Third Sunday of Lent, 8th 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
Third Sunday of Lent 8th March, 2026. Cycle A
FAITH IN FOCUS: FANCY A DRINK?
We'd be fooling ourselves if we thought that people wander around with a thirst for God. We'd even be fooling ourselves if we thought that most Christians experience a great thirst for the word of Christ. The fact is that they don't. Yet all of us, Christian or not, do have some deep-seated yearnings that we long to be fulfilled. We may find it hard to put our finger on exactly what these are. We disguise them under the veil of needing more money, more free time, or perhaps a few luxuries. But all of us have needs that can only be satisfied at the deepest level. The most basic need we feel is to be loved. We soon get knocked off course if we sense that people dislike us or that we are not exactly crucial to anyone's plans for the future. This is because we created in love by Love. Some of us learn to live with being rejected by most people, like the Samaritan woman at the well. But it doesn't stop us from yearning. And it came as such a surprise to the Samaritan woman that Jesus should just treat her like a decent human being. "I only want to be happy" is something we've all heard. Happiness and joy go hand in hand with being fulfilled. And when Jesus speaks about the water that is on offer to those who believe in him, he is talking in part about being freed from fear, from worry and anxiety. He is talking about knowing that we belong, we matter, and that nothing can ever come between us and the care and concern of God. And everyone has times when they wonder what it's all about. What's the point of life? Where is its meaning and significance? We can get hung up on drinking what the rest of the world takes for water, yet it doesn't satisfy our thirst deep down. Jesus tells us that the water he gives us will well up to eternal life, a life that has a purpose now and a promise for the future. When the woman sits and talks with Jesus at the well she begins to get a whole new outlook on life. Jesus promises something she's never had and yet always longed for. And he does it again to us during this Lent. Feeling thirsty already?
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ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues my feet from the snare. Turn to me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and poor.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: O that today you would listen to his voice; harden not your hearts
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Praise to you O Christ, king of eternal glory. Lord, you are really the saviour of the world; give me the living water, so that I may never get thirsty
COMMUNION ANTIPHON: For anyone who drinks of it, says the Lord, the water I shall give will become in him a spring welling up to eternal life.
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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 £673.05p. Many thanks for your continued generosity and support. There will be a retiring collection THIS WEEKEND of 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 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 Patricia McDermott who died recently. Patricia’s Funeral Mass will be held at St John’s on Wednesday 18th March at10.00am, followed by Landican at 11.30am. Please keep Patricia and her 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 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 Courses for MARCH will started on 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.
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
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
CAFOD Family Fast Day 7th March 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. ENVELOPES CAN BE HANDED IN UP TO 15th MARCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND GENEROSITY.
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.
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Saturday 7th 10.00am Cenacle Mass
10.30am Devotions – 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
Monday 9th 9.15am Helen Roth RIP
Tuesday 10th 9.15am Ints Tony Delaney
Wednesday 11th 10-11.30 First Forgiveness PE
1-2.30pm First Forgiveness PA
7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Thursday 12th NO MASS
Friday 13th 9.15am Jamie Armstrong 10th Anniv. RIP
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
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 7th 6.30pm Chester Belmar RIP
Third Sunday of Lent 8th 11.00am Sue & Leslie Peers RIP
Monday 9th 12 Noon Barbara Wise RIP
Tuesday 10th 12 Noon Nessie Flanagan RIP
Wednesday 11th 7.00pm MASS AT ST ANNE’S ONLY
Philomena O’Brien RIP
Thursday 12th NO MASS
Friday 13th 12 Noon Funeral Mass – Sr. Margaret Mary Slaven
Saturday 14th 6.30pm Elsa Kemp RIP
Fourth Sunday of Lent 15th 11.00am Martin Gorman Birthday Remembrance
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