Junior Choral Journey

After the success of the Summer Concert, we are running a short Choral Journey for 8 to 18-year-olds on a Thursday between 7-8pm in the church.

Starting on Thursday 5th September and then each Thursday, culminating with a performance on Thursday 17th October at 7pm.

Our choristers will form the core group and will be joined by anyone who would like to come and try something new.

It’s for school friends, neighbours, friends from tennis, rugby, football, ballet …. you get the idea!

Please spread the word on all those parent WhatsApp groups :0)

Completely free of charge for something that will be a complete joy!

Email for those interested: katiemjack@yahoo.co.uk

DWG Quiz Night

Save the date for the very popular DWG QUIZ NIGHT which will be held on Saturday 12th October in Lourdes Hall.

Tickets will be available to be purchased in September.

Ali & Lawrence’s BIG SING!

Join Alison and Lawrence for their BIG SING! This is for young singers aged 7–18 years. The course will be run by Alison Langer and Lawrence Thackeray, two professional opera singers and singing teachers who live in Harpenden and who also teach privately and at The Musicale.

Alison and Lawrence are both DBS checked and have safeguard training.

The cost of the course is £150 for the week.

August 5th–9th 11.00am to 2.00pm In the Undercroft

For more information please email albigsing@outlook.com and see the poster on the noticeboard.

Sing For…9 Concert

Please join us for an informal concert on Saturday 12th October at 3pm in church.

Entrance is by donation of hygiene products, toiletries, clothing etc. which will then be given to NOAH & Keystage Housing.

Refreshments will be served after the concert and everyone is welcome.

Sing For….9

The next four-week singing project starts on Tuesday 17th September 7.30-9.00pm in the Undercroft. It then runs each week culminating in an informal concert on Saturday 12th October at 3pm.

If you have not taken part before please think about giving it a go. It is a short commitment and no previous singing experience required.

It’s great fun and hugely rewarding and raises money and resources for NOAH and Keystage Housing.

£40 per participant. If a returning singer, please use the reference CHARITY on a bank transfer.

Email: Katiemjack@yahoo.co.uk to book your place!

COULD YOU BE THE NEXT ALTAR SERVER?

We have a faithful group of Altars Servers, whose ministry is much appreciated. But since the Pandemic there has been a noticeable shortage, and that is a shame, as they have an important part in the celebration of Mass.

Any young person, or indeed no so young, who has made their First Holy Communion, is welcome to take up this ministry, for which training is given.

Anyone interested in taking up this role should send their details to Canon Dwyer, email: harpenden@rcdow.org.uk.

Come to the next training session on Sunday 21st July at 10:50am to prepare for 11:30am Mass.

Preparation for Confirmation

Preparation for Confirmation next summer will be commencing in the autumn. Preparation is open to young people in year 9 and above, who are parishioners, or regularly attend Mass here, i.e. every Sunday.

If you wish to be Confirmed, please collect a form after Mass, complete it, and return it to the parish office with a copy of your Baptism Certificate by Wednesday 31st July.

First Communion Preparation

Preparation for First Communion, for children in year 3 and above, will be starting in the Autumn. This preparation is for children, and their families, who are parishioners and, or, who regularly attend Mass here, i.e. every Sunday.

Parents who wish to register their children for the First Communion Programme need, in the first place, to arrange to meet Canon Dwyer. Dates for these meetings can be booked by telephoning the Parish Office, Monday to Thursday between 9.30am and 12.30pm.

Please be aware that registration closes on Tuesday 9th July.

Database Updates

If any of your contact details have changed, please let the Parish Office know. Forms are available in the Porch of the Church or you can download one HERE.

Tea in the Garden

The DWG warmly invite you to Tea in the Garden on June 1^st from 10am to 3pm hosted by Julia and Nigel Roche, 23 Sibley Avenue Harpenden AL3 1HF.

Please bring along any excess bedding plants you may have, to add to our stock for sale. There will be cakes for sale as well as refreshments, a raffle and the enjoyment of good company.

Proceeds to our latest project in support of Workaid’s Radio 4 Appeal on Radio 4 June 23^rd.

Update from the DWG

The DWG was pleased to be given the opportunity to speak from the pulpit on the weekend of 18th/19th May. Just in case you missed it here’s what was shared:

‘The Developing World Group (DWG) was set up in the early 1980’s by Ian McGregor and Terry Lane, parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes with the support of Canon Maurice O’Leary the Parish priest at that time. So, for over 40 years, we here in Harpenden have continued their mission: to provide financial support for the poorest regions in the developing world.

Our projects are based on initiatives, identified, and managed by local people to avoid creating a culture of dependency. We aim to support primary education, nurture enterprise, and develop self-sufficiency. These smaller projects, under £7,500 go beneath the radar of the major charities. A small sub-group spends a great deal of time researching sustainable projects and applying due diligence, after which we can give documented evidence to you, our kind donors, on the impact your contributions make to our poorer brothers and sisters. Every penny you give goes to the adopted programme.

In the last few years projects have ranged from: providing an incubator for premature babies in South Sudan, a borehole in Northern Uganda, a goat livelihood scheme and a village loan and savings scheme, also in Uganda.

This year, so far, we have committed £4,256 to support education in the small village of Irovo, Kenya. This helped to bring electricity to the school and provide latrines for the pupils. Currently we are supporting Workaid based in Chesham, in their latest appeal on Radio 4 on June 23rd. Not only have you supported their tool collections in the past but have helped provide refurbished tools eg: sewing machines, including training in their use and maintenance.

Our fundraising events in the last few years, especially the brilliantly successful Jigsaw Festival and Lolly in the Loft, as well as Quiz Nights, tool collections and Open Garden have raised vital funds. However, they have also provided great social occasions for the whole Parish.

Our next event is, Tea In The Garden on 1st June from 10am to 3pm hosted by Julia and Nigel Roche. Do bring along any excess bedding plants you may have, to add to our stock for sale. There will also be cakes for sale along with refreshments, a raffle, and the enjoyment of good company.

The DWG warmly invite you to join us: we meet quarterly in the Undercroft. We need your energy, your ideas and your physical support. In short, we need a willingness to help the poorest of our neighbours in the poorest places, to help themselves.

A heartfelt thank you for your continuing support and for listening.’

St Dominic PTA Summer Ball

The St Dominic PTA are hosting the bi-annual summer ball on Saturday 15th June at St George’s School.

If you are interested in supporting the event by attending or have something that you can donate for the auction to raise funds for the school please contact stdominic.summerball@gmail.com.

Strawberry Social

This very popular annual event will be held on June 23rd in the parish garden immediately following the choir concert (circa 5pm).

Tickets will cost £10 which include a welcome drink, scones, strawberries and cream and will be on sale after the Masses in June.

Everyone, especially new parishioners, is welcome.

Summer Choral Concert

Tickets will be on sale after all Masses and before and after Thursday’s choir practices for the Choir’s Summer Concert. Vivaldi’s Gloria and the Nelson Mass by Haydn will be performed by our community of singers and we will also be joined by Alison Langer, Lawrence Thackeray and other soloists.

Tickets are also available on the door.

Ticket prices:
Adults £15, Concessions £10 & Children £5

A Message From Canon Anthony

Although it’s now almost a week, since the celebration, of my 40th anniversary of Ordination, I think you will understand, when I say, that I am still living off the memories, and will be for some time to come! It
was a really wonderful day, far exceeding any expectations I may have had. Maybe I have still more to learn about Harpenden Parish!

There are many lovely memories of the day. And not least is the appreciation that so many have for the Priesthood. So many comments, on the numerous cards, expressing gratitude for the gift of the Priesthood, through what is done for them in the parish. It was good too to have a full church, and so many coming to the reception afterwards, good that we can celebrate, and enjoy ourselves, together.

As is so often the case, at special times in the life of the Parish, we depend on many people coming together, to make sure everything is as it should be. So, thank you to everyone who assisted in any way. To the flower arrangers and those who cleaned the church, as well as our Altar servers and Choir, thank you all for your particular contributions. Thank you too, to those who organised the reception, especially the Ladies Group, those who assisted, donated food, helped with the bar, and helped in any way at all, a big ‘thank you’.

To all who were part of the celebration in any way at all, ‘thank you’, and thank you too for your generous gift to me, for the many greeting cards, and the other gifts received. I hope you know how much your kindness, and generosity is appreciated.

May God bless you all.
Canon Anthony Dwyer

9.45 Family Mass

Families attending the 9.45am Mass, this weekend, will receive a leaflet inviting children, (accompanied by an adult), to get involved in the various tasks which form part of the Mass.

We are hoping that every child will be keen to undertake one or more of the tasks, from time to time. You will be able to select the tasks and the date(s) you prefer. No experience needed – we are looking forward to hearing from you – come and get involved 😊. For further details, please email: familymass@catholicchurchharpenden.org.uk.

Family Mass Leaflet

Feast of Our Lady of Walsingham

Come and celebrate the joyful feast of Our Lady of Walsingham on 21st September.

Holy Mass will be celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols at the Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham at 12 Noon.

Cost is £25.00 per person.
Departure 7.00am from Christ Church, Radlett and 7.30am from St Mary’s Church London Colney.

To book a place please contact Anna on 01923 635541 or email radlett@rcdow.org.uk. There is a poster on the noticeboard in the Porch of the Church with more information.

Canon Dwyer’s 40th Anniversary Celebration

On Sunday May 12th, Canon Dwyer will be celebrating 40 years, to the day, that he was ordained to the Priesthood.

To mark this occasion, there will be a Mass of Thanksgiving, at 4.00pm on that day, followed by a reception in St Dominic’s School. Everyone is very welcome to both the Mass and reception.

If you would like to contribute towards a gift, there will be a collection after each Mass on the last weekend of April.

If you would like to contribute towards the refreshment for the reception, the Ladies Group will have a sign-up sheet after Mass on the last weekend of April.

Walk in aid of Harpenden Mencap

Fraser Rosser-Smyth, one of our parishioners, will be walking 1300km in 60 days from Geneva to Rome in support of Harpenden Mencap this summer. Walking the ancient pilgrimage route – the Via Francigena – will take him across snowdrifts, fields and hills, before arriving in Vatican City by mid July.

You may be aware that Fraser’s brother Max, who serves on the Altar, is currently in supported living at Stairways and Fraser has seen first hand the vital work Harpenden Mencap does in our local community. Though primarily a personal journey, Fraser is hoping his endeavour will help raise funds for the charity, so that all local adults with a learning disability continue to receive the support they require to lead an enriched and fulfilling life.

His JustGiving page is linked below, however his page should also come up simply by searching his name on the JustGiving website. Any support in the form of prayer is equally sought.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/fraser-rosser-smyth-1711211816774?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Ffraser-rosser-smyth-1711211816774&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

Catenian Dinner Invitation – 1300km walk over 60 days

On Easter Sunday we heard that our parishioner Fraser Rosser-Smyth plans to walk from Geneva To Rome starting on May 14th. Fraser will now be attending our meeting and dinner at Harpenden Golf Club on Wednesday 10th April at 7.30pm to tell us about the challenges he faces and the route which, takes him over the Alps and through Italy onto Rome, the final destination.

He commented that whilst its primarily a personal journey he will also be supporting Harpenden Mencap an organisation close to his heart.

Come and listen to Fraser’s story and hear about the challenges he will be facing, by joining us at the dinner. The cost for a two-course meal is £30 per person, including wine. It promises to be an interesting and enjoyable evening, so we look forward to hearing from you via email by Sunday evening please, to denniscooper4@outlook.com.

You can visit Fraser’s Just Giving page HERE

Sing For…. Eight

Join us for a four-week singing project for all ages and abilities with funds raised for two homeless organisations: Keystage Housing and Noah.

When: Tuesdays April 16/23/30 and May 14th7.30pm – 9.30pm

Where: Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Harpenden

Cost £40 per singer, includes all rehearsal sessions and final performance.

Contact Katie Metcalfe by email: katiemmusic@yahoo.co.uk

Come and try Choral Singing!

Try something new? Rekindle an old hobby? Exercise your entire being?

You are invited to join in an exciting parish-and-beyond choral journey – rehearsing Vivaldi’s Gloria and the Nelson Mass by Haydn.

You will be singing and learning alongside experienced choral singers and performing with Alison Langer, Lawrence Thackeray and other soloists for the final performance.

The aim is to encourage as many of our parish, our friends, our neighbours, our work colleagues, our family, fellow dog-walkers, fellow school parents…. (you get the picture!) to experience the joy of singing in a choir and learning new skills of reading/following music and ultimately performing as one of a powerful team.

Taking place at Our Lady of Lourdes Church and all at no cost other than your time and for a relatively short period of commitment.

REHEARSAL DATES

STARTING WITH AN HOUR A WEEK:
Thursday 18th April 8.00-9.00pm
Thursday 25th April 8.00-9.00pm
Thursday 2nd May 8.00-9.00pm
Thursday 9th May 8.00-9.00pm
Thursday 16th May 8.00-9.00pm
(23rd May – no rehearsal)
Thursday 30th May 7.00-8.45pm optional listening week, revision etc.

BUILDING UP IN THE FINAL WEEKS:
Thursday 6th June 7.00-8.45pm
Thursday 13th June 7.00-8.45pm
Thursday 20th June 7.00-8.45pm

THE PERFORMANCE:
SUNDAY 23rd JUNE 2.00pm Rehearsal, 4.00pm CONCERT

Contact Katie for more information: katiemjack@yahoo.co.uk

Children’s Stations of the Cross

Our children’s Stations of the Cross will be at 11.30am on Good Friday 29th March, and will last about 45 minutes.

This is a really good opportunity for children to understand and take part in Christ’s Passion on Good Friday. We are looking for children to take parts in the form of a tableau for each station. The children have to be from years 3 to 6, to take part. We need about 12 actors (no speaking parts), who will have to be in church from 9:30am on Good Friday. We will do the rehearsal, have a small break, and then perform our Stations of the Cross at 11.30am.

This allows any other family members to join in The Walk of Witness in the town, and then join us in church. If your child wants to be part of the Stations of the Cross please email Maria (maria@oloughlin.co.uk) or phone 01582 624024 by Monday 25th March. In the event of too many volunteers we will take the first names on the list. Thank you.

Easter Confession

Celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation, going to Confession, needs to be a regular part of our lives, and particularly as Easter approaches.

On Monday 25th March, at 7.30pm, the Parish Penitential Service takes place. Please note the date and time, and do try to take up this important opportunity.

Palm Sunday 24th March

Next Sunday, Palm Sunday, we begin our Holy Week journey. The Palms will be blessed, and distributed, at each Mass.

For those who normally attend the 9.45am Mass, don’t forget that, next Sunday, it will begin at the earlier time of 9.30am on Church Green, when the palms will be blessed, with the congregation from St Nicholas’ Church, followed by the procession into church.

Details of everything happening during Holy Week and Easter week, will be found in the Holy Week leaflet which you can collect after Mass.

Synodal Gatherings

The 2021-24 Synod is a major reform initiative happening in the Catholic Church right now. We have been part of it, and we continue to be so. In fact synodality means we all have an active role in helping to discern how the Spirit is guiding our Church. Your views are most welcome, however you feel about the Church or your own faith!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an opportunity to sit together in two listening sessions for our Parish community. We heard an update on the Synod and then used the synodal process to reflect how together as a Parish we can better witness our faith and organise ourselves differently to do so.

If you were unable to participate in the meetings, but would like to share your thoughts, you will find the questions from the both meetings below:

Questions from meeting 1:

Q.1: How do we witness as a Parish and proclaim our faith to:
▷those who have never heard of Christ;
▷those who have ceased walking with Christ;
▷those with whom we worship Christ (those who go to church)?

Q.2: How should we organise ourselves as a Parish to do this more effectively?

Questions from meeting 2:

Q.3: What concrete steps/formation opportunities would help us begin to witness and proclaim our faith more effectively?

Q.4: What structures may need to change? How might we need to develop the way we are organised currently?

Please send your responses to sallyfaiz@googlemail.com

Synodal Gatherings Update

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an opportunity to sit together in two listening sessions for our Parish community.

You can see the amalgamated responses from the meetings here:

OLOL Harpenden Reflections from Synodal listening Feb24 final

Lenten Reflection

Please join us next Friday 15th March at 7.30pm for a Lenten Reflection in Words and Music.

The Choir will lead us, by taking us through the last great events of our Lord’s life.

There will be spoken reflections, and musical pieces from, amongst others, Faure, Ireland and Mawby.

There will be no Mass, or Stations of the Cross, but this is another way of following the journey to Calvary.

Youth Group Holy Spirit Day

DWG Annual Report

You can read the DWG’s Annual Report HERE.

‘Chords’ Mothers Day Recital

Join Soprano Alison Langer and guests, in a musical recital exploring strong women and motherhood.

Music includes lullabies and arias from Puccini to Kate Bush!

Click Here to find out more

Live Simply

“LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord”.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Harpenden is a LiveSimply parish. We were awarded this status in 2019 by CAFOD and the National Justice and Peace Network for demonstrating and promoting how we try to live simply through our daily actions.

Our community has undertaken to respond to Pope Francis’ invitation in Laudato Si’ to “work with generosity and tenderness in protecting this world which God has entrusted to us”.

Pope Francis says in Laudato Si: The creation accounts ……suggest that human life is grounded in three fundamental and closely intertwined relationships: with God, with our neighbour and with the earth itself. Laudato Si:66

In accepting the LiveSimply award our parish commits:

TO LIVE SIMPLY
TO LIVE SUSTAINABLY WITH CREATION
TO LIVE IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE POOR.

In this way we can help create a world in which human dignity is respected and everyone can reach their full potential. This would be true progress, worth more than economic growth alone.

Why LiveSimply?

The key goals: https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/laudato-si-goals/

Here in Harpenden, in embracing this initiative, we are committing to putting our faith into action in everyday small ways as well as in a wider context. In doing so, we hope to:

Nurture our spiritual lives
Strengthen friendships
Take practical steps to support our parish
Help to play our part in significant social and environmental issues
Make stronger connections with wider community

Ultimately we are helping protect the generous gifts we have been given for future generations of Our Lady of Lourdes parishioners.

ORGANISATION OF LIVESIMPLY

These are the four “interest” areas for living simply in the parish:

Liturgy
Consideration of living simply, sustainably and in solidarity with the poor is reflected within our prayers and liturgies and key feast days such as St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment (4^th October).

Eco/Environment
Campaign for living sustainably. Creating awareness of the beauty of Creation and of campaigns for living simply and protecting the environment locally and nationally.

Practical/Resources
Undertake practical actions such as collections for the local Foodbank, or Bring n’ share Lunch, Family Fast Day collections, organising speaker events on key LiveSimply issues. Practical ideas to LiveSimply include:

Consider the impact of our food choices
Grow food, plants and trees
Reduce the use of plastics and recycle
Reduce energy waste, use renewable energy
Raise our voices to call for change locally/globally

Justice, Peace and Care for Creation
Campaign for peace in countries across the world. Initiate or join Campaigns for justice such as Fairtrade or debt relief for low income countries. Promote the work of the Westminster J&P Commission and the National J& P Network’. Click here for more information.

Let us act together in putting our faith into action. To become involved in any of the above, please contact the LiveSimply coordinator: paul.durden20@gmail.com

Here is our LiveSimply Award Letter.

In The Spotlight…..

In our latest #InTheSpotlight feature, we catch up with the Communications Team. Click HERE to read the full article!

St Patrick’s Day Lunch

The St Patricks’ Day celebration and lunch raised an incredible £1,200 for Sr. Margaret’s ministry to the poor in Barcelona, South Africa.

God bless the generosity of all who came, and those who couldn’t but gave a donation. You were honorary Irish for the celebration, and your singing raised the roof!

A huge THANK YOU to our Ladies Group who organised such a lovely parish event. Thank you very much on behalf of Sr. Margaret. & Sr. Regina 👏☘️

Just Small Change Talk

Please join us on Monday 4th March at 7pm in the Undercroft for a talk by ‘Just Small Change’, a charity we have consistently supported.

This is an excellent opportunity for you to find out how your support of the Developing World Group is helping the very poor in the Budaka district of Eastern Uganda to build their own pathway out of poverty with the help of Goats!

Poor & Needy

There are 2 collection boxes in the wall at the back of the church (near the Repository), one of them being the POOR AND NEEDY BOX.

Donations to this box are used by the parish for any parishioner in need.

It will now also be possible to donate via the card reader in the church porch.

Ash Wednesday

This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. Masses will be celebrated at 9.15am and 6.00pm, and the Ashes blessed and distributed at those Masses.

Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence, a day when we are asked to eat less than we usually do, and refrain from eating meat.

The 9.15am Mass on Ash Wednesday, will be live-streamed:

Zoom Code is 823 9353 2868

Synodal Gathering

Please join us for an opportunity to sit together in a listening session for our Parish community. We will hear an update on the Synod and then using the synodal process we will reflect how together as a Parish we can better witness our faith and organise ourselves differently to do so.

Tuesday 27^th February: 7.30-8.45pm in the Undercroft.

Synodal Gathering

Tuesday 13th February: 7.30-8.45pm in the Undercroft.

Great News from the DWG

Fantastic news from our Developing World Group:

Some 19 months ago Rotary in Harpenden took on a project to raise funds to equip a new operating theatre being built at the Kyengera Women’s hospital in Wakiso, near Kampala, Uganda.

You can read more about it here:

https://rotaryinharpenden.org.uk/…/02/ready-to-receive/…

Well done everyone for making this project possible.

CAFOD Family Fast Day – Friday 23rd February

Thank you to everyone who contributed to CAFOD’s Family Fast Day appeal. So far we have raised £2,610 which will help hardworking people like James the fisherman in Liberia with resources, tools and training to feed their families for good. You can watch a video about James HERE.

It’s not too late to donate by using the envelope which can be found in the porch or online at cafod.org.uk and please join us in praying with James that our sisters and brothers around the world are enabled to feed their families.

Lent & Holy Week 2024

FRIDAY MASS & STATIONS:
Each Friday during Lent, there will be Mass at 7.00pm, followed by the Stations of the Cross. This could be a good Lenten Practice to adopt – giving an hour each week to attend an extra Mass and to follow Jesus’ journey to Calvary, by making the Stations of the Cross.

LENT GROUPS 2024:
These groups will meet for 5 weeks, beginning 19th February (Ash Wednesday is 14th Feb) The theme will be; further reflections on the Our Father, using the Diocesan resource ‘We Dare To Say’. We offer a choice of day/time but, to assist with the formation of Groups, we ask you to state your preferences 1st/2nd/3rd. If you have been in a group previously you will be contacted by email, if not PLEASE ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST IN THE PORCH OF THE CHURCH OR email: juliaandnigel057@gmail.com or rachellee987@gmail.com

REPOSITORY DAY BY DAY BOOKS:
We have received the DAY BY DAY Lent books for adults and children and these can be purchased from the Repository for £1 each. They are a lovely accompaniment for each day during Lent.

You can download a copy of the Holy Week booklet HERE.

Live Simply Review

The Parish Live Simply team are holding a review meeting on 3rd February at 11.30am in the Undercroft.

This is an opportunity for the Parish to review what we have achieved during 2023 and look forward to our plans for 2024.

A facilitator from CAFOD will be helping us by looking at what we are doing currently and what other Live Simply Parishes are doing.

She will also help us to identify how we might engage our Parish community further.

We will of course hope to share some communal refreshments afterwards

Everyone is welcome.

Mass for the Anointing of the Sick

This Mass will take place on Sunday 11th February at 3pm. Please let Mark Quigley know if you need a lift by emailing mark.quigley42@btopenworld.com

Lost Property

Last chance to claim any lost property! Please have a look in the box which is near to the Repository at the back of the church. Any items left after this week will be taken to the charity shop.

Sing For…. 7

Do consider joining our next Sing For Project – Sing For Seven – starting Tuesday January 16th 7.30 – 9.00pm in the Undercroft.

It only costs £40 per person for hours of singing and a sense of achievement as the weeks progress! Money raised, and donations collected will be sent to Keystage Housing and NOAH.

All dates as follows:

Tuesday 16th January 7.30 – 9.00pm

Tuesday 23rd January 7.30 – 9.00pm

Tuesday 30th January 7.30 – 9.00pm

Tuesday 6th February 7.30 – 9.00pm

SATURDAY 10th FEBRUARY 3pm Performance

A fabulous line up of music and the perfect way to start the new year!

Please sign up and encourage family and friends to join you . Anyone interested please email: katiemjack@yahoo.co.uk

Banish the Blues Supper

The Banish the Blues Supper will be held on Saturday the 27th of January with Lulu and the Hullabaloos. There will be a two-course supper during the interval. More details to follow but save the date!

Keystage Housing Christmas Gift Packs

Thank you to everyone who donated items for the Keystage Housing Christmas gift packs for their service users. They were very gratefully received.

Christmas Fair

Thank you to everyone who supported, helped and donated at the Christmas Fair last Saturday – we raised £2,270 which will be split between CAFOD Holy Land Appeal and the Parish Building Fund.

DWG News!

The Developing World Group want to share their wonderful news that, thanks to the great generosity of the parishioners, we have raised nearly £5,000 from the two latest fundraisings events alone: The Quiz and the Tring Auction of our “Lolly in the Loft”.

This puts us well on track for the latest project, supplemented by your generous regular donations, building a borehole for the Kyangala community in Kenya.

Grateful thanks to you all and please do consider joining us; you will be very warmly welcomed.

Advent & Christmas 2023

Click here to download: Advent & Christmas Calendar of Events & Times

Christmas Day Family Mass at 9.45am

Please join us on Christmas Day to celebrate Jesus’s birth – come dressed as a Nativity character or wearing a Nativity themed hat!!

If your child would like to be involved in the Mass (reading, acting, helping in some way), contact Michelle on 07841 098591.

Children’s Nativity Service

We are pleased to say that we will be having a Children’s Nativity again this year. The service will be at 5.00pm on Christmas Eve, and is a lovely reminder to the children about the reasons for celebrating this great feast.

This year we are dramatising the story “The Not-So-Wise Man” which will be read by an adult, but we do need a cast of many – (shepherds, angels, wisemen, townsfolk etc!)

So, if you would like your child to take part please come to the rehearsal in church on Saturday 23rd December at 10:00am to 12.30pm, when we will be reading the story to the children and asking for them to take various parts (There are no speaking parts!)

Your child does need to be at this rehearsal to take part on Christmas Eve. We have some costumes, but if you have anything suitable then they would be most useful. The children need to be primary school age and if they are taking part in the nativity they will need to be in church at 4.30pm on Christmas Eve.

Please let me know as soon as possible if they would like to take part, in the Nativity Service (contact Ginny St John Glew, 01582 620322
or email ginny.sjg@gmail.com)

We will also be welcoming back our Travelling Crib after its journey around the Parish.

Follow our Travelling Crib’s journey during Advent

Our Travelling Crib was blessed at the Family Mass on the first Sunday of Advent and was passed to the first hosts who gave Mary, Joseph & the donkey a place to stay for the night.

They enjoyed time with the Mudd family and will move to their next home tonight!

Our weary travellers have continued their journey around the parish visiting lots of families.

The Noodle Box

The ‘Noodle Box’ continues to be available inside the Church for anyone who needs a hot snack.

The box is full of pot noodles, instant pasta cups and instant soups along with takeaway cups. They are FREE to take!

Please spread the word, especially as the cold weather is upon us. This is just a start to the project and we can place boxes where needed as we go along.

Volunteering at NOAH over Christmas

Christmas is an incredibly busy period at the Welfare Centre, and we work hard to provide a warm and welcome space for our clients to spend the holiday.

Each year, we are blessed to receive a number of requests for volunteering over the Christmas period. This year, we are unable to accept any requests for the 24th-26th December, however anyone wishing to volunteer is very welcome to join us between 2pm and 4pm, from the 18th – 22nd December at our Christmas volunteering sessions!

Roles will include greeting and hosting clients, organising kind donations of gifts, clothing and food, supporting the kitchen staff to meet the increased need, and keeping the Welfare Centre a clean and safe place to be. There will be hot drinks and Christmas goodies to keep you in high spirits 🎄

You will need to attend ONE induction day prior to your volunteering session, which are organised for Tuesday 12th (2pm-3pm) and Wednesday 13th (3pm-4pm) at our Welfare Centre, LU1 3HG.

If you are interested in getting involved, please email grace.galbraith@noahenterprise.org with your availability 💙 deadline for registering interest is 8th December.

Could you offer Mary & Joseph a room for the night?

During Advent, the Travelling Crib will be making its way around the parish, beginning with a blessing in Church at the 9.45am mass on 3^rd December.

It will then be taken home by a family who plays host to the figures of Mary, Joseph and the donkey for the night, sharing a short act of worship together during which a candle is lit to signify that our travellers have a place to stay.

The next day they pass on the Crib to another family. This journey symbolises Mary and Joseph’s difficult journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus and allows us to take a moment of stillness in an otherwise busy Advent.

It will be an opportunity too for families to get to know each other a little better as they receive and then deliver on the Crib.

The last hosts will bring the Crib back to Church on Christmas Eve at the Nativity Service at 5pm.

All are welcome to participate in this activity – the young and the young at heart! Help with transport can be provided if needed.

There will also be a Travelling Crib Diary which will be posted on the parish website. Even if you are unable to host the Crib you will be able to follow its journey through Advent.

If you would like the Travelling Crib to come into your home, please contact Anne Meehan on 07790 417685 or email comms@catholicchurchharpenden.org.uk

Advent Ideas & Resources for Families

As we begin the season of Advent, we prepare for the birth of the baby Jesus. There are lots of lovely Advent resources available for families to use during this joyful time:

Watch this short video by Busted Halo about the meaning of Advent
Set up a Nativity in a prominent place in your home. Ask your children to place a piece of straw in the manger every time they do something kind/make a little sacrifice until Christmas when they
place Baby Jesus in the manger on the straw.
Make an Advent wreath for your door. Use some fresh greenery from either your local florist or find some on a walk!
Take part in the Our Lady of Lourdes ‘Travelling Crib‘ or make your own at home and use our liturgy
Come and look at our Advent Box Calendar which will be set up outside the church
Create a reverse Advent calendar – instead of receiving a gift, DONATE an item each day, perhaps a toy or book you no longer need, to take to the charity shop
Come to our Advent Service on 3rd December at 6pm and then listen to Advent inspired music
Go on an interactive journey with the donkey
Take a Virtual Art Tour looking at works of art inspired by Advent and Christmas
Make a banner or poster to put up in your window telling people about Advent
How many names or titles for Jesus can you find in the Advent readings e.g. Emmanuel, Counsellor, Prince of Peace, etc
As you look at the empty crib, ask yourself ‘Who are you expecting?’
Make an Advent alphabet that is added to over the days of December, eg A is for Angel, B is for Bethlehem, C is for crib, D is for Donkey etc
Make an acrostic poem about one of the people of Advent, eg Isaiah, John the Baptist, Joseph, Mary or Jesus
Be an Advent Angel – this works like a Secret Santa, but instead of
drawing names for gifts to give friends or family, Advent Angels involves choosing a friend or family member you’ll commit to
pray for or do acts of kindness for throughout Advent. You could include your extended family, godparents etc.
Find craft templates and an interactive Advent Calendar on the CAFOD website
Find Advent resources including liturgy, craft and calendars on Mission Together website
Have a look at Celebrate’s Advent Family Pack for more ideas

We’d love to see how you get on so don’t forget to post a picture on our Socials (Facebook & Instagram) or email them to comms@catholicchurchharpenden.org.uk

Catenians Charity Christmas Dinner

Enjoy Christmas whilst supporting

Noah & Keystage Housing at an evening of Fun & Frivolity!

13^th December

Book tickets in 1’s, 2’s 3’s or more. Take a table of 8 or 10 and bring your family, friends, & neighbours along.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Harpenden, ‘Sing For’ Group will sing a selection of seasonal favourites and lead us in frivolity and carol singing. The ‘Sing For’ project runs three times a year with money raised going to Keystage Housing and Noah.

Tickets are £35 per head for two course Christmas dinner including wine.

Venue: Harpenden Golf Club, Redbourn Lane

Time: 6-15pm or 7pm sit down.

Dress: Smart Casual, perhaps with a Christmas theme.

Email John Williams to reserve places at: john.williams58@btinternet.com

The deadline for booking is December 6^th but don’t wait until then, book now.

Raffle takings and a Catenian donation will be given to the charities for Christmas.

Event Organised by Harpenden, Luton & District Circle of the Catenian Association.

Our Ethos: Catenian membership offers deep and lasting friendship and support to Catholics at all stages of their adult lives. We share the Gospel values as transmitted and developed through Catholic Social Teaching, and through our association, belong to a universal network of like-minded people. Our meetings provide a time for relaxed social enjoyment among loyal and faithful friends where we find support and encouragement and can openly discuss and develop our understanding of our faith, assist one another whenever needed, care for the sick and the bereaved, strengthen our family life and work for the mission of the Catholic Church, both individually and collectively, in a multitude of ways.

St George’s School Christmas Fair

You are invited to St George’s School PSA Christmas Gift Shopping Community Event on Saturday 18th November from 1pm – 4pm.

There will be over 30 local stalls with fantastic gifts, a café serving lunch with festive food & drinks and Fun and Games for all the family!

Entry is free for children and £1 for adults.

CAFOD Israeli-Palestinian Crisis Appeal

CAFOD are working with local partners in Gaza and Israel to provide urgent humanitarian aid to those in need. We are supporting families with cash vouchers, essential supplies and counselling. Sadly, local staff and volunteers in our partner organisations have already lost their lives.

Volunteers tell us that your support and your prayers of solidarity for those putting their lives at risk to help during this crisis are needed now more than ever.

Donate to CAFOD’s Israeli-Palestinian Crisis Appeal at cafod.org.uk/ipc or call 0303 303 3030 to support those affected and get funds to local trusted experts in Gaza and southern Israel who have been working alongside communities helping those most in need.

Your donation will help support aid workers providing urgent humanitarian
aid including food, water and emergency shelter to those in need.

Thank you for your prayers.

Remembrance Sunday

On Remembrance Sunday we remember those who died in the two world wars, as well as the victims of other more recent conflicts. On 12th November there will be the annual remembrance at the War Memorial, on Church Green, starting a 10.45am, and including the two minutes’ silence and the last post.

The Sick & Retired Priests’ Collection

Thank you for your contributions last Sunday for the Sick and Retired Priests of our Diocese. To date £1,910 has been donated.

This is such an important fund, supporting our 82 sick and retired priests, a number that is expected to double in the coming years.

If you haven’t yet made a donation, it is not to late to do so; the fund will remain open for a few weeks. Donation envelopes are available in the porch, in which you can place your offering, and return to the parish office. These envelopes should be used if you wish to Gift-Aid you contribution

You may also wish to consider becoming a Patron of our Sick & Retired Priest’s Fund. If so please take a leaflet home from the porch.

Milk & Juice Collection

Please bring your donations of UHT milk and long-life juice for St Albans & District Food Bank next weekend (4th/5th November) and leave in the porch. Thank you!

OLOL Parish Christmas Fair!

This very popular annual event will be held on SATURDAY 2nd DECEMBER from noon to 3pm in the Lourdes Hall and everyone is welcome.

There will be all the usual stalls including bottles, cakes, craft, gifts, toys and white elephant, as well as Irish coffees, hot dog lunches and more.

We also will have Santa’s Grotto for the children to visit.

Raffle tickets will be on sale after all the Masses and you can start bringing in your donations of cakes, jewellery, bottles, toys, good quality white elephant etc into the porch of the Church NOW.

If you can help setting up, working on a stall or clearing up, please contact
marva@cpoauk.com or 07943 837277.

All Souls’ Day

Having celebrated all the saints in heaven on Wednesday, on Thursday 2nd November we move on to remembering those who are still on their journey to heaven, on All Souls Day. Mass will be celebrated at 11.00am.

During November, a number of Masses will be offered for the Holy Souls. If you would like anyone to be included in these Masses, please send their names to the Parish Office, and they will be added to the Book of Remembrance.

Feast of All Saints

Next Wednesday 1st November is the feast of All Saints. Masses will be celebrated at 9.15am and 6.00pm. All Saints is a holyday of obligation, a day when we are obliged to attend Mass.

The 9.15 mass will be livestreamed via Zoom: 852-7741-3920.

Winter Donations for Keystage Housing

Please keep your donations coming. In particular if you have duvets, bedding or a slow cooker you could donate to Keystage, they would be very grateful.

Carols by Candlelight

Choristers Christmas Concert

Advent Carol Service at 6pm

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Next Tuesday from 2.00pm to 3.00pm at the Convent, 18 Kirkdale Road.

At 2.30pm we will pray the Rosary for the suffering people of the Holy Land and for an end to the appalling violence.

Sing For ….. Christmas!

Join us for our Christmas sing songs:

REHEARSALS:

Sunday 19^th November 3.00-5.00pm OLOL Undercroft

Tuesday 21^st November 7.30-9.00pm OLOL Undercroft

PERFORMANCES:

Thursday 23^rd November 4.30-5.30pm Wheathampstead Christmas Market – details to follow.

Friday 8^th December 7.00-9.00pm OLOL extra rehearsal / fundraising performance

Wednesday 13^th December – Catenians Christmas Dinner: we are the entertainment in return for a donation to Keystage Housing and NOAH time and venue t.b.c. but will be local and 8pm ish .

Laudate Deum – an update from CAFOD

“The world sings of an infinite love, how can we fail to care for it?” (Laudate Deum #65)

Pope Francis has today, on the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, published Laudate Deum: to all people of good will on the climate crisis, his new Exhortation on the environment, a follow up to his encyclical, Laudato Si’.

The Pope says that “climate change is one of the principal challenges facing society and the global community” (Laudate Deum #3) and warns that the “world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point” (#5).

I would like to thank you for holding collections for our Family Fast Day appeal in your parish this week. Our appeal highlights the terrible impact of the climate crisis, telling the story of Meera, whose home in Pakistan was swept away by extreme flooding last year. Flooding that was an example of the extreme weather phenomena that Pope Francis calls “palpable expressions of a silent disease that affects everyone” (#5).

Pope Francis says: “authentic faith not only gives strength to the human heart, but also transforms life, transfigures our goals and sheds light on our relationship to others and with creation as a whole” (#61). Responding to our Family Fast Day Appeal is an important way we can all take up Pope Francis’ invitation to “accompany this pilgrimage of reconciliation with the world that is our home and to help make it more beautiful” (#69).

We work at the frontline of climate and conflict emergencies in over 40 countries. Thanks to the support of parishes like yours, we are working with our sisters and brothers to build resilience in the face of the huge challenges posed by the climate crisis, to respond quickly to help communities devastated by climate-induced disasters, and to continue to call on those in power to take urgent action.

We pray that, inspired by the example of St Francis of Assisi and encouraged by Laudate Deum, we will always strive to care for and protect our common home.

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY:

CAFOD is hosting an online event on Thursday 12 October at 7pm to reflect on what Pope Francis’ Laudate Deum means for us. Please do join in and share this invitation with others.

Donations Urgently Needed for Keystage Housing

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far but please keep the donations coming. Keystage Housing are desperate for non perishable food eg. Pasta, Rice, Tinned tomatoes, Pasta/ Ragu sauces and personal hygiene toiletries eg. Toothbrushes Shower gel/ soap & Shampoo.

If you could add a few items to your weekly shopping they would be very grateful, please drop off any donations into the yellow bin in the courtyard of the Church.

In particular if you have spare duvets, bedding or a slow cooker you could donate to Keystage, they would be very grateful.

Thank you!

CAFOD Family Fast Day Appeal

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our CAFOD Harvest Fast Day.
£2,760 was donated. If you haven’t yet made a donation, it is not to late to do so. CAFOD envelopes are available in the porch, in which you can place your offering, and return to the parish office. The CAFOD envelopes should also be used if you wish to Gift-Aid you contribution.

***

CAFOD is at the forefront of disaster relief around the world. Last year, when over a third of Pakistan was under water, the CAFOD network supported thousands of people to survive and recover. But the work continues.…

Dr Nasha’s mobile medical clinic gets life-saving help to where it’s needed most, fast – so when her team arrived in Meera’s village after it had been destroyed by flooding, Meera rushed to the clinic to get her children the treatment they needed.

By donating to CAFOD today more mobile clinics can reach more families with expert help they need.

Use the envelope in church or give online at www.cafod.org.uk

Secondary School References

For parents who require a priest’s reference, in connection with applications for secondary school places, Canon Dwyer will be available, in the church, at the following dates and times:

Thursday 5th October 5.30pm to 6.45pm
Monday 16th October 5.00pm to 6.00pm

Confirmation 2024

Parents’ Meeting: Wednesday 4th October at 8pm in the Undercroft.

First Session for candidates: Sunday 8th October 1.30pm – 3.30pm. in the Lourdes Hall.

Youth Group – 10th February