3rd - 5th February. Lux: halo youth residential weekend at Kings Park Conference Centre, Northampton. All details from NYMO site.

4th February. Crossing the Threshold. A national resourcing day to support those wishing to reach out to non-Mass-attending Catholics. At St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham. More here...

7-14th February. National Marriage Week. The Northamptonshire Marriage Care Centre would welcome the opportunity to speak in your parishes or send tyou their written material. Contact via Bishop's House or your Webmaster.

11th February. A day of Praise, Worship, Prayer and Healing led by Victoria & John McKenzie. Everyone welcomed – including the children.  10:00am to 4:00pm. Coffee served from 9:30am. Donations for the day welcomed . At St. Gregory’s Catholic Primary School, Grange Road, Northampton, NN3 2AX.  Bring a plate of food for the shared lunch. Tea, coffee & soft drinks available. Contact details: 01604 409532 or toni@goodnewsbooks.net

13th-17th February. School half-term.

18th February. Easter Music  workshop with Teresa Brown, at St Gregory's, Northampton. 2-4:30pm. Especially for Deacons, priests or others due to chant the Exsultet at the Easter Vigil. Poster available here, search Liturgical in the dropdown Categories menu.

22nd February. Ash Wednesday. Day of fasting and abstinence. Beginning of Lent.
NB CAFOD Lenten funding boost. During the Lenten season funds raised for CAFOD are worth twice a much as usual because the government is matching every pound raised by CAFOD between 17 February and 17 May 2012. Even if you send the money after the end date, as long as it was raised during the Lenten period, its value will be doubled! Parishes and Schools are encouraged to make a special effort to raise some funding for CAFOD and take advantage of this valuable opportunity. If you give monthly to CAFOD you may care to consider whether you can afford to make your annual donation all at once in this period so as to maximise the benefit to CAFOD. See also http://www.dfid.gov.uk/ukaidmatch

25th February. Catechists' Assembly at NORES, Holy Ghost, Luton, 10am-3pm. With Sisters Hyacinthe Defos du Rau &  Veronica Brennan OP, Dominican Sisters of St Joseph. 10am – 3pm. Info flyer and booking form available here - search Evangelisation in the drop-down Categories box.

26th February. First Sunday in Lent. Rite of Election at the Cathedral for those seeking to join the Church through the RCIA process.