St. John Stone, Woodvale

Introduction

The founder of St John Stone Parish served from 2001 to 2015. The first parish priest of Sacred Heart served from 1904 to 1924.

Music and liturgy

The parish has a plan to extend and improve leadership uniting music ministry as a contribution to spirituality. Catechists serve children in the Liturgy of the Word. Devotions include Divine Mercy, Rosary, Saints, Sacred Heart, and Adoration time and Practical Prayer are offered.

Parish life

The Living Christ Retreat is held periodically in St John Stone's Hall. St John's Stone RC Church is one of the churches involved in Churches Together in Ainsdale.

Parishioners give time and care in Place2Be Community Market, Ainsdale Community Care, Ainsdale Foodbank, Southport Soup Kitchen, bereavement care, Coffee & Chat, and Communion to homes and hospital patients. During the Jubilee Year of Mercy 2016 the parish increased its Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, and this has continued as integral to its missionary actions. The Ecumenical Covenant is renewed every five years, with the most recent renewal in January 2026.

Sacraments and pastoral care

For the Christening Welcome mass, grandparents and godparents are invited to attend but it isn't essential if they live some distance away. With the other Catholic parishes in Southport the parish learns about RCIA, the Catholic way for parishes to become effective in inviting and nurturing new people's interest in the faith. With You Always (WYA) is vital for supporting parents as teachers of the faith, and developing ways of sustaining children after making their Holy Communion.

The parish aims to cope with the challenges of including the sick, mentally and physically, and the lonely, extending the opportunity for people to receive a visit or consolation. The housebound can request communion to their home.