Due to a health and safety emergency, St Alphonse church is closed until further notice — there are NO Masses in the church this weekend (27/28 July). There has been subsidence in the floor of the church in the main aisle and the right hand side aisle; architects and engineers have been inspecting the situation, and doing tests regarding possible causes/remedies/safety levels. The insurance company has demanded that the church be closed to the public until further notice.

Weekend Masses
At the time of writing, we are seeking an alternative venue for this evening’s Mass scheduled for 19:00.

Masses tomorrow (Sunday) will be at 12:00 and 19:00, both in the church at Bonnevoie.

We will search for a longer-term solution, depending how the situation at St Alphonse develops. Weekday Masses will be celebrated at 07:30 and 18:15 in the convent, and entry will be via the main door, next to the door of the church.

Apologies for any inconvenience — we are doing our best to keep things running as near to normal as possible. Updates will be made as they become available, both via catholic.lu and subscriber email updates.

Thank you for your understanding,

Fr Ed

We are all aware that our English-speaking Catholic community is active, busy, and very much engaged in the wider community of Luxembourg and beyond; recently, our Pastoral Council has commissioned a quarterly report (with the intention that it become monthly) which acts as a record, albeit partial, of what we do. At first glance, this report might seem simply statistical: but the reality is that behind every number is hidden a world of engagement, of administration, of time generously given for the flourishing of our community and the growth of the Kingdom of God. Not included in the report are the regular meetings of different groups (eg. Christian Meditation, prayer groups for women and men, the time and energy willingly and joyfully expended by our musicians, catechists, ministers of Word and Sacrament, hospitality ministry, ministry to people and communities in need, Confession/pastoral counselling by the priest, sick-visits, our close contact with the local church in Luxembourg, and our close Christian neighbours in the Anglican and evangelical churches here, our nascent relations with the Jewish and Muslim communities, with whom we maintain active contact, etc).

Published here is simply the opening page of the report — in time we will be able to publish the sections regarding our Pastoral Council sub-committees (liturgy, diakonia, youth, finance, social/pastoral, catechesis, compliance, safeguarding.

Here is one view of our parish. I present it as a mirror, allowing us to reflect on who we are and what we do; I present it also, and perhaps chiefly, as a challenge: how engaged are we, as individuals, groups and families, and what more can we do? If we are not, as a community, growing, we are diminishing — and we are not here to manage decline: we are here to reach out, to make a difference, to work alongside the Lord of the harvest.

Comments and suggestions always welcome via the parish office!

I hope and pray our regular reports help us to be transparent in terms of what we do, informing and underlining our commitment

Fr Ed

2019 Apr – Jun

We have been offered a Christmas crib scene (see pictures below) but it needs to be transported to St Alphonse from its current location in Kirchberg. Judging by its apparent size a van would be needed. Any volunteers, please?

If you can help, please contact David Borg. Thank you in anticipation. Fr Ed

All involved in catechism in the parish, or who would like to be involved, are invited to a morning of reflection, prayer, Bible study and discussion at the Centre Jean XXIII in Kirchberg on Saturday 28 September from 9.30 till 14.00.  It is an opportunity to meet catechists from other parishes and communities in Luxembourg, share ideas and to meet the Archbishop of Luxembourg.  The session will include lunch.

If you would like to attend, please contact the parish office to register.

A message from Helen Clark…..

Dear Congregation of St Alphonse,

Firstly a huge thank you for your generosity at the outdoor Mass and BBQ last Sunday.

We raised 700 Euros for “ The Ilula Orphan Program”

We must say a HUGE thank you to our very talented Children and  young people who sang and played  to help raise that money for vulnerable Children and young people in Tanzania . I truly believe it is down to them that we could raise such a great amount in just an hour and a half.

Please see below a poster for an Alizeti concert this Sunday evening, 7th July.

At that concert Alizeti will present a cheque to IOP Luxembourg for 16,000.00 Euros.

IOP Luxembourg are a registered NGO in Luxembourg and in  partnership  with Christian Solidarity International ( CSI) received co financing form the Luxembourgish Government to build a Primary school in Ilula.

In January 2018 Sam O”Dea, one of the directors of Sunflower Montessori in Luxembourg raised the Luxembourgish flag outside the Primary School in Ilula when the first students entered.

The school will host 560 students on completion in Jan 2020.

The Orphanage and hostels will be home to the some of the most vulnerable children in the area.

This amazing feat has only come to fruition because of the generosity of the Luxembourgish people.

Over the years our parish has made a substantial contribution to that amount and I cannot thank you enough.

It would be wonderful if some of you could come to support us and celebrate on Sunday.

From Alizeti, IOP Luxembourg, IOP Tanzania and all the children in Ilula who will benefit from your generousity.

A VERY BIG THANK YOU,

Please look at www.ioptanzania.org

Hope you can make it!

Best,

Helen