If you’re looking for a practical, helpful way to spend Christmas. The Redemptorists in Ireland, in collaboration with our African confreres, are running a gift scheme. Details here.

Aid in Europe: Our parish has been very generous in supporting worthy projects in, amongst other places, South America and Africa. For the four Sundays of Advent we are looking a little closer to home: to European countries where people are struggling with crippling debt.

There will be a retiring collection in SS Peter & Paul & St Alphonse each Saturday evening/Sunday morning which will be in support of 4 aid organisations, working respectively in Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy. The donations collected will be send directly by the parish to the organisations, which are: The Red Cross (Spain), The Red Cross (Portugal), SOS Children’s Villages (Greece),  and The Red Cross (Italy). All of these organisations are providing aid to their own citizens, and our contributions will be for these home projects.

Of course, if you wish to give to one or more particular organisation, rather than all four, simply put your offering in an envelope marked accordingly and your donation will be allocated as requested. This is a free-will collection, and no-one should feel under any pressure or obligation to contribute. Fr Ed

UPDATE: SUNDAY 2 DECEMBER, YOU GAVE €820. This amount will be forwarded to the Red Cross in Spain, which for the first time is directing aid towards domestic Spanish causes as well as to causes abroad. Many thanks for your continued generosity.

Introduction delayed one week — apologies! The missals/leaflets should be with us in time for this coming Sunday, 8/9 December, and catechesis at the beginning of Mass will commence then.

Sunday 2 December is the First Sunday of Advent, and is traditionally the beginning of the Church’s year. On that day, we will move to the revised English translation of the Mass both at SS Peter & Paul, and St Alphonse.

In terms of practicalities, there are not many changes in the peoples’ responses, but inevitably the changes will take some time to get used to. From the outset, we will have laminated cards with the Ordinary of the Mass (which includes the regular prayers which don’t change from week to week) available for all. Additionally, new Sunday Missals will be available for sale at €25 (substantially discounted by Redemptorist Publications, UK). The old Sunday Missals will continue to be available for those who wish to use them to follow the readings each week, which have not changed; of course, the prayers and responses will all be according to the new translation.

Over the next few months, we will have talks, workshops and times of reflection to take us deeper into the mystery at the heart of our faith. Each Mass, beginning on Sunday, will begin with a 5 minute catechesis on successive parts of the Mass. Further events will be announced as soon as possible. The changeover presents us with an opportunity to rediscover the richness of the Roman Rite, the ancient, poetic and profound texts of our Eucharistic liturgy, and we will make the most of it.

Fr Ed

We were delighted to have our Sunday Mass in the cathedral on 25 November, and were amazed that the cathedral was almost full. Père Erny Gillen, Vicaire Général of the archdiocese presided at the Mass, standing in for the archbishop who was in Rio de Janeiro helping plan the 2013 World Youth Day. The prayers and readings were in English and French, and Père Gillen preached in both languages. The English homily included an amusing story about a man called Pedro working in Mexico. Those who were there will smile when they recall it.
The welcome at the beginning of Mass was delivered by Mme Cheryl Kouba, Chair of the Parish Council of the English-speaking community, in Luxembourgish, English and French. Just to add to the linguistic richness, the Creed was in Latin, and everyone was invited to say the Our Father in their own tongue!

Hymns, chants and accompaniment were provided as usual by members of the parish, with the addition of the cathedral organist. A power of work and planning went into the event, and thanks are due to all concerned. If you would like to see the order of service used at the Mass, you can find it here: Messe intercommunitaire. If anyone has photos of the event, please email them to fr.ed@pt.lu and they will be posted here.

Gluten-free hosts are now available in St Alphonse and SS Peter & Paul, Hollerick. if you wish to receive a gluten-free host, please let Fr Ed know before Mass begins, and a host can be provided for the Mass.