Author: Fr Ed

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Eucharistic Adoration online — daily from this evening

In view of the positive response received regarding interest in Adoration online, this service will begin this evening. It is foreseen that Adoration will be twice a day, from 11:00-12:00 midday, and from 21:00-22:00. The evening session will finish with Compline, Night Prayer of the Church at 21:50. Leaflets with the order of Compline will be posted at catholic.lu each day, until the whole week is covered: you can print and join in.

Adoration online is not ideal; when we adore the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, he is hidden in the form of bread. When we see the Sacrament online, it is with another layer of hiddenness — a sign within a sign, as it were; but he is present with us in our devotion and prayer — he can negotiate the theological complexities of the situation!

Online Adoration will be for the duration of the present closure of St Alphonse.

Please give feedback, indicating if you find this devotion online useful/helpful or not.

Thank you, Fr Ed

I have to add here that Fr HP is totally opposed to this initiative, and has asked me to make clear he dissociates himself from it completely. I respect his views and his decision in this regard.

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Eucharistic Adoration online? A Question…

Eucharistic Adoration online

We are wondering how best we can respond to our present ‘shutdown’ situation, maintaining our Catholic community identity, whilst at the same time observing necessary health and safety guidance.

We have started (via FaceBook) broadcasting moments of prayer, where we can participate live online in prayer, or look at the recordings later. Our first attempt (Sunday 15 March) seems to have been well received.

Are you interested in Eucharistic Adoration online… that is to say, a live-streamed video of the Blessed Sacrament exposed from the couvent of St Alphonse (the church building has no internet connection). We could do this for, maybe, one hour each day. Acknowledged, it would not be the same as being in the direct presence of the Blessed Sacrament, but the Lord would be with you just as much.

If sufficient members of our community are interested in this, we can make it happen.

What are your thoughts? Let us know

Thank you,

Fr Ed

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St Patrick’s Day — an online reflection

It’s a poor compensation for our cancelled celebrations, but I will offer a Moment of Reflection tomorrow, St Patrick’s Day. It will be broadcast live via FaceBook (you don’t need to have a FB ID) and will be recorded for later viewing. Join me at 11:00 online tomorrow, 17th March, and we can continue to be united in prayer, even though we can’t meet together in person. You can find our FaceBook page here.

Hopefully see you tomorrow (or at least you can see me!)

Fr Ed

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COVID-19/Coronavirus

Yesterday, Thursday 12 March, the Luxembourg government published a series of measures attempting to limit the spread of the virus in Luxembourg. Article 5 of the official document states: “From 13 March and until 31 March until further notice:

• Events in confined spaces with more than 100 people are prohibited
• Events in non-confined spaces with more than 500 people are prohibited”
This obviously affects our Masses; even if we cancelled only the 11:15, we can’t guarantee that fewer than 100 people would come to either of the evening Masses. With much regret, we have to announce that until further notice:
  • Our 3 weekend Masses are suspended
  • All other parish group activities suspended
  • St Patrick’s Day Procession and Mass is cancelled
These are clearly challenging and worrying times — so we respond to them not only by taking all the precautions we can to preserve our health and that of those around us, but also in faith and with prayer. We will shortly publish a prayer that we can all say each day, individually or with our families, and hopefully will be able to video-stream a (small) Mass or prayers from St Alphonse
The parish office remains open for business as usual
Updates will, of course, be published here.
Thank you once again for your understanding and faith.
Fr Ed, along with Fr HP, all of our Pastoral Council