Many thanks to all the organisations and individuals who helped make yesterday’s celebration of St Patrick such a memorable occasion. In spite of the freezing temperature, our procession from the Golden Lady, through town, and into St Alphonse was a great occasion: our giant icon of the saint, altar servers and bagpipe player certainly caught the attention of Saturday shoppers.

An RTL video of the event can be found here, and a gallery of 200 photos from RTL can be found here.

Planning has already begun for next year!

Since the beginning of our English-speaking Catholic community here in Luxembourg, the Irish community has been one of the main driving forces in our parish, in terms of faith, practical engagement, and supporting a spirit of openness to all-comers. And wherever there are Irish people, there is, of course, a celebration of St Patrick. His Feast Day, 17th March, is not just a national celebration, it is a celebration of the whole missionary activity of our Church.

This year, we are celebrating St Patrick in 3 ways, all closely linked: a procession from the Gelle-Frau (the golden statue opposite the cathedral), led  by a piper, to the church of St Alphonse; a Mass with Irish cultural references; then a feast at the back of the church.

Assemble at the Gelle-Frau at 10:40 for the procession to the church, Saturday 17th March:

Mass at 11:00

Feast in the church, 11:45-ish.

All welcome. And all must bring at least 2 friends who have never participated in a St Patrick’s Day celebration before 😉

Fr Ed

Each Friday in Lent, we celebrate the Stations of the Cross in St Alphonse at 19:00. All are welcome.

Booklets offering different versions of the Stations of the Cross are available on the card cabinet in the tea/coffee area for those wishing to pray the Stations individually.

The Archbishop’s Pastoral Letter, issued for the First Sunday of Lent, tells us that:

We are important, to our loved ones, to our family, to society, to our Church, and most of all, to God!

The letter is available here in English (unofficial translation) and here in French.

“Saint Joseph, man of silence”

Pilgrimage for fathers in Luxembourg (Saturday 17 March 2018)

For the third time since its inauguration in 2016, the  “Marche des pères de famille” is being organised for 17 March 2018 (the nearest Saturday to the Feast of St Joseph, celebrated on the 19th March).

Around 30 dads (mostly in their mid 30s-40s) will be walking in the north of the country heading to the Abbaye de Clervaux. This is a great opportunity for dads in our parish to join this pilgrimage, and you are most welcome !

The meeting point is at the Gare de Luxembourg at 7h30. You will be back at around 18h00 in Luxembourg-city. Several priest will be joining. All the details may be found in the attached invitation.

Fr Ed adds:
On a personal note: I’ve accompanied this walk in 2016 & 2017, and can highly recommend it on several levels: a good walk, in picturesque surroundings with plenty of fresh air; a good walk with other fathers of families; an informal opportunity to share on the level of faith; and last, but not least, the picnic is great, and the reception by the monks  at Clervaux is warm.

Sadly this year I can’t walk the walk as I have the Mass for St Patrick’s Day at 11:00 on the same day. Hopefully, I’ll be there next year!

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Fr Ed