The archdiocese has invited the Church in Luxembourg to respond to the Lineamenta (working guidelines) for the forthcoming 2nd session of the Synod on the Family, on an individual or group basis (see previous post). As the English-speaking Catholic community, we can make a useful contribution to the discussion; consequently, there will be a meeting to discuss the document and the questions included in it. The meeting, open to all, will be in the meeting room at St Alphonse (in the garden/parking) at 19:30 on Wednesday 11th February. The text of the document, including the questions to be discussed can be found here: official English text of the Lineamenta.

Fr Ed

P. Wagener has circulated material for reflection, discussion and comment concerning the results of the recent Synod on the Family in Rome. P. Wagener’s email arrived whilst I was away, and I regret I have not alerted you in time to the proposed meetings. I have found the official English text of the Lineamenta and those wishing to make a response will find the address below.

Fr Ed

The text of P. Wagener’s message reads:
‘Chers confrères,Chers agents pastoraux, Chers frères et sœurs dans le Christ,

Suite à la première étape du Synode spécial des évêques sur les « Défis pastoraux de la famille dans le contexte de l’évangélisation », le secrétariat du Synode vient de publier les « Lineamenta » rapportant sur cette première étape, incluant un deuxième questionnaire transmis à toutes les conférences épiscopales. 

Dans ce contexte, l’Archevêque de Luxembourg, Mgr Jean-Claude Hollerich, fait à nouveau appel aux communautés pastorales et linguistiques, aux membres du clergé, aux coopérateurs pastoraux et aux bénévoles ainsi qu’à tout fidèle intéressé afin de s’exprimer sur les sujets qui, parmi les 46 questions proposées, les interpellent tout particulièrement. A cet effet, le questionnaire ainsi que les « Lineamenta » peuvent être consultés et téléchargés à l’adresse web : http://www.cathol.lu/article4001 .
Les membres des commissions et conseils diocésains, communautés religieuses, instituts séculiers, communautés et mouvements de laïcs ainsi que toute personne intéressée par la thématique sont cordialement invités à une des réunions consultatives bilingues (L/Fr) qui auront lieu

• le lundi 26 janvier à 20.00 heures au Centre Jean XXIII, 52, rue Jules Wilhelm, L-2728 Luxembourg
• le mercredi 28 janvier à 19h30 à l’école Ste Anne, 108, Grand-Rue, L-9051 Ettelbruck
• le jeudi 29 janvier à 19h30 à la Maison des Jeunes, 21, Rue de l’Église, L-4106 Esch/Alzette.

Merci de vous préparer à l’aide des « Lineamenta » et du questionnaire, si possible, et de vous inscrire en ligne à l’adresse http://www.cathol.lu/article4001. Les résultats de ces réunions seront ensuite traités avec l’ensemble des informations rassemblées et analysées en vue d’une synthèse par un groupe de travail ad hoc. Il reviendra à l’Archevêque de Luxembourg de finaliser le rapport et de l’envoyer à Rome pour le 15 avril 2015. 

 Au cas, où vous ne pouvez pas participer à la réunion mais souhaitez néanmoins répondre au questionnaire (seul ou en groupe), vos contributions sont à envoyer jusqu’au 15 février 2015 à la référente pour la Pastorale familiale au sein du Service de la Pastorale, Mme Milly Hellers (milly.hellers@cathol.lu, adresse postale : BP 419, L-2014 Luxembourg, Tél. 46 20 23 – 38). 

 Dans l’espoir de rencontrer votre intérêt et votre collaboration, je vous salue bien fraternellement en Christ,

 Leo Wagener’

The homily preached at St Alphonse on Sunday 25 January 2015 may be found here.

We are pleased to have begun the process of preparing for our Confirmations this year, and the programme for candidates and parents will start shortly. The Confirmations will be celebrated by Archbishop Hollerich at St Alphonse on 31 May, during the 11:15 Mass.

Classes for candidates will be each Wednesday evening from 19:00 until 20:30 in the parish meeting room (accessed via the garden/parking at St Alphonse – parking will be available). There will be no class during school holidays; the full schedule (draft) is published below. This will be confirmed, as it were, shortly. We hope to have two of the classes in the home of candidates: details to be announced.

The first class is due to take place on 25th February. Thereafter:
25 February  (Candidates to be presented at the 11:15 Mass on 28th February)
4 March
11 March
18 March
25 March
15 April
22 April Candidates’ letters to Archbishop
29 April
06 May
13 May
20 May
27 May  (date subject to revision) — Rehearsal in St Alphonse church 19:00

Confirmation Mass Sunday 31 May

Catechists Our team of catechists is led by Marthese Lufi.  Additionally, involvement of parents in classes and other aspects of preparing the celebration will be very welcome. More about this at the parents’ session on February 6th at 19:00 in the meeting room (garden/parking St Alphonse)

Meeting of Parents of Candidates 6 February 19:00 parish meeting room; refreshments will be provided.

Application forms and further information can be downloaded here and will also be distributed through the European School. Completed forms must be handed in to Fr Ed or Marthese Lufi. ALL CANDIDATES MUST BE 15 YEARS OLD, OR OLDER, BY 31 MAY 2015. The archdiocese is raising the age for Confirmation to 16, so our next celebrations, following the bi-yearly pattern, will be in 2017, and Candidates for that programme must have reached the age of 16 by the date of the Confirmation Mass of that year.

Thank you,

Fr Ed

In line with our (draft) parish music strategy Towards a strategy for music published in Autumn last year, we are continuing to introduce new Mass settings, shaping a wider repertoire of parts of the Mass with which we can become familiar, and which we can incorporate into our liturgical planning. The Belmont Mass has now become a familiar part of our Sunday worship, and so this Sunday the Music Group, with singers from the choir, introduce A Mass for a Joyful Heart, which will further enrich our worship. The leaflet for Mass this Sunday, with notation (in miniature!) can be found here: Mass of a Joyful Heart 25 Jan 2015. If you can sight-read, it would be great if you could familiarise yourself with the parts of the Mass.

In the longer term, we are planning to introduce the Heritage Mass. More details will be announced.

As always, new singers and musicians are welcome. Last Sunday (18 January) the Music Group numbered 22, and gave a joyful lift to our celebration.

Thank you to all who give of their time and talent each week during our celebration of Mass.

Fr Ed