A Year in Pictures - 2022

The year opened with a celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, with our friends at Holy Cross Church on 1 January; we welcomed Katherine, a Reader-in-training, from Leighton Buzzard on placement with us for a month; an image of Our Lady was installed at St Thomas' Church (Our Lady of Lowry Drive?); and the weekly Thomas Whitehead Academy gathering at All Saints' resumed on Tuesdays with Stef and Lindsay joining Fr Diego in leading worship.
As Accession Day approached, Fr Diego and parish volunteers went hunting for "Treebilees" (Jubilee Trees) to be planted in the churchyard.

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On Accession Day we marked the beginning of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee by planting six treebilees in the churchyard.
​See more about that occasion here.

Bell-ringers from Oxford University visited All Saints' on their ringing tour; we planted bare-root roses on the churchyard access paths; care homes visiting resumed after months of severe restrictions. 
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine started, we collected money, food, clothing, medications, and first aid goods for the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (Luton Branch). The generosity of local people has been amazing!

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Holy Week and Easter celebrations took place in April. We welcomed the Rev Tim Hines as our preacher on Palm Sunday.
See more about Palm Sunday here;
​and about Good Friday here.

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The Platinum Jubilee weekend brought joy and community spirit across the town with so many lovely events organised to mark the historic milestone.
See more about our celebrations here.

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​June also brought around the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the day when we give special thanks for the gift of the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ we receive at Mass. It was a great joy to mark the occasion with Sung Mass, Procession, Benediction, and refreshments.
See more about Corpus Christi here.

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Over the summer we welcomed many a number of weddings at All Saints', we took part in town events, and Fr Diego celebrated the 10th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood.

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September was marked by the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Accession of King Charles III. A book of condolences was opened at the Parish Church and we hosted a number of services to pray for the repose of the soul of our late Queen and for the reign of the new King.
See more about the Solemn Requiem here
and about the Commemoration Service here.

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Autumn saw maintenance works carried out at the Parish Church and the initial works to set up a tryptic above the high altar in memory of Father Colin Gay, former Honorary Assistant Priest of Houghton Regis.
Christmas preparations got underway with volunteers organising a wonderful Christmas Fayre and  Advent services.
Snow day in Houghton Regis, see here.
Carols by Candlelight, see here. 

2022 has been a whirlwind of a year that brought us many blessings, but also challenges and our town community faced great sorrows.
For all the graces, blessings, joy, and comfort we have received from God over the past twelve months, let us thank and praise the Lord!