Fourth Sunday of Lent, 15th March, 2026. Cycle A
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road,
New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish - Priest: Fr Mario Ashuikeka
Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Emailstjohntheevangelist@gmail.comWebsites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
Fourth Sunday of Lent 15th March, 2026. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TUNNEL
It's an interesting question that the disciples asked Jesus. Since they thought that illness was a punishment sent by God, they wanted to know whether the blind man or his parents had sinned for him to be born blind. Jesus turns the question upside down and simply says that the man was born blind so that God could be glorified through his cure. Obviously he was answering them on their own level. Even today we come across people who think that sickness or disability is something "sent" by God on people. Under the guise of religion we hear people say that those who do wrong will get their "comeuppance" from God in the end. There are two flaws in this reasoning. First of all, how can a newborn baby be responsible for sinful actions? How can it have merited being born blind, deaf or malformed? But secondly, and more importantly, this argument reduces God to a petty busybody who spends his time getting his own back on those who break the rules. The truth is that God loves all people, no matter what they are like. Hard for us to take? Probably. But then God even loves you and me, and we both know what we're like! The Church puts the gospel of the man born blind before us in Lent to show that at the heart of God's grace is the ability to be rescued from the darkness that produces sin, aimlessness and life-weariness. Lenten repentance invites us to a new vision, to light, to seeing things in a clearer and brighter way. Those who live in Christ know where they are going; they are not blind stumblers who have to take what life throws at them. They can choose to walk in the light of God's promises. Now that we're about mid way through Lent we have the chance to thank God for the light of faith. In a world of darkness and half-truths we are not condemned to await the next storm that threatens the horizon. Christians face the future with confidence. It's not just that we see light at the end of the tunnel. We see it in the middle, and that's where it counts.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Rejoice Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: And I will trust in you alone; And I will trust in you alone, for your endless mercy follows me and your goodness will lead me home.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Praise to you O Christ, king of eternal glory. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; anyone who follows me will have the light of life.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: The Lord anointed my eyes; I went, I washed, I saw and I believed.
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Devotions/Adoration: Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises) from 10:30am-11:30am. Fr Mario will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation between 11.00am- 11.30am. All morning services will take place in St Anne’s house; at St John’s: Masses will be held in the Day Chapel.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: amounted to £616.65p. Many thanks for your continued generosity and support.
CAFOD Family Fast Day ENVELOPES CAN BE HANDED IN UP TO 15th MARCH.THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND GENEROSITY.
The Boiler Appeal- a separate bank account has been set up specifically to ‘ring fence’ contributions to the new boiler fund. Please make cheques payable to St John’s New Ferry and write 29001/NFJ/DU on the reverse. Cash donations should be placed in an envelope with 29001/BNFJ/DU written on the outside.
Bookings- for the reception & Celebration of Sacraments: Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation & Wedding, please enquire & arrange for these through the parish emails / Secretaries of St. Anne’s & St. John’s. Also contact the Parish Priest/ Administrator through 0151 645 3996. Funerals should be booked through the Parish Offices by the funeral directors.
Mass IntentionsPlease complete an intentions envelope. If a particular date is requested give at least THREE weeks’ notice. If the date has been filled, we will put your intention in as near as possible to the original date. Thank you for your patience and co-operation.
In Memoriam: Please continue to pray for all the faithful departed that they may rest in the peace of Christ.
Children's Liturgy– takes place during the 9.30am Mass. All are most welcome.
Sunday Morning Teas first Sunday of each month. Come along for tea/coffee & biscuits whilst enjoying a chat. The next date will be SUNDAY, 5th APRIL All most welcome.
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help to support our local Foodbank as much as you can with both food & funds. All items urgently needed are listed on the notice board at the back
BAPTISMS: From the beginning of April Baptisms will be held on the Third Saturday and Sunday of each month only with a maximum number of 4 families on each day. When submitting the Baptism Application Form please bear this in mind. Meetings will be arranged with Fr Mario for the parents and Godparents before Baptisms take place. There will be no Baptisms during June and December. Please contact the Parish office with any queries on 645 3314 or by email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com
First Holy Communion this year will take place on Sunday 24th May and Sunday 16th August. Preparation Class June dates will be available later. Registration Forms can be obtained from the Parish Office 645 3314 and by email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com. If your child attends a non-Catholic school Forms can also be obtained from the above. Please see poster on the notice board at the back of church.
IMPORTANT NOTICE – TWO PILGRIMAGES: Assisi & Loreto Pilgrimage: Jubilee of St Francis: 28th-3rd July. Cost £995. 6 days from Manchester. For this year of St Francis we have arranged a pilgrimage to Assisi. It is important that we know soon who wants to go as we need twenty people for pilgrimage to go ahead AND Medjugorje: 15th-22nd September. Cost £799. 8 days from Manchester. See Posters at the back of church for more details. If you are interested, please contact Maria Fryer 07576243343.
Masses/Services for Easter at St John’s and St Anne’s
RECONCILIATION SERVICE AT ST JOHN’S Tuesday 24th MARCH 7.00pm PALM SUNDAY 29th MARCH 9.30am AT ST JOHN’S 11.00am AT ST ANNE’S HOLY THURSDAY 2nd APRIL 7.00pm AT ST ANNE’S GOOD FRIDAY 3rd APRIL 3.00pm AT ST JOHN’S WALK OF WITNESS PORT SUNLIGHT VILLAGE AT 12 Noon EASTER VIGIL 4th APRIL 8.00pm AT St ANNE’S EASTER SUNDAY 5th APRIL 9.30am AT ST JOHN’S 11.00am AT ST ANNE’S SEE NOTICEBOARD AND WEEKLY NEWSLETTER FOR FURTHER LENTEN SERVICES
NEW OFFERTORY ENVELOPES: are now available to collect from the table at the back of church. If you are not a taxpayer please take the unmarked envelopes. They are all in numerical order. Many thanks to all those who took standing order and gift aid forms last weekend. There is a supply of the forms on the table if you are considering paying by standing order and gift aid.
MARY MEALS APPEAL Haiti is now facing the worst hunger crisis in its history. Gang violence has reached unprecedented levels, devastating the economy and people’s lives. More than half of the population do not have enough food, and families are in greater need than ever before. At the heart of this crisis are Haiti’s children. With food being used to lure hungry children into armed gangs, the need for Mary’s Meals is more urgent now than ever. Mary’s Meals has launched a crisis appeal for Haiti, to help continue providing crucial nutrition to children in a safe place of learning. Help is urgently needed to keep the promise to the children they serve in Haiti and show them that there is hope beyond the violence. To provide vital school meals costs just £19.15 per child for a whole year. These are difficult times for families around the world, but you can have confidence that any small gift you can offer will make a huge difference. To donate you can either do so via the website or by calling the Mary’s Meals office: www.marysmeals.org.uk/Haiti 0800 698 1212
MOTHER’S DAY PRAYER Good and Gentle God, we pray in gratitude for our mothers and for all the women of theory who have joined with you in the wonder of bringing forth new life. We also pray for grandmothers and Godmothers. You who became human through a woman, grant to all mothers the courage they need to face the uncertain future that life with children always brings.
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Saturday 14th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Helen Westerside RIP
Fourth Sunday of Lent 15th 9.30am Eileen Spencer RIP
3.00pm Stations of the Cross
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 16th 9.15am Decd Relatives/Friends Dunn & Manning Families RIP
Tuesday 17th 9.15am Mass in Infants School - Pre-School
For all Pupils, Teachers & Parents
Wednesday 18th 10.00am Funeral Mass – Patricia McDermott
7.00pm NO EVENING MASS AT ST JOHN’S
Thursday – Solemnity of St Joseph 19th 9.30am Betty Crebbin RIP
Friday 20th 9.15am Fr Paul O’Grady RIP
Saturday 21st 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Michael Schorfield RIP
Fifth Sunday of Lent 22nd 9.30am Ints Carol Dalziel
3.00pm Stations of the Cross
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Weekend Masses - Please note that the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed immediately before each Mass. Please use this as a time for prayer & quiet devotion. Please enter the church quietly & remain so. thank you.
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ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 14th 6.30pm Elsa Kemp RIP
Fourth Sunday of Lent 15th 11.00am Martin Gorman Birthday Remembrance
Monday 16th 12 Noon Julia Guo RIP
Tuesday 17th 12 Noon For the Sick, Health Workers & Carers
Wednesday 18th 7.00pm NO EVENING MASS AT ST JOHN’S
Thursday - Solemnity of St Joseph 19th 7.00pm Nora & Peter Arrowsmith 60th Wedding Anniversary
Friday 20th 12 Noon Nessie Flanagan RIP
Saturday 21st 12.30pm Carmelite Mass
6.30pm Pauline Thompson
Fifth Sunday of Lent 22nd 11.00am Repose of the Soul of Sean McRory
—————————————————————————————————————————Pope Leo’s Prayer Intentions for March : For disarmament and peace: Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.
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