The Fourth Sunday of Advent, 21st December, 2025. 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
Email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com Websites http://www.stjohntheevangelistnewferry.com
The Fourth Sunday of Advent, 21st December, 2025. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: A PERFECT CHRISTMAS?
By now you’re probably fed up with all the adverts to get you to spend your money in order to have “the Christmas you and your family deserve”. But is there such a thing as a perfect Christmas?
It might not have seemed so for Mary. She had every reason to dread that first Christmas. A young teenage girl, she now finds herself having a baby and is unmarried. What will her family say? How’s she going to explain things to Joseph? And what about the neighbours? There’ll be tongues wagging all over the place and she’ll probably being living under a cloud for years to come. Only she and God would ever really understand. And she didn’t understand much. Joseph’s probably wasn’t looking forward to that first Christmas either. For him it didn’t look too promising. People would point him out as the husband who’d been the last to know. They’d wonder why he didn’t simply ditch Mary. And he probably had a nagging feeling that all these strange dreams were storing up trouble for the future.
Joseph and Mary are good examples of the untidiness of human existence, of how things rarely go according to plan. It’s strange, isn’t it, that God couldn’t find some perfect parents for his only Son? He ends up with these two. Maybe that’s what Christmas is about. Perhaps one of its jobs is to remind us that into our “screwed up” planet, into the bleak complexity of our private lives, into a world where achievements never seem to match up to yearnings, into the higgledy-piggledy days of our existence…the infant God is born. God could have chosen some ideal scenario into which to be born. But he chose one that was profoundly human instead. It was all so fragile: Mary had to trust the angel; Joseph had to trust Mary; God had to trust them both.
Christmas is almost upon us and we’re surely not on top of things; in fact, we’re probably dreading some. But if this week we were able to realise that the child Jesus offers to keep being born into the jumble of our human lives, no matter how untidy they are, then we would have experienced a great truth. And despite all the stress and strain we would have had a perfect Christmas into the bargain.
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Drop down dew from above, you heavens, and let the clouds rain down the Just One; let the earth be opened and bring forth a Saviour.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Let the Lord enter! He is the king of glory.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means “God-is-with-us”. Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel.
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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,
THIS SUNDAY, 21ST DECEMBER, IS A DAY OF SPECIAL PRAYER FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: total is £687.05p. Many thanks for your continued generosity and support. Retiring Collection for Caritas amounted to £284.60p. Red Boxes & retiring collection amounted to £604.43p. A special thanks from Kath Markey for your continued support. Calendars on the table at the back of church.
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 for the two generous donations received last weekend.
A big thank you to the parishioner who donated this year’s Christmas tree.
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 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 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 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
Preparation Classes for First Holy Communion: will start today, Sunday 16th November, during the Children’s Liturgy. The Sacrament will be celebrated on Christmas Day here at St John’s. Application Forms can be obtained from the Parish office and by email
THE BIG CARD is on the table at the back of church. Please write your Christmas message at a suggested minimum donation of £1. All proceeds will go towards the work of The Ark. Please support this very good cause and thank you for your support over the years.
“The Advent Candle of Love”, the fourth candle lit, symbolizes God's immense love for humanity, made manifest in the birth of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, representing His ultimate gift to the world. Also known as the "Angel's Candle," it recalls the angelic message of "peace on earth, good will toward men," highlighting that Jesus is love personified and calls people to share that love.
MASS/SERVICE TIMES FOR CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR AT ST JOHN’S & ST ANNE’S
Christmas Crib Service organised by the Children’s Liturgy Group Sunday 21st December at 3.00pm to be held at ST JOHN’S.
Christmas Eve - 24th December
Children’s Mass at 5.00pm at ST ANNE’S
Mass at 8.00pm for the 3 parishes to be held at ST ANNE’S.
Christmas Day – 25th December – Mass 9.30am at ST JOHN’S
Mass 11.00am at ST ANNE’S
Friday, 26th December – NO MASS AT ST JOHN’S
Saturday, 27th December – Feast of St John –
Mass 5.00pm at ST JOHN’S
Mass 6.30pm at ST ANNE’S
Sunday, 28th December – Mass 9.30am at ST JOHN’S
Mass 11.00am at ST ANNE’S
Wednesday 31st December - NO MASS AT ST JOHN’S OR
AT ST ANNE’S
NEW YEAR’S DAY 1st January – Mass 10.00am at ST JOHN’S
Holy Hour 11.30am-12 Noon at ST ANNE’S
Mass 12 Noon at ST ANNE’S
Friday 2nd January Mass 9.15am at ST JOHN’S ONLY
Saturday 3rd January Mass 5.00pm at ST JOHN’S
6.30pm at ST ANNE’S
Sunday 4th January Mass 9.30am at ST JOHN’S
Mass 11.00am at ST ANNE’S
Monday 5th January THERE WILL BE NO MORNING MASS AT
ST JOHN’S
Mass at ST ANNE’S at 12 Noon
Vigil Mass of the Epiphany 6.00pm at
ST JOHN’S ONLY
Tuesday 6th January The Feast of the Epiphany
Mass 9.30am at ST JOHN’S
Mass 12 Noon at ST ANNE’S
Wednesday 7th January Mass 7.00pm at ST ANNE’S ONLY
Wednesday 14th January Mass 7.00pm at ST JOHN’S ONLY
WEDNESDAY EVENING MASS AT 7.00pm WILL THEN CONTINUE AT ST JOHN’S’ AND ST ANNE’S ON ALTERNATE WEEKS
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Saturday 20th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Dec’d Rels & Fnds of Davenport Family
The Fourth Sunday of Advent Cycle A 21st 9.30am Norah Martin RIP
Azubike Emmanuel Nnadi RIP
3.00pm Children’s Crib Service
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday 22nd 9.15am Dec’d Rels & Fnds of Duckworth & Gaynor Families
Tuesday 23rd 9.15am Miss Philly McLean RIP
Solemnity with Octave Christmas Eve 24th 8.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord 25th 9.30am For all the Homeless
Friday 26th NO MASS AT ST JOHN’S
Saturday 27th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm In Honour of St John
Nance & Alf Shipman RIP
Feast of The Holy Family 28th 9.30am Liam Rolston & Stan Korn 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 20th 12.30pm Carmelite Mass Frederick Woolfall
6.30pm Anne McGrory 2nd Anniversary
The Fourth Sunday of Advent 21st 11.00am George McGrory & Catherine Remembrance
DAY OF SPECIAL PRAYER FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS
Monday 22nd 12 Noon For the decd members of Fr. Mario’s Family
Tuesday 23rd 12 Noon Mary Matthews RIP
Wednesday Solemnity with Octave Christmas Eve 24th 5.00pm Children’s Vigil Mass – Kay Harrop
8.00pm Ronnie & Joanne Jones
Daniel Brett
Thursday Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord 25th 11.00am Lill Bailey
Philomena Higgins
Friday 26th 12 Noon For Families
Les Duff RIP
Saturday 27th 6.30pm Andrea King 10yr Remb. RIP
Norah-Wilfred White
Feast of the Holy Family 28th 11.00am Tony & Mary Duff RIP
Frank Edwards RIP Anniversary
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