UPDATE: full lists of what is authorised for the boxes and what is prohibited can be found here.

For the attention of our children and young people — and adults too!

This year our parish is participating in ‘Operation Shoe-box‘, which is a practical way to help children in countries less well-off than our own. The idea is a simple one: find a shoe-box (shoe shops are happy to give them away), decorate it with wrapping paper, and then fill it with small gifts. There is a recommended shopping list which shows the variety of items that are suitable. These boxes are then collected together, and sent (in the case of our Luxembourg appeal) to children in Moldovia and Romania.

The appeal is part of an international effort, with other countries collecting and distributing, aiming for delivery around Christmas time. The brochure for the UK scheme (entitled Operation Christmas Child) is an example of part of this wider effort. This shoebox appeal flyer is aimed at the UK only — dates, suggested gifts etc differ from our own.

Once the boxes have been prepared and filled, they can be brought to Mass at St Alphonse any Saturday evening (7pm) or Sunday morning (11.15am), or to the front door of the couvent next door at other times. The final date for handing boxes in is 27 October, when the boxes will be presented at the altar during Mass.

We were not directly involved in last year’s appeal, but it managed to collect 430 boxes. This year the target is 500 boxes — I’m sure we can reach and surpass that target!

Thank-you to Jessica Mills from the Oasis Church of God here in Luxembourg and Michelle Foley from our own community for drawing the project to our attention.

Fr Ed