lenten Movie Night: On Wednesday 21st March, the film “Chocolat” will be showing. Discussion evenings, based on the two films, are planned for Wednesday
28th February – discussing “The Shack” and Wednesday 28th March discussing “Chocolat”.
Women’s World Day of Prayer will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Poulton Lancelyn, Spital on Friday 2nd March at 2pm. The Theme is “All God’s Creation is Very Good!” All Welcome
6th Diocesan Symposium on the Eucharist Saturday 3rd March at
St Ambrose College, Hale Barns 9.30am to 3.30pm & Sunday
4th March 12.30pm to 4.00pm in the Parish Rooms at Shrewsbury Cathedral. Speaker: Fr Oliver Treanor on the Eucharist: Maelstrom of Love. Please bring a packed lunch. Tea & Coffee provided. Further information from Barbara Davies email Barbara.davies@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
Laughter in Africa Fundraiser (James Tyrrell’s charity…. working with the street children of Sierra Leone) a Ukulelathon … a family friendly ukulele night at St Anne’s Parish Centre on Friday 2nd March from 7.30pm onwards. Tickets £3 on the door or £10 for a family ticket. Raffle with great prizes. For more information contact Alison Benson on 07891459724
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre. Why not stay a while and meet up with friends old and new.
The next singing practice will be this Thursday 8th March at 7.30pm in the Day Chapel. We will be looking at music for Lent. These are not CHOIR practices but for ANYONE who enjoys SINGING. All welcome.
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, 18th February 2018. Cycle B
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.
Pilgrimage to Walsingham – ‘England’s Nazareth’ In collaboration with local coach company, Parrs: this spring and summer 2018 the National Shrine are arranging two regional residential pilgrimages to Walsingham from Liverpool. They will be on Friday 6th April to 9th April 2018 (Liverpool Regional Pilgrimage I) and on Friday 17th August to Monday 20th August 2018 (Liverpool Regional Pilgrimage II). The cost of the pilgrimage will be £185pp (standard room) and £225pp (on-suite room) and will include travel via Executive coach, accommodation and evening meals, plus an afternoon trip to a place of interest. For further information or to book, please contact Tony or Marc, from Parrs, Tel. 01514 277669.
WORD OF GOD
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness and he remained there for forty days and was tempted by Satan. (Mark 1:12)
. Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items for the ADLENT APPEAL AND Easter Egg Donations. . Wirral Foodbank AGM is on Thursday 8th March at 7pm at Birkenhead Town Hall. Guest Speaker Rt. Hon Frank Field, MP will be speaking on the subject of Poverty, Present and Future.
All welcome.
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre. Why not stay a while and meet up with friends old and new.
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 Thursdays. Many thanks.
| First Sunday of Lent
Cycle B |
18th | 5.00pm
9.30am 3.00pm 7.30pm |
Margo Sarson RIP
St John’s Parishioners Stations of the Cross Prayer Meeting |
|
| Monday | 19th | 9.15am | Intentions Helen Bailey | |
| Tuesday | 20th | 9.15am | Winifred Sweeney RIP | |
| Wednesday | 21st | 9.15am | Rels/Frnds Brockway & Callaghan Families | |
| Thursday | 22nd | 7.30am
10.15am |
Stephen Flattery RIP
Funeral Mass – Bryan Clarke |
|
| Friday | 23rd | 11.30am | Service of Word & Communion | |
| Saturday | 24th | |||
| Second Sunday of Lent
Cycle B |
25th | 5.00pm
9.30am
3.00pm 7.30pm |
Intentions Louise Murray
Intentions Teresa & Ernie Young & Family Stations of the Cross Prayer Meeting |
|
| Children’s liturgy Sundays during 9.30 Mass. | ||||
| Confessions | Saturday 4.15-4.45pm | |||
| Morning Prayer | 15 minutes before daily masses | |||
LENT 2018 ST JOHN’S PROGRAMME OF MASSES AND SERVICES
| Ash Wednesday 14th February
Each Thursday in Lent |
Mass at 10.00am at St John’s
Masses at St Anne’s 9.30am & 7.30pm Morning Mass at 7.30am |
| Each Saturday in Lent | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions 11.00am until 12 Noon |
| Each Sunday in Lent | Stations of the Cross at 3.00pm in Main Church |
| CAFOD Soup Lunches
Friday 23rd February and Friday 9th & 16th March |
Mass 11.30am followed by soup lunch in the Parish Centre |
LENT 2018 BEBINGTON Churches Together
Lenten Lunches
| DATE | VENUE |
| Wednesday, 21st February | Hr. Bebington Methodist Church |
| Wednesday, 28th February | Christ Church,
Port Sunlight |
| Wednesday, 7th March | St Luke’s |
| Wednesday, 14th March | Christ Church,
Hr. Bebington |
| Wednesday , 21st March | St John’s, New Ferry |
Meeting at 10.30am for tea/coffee. Service begins at 11am and a soup lunch follows
Lately Dead: Please remember in your prayers
Bryan Clarke and Cel McGrath, great friends, both of whom died with an hour of each other last week.
Fr Paschal will celebrate Bryan Clarke’s Funeral Mass here at St John’s on Thursday at 10.15am.
Cel McGrath’s Funeral Mass will take place at Christ the King, Bromborough on Tuesday, 6th March at 2.00pm. May they and all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Readers: If you are UNAVAILABLE during the Easter Period
(24th March-1st April) please inform Dot Humphrey as soon as possible. Thank you.
Money Matters: Offertory: £643.67p
If you were not able to contribute to the Priest’s Retirement Fund last weekend, please put your contribution in one of the special envelopes on the table at the back of Church and place the envelope in the offertory bag or post it through the presbytery letterbox.
CAFOD Family Fast Day (next Friday) Envelopes are also on the table at the back of Church. Please take one and fill it with your offering/loose change and return into the offertory bag any weekend between now and Palm Sunday – 25th March
Lenten LPA Event: Margaret Lillis will be offering a Lenten Talk on Tuesday 27th February from 7.30 – 9.00. The title is: Exploring Lent: Scripture, Eucharist and Discipleship. The talk will take place in the church of Christ the King, Bromborough.
Lenten LPA Event: Fr. David Roberts will be offering a Lenten Talk on Tuesday 6th March from 7.30 – 9.00. The title is: Exploring our Catholic Faith through 10 Objects. The talk will take place in the church of Christ the King, Bromborough.
A “Welcome Café” in association with FairShare is now being held every Tuesday from 11.00am to 1pm at
St Anne’s Parish Centre, Highfield Road, Rock Ferry. Free Tea,Coffee and food to eat in or take home. FairShare are the UK’s largest charity fighting hunger and food waste. It’s really quite simple. They redistribute fresh, in date and good to eat surplus food to the local community.Why not go along on Tuesday and see how FairShare can help/support you and your family in these difficult times.
Lenten Movie Night: Showing “The Shack” will be held at Christ Church Community Centre,
Hr Bebington at 7.30pm on Wednesday
21st February. The film holds a Certificate 12. All aged 12 and above most welcome. On Wednesday 21st March, the film “Chocolat” will be showing. Discussion evenings, based on the two films, are planned for Wednesday 28th February and Wednesday 28th March.
Women’s World Day of Prayer will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Poulton Lancelyn, Spital on Friday 2nd March at 2pm. The Theme is “All God’s Creation is Very Good!” All Welcome
6th Diocesan Symposium on the Eucharist Saturday 3rd March at
St Ambrose College, Hale Barns 9.30am to 3.30pm & Sunday
4th March 12.30pm to 4.00pm in the Parish Rooms at Shrewsbury Cathedral. Speaker : Fr Oliver Treanor on the Eucharist: Maelstrom of Love. Please bring a packed lunch. Tea & Coffee provided. Further information from Barbara Davies email Barbara.davies@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
Laughter in Africa Fundraiser (James Tyrrell’s charity…. working with the street children of Sierra Leone) a Ukulelathon … a family friendly ukulele night at St Anne’s Parish Centre on Friday 2nd March from 7.30pm onwards. Tickets £3 on the door or £10 for a family ticket. Raffle with great prizes. For more information contact Alison Benson on 07891459724
Congratulations to the children from St John’s School who celebrated their First Forgiveness in Church on Thursday evening. Thanks to the teaching staff for preparing the children so well for this important sacrament and thank you too parents and families for your support and prayers.
We wish all those on half term this week a peaceful and restful break.
The Parish Pastoral Team meet on Thursday at 7.30pm in the presbytery. If you have any suggestions/ideas for the team to consider please place them in the suggestions box on the table at the back of Church.
A PASTORAL LETTER
ON THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS
To be read at Mass in all churches and chapels of the Diocese
on the First Sunday of Lent, 18th February 2018
My dear brothers and sisters,
In this Eucharistic Year for the Diocese I am inviting us all to reflect more deeply on the mystery and reality of the Eucharist. My Advent Letter was an invitation to recognise with renewed faith and love the Blessed Sacrament of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ at the heart of all our churches. At the beginning of Lent, I want to draw your gaze especially towards the Altar where Christ’s Sacrifice, by which He loved us to the end, is made present anew (cf Jn 13:1). In Lent we think of the many sacrifices we are all called to make; yet Saint Peter draws our attention today to the one Sacrifice by which “Christ himself, innocent though he was, died once for sins, died for the guilty to lead us to God” (I Peter 3:18).
At the Altar this one Sacrifice of the Cross is made present for us anew in the offering of every Mass. As the Second Vatican Council taught, “At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Saviour instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the ages until he should come again…” (Sacrosanctum Concilium n 47). Lest we should lose sight of this, the Liturgy requires that there should be “a cross with the figure of Christ crucified upon it, either on the Altar or near it … a cross clearly visible to the assembled people … so as to call to mind … the saving Passion of the Lord” (General Instruction of the Roman Missal n 308).
It is our Catholic faith that “Christ, God and man, makes himself wholly and entirely present” in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar and that the Sacrifice of Christ, made once on the Cross, is truly made present and its grace applied in the Sacrifice of the Altar (CCC 1374, 1366). This, the Church’s Catechism explains, is “manifested in the very words of institution ‘This is my Body given for you’ and ‘This chalice which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my Blood’” (CCC n 1365).
Yet, we might ask ourselves whether we have allowed the Mass to become reduced in our minds to merely a communal meal and celebration rather than the paschal banquet, the supper of the Lamb of God sacrificed for us? Have we thereby allowed new generations to become bored and uninterested in the Mass, by not allowing them to glimpse the awesome reality of this Sacrifice and Sacrament? Might we also fail to appreciate why the Second Vatican Council taught so clearly that the Eucharistic Sacrifice is the source and summit of the whole Christian life because in every Mass the central event of salvation becomes really present and the work of redemption is carried out (cf Lumen Gentium n 11, 3).
As Saint John Paul II explained in his last letter to the Church, “This sacrifice is so decisive for the salvation of the human race that Jesus Christ offered it and returned to the Father only after he had left us a means of sharing in it … What more could Jesus have done for us? Truly, in the Eucharist, he shows us a love which goes ‘to the end’, a love which knows no measure” (Ecclesia de Eucharistia n 11). How, then, could our hearts ever remain unmoved by this love beyond all others? At the Altar, we learn love and sacrifice not only by imitation, but we receive the grace and power to live sacrificial lives in the service of Christ and one another in all of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. In the Eucharistic Sacrifice, we find the grace and power to live every Christian vocation which leads us to make before the Altar the promises of marriage, of ordination or of the consecrated life.
This year, I pray we may each come to appreciate more deeply why Saint John Vianney declared that: “if we glimpsed for a moment what the Holy Eucharist truly is, we would die not out of fear but out of love!” In turning our gaze towards the Altar and the Cross, let us pray that we may recognise with faith and ever growing wonder the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
United with you in this Eucharistic faith and prayer,
+ Mark
Bishop of Shrewsbury
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
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 11th February 2018. Cycle B
FAITH IN FOCUS: MAKING LEPERS
Forget about the disease, the leprosy. It’s no longer the medical problem that it was in the times of Jesus, and it can be reasonably controlled by drugs. So it’s not so much what the disease does to people as what people do to those with the leprosy. For lepers are not allowed to take their full place in society.
We’re very good at making lepers. We somehow feel the need to have people that are outcasts, and if there aren’t too many of them around then we make our own lepers to satisfy the deep-down need to have people who are “worse” than us.
Criminals make very good lepers, particularly those convicted of crimes that are considered repulsive. Our nation needs at least two national criminal lepers before it can feel safe, preferably a man and a woman. So we have learnt to demonise child murderers, for example. If one of our national anti-heroes or heroines dies in prison then we replace them with another and we cry that they should rot in gaol. For we’re not like them; but we do need our lepers.
The press is very helpful when it comes to creating lepers and it has found a whole new class of people, immigrants and asylum seekers, who fit the bill perfectly. We do of course admit that there are some genuine people among these, but we have learned to draw comfort from the fact that most of them are at best marginalised when they are allowed onto the edges of our society and are given jobs and a status that we wouldn’t care to have. We’re not allowed to call them lepers; but in reality we are allowed to treat them like lepers.
So we’ve no shortage of lepers: people of a different religion that we suspect are trying to change our culture, people we regard as being more likely to support acts of terrorism in our land, people whose sexual practices are different from ours, people whose way of life means that they travel around and live in caravans, people who are homeless, people who are on drugs…The list is endless.
Jesus can cure all the lepers in the world, but if we go on making more, just to satisfy our craving to be better than others, then it will all be quite counter-productive. Not to mention contrary to the gospel.
Pilgrimage to Walsingham – ‘England’s Nazareth’ In collaboration with local coach company, Parrs: this spring and summer 2018 the National Shrine are arranging two regional residential pilgrimages to Walsingham from Liverpool. They will be on Friday 6th April to 9th April 2018 (Liverpool Regional Pilgrimage I) and on Friday 17th August to Monday 20th August 2018 (Liverpool Regional Pilgrimage II). The cost of the pilgrimage will be £185pp (standard room) and £225pp (on-suite room) and will include travel via Executive coach, accommodation and evening meals, plus an afternoon trip to a place of interest. For further information or to book, please contact Tony or Marc, from Parrs, Tel. 01514 277669.
A Recovery of Mercy: The Radical Experience of Grace Through all Our Addictions is the theme for the next Day of Reflection for ‘ACTS’ (Adult Catholic Together Spiritually) being held on Saturday 17th February 2018. If you are aged between 18-35 please join us when we will be led by Damien Prescott, the Director of ‘Olive Branch Recovery Communities’. The day will start at 9.30am at Wistaston Hall, Crewe CW2 8JS and finish around 5pm. Payment by anonymous donation (suggested cost £20 & £15 for unemployed/student). If you would like to join us or wish to know more about it please contact Siobhan Cartwright at siobhanbc@gmail.com
tel: 0161 477 2783 / 07761138947.
. Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items for the ADLENT APPEAL AND Easter Egg Donations. . Wirral Foodbank AGM is on Thursday 8th March at 7pm at Birkenhead Town Hall. Guest Speaker Rt. Hon Frank Field, MP will be speaking on the subject of Poverty, Present and Future.
All welcome.
Traidcraft goods will be on sale on this weekend. Please take a few minutes to browse for ideas for gifts and cards.
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
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 Thursdays. Many thanks.
| Sixth Sunday in Ord time
Cycle B |
11th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
St John’s Parishioners
Eleanor McGuigan Annv RIP Prayer Meeting |
|
| Monday | 12th | 9.15am | Ints Murray Family | |
| Tuesday | 13th | 9.15am | Service of Word & Communion | |
| Ash Wednesday | 14th | 10.00am | World Peace | |
| Thursday | 15th | 7.30am
6.30pm |
Ints Alexander Family
First Forgiveness for Yr3 St John’s School |
|
| Friday | 16th | 11.30am | Thomas Boylan RIP | |
| Saturday | 17th | 10.00am | Carmel Mass | |
| First Sunday in Lent
Cycle B |
18th | 5.00pm
3.00pm 9.30am 7.30pm |
Margo Sarson RIP
Stations of the Cross St John’s Parishioners Prayer Meeting |
|
| Children’s liturgy Sundays during 9.30 Mass. | ||||
| Confessions | Saturday 4.15-4.45pm | |||
| Morning Prayer | 15 minutes before daily masses | |||
LENT 2018 ST JOHN’S PROGRAMME OF MASSES AND SERVICES
| Ash Wednesday 14th February
Each Thursday in Lent |
Mass at 10.00am at St John’s
Masses at St Anne’s 9.30am & 7.30pm Morning Mass at 7.30am |
| Each Saturday in Lent | Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Confessions 10.00am until 12 Noon |
| Each Sunday in Lent | Stations of the Cross at 3.00pm in Main Church |
| CAFOD Soup Lunches
Friday 16th & 23rd February and Friday 9th & 16th March |
Mass 11.30am followed by soup lunch in the Parish Centre |
LENT 2018 BEBINGTON Churches Together
Lenten Lunches
| DATE | VENUE |
| Wednesday, 21st February | Hr. Bebington Methodist Church |
| Wednesday, 28th February | Christ Church,
Port Sunlight |
| Wednesday, 7th March | St Luke’s |
| Wednesday, 14th March | Christ Church,
Hr. Bebington |
| Wednesday , 21st March | St John’s, New Ferry |
Meeting at 10.30am for tea/coffee. Service begins at 11am and a soup lunch follows
On this World Day of Prayer for the Sick, after the Gospel at our Masses this weekend, we will be celebrating the Sacrament of the Sick with those who wish to be anointed. If you know of anyone who is sick and would like to be anointed or receive Holy Communion at home/in a care home/in hospital, please let Fr Bernard know.
Money Matters: Offertory: £563.17p
This weekend there will be a collection at both Masses for the Priests Retirement Fund (postponed from January)
First Forgiveness for the children of
St John’s School will be celebrated this Thursday 15th February at 6.30pm in Church. First Communion Masses Saturday 5th May and Saturday
12th May at10.30am.
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre. Why not stay a while and meet up with friends old and new.
This week a brand new female Cell Group called “Grace” is starting in the parish. Meetings begin this Tuesday and will be held each Tuesday evening during Lent in the presbytery. We will be studying the Book of Esther while loving, encouraging and supporting each other in our faith. Thanks to all who have already expressed an interest in this group. If anyone else would like to join, you would be most welcome. Please contact Claire Griffiths on 07985312703.
The Diocesan Hospitality Group will be celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes with Mass at 3.00pm this Sunday, 11th February, at St Peter’s Church, Green Lane, Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 4EA. Refreshments will be served after Mass in St Peter’s Parish Centre. Everybody is welcome to join the Hospitality Group for this special Mass and social event.”
St John’s Catholic Pre School we will be allocating places for Pre School in September 2018 over the next few weeks. If your child will be 3 years of age by
31st August 2018 they are entitled to 15 hours free early years education a week. If both parents/single parent is in employment they could be entitled to up to 30 hours free early years education a week. Admission forms are available now from the Pre School. If you would like any further information please call the Pre School Business Manager – Bernadette Kirwan – 0151 645 5291 Option No.2 for Pre School – for further information.
6th Diocesan Symposium on the Eucharist Saturday
3rd March at St Ambrose College, Hale Barns 9.30am to 3.30pm & Sunday 4th March 12.30pm to 4.00pm in the Parish Rooms at Shrewsbury Cathedral. Speaker Fr Oliver Treanor on the Eucharist: Maelstrom of Love. Please bring a packed lunch. Tea & Coffee provided. Further information from Barbara Davies email Barbara.davies@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
Laughter in Africa Fundraiser (James Tyrrell’s charity…. working with the street children of Sierra Leone) a Ukulelathon … a family friendly ukulele night at St Anne’s Parish Centre on Friday 2nd March from 7.30pm onwards. Tickets £3 on the door or £10 for a family ticket. Raffle with great prizes. For more information contact Alison Benson on 07891459724.
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 in Ordinary Time, 4th February 2018. Cycle B
IN FOCUS: ALL A BIT TOO MUCH?
You can’t help feeling sorry for Job. He’s having more than a bad hair day. Everyone admits that he has always been an upright man and that he has never wavered in trying to serve God, even though he is not one of God’s chosen people. And then suddenly everything has gone wrong. He’s had his family and his livelihood wiped out at a stroke. So much for that God of yours, his friends goad him? . How will he respond
Hopefully we will never experience the depths that Job sank to. But we cannot expect to go through life unscathed, and there are times when we too wonder why God allows us to undergo some troubles and to have to carry certain crosses. If God does not exist then surely the whole thing is a waste of time?
The lessons from the book of Job are many, but one of them rings out loud and clear: the things of this world can never satisfy us by themselves. We always yearn for something more; we long for a deeper experience of life than the mere day-to-day existence of getting and having. It’s as if we’re programmed to realise that deep down there is something missing from our lives that could make us really happy.
Some people try to fill this hole with wealth. They work themselves to the bone in order to have possessions. And so they get a better car, a bigger house in a posher area, a more exotic holiday each year. Others rush about doing things in order to fill their time. Their diaries become cluttered with a round of meetings, of parties, of going here and there. The activity stops them from having to think about what they are really doing with their lives and although they may be in demand they never experience peace. Then there are those who just opt out. They do the minimum to survive but they contribute nothing to the common good because they think life is just a chore and they probably feel cheated with their share of it.
All of these people are right. There is a hole in life. And it’s that sense of emptiness that God longs to fill. God offers us the chance to make sense of all that is happening to us. It is the Lord alone who can heal the broken-hearted. And God alone can raise us up, like Job, to share the hope of a future without blemish.
to tell others about it. It was more than just words. And it still is today.
WORD OF GOD
Lying in bed I wonder, “When will it be day?”Risen I think, “How slowly evening comes!”Restlessly I fret till twilight falls. (Job 7: 4)
WORD FOR TODAY
We can all feel for Job when he is at his lowest. Nothing seems txo satisfy and nothing seems to make sense deep down. What’s the purpose of life? Why do bad things happen to good people? There is no answer to these questions if we exclude God from the
A Recovery of Mercy: The Radical Experience of Grace Through all Our Addictions is the theme for the next Day of Reflection for ‘ACTS’ (Adult Catholic Together Spiritually) being held on Saturday 17th February 2018. If you are aged between 18-35 please join us when we will be led by Damien Prescott, the Director of ‘Olive Branch Recovery Communities’. The day will start at 9.30am at Wistaston Hall, Crewe CW2 8JS and finish around 5pm. Payment by anonymous donation (suggested cost £20 & £15 for unemployed/student). If you would like to join us or wish to know more about it please contact Siobhan Cartwright at siobhanbc@gmail.com
tel: 0161 477 2783 / 07761138947.
. Please continue to give generously to the Foodbank. The need is as great as ever. Please check the notice board at the back of Church for most needed items.
Wirral Foodbanks AGM is on Thursday 8th March at 7pm at Birkenhead Town Hall. Guest Speaker Rt. Hon Frank Field, MP will be speaking on the subject of Poverty, Present and Future.
All welcome.
Please take a copy of the Wednesday Word. It is a helpful reflection on next Sunday’s readings.
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 Thursdays. Many thanks.
| Fifth Sunday in Ord Time
Cycle B |
4th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
Paul Green (Sick)
Bell & Nugent Families Prayer Meeting |
|
| Monday | 5th | 9.15am | Rels/Fnds Connelly Family | |
| Tuesday | 6th | 9.15am | Maureen Knight RIP | |
| Wednesday | 7th | 9.15am | John Moore RIP | |
| Thursday | 8th | NOON | Funeral Mass –
Thomas Boylan |
|
| Friday | 9th | 9.15am | William Kealey | |
| Saturday | 10th | |||
| Sixth Sunday in Ord Time
Cycle B |
11th | 5.00pm
9.30am 7.30pm |
St John’s Parishioners
Eleanor McGuigan Annv RIP Prayer Meeting |
|
| Children’s liturgy Sundays during 9.30 Mass. | ||||
| Confessions | Saturday 4.15-4.45pm | |||
| Morning Prayer | 15 minutes before daily masses | |||
Baptisms and Weddings in 2018. Please contact us as soon as possible.
First Forgiveness for the children of St John’s School will be celebrated on Thursday 15th February at 6.30pm in Church. First Communion Masses Saturday 5th May and Saturday
12th May at 10.30am.
Lately Dead: Please pray for the repose of the soul of Colette Elizabeth Howes whose Funeral Service is at Landican South Chapel on Monday 5th February at 10.30am. Also Thomas Boylan’s Funeral Mass is at St John’s this Thursday 8th February at 12 noon. May they and all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Money Matters: Offertory: £556.99p.
Thank you for your continued generosity.
Next weekend there will be a collection at both Masses for the Priests Retirement Fund (postponed from January)
Tea & Coffee after Sunday 9.30am Mass every week in the Parish Centre. Why not stay a while and meet up with friends old and new.
Lent 2018: Lent begins on Ash Wednesday 14th February with Mass at St John’s at 10am (Masses at St Anne’s on Ash Wednesday will be at 9.30am and 7.30pm).
During Lent: Every Sunday Stations of the Cross at
3pm
Every Thursday Early Mass at
7.30am
Every Saturday Exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament & Confessions
from 11.00am until 12 noon
CAFOD Lent Soup Lunches will be held in the Parish Centre on the following Fridays in Lent:
Friday 16th & 23rd February and Friday 9th and 16th March
On Wednesday’s of Lent: Bebington Churches Together will hold their usual round of discussions and soup lunches with the one at St John’s being held on Wednesday 21st March.
If you would like to lend a hand with our Parish Lenten and Holy Week Services and help prepare the Church for them, please have a word with Fr Bernard this week. It would be wonderful if every family in the parish and our schools were actively involved in this busy but lovely time of year.
Many thanks to those who have already responded to my recent invitation to be a Prayer Intercessor for our parish and local community. If anyone else is interested in this important ministry please have a word with Father Bernard. A gathering will be arranged for Prayer Intercessor’s at the beginning of February.
We’re hoping to start a brand new female Cell Group called “Grace”. Meetings will be held every Tuesday starting through Lent on
13th February. We will be studying the Book of Esther while loving, encouraging and supporting each other in our faith. If you are interested/would like to know more please contact Claire Griffiths on 07985 312703
The Diocesan Hospitality Group will be celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes with Mass at 3.00pm on Sunday, 11th February, at St Peter’s Church, Green Lane, Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 4EA. Refreshments will be served after Mass in St Peter’s Parish Centre. Everybody is welcome to join the Hospitality Group for this special Mass and social event.”
Annual Diocesan Mass for the Celebration of Marriage will be celebrated at Our Lady & St Christopher’s, Romiley, on Saturday 10th February 2018 at
12 noon. All married couples are welcome, if you are celebrating a significant anniversary (25th,30th,40th,50th,60th) and wish to attend the Mass, please let Father Bernard know and you will receive a special letter of invitation.
St John’s Catholic Pre School we will be allocating places for
Pre School in September 2018 over the next few weeks.
If your child will be 3 years of age by 31st August 2018 they are entitled to
15 hours free early years education a week. If both parents/single parent is in employment they could be entitled to up to 30 hours free early years education a week. Admission forms are available now from the Pre School. If you would like any further information please call the Pre School Business Manager – Bernadette Kirwan – 0151 645 5291 Option No.2 for Pre School – for further information.
Traidcraft goods will be on sale on Saturday
10th February & Sunday 11th February. Please take a few minutes to browse for ideas for gifts and cards.
