The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica of the Most Holy Redeemer, 9th November, 2025. Cycle C
St John the Evangelist
128 Bebington Road,
New Ferry, CH62 5BJ
Diocese of Shrewsbury (reg. charity 234025)
Parish - Priest: Fr Mario Ashuikeka
Deacon: Revd Michael Daly Phone: 0151 645 3314
Email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica of th Most Holy Redeemer. Sunday 9th November, 2025. Cycle C.
Extract from Homily from th Diocese of Westminster Today we celebrate the dedication of the basilica of St John Lateran in Rome. Why celebrate the dedication of a church in faraway Rome, you may ask. It is to remind us of the importance of the church building as sacred space set apart for personal and collective encounter with God Historically, the basilica of St John Lateran is the oldest Church of Rome and the highest ranking church in the world. As such it is the mother of all churches. When we celebrate its dedication to God, therefore, we celebrate the mystery of God’s special presence and indwelling in buildings set apart for divine worship, including our own parish church. We know that God is everywhere. Yet when the people of God erect a building and dedicate it totally to God’s service, God’s glory comes to dwell in that building in such a way that the building can now be called the house of God. So, while we celebrate God’s special indwelling in a temple, we must remind ourselves that God’s presence is not confined in the temple. God is still everywhere, but shows His glory in a special way in some persons, places, and things. A temple or church is one such place. In earlier days, a temple, church or shrine was revered so much as to suggest that God dwelt exclusively in such places. People went to church, participated in service, received communion and went home without knowing who was sitting beside them in church. Our prayer was very private and the man or woman sitting next to you was rather seen as a distraction in one’s intimate communion with God. Worshippers forgot that we are brothers and sisters, and that we come to church to worship God as family. We gather as a Community to help each other to pray and hold our world before the Lord. Let us create a sense of stillness and reverence as we prepare to share in our public worship of God, by joining fully in the prayers and responses, the hymns and the times of quiet. Today we are asked to realise more fully the beauty of who we are and our calling to worship God together, as individuals and as families, in all that we say and do in our daily lives – today’s celebration helps us to realise our prayer and worship reach out to the whole world as we honour Bishop Francis’s Cathedral!
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: I saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: The waters of a river give joy to God’s city, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord for my name to be there for ever. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Be built up like living stones, into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood.
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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: all Masses will be held in the Day Chapel.
SUNDAY 9TH NOVEMBER IS A SPECIAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR ALL VICTIMS OF WAR. – REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: this week’s total is £560.00p. Many thanks for your continued support and generosity. There will be a retiring collection the weekend of 15th/16th November for the Clergy Education & Training Fund.
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. A big thank you to the 2 donations received last weekend.
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 Intentions Please complete an intentions envelope. If a particular date is requested give at least THREE week’s notice. If the date has been filled, we will put your intention in as near as possible to the original date. Thank you for your patience and co-operation.
In Memoriam. Please pray for the repose of the soul of Lawrence Robinson who died recently. Funeral Service will be held at St John’s on Wednesday 12th November at 10am followed by Landican Crematorium at 11am. Please keep Lawrence and his family in your prayers and 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 continue on the first Sunday of each month. Come along for tea/coffee & biscuits whilst enjoying a chat. Due to the Parish Christmas Party, the next date is SUNDAY, 4TH JANUARY 2026. All welcome.
Wirral Foodbank Appeal: Please help t o support our local Foodbank as much as you can with both food & funds. All items urgently needed are listed on the notice board at the back of church.
Confirmation: Confirmation, this year, is at St John's on Wednesday 19th November at 7.00pm. Please keep all the candidates in your prayers, as they take the next step on their journey of faith.
Following two very successful one-day conferences in London, the Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis for the Diocese of Shrewsbury and the Baptism Collaborative are organising a similar opportunity for northern-based clergy, catechists and all interested to Reimagine Baptism. It is taking place on Friday 28 November 2025 for Clergy and repeated on Saturday 29 November 2025 for all others. It will be held at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Tatton Street, St Petersgate, Stockport, SK1 1EJ. To book a place email natalie.orefice@dioceseofshrewsbury.org. Please find poster attached. The Keynote talk will be given by Abbot Hugh Allen O.Praem, the recently appointed Mission Director at the Bishops’ conference.
Christmas Party –Our parishes of St John’s, St Luke & St Anne will be celebrating our Christmas Party at St Anne’s Social Club on Sunday 7th December from 2-4pm. See poster at the back of church for further details. Father Christmas will be there! Donations for raffle prizes would be greatly appreciated. Tickets are now on sale.
Stop assisted suicide - further action needed! Sending a physical letter carries particular weight with Members of the House of Lords. Right To Life UK has created a simple tool that generates personalised letters to Peers, each focused on a specific area of concern. You can then print them, or copy them out by hand, sign, and post them. Please take action now and visit www.righttolife.org.uk/aspeersletter to send a letter to Peers asking them to oppose assisted suicide.
Advent Day by Day Booklets: containing daily readings throughout Advent are on sale for £1.20p and are on the table at the back of church.
This year’s Annual Remembrance Mass will be celebrated here at St John’s on Wednesday 12th November at 7pm. Invitations have been sent out to those families who have lost relatives during the past year. Please join them to remember and celebrate the lives of all who have died.
Festive Stays 2025: Could you lay an extra place at your table this Christmas for an international student? Each year the charity EIL UK receives hundreds of applications from international students studying at British universities hoping to experience Christmas or New Year in a British home. If you could offer friendship and host an overseas university student for a 3 night stay between 24th and 27th December 2025, drop us a line at host@eiluk.org to find out more about this rich and rewarding experience and how you can be part of the HOST UK programme.
“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old, Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, As the going down of the sun and in the morning, We shall remember them”.
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Saturday 8th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Josephine, David & Michael Murray RIP
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica of the Most Holy Redeemer 9th 9.30am Eileen Spencer RIP
Azubike Emmanuel Nnadi RIP
3.00pm Benediction
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday – St Leo the Great 10th 9.15am Roy Turner B.Day Rem RIP
Tuesday – St Martin of Tours Bishop 11th 9.15am Mary Thomas McLoughlin RIP
Wednesday – St Josaphat 12th 10.00am Funeral Service – Lawrence Robinson
7.00pm Remembrance Mass
Thursday 13th NO MASS
Friday 14th 9.15am John Blakeway RIP
Saturday 15th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Francis Sullivan Annv RIP
Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 16th 9.30am Brian Jones B.Day Annv
Azubike Emmanuel Nnadi RIP
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 8th 6.30pm For the deceased of our Nursing Homes in 2025
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica of the Most Holy Redeemer 9th 11.00am Gerard Edwards B’day Rem
DAY OF SPECIAL PRAYER FOR ALL VICTIMS OF WAR
Monday 10th 12 Noon Funeral Mass – Edward Francis
Cath Ward RIP
Tuesday 11th 7.00pm Memorial Mass
No Afternoon Mass
Wednesday 12th 7.00pm MASS AT ST JOHN’S ONLY
Thursday 13th NO MASS
Friday 14th 12 Noon Betty Burns RIP
Saturday 15th 12.30pm Carmelite Mass
6.30pm Anne & George McGrory 70th Wedding Anniversary Remb.
Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 16th 11.00am Joanne B’day Remembrance
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE POOR
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