We now have a wide selection of Mass cards available, and cards for various occasions. If you would like to send a Mass card, you may find one in the display at the back of the church. To have the Mass said, please write down who it is for, what is the occasion (eg. anniversary of death, special intention, someone who is lately dead, get-well etc) and when you would like the Mass said. If the date is important, please also add your contact details. Then give the information to me. You may, if you wish, include an offering, but this is not required. I will sign the card, and celebrate the Mass for that intention. Fr Ed

Advent is almost upon us, which means that Christmas is not far behind! The celebrated vocal ensemble, Intermedi, are performing a concert of music and readings in preparation for Christmas, at 18:00, December 8 in the Konvict Chapel. Entrance is free, and a retiring collection will be taken for Friendship Luxembourg asbl. Full details can be found here.

Pope Francis has called a meeting of bishops from around the world to discuss the present state of family life in relation to Catholic teaching and pastoral practice. He has initiated a worldwide consultation, seeking to discover what Catholics actually think and do in relation to important issues. Each diocese will seek to elicit the information, and forward it to Rome for the end of January.

The Archdiocese of Luxembourg’s questionnaire, responding to the Holy Father’s request for consultation may be found here. The survey in English, along with supporting documentation, on the website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales can be found here: Family Life Consultation. The questionnaire is quite detailed, and some parts complex — so advance preparation is recommended. Please, if possible, respond to the Luxembourg consultation. Don’t worry if you find some parts of the questionnaire not relevant to your situation, or difficult to understand — answer the sections you wish to, and are able to, complete.

A consultation exercise on this scale is unprecedented in the Church, and it will be interesting to follow its course. Topics covered in the survey include: living together before marriage; divorced and re-married Catholics; same-sex unions; contraception and adoption.

The archdiocese has forwarded a letter from the archbishop, along with the official Preparation Documents (‘lineaments’) inEnglish and inFrench. There is a letter from the Archbishop, and finally, the questionnaire.

There is a fundraising event next Saturday, 23 November, at Sunflower Montessori crèche from 09:00 until 15:00. Full details can be found here.

The following ‘Form for tabling a parliamentary question’ has been presented to us as a matter of urgent concern. Copies of the form will available at weekend Masses. It is important that show our support for Religious Education at every level, making our voices heard. Signed forms may be returned to myself at St Alphonse. Fr Ed

update: It has been pointed out that this petition has been organised by parents concerned at the proposed reductions/cuts in Religious Education, and not by any other official body.

“The Board of Governors of the European Schools has announced cost-cutting measures within which religious education at the European Schools shall be reduced or entirely cut. This issue was taken off the agenda of the Board of Governors at the beginning of 2013 following the European Parliament’s urging. It was announced that working groups, together with the Churches, would develop a new framework regarding religious education by December 2013.

It seems, however, that the Churches and those affected by the new framework, namely the students and their parents, have not or not sufficiently been included in this process and have not been sufficiently informed.

What position does the European Commission advocate in the working groups and the Board of Governors regarding the cutting of religious education in the European Schools? How can, according to the European Commission, the concrete and differentiated conveying of values be ensured in the European Schools if religious education will be cut? Will religious education be offered in the students’ mother tongue? What further steps are planned? Is there already a specific timeframe for the decisions to be taken?”