Second Sunday of Lent, 1st 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
Second Sunday of Lent 1st March, 2026. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: WONDER AND DELIGHT
People often say that the thing they most enjoy at Christmas is the look on small children's faces as they open their presents. We all know what they mean. The wide eyes, the squeals, the laughter and excitement. The word that actually describes these children, a word that we don't use that much these days, is delight. We’ve all experienced delight in some form or other. We've all experienced something so magnificent or wonderful that the only response we can make is one of praise. Perhaps the birth of a baby, a fantastic view, a great wine, an unexpected gift or favour, or even a proposal of marriage (!) has done it for us! At any rate, whatever it is, we just couldn't stay silent about it. The transfiguration teaches us a lot about our relationship with God. The disciples were so thrilled, so delighted, that they wanted to keep the whole thing going by putting up three tents where they could keep enjoying Jesus, Moses and Elijah…their three heroes. This is what worship is about, keeping up the delight and wonder at our hero-God. When we come to church on Sundays it is with this awe and wonder of having experienced the life-giving presence of God during the week. We come not as miserable subjects under some obligation, but as children of God who have been gifted daily in so many ways. And we come to experience more of it. Liturgy is our proclamation of delight at having the God that we do have. The hymns and songs are not there to make us feel good; they're there to praise God for bothering to call us sons and daughters. Our Sunday worship springs from gratitude; it is the heartfelt response to the beauty and majesty of God visible all around us in the people and events of our lives. Yet liturgy is not all about what we are doing. Through our payer and praise God reveals further delights to us as we grasp this love at ever-deeper levels. We have a delightful God!. And when our preliminaries are over and we sit to listen to God's word in the scriptures, that same voice calls to us from the clouds and says, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Of you my heart has spoken: Seek his face. It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; hide not your face from me.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: May our love be upon us O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Praise to you O Christ, king of eternal glory. From the bright cloud the Father’s voice was heard: “This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to Him.”
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.
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Devotions/Adoration: Saturday Morning Devotions will be prayed in Church (the Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises) from 10:30am-11:30am. Fr Mario will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation between 11.00am- 11.30am. All morning services will take place in St Anne’s house; at St John’s: Masses will be held in the Day Chapel.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: amounted to £454.00p. Many thanks for your continued generosity and support . There will be a retiring collection over the weekend 7th/8th March for Cafod Family Fast Day.
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 THIS SUNDAY, 1st MARCH. All 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 Courses for MARCH will start this Sunday 1st March during the children’s liturgy. 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.
World Day of Prayer: We are having a service about Nigeria at 2pm THIS Friday 6th March. The Theme is: "I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28-30), focusing on peace, solace, and addressing burdens like poverty and systemic oppression. .
Day by Day: There are 2 booklets for sale on the table at the back of church. One for LENT and the other for EASTER. Cost £1.20p each. We have put in a regular order and the booklets will be available each month. They are a good resource to accompany the daily readings.
We know it is early, but we need volunteers to help with the Christmas Party on 6th December. We need more people to commit to helping otherwise it will not go ahead this year! If you can help, please contact Diane Baylis. Many thanks.
Masses/Services for Easter at St John’s and St Anne’s RECONCILIATION SERVICE AT ST JOHN’S Tuesday 24th MARCH at 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
CAFOD Family Fast Day 25th February: Please take a CAFOD envelope, available on the table at the back of church. (If you are a taxpayer, please complete the Gift Aid section). Thank you for your continued support and generosity to CAFOD. AS ENVELOPES ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY THE GIFT AID SLIP HAS BEEN PRINTED AND AVAILABLE ON THE TABLE AT THE BACK OF CHURCH TO ENABLE TAX PAYERS TO INCLUDE WITH THEIR DONATION AND PLEASE PUT IN AN ENVELOPE MARKED “CAFOD” THANK YOU.
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Saturday 28th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm James Leiper 1st Annv. RIP
Second Sunday of Lent 1st 9.30am Parishioners of St John’s & St Luke’s
3.00pm Stations of the Cross
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 2nd 9.15am Friends & Family of McLoughlin Family RIP
Tuesday 3rd 9.15am Junior School to join us for their Lenten Mass
Canon Niall B.Day Intentions
7.00pm Novena
Wednesday 4th 10.00am Novena with Lenten Reflections
7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Betty Huston RIP
Thursday 5th NO MASS
Friday 6th 9.15am Friends & Family of Moore Fam RIP
2.00pm World Day of Prayer Service
Saturday 7th 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Michael Green RIP
Third Sunday of Lent 8th 9.30am Alfred Wigley RIP
3.00pm Benediction
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 28th 6.30pm Julia Guo RIP
First Sunday of Lent 1st 11.00am Joseph Varghese 4th RIP Anniversary
Monday 2nd 12 Noon UCM
Margaret Feeley 90th B’Day
7-8pm Holy Hour
Tuesday 3rd 12 Noon Ints of Jane & Perter Hearty and their Family
Wednesday 4th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Thursday 5th NO MASS
Friday 6th 11.00am Stations of the Cross
12 Noon For the Parishioners of Sts. Anne, John & Luke in Gratitude
Women’s World Day of Prayer
Saturday 7th 6.30pm Chester Belmar RIP
Second Sunday of Lent 8th 11.00am Sue & Leslie Peers RIP
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