The following message has been received concerning the Ilula Orphan Program which members of our community have been supporting, and for which our parish has helped raise funds:

‘Dear Friends, sponsors and supporters of IOP,
Please find attached the information letter (which many of you should have already received) and also an invitation for the meeting next Wednesday 28th Jan,  7pm at Sunflower Montessori in Moutfort. On this evening we would like to share photos and letters from our 2014 Ilula trip and also plan for the continued support for  IOP here in Luxembourg.
Please send the invitation to any colleagues or friends who may be interested in attending and please confirm by email as soon as possible the number that will attend.
Thank you for your continued support.’

Attached: The letter, addressed to sponsors of IOP, can be found here.

Fr Ed

‘Gentle and lowly of heart’ is the title of a concert of Latvian folk songs which will take place in the church of St Alphonse at 12:20 on Sunday 1st February. The concert, organised by a member of our music group, focuses on the image of God which permeates Latvian folk songs. The musicians playing at the concert will also be playing alongside our own Music Group at the 11:15 Mass on the same day — something that promises to be a musical feast, and something which further enhances our Sunday worship. Entry is free, and there will be a freewill collection towards expenses, and to help fund an art and music project in the European School called Identity — exploring cultural identity amongst Latvian students.

Fr Ed

A flyer for the concert can be found here:

Further information on Latvian folk music, the ‘kokle’ instrument, and the musicians, can be found here.

Below are recordings of the homilies for January 2015, up to and including 18 January. Where the homily for the Saturday 19:00 Mass is substantially different from the Sunday, both are included.

Fr Ed

01 January Feast of Mary, Mother of God

03 January Epiphany (Vigil)

04 January Epiphany 11:15

10 January (Vigil)

11 January 11:15

18 January 11:15 (note: sound quality poor due to non-fixed microphone to talk to FHC children)

There is a change of venue for Christian Meditation this week (Tuesday 13th January, 18:30). The meeting will be in the Catechesis room (in the church, to the right of the altar). Entrance can be via the church until 18:45, or directly from the Place de Théâtre. The parking at St Alphonse will be open as usual — but can the last driver to leave please close the large gates (no key needed).

The usual room is being used for a large meeting. Normal service will resume on Tuesday 20 January.

Thank you,

Fr Ed

Michael Lapsley is an Anglican priest and founder of the Institute for Healing of Memories in South Africa. Michael will be giving a workshop on the subject of healing of memories from 27 February – 1 March this year, in Hosingen. The workshop will be given in English, French and Luxembourgish. The flyer for the event (FR) can be found here: Annonce guérison mémoires 2015; the inscription form (FR) here, and a testimony from a former participant (FR) here. The deadline for registration is 20 January.

Fr Ed