The Second Sunday of Advent 7th 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 Second Sunday of Advent, 7th December, 2025. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: NO-FRILLS MESSAGE
John the Baptist needed no spin-doctor or publicist to get his message across. Attracting people to listen to what he had to say was no problem for him. Even though he was out in the desert, crowds flocked to hear what this strangely dressed ranting preacher had to say.
And his message was anything but soothing: you've got to change and change now! He knew that the time was at hand for God to make a decisive revelation, a revelation that would come via his own cousin, Jesus. And if anyone wanted to be part of that new kingdom, then they had to do something about it now.
Repentance is about making changes. It means realising that the way we are living at present is not leading us in the right direction, and doing a U-turn. Our pride makes it hard for us to admit that we are going nowhere, that our lifestyle has become predictably stale, that we look further and further to get satisfaction, to feel good about ourselves.
Yet God has planted a seed of yearning within each of us that lets us know how unfulfilled we really are. This is the longing we have for something that takes us beyond the here and now. It is the seed of eternal life. And Advent is the time to water this seed as we anticipate the birth of our Saviour.
And how do we do this? By giving God a chance. That's what John the Baptist means when he quotes the prophet, saying that we need to prepare a way for the Lord. Preparing a way for the Lord means being open to God's working within us, allowing God to pervade our minds and hearts, to provoke us to change.
At a time when Christmas parties have already taken place and our streets are full of a Christmas message that seems at odds with the gospel story of Christ's birth, Advent presents us with the no-frills message of the Baptist: be prepared to change and give God a chance.
——————————————————————————————————————————
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: O people of Sion, behold, the Lord will come to save the nations, and the Lord will make the glory of his voice heard in the joy of your heart.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: To you O Lord I lift up, I lift up my soul my God
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Alleluia, alleluia! Prepare the way for the Lord, make his paths straight, and all mankind shall see the salvation of God Alleluia!
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: Jerusalem, arise and stand upon the heights, and behold the joy which comes to you from God.
——————————————————————————————————————————-
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.
On Tuesday 9th December, daily Mass will be held at St John’s Infant School at 9.15am. The children F2 will be leading the Advent service and we would love as many parents, grandparents and parishioners as possible to join us on this day. We look forward to seeing you there.
Advent Service of Reflection will be held at ST JOHN’S SUNDAY 14th DECEMBER 3pm. The service will end with Benediction. All most welcome.
Last Weeks’ Offertory Collection: total is £932.20p. Many thanks for your continued generosity and support.
There will be a retiring collection over the weekend of 13th/14th December for Caritas Crib Offering.
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. Many thanks for the donation 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 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 pray for Chris Foster who sadly died recently. Chris’s Funeral will be at Christ the King on Monday 8th December at 9.00am followed by Landican. Please also pray for Edward Haggerty who died recently. Funeral at St John’s on Wednesday, 17th December at 9.15am followed by Landican Crematorium at 10.30am. Please keep Chris and Edward and their families 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 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 of church.
Christmas Party – Our parishes of St John’s, St Luke & St Anne will be celebrating our Christmas Party at St Anne’s Social Club THIS Sunday 7th December from 12-4pm. See poster at the back of church for further details. Father Christmas will be there! Donations for raffle prizes would be greatly appreciated and placed in the box at the back of church. Tickets are now on sale. Donations of sandwiches and cakes would be gratefully received. If you are able to contribute please fill in and ingredients sheet (on the back table) and bring it with you.
+55 Group: will be holding their Christmas Party at St Anne’s Parish Hall on Tuesday, 9th December at 12.30pm. If you have not already signed up to come along please contact Sheila McAllister as she needs to know the numbers for catering purposes. (07484 285954)
Mary’s Meals – Double the Love: Mary’s Meals’ Double the Love campaign is now running, which means that any donations made will be doubled by a group of generous supporters, up to £1.1million. You can give hope this Christmas to hungry children, with life changing school meals. Your gift will help Mary’s Meals keep our promise into 2026 and beyond to the world’s poorest communities in countries such as Ethiopia, Haiti and South Sudan, where conflict and the devastating impacts of climate change mean our nutritious meals are needed more than ever. There are many ways to get involved, find out more at https://www.marysmeals.org.uk/
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 to stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com
From Clare Marchmont, Secretary, Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality: Shrewsbury Lourdes Hospitality: There will be midday Mass St Mary's Crewe on 8th December to celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Refreshments will be available after Mass, everyone is welcome.
The "Candle of Peace" is the second candle lit during Advent, representing peace and preparation for Christ's coming. It is typically purple and is lit on the second Sunday of Advent. The candle symbolizes the peace Christ brings to the world, reflecting on themes like the peaceful reconciliation of Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem and the biblical concept of shalom (wholeness, peace, and well-being)
———————————————————————————————————————————
Saturday 6th 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – Rosa ry, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Joe Moore RIP
The Second Sunday of Advent Cycle A 7th 9.30am Christine McLoughlin 1st Annv. RIP
Azubike Emmanuel Nnadi RIP
7.30pm Prayer Meeting
Monday – The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 8th 9.15am Decd Rels/Fnds of Joan Turner
Tuesday 9th 9.15am Mass in St John’s Infant School for F2 Advent
Mass– Ints Carol Dalziel
Wednesday 10th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Thursday 11th NO MASS
Friday 12th 9. 15am Lily & Harold Thwaite RIP
Saturday – St Lucy 13th 10.30am Devotions – Rosary, Divine Mercy & Divine Praises
5.00pm Decd Rels/Fnds of McGree Family
The Third Sunday of Advent Cycle A 14th 9.30am Oliver Newnes RIP
Alcira Rico de Garcia RIP
Azubike Emmanuel Nnadi RIP
3.00pm Advent Reflection & 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.
——————————————————————————————————————————- ST ANNE’S WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday 6th 6.30pm Lilian Jones RIP
The Second Sunday of Advent 7th 11.00am Pat & Peter Holmes Remembrance
Monday 8th 12 Noon Ann Blakemore RIP Anniversary
Tuesday 9th 12 Noon Elsa Kemp RIP
Wednesday 10th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Jimmy Rolfe RIP
Thursday 11th NO MASS
Friday 12th 11.00am Kath Ward RIP
12.15pm Funeral Service – Patricia Selby
Saturday 13th 6.30pm For the Family of Sr. Josie
The Third Sunday of Advent 14th 11.00am Lewis & Christopher Doyle B’Day Rem
——————————————————————————————————————————
Pope Leo’s Prayer Intention for December
The pope is calling on the faithful to pray for pilgrims of hope for his December prayer intentions. Pope Leo is inviting all to spend this Advent season praying that all Christians bring hope into the world, especially amongst great suffering.
——————————————————————————————————————————-
