The Anglican community have invited us to ‘save the date’, announcing their annual Arts Festival:

More details will be announced as received.

“Our next charity fundraising Arts Festival will be held on Sunday, 4 February 2018 in the Konvikt Centre from 12.30 pm to 7.30 pm. As last year there will be musical and theatrical performances and workshops as well as food, drink, books to buy and various amusements. Suggestions for new attractions gratefully received, as well as offers of help on the day. Contact Philippa Seymour.”

Money raised
So far this year, our tea and coffee ‘café’ at the back of church has raised over €3000.00 for missionary projects in Garango, Burkina Faso. Many thanks to Annette Power who is the driving force and organiser behind this important aspect of our parish life, and to all the teams on the rota who refresh us and help us mix each week.

Summer Rota
It is always a challenge to ensure there will be a team each week during the holiday season: if you are available any weekend during July, August and September, could you let Annette know, or sign up on the rota sheet at the 11:15 Mass. The Sunday refreshments are a vital part of the ‘social glue’ that keeps our community together, giving us an opportunity to meet and chat.

Contributing
Our refreshments are not sold to you, but donations are politely asked for — in this way we further help people in a country less well-off than our own. If you take tea, coffee or lemonade, please do consider making a donation.

Thanks,

Fr Ed

I have received the following 2 appeals:

“Young Albanian refugee, mother of 3 children, speaking Albanian, English and learning French, looking of ra full-time job with a family (ironing, cleaning, babysitting), or in a restaurant or a firm.”
Please contact Violeta Kola: 671 104 824

A parishioner wishes to take her mother to Lourdes via Stansted 4th to 6th September. Would any person be interested in coming along? If so, please contact Christine.

Thanks,
Fr Ed

Our outdoor Mass and barbecue on 2nd July 2017 will be in the garden of the Archbishop’s residence at 3 Avenue Marie-Thérèse (next to the Konvict Centre) at 11:15.

Due to the ongoing building works at St Alphonse, the garden is not available. Our Parish Council approached the Archbishop about the possibility of us using the garden of his official residence, and he was more than generous in offering us the garden; we have done this once before, and found it to be a fabulous venue: 10 mins walk from St Alphonse (& its parking), much more spacious, and it gives us the opportunity to set up the various spaces — spiritual, for the Mass, practical, for the BBQ, and lots of space for leisure (i.e. children, water-pistols, ball-games etc).

The collection will be taken as usual, and a freewill offering can be made to cover expenses; all proceeds from this offering will be divided between our pilgrimage to Lourdes this year, the Illula Orphanage Trust, which we support, and Garango (Burkina Faso) which has long been a missionary endeavour of the (former) Paroisse Européene, and to which our regular tea/coffee receipts are sent.

The outdoor Mass and BBQ is a significant event for our community (and for others who join us) — we can mingle, meet other people we might otherwise not have the chance to speak with, and strengthen the social aspect of our parish, which in turn strengthens the spiritual aspect (and vice-versa).

Put the date in your diary!

Fr Ed