Frequently Asked Questions
Who comes to Our Lady's Help of Christians?
Anyone and everyone! Our Lady's has a diverse congregation, coming together from a variety of backgrounds and traditions. It spans all the generations, with families from within the parish and students from the University of Bedfordshire who are drawn towards Roman Catholic worship. Everybody is welcome, from our parish and beyond. And with a regular congregation on a Sunday, you are sure to meet new people, make new friends, and find a place to belong.
What is our style of worship?
We follow prescribed forms of worship in the Roman Rite Ordinary Form of the Mass, with incense, music and solemn reverance. After the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, there is an opportunity to meet the clergy, and other members of the congregation.
How long are the services?
Our Weekday services usually last 45 minutes and our Sunday services typically last about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Do you collect money during services?
Yes, a colletion is taken during the offetory hymn. We do encourage church members who feel like Our Lady's is their church, to make a financial contribution towards the running costs of the church - see
donations for more details.
Can I bring my children?
Absolutely! We welcome families with children. Your children are your responsibility, so please ensure that, during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, your children behave appropriately.
Where can I find out more about the Roman Catholic faith?
To find out more about the Roman Catholic faith your should register with the
Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).
Can I volunteer?
Yes, all volunteers working with children and/or adults at risk must have a current DBS certificate and we adhere to the polices and procedures for safeguarding established by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency.
Can I park at the church?
Since we are based in central Luton, parking around the church is limited. However, there is plenty of parking nearby, including several multi-storey car parks, and parking spaces on the streets around the church. Do bear in mind that some parking charges may apply on Sundays.
Do you have provision for physically disabled people (in wheelchairs), the deaf, hard of hearing, or partially sighted?
It is important to us that everyone feels welcome at Our Lady's and that our services and activities are as accessible as possible. Let us know what your concerns are and we will make the reasonable adjustments necessary to enable your full participation. There are wheelchair spaces, at the front of the church to enable people in wheelchairs to recieve Holy Communion more easily. To help with this we try to ensure that all our printed literature uses colour schemes and font sizes which are helpful for the partially sighted. Large print notice sheets are available by request on Sunday mornings. Service information is also accessible using a smart device.
Can you help me to find accommodation in the local area?
There are a number of websites that can be very useful in this respect, which has everything from lodging through house shares to entire flats or houses. Alternatively, check the notices and announcements and speak to us after church.
