I am appealing for a sponsor (or sponsors) to help finance a young man during his first year at business school in Montpelier. He is 22 years old, and his mother is an active and devout member of the French-speaking community at St Alphonse. The second year of the course he will spend as a stagiaire, so the need is for this year.

The mother is well known to the Redemptorist community, and highly regarded: if you could help with sponsorship, or with a one-off donation, it would be greatly appreciated. You can contact me, and I will put you in touch with the mother concerned.

Thank you,

Fr Ed

On Sunday 9th October The Art of Music are giving a concert in the church of St Alphonse at 17:00. Entitled In Principio erat Verbum (in the beginning was the Word) and is a selection of choral music by great Renaissance composers. The flyer for the concert is here.

The concert is being repeated (with some changes in the programme) on Sunday 16th October at 5pm in the church in Waldbilig. The flyer for this concert is here.

The issue of homelessness in Luxembourg is as real as it is in so many places; for us in our parish, it presents itself at the door of the church, and at the entry to the parking in the Place du Théatre — men and women begging for money. The issue is complex: there are organised ‘professional’ beggars in the city, and there are others who ask for money, often because they have mental health, addiction, poverty or other issues. Should we give money, not knowing whether we are simply salving our conscience, or feeding the problems… One thing is clear: we wish to help, in the most effective way possible.

I have recently had contact with two organisations, the first being Cent Buttek, which collects unsold foodstuffs from shops, and distributes them from their own outlets to people in need; and Stëmm van der Stroos, which is engaged with meeting the needs of homeless people in the Grand Duchy. I was impressed with the work of both enterprises.

I am proposing a meeting of interested parishioners with a representative from each organisation to explore how our community can best engage with the pressing issue of homelessness in Luxembourg. I need someone who will organise and facilitate this meeting. It can be in the parish meeting room, at any time or date of choice. Those who attend will be under no obligation: we wish to hear from those working in this field what we could contribute, whether money, volunteering to help or whatever.

Thank you for your consistent and generous help in all the works of our parish.

Fr Ed

If you’re planning to get married in the Catholic Church, congratulations! The paperwork for your marriage is prepared in the country where you live. Marriage Preparation may be done elsewhere — but the International Parish offers courses 3 times per year, and all couples are welcome to participate.

Our next Marriage Preparation Day will be on Saturday, October 15, from 10:00 – 16:00, in the meeting room at St Alphonse This course is for couples preparing for marriage: it’s not about preparing for the ceremony itself, but for the rest of married life together. These days have been both popular and highly rated; input is given by trained Marriage Preparation presenters, and couples have an opportunity also to share their own experience of life together.

Exceptionally (due to scheduling issues, for example) you can take the course after your church wedding. If you wish to register for the October date, please contact me and I will subscribe you. To cover costs, we ask €75 from each couple; if this is beyond your means, no problem — again, just get in touch. Refreshments and a sandwich lunch are provided.

Our October course will be presented by Kit and Caroline Dollard who work both for the diocese of Middlesbrough and the Abbey of Ampleforth in the UK.

Fr Ed

Our celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation next year, 2017, will be at the 11:15 Mass on Sunday 26th March. Archbishop Hollerich has kindly agreed to be with us on that day.

Registration for candidates will be after Mass on Sunday 9th October in the parish meeting room. Parents should attend, as essential information regarding preparation, course dates and the planning of the Confirmation day itself will be shared.

Following the archdiocesan guidelines, candidates must be 16 years or older by the date of the Confirmation ceremony. The first class is on Wednesday 12th October at 7pm in the parish meeting room. All candidates must be committed to attending and participating in classes.

Fr Ed