Advent Blessings from Africa and Madagascar,

Welcome to our 2016 Christmas Solidarity Gifts Catalogue. This year, choose a gift that will make a lasting and positive change, supporting the communities we work with in Africa and Madagascar. The Redemptorist Solidarity Gifts are a wonderful way of creating bonds of support and friendship between you and the people of Africa and Madagascar.  The Gifts support communities where the Redemptorists work.  These Gifts deliver meaningful and practical help that enrich the lives of people thwarted by the pain of poverty.

Please invite your family and friends to choose from our Christmas Solidarity Gifts.

A positive way to reach out to others at Christmas, participating in the Redemptorist worldwide mission. Check out the Redemptorist Solidarity Gifts site for ideas and suggestions for making a difference to the lives of others this Christmas! I have personally visited the Redemptorist mission in Zimbabwe, and know Redemptorist confreres working in other African countries and can attest to the wonderful work being done with local communities, through their engagement with the Redemptorists.

Luxembourg can be part of that difference!

Fr Ed

On the 1st Sunday of Advent (27th November) we introduced an additional Sunday Mass at 17:00, the ‘Quiet Mass’, allowing a more reflective celebration. I was hoping for an initial attendance of between 6 & 12 people, which we could then build up over the months. Consequently, I asked the organisers of the rotas for Readers and Eucharistic Ministers not to include this new Mass on their lists until we could see there was sufficient attendance to justify organising in advance. This evening there were over 70 people at the Quiet Mass, so the need is immediate and clear, although the new rotas have already been published.

So if you are a Reader or Eucharistic Minister and you are willing to read at the 17:00 Mass, could you sign up when you arrive on any particular Sunday evening? 2 Ministers and 1 reader should be enough each week, for the time being. Servers have also been expressing their interest in attending from time to time: all will be welcome (but not all together!).

As already announced, the Quiet Mass is at 17:00 every Sunday evening (including Christmas & New Year’s Day) until Easter, and then between Easter and October at 19:00.

Thank you for your continued enthusiasm and participation,

Fr Ed

The Jubilee Year of Mercy is officially over, but our celebration of mercy continues, year in, year out. We formally closed the Year in our parish with the celebration of individual Confession and Absolution. In a simple but moving manner, hundreds of our parishioners came forward to ask for God’s forgiveness — and received absolution and forgiveness from the Lord. This is but one of the fruits from this special year.

I have just read an excellent reflection by a  journalist on the Year of Mercy, which I share here.  (thank you, Gerry, for the link).

Fr Ed

Niall Mac Monagle, teacher, editor and art critic will launch his poetry anthology
Windharp – Poetry of Ireland since 1916 and speak on the painting Une ferme à Pont-Aven by Roderic O’ Connor in the presence of the Irish Ambassador to Luxembourg H.E. Peadar Carpenter

at Chapter 1 The Book Loft  40, rue des Bruyères – L-1274, Howald, Luxembourg

Friday, 9^th December from  6h30pm to 8h30pm

Complimentary drinks and canapés  Music by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Lucsamburg

 AFTERWARDS…

retire to ÉireLux, new Irish pub for ceol agus craic

 Please register using the link below RSVP by 5^th December

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090c44aaa622a1ff2-apoem

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