Our Lady of Lourdes

Introduction

Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Acton, within the Archdiocese of Westminster, is a simple Romanesque building with aisles, transept and apse, designed by Mr Goldie of Kensington and erected at a cost of £5000, seating about 500. In 1892, land facing the High Street was bought for £1400 to erect a permanent church, and the foundation stone was laid by Cardinal Herbert Vaughan.

Architecture and furnishings

Completely new benches and kneelers supplied by Holly and Pike were installed and are still in use. From jewellery donated by the congregation, two chalices and a monstrance were obtained by Mr Charles Cuss, who also donated the clock near the sacristy door. The shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes was moved to the gospel side with oak panelling and flanked by statues of Saint Anthony and Saint Patrick, and a shrine to the Sacred Heart was erected in its former place. A new stone font was installed in the Baptistry, and the gilded aisle and grille separating it from the side aisle were presented by Mme Chaffourier.

In 1934, on the Silver Jubilee of his ordination, a priest expended a cheque on a large oak pulpit with back and sounding board, erected on the base of a previous smaller pulpit. A priest raised £1000 for a new organ, but it was not installed until after the coming of a later priest due to war-time difficulties.

Music and liturgy

RCIA weekly sessions are held in the Parish Hall at Oldham Terrace. A parishioner since 1968 has served in Liturgical Celebrations and is a founder member of the Children's Liturgy Group.

There is a Music Ministry at the parish. Altar Servers assist the priest at every Mass, a role open to any young person who has made their First Holy Communion.

Parish life

The Knights of St Columba is a Catholic voluntary organisation committed to the service of the Church and the community, and the local council meets regularly. A group of parishioners meets regularly to support each other in visiting the lonely and housebound in the parish, offering friendship and practical help such as gardening or shopping.

The parish is a Fairtrade parish, committed to ethical choices that support producers and protect the planet. The Justice and Peace ministry connects the parish to the wider work of the Church through organisations such as CAFOD, Caritas Westminster and parish initiatives.

The parish has a Youth Group that gives young people a space to explore what it means to be young and Catholic in the modern world. The Youth Group is connected to the wider Spiritan family, and young people aged 18 to 25 may be interested in a gap year volunteering opportunity with Just Youth. A Youth Fund supports the group's activities.

On the Sunday before the Baptism, the child is named and anointed with the oil of catechumens at one of the Sunday Masses. At the Sunday Mass following the Baptism, the child is presented with their Baptismal Certificate and welcomed as an official member of the parish community.

Couples are required to give at least six months notice before the wedding date, whether the ceremony is taking place here or abroad. The Parish Support Ministry offers confidential support and guidance on a wide range of issues including relationship support, parenting, bereavement and loneliness.

The Parish Pastoral Council is a group of parishioners who work alongside the priests to help the parish community grow and thrive. Caroline Braggs is the 2nd Vice Chairperson and Coordinator of Liturgy, sacramental programmes, Christian formation, and parish trips. In the weeks following Confirmation, candidates are invited to a Going Forth Mass.

Visiting

A volunteer cleaning team cleans the church on Saturday mornings and the hall during the week. Flower arrangers bring beauty to the church throughout the year, marking the seasons of the liturgical calendar.