Fifth Sunday of Easter (B)
Fourth Sunday after Easter
In the month of May, the ROSARY will be prayed every day 20 minutes before the evening Mass.
ORATORY SUMMER FÊTE: SAVE THE DATE
The Oratory Summer Fête will take place on Saturday 22nd June, from 12noon to 5pm. All are welcome! Stalls include lunches, teas, games for children, fashion, books, bric-a-brac, raffle. We need savoury dishes and puddings for the food tent: Please contact Marion on marion.r.cowley@gmail.com or 07980 682 808. We also need good quality goods and gifts for the raffle or bric-a-brac stalls. If you can help with this, please email oratorysummerparty@gmail.com. All donations for the raffle must be received a week before the event. If you would like to volunteer, please email: oratorysummerparty@gmail.com. The proceeds of the Summer Fête are for the London Oratory Charity.
ORATORY BOOKSHOP & REPOSITORY – VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We urgently need more volunteers to keep our regular opening hours. If you are willing to help, please contact the Oratory House at 020 7808 0900 or email generalenquiries@bromptonoratory.co.uk.
WESTMINSTER DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE
Registration for this year’s Westminster diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols from 19th to 26th July is now open via the application form (click here) or by contacting the Pilgrimage Office on 020 7798 9173. Options to travel by plane, train or coach are available and there are many volunteering opportunities for those wishing to serve. All applications to join this year’s pilgrimage need to be submitted by Tuesday 30th April.
HELPING THE HOMELESS AND NEEDY IN OUR AREA
HTB (Holy Trinity Brompton) run a shelter to aid those who are homeless or in dire need at St Augustine's Church, 117 Queen's Gate, SW7 5LP every Wednesday morning from 9am-12pm. They also run a laundry service for our shelter guests to be able to wash their clothes whilst they are attending shelter. If you would like to help in one of these projects (mentioning that you heard about this from the Oratory), please email: shelter@htb.org. You can also help them by buying from the HTB wish list on Amazon and sending your gifts directly to them to distribute: click on this link.
HOW BEAUTY DRAWS US CLOSER TO GOD
This year’s Marian Lecture of the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom will be delivered by Fr Patrick van der Vorst, a recently ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Westminster, at St Patrick’s Church, 21A Soho Square, W1D 4NR, on Friday 17th May, at 7.00pm. Having worked as a Director of Sotheby’s Europe and launched the project www.christian.art, Fr Patrick van der Vorst is very much at home speaking on “How Beauty Draws us Closer to God”. The lecture will be followed by a Q&A and refreshments will be available throughout the evening. For more information and to obtain tickets, see https://ransom.churchsuite.com/events/5wzhnvlo.
ANNUAL EUCHARISTIC OCTAVE & CENTRAL LONDON CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION
The Diocesan Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament, Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane will again host a Eucharistic Octave from 25th May to 2nd June. This has been organised by several London parishes to celebrate our Eucharistic Lord in the lead up to the Solemnity of Corpus Christi and includes the celebration of Masses in the various rites of the Church and the Quarant’Ore devotions. Full details can be found at https://catholicengland.org/.
EMMAUS RETREAT FOR WOMEN IN LONDON
The VIII Emmaus Retreat for women in London will take place from Friday 31st May to Sunday 2nd June at SPEC (Spiritual & Personal Encounter with Christ), 125 Waxwell Lane, Pinner, HA5 3EP. The retreat is organised by Holy Apostles Emmaus Women group and offers time tranquillity and reflection. For more information and how to register, see http://tinyurl.com/3f4jewm6.
CATHOLIC ART GROUP
Join us for monthly art visits and music events with a focus on religious works. Exhibition venues to include National Gallery, V&A, Tate Britain and various private galleries. Days/times: last Sundays of the month, also “Friday lates”. Contact: catholicartgroup@gmail.com.
CATHOLIC BUSINESS GROUP
Aimed at men, a monthly group to compare notes on upholding Catholic values in our work and the challenges that arise. Focusing on management, entrepreneurship, finance, law, tech/AI. For details, contact: catholicbusinessgroup24@gmail.com.
ICON PAINTING SUMMER COURSE
Are you attracted by the beauty of icons? Would you like to paint your own icon of the Archangel Michael? Sign up for this 7-day introduction to icon painting in the Russian Byzantine style using liquid egg tempera technique. Classes open with prayer, then talk on the theology & meaning of each stage; each step of painting will be demonstrated & then accomplished. Time for questions & individual attention throughout the course. Your tutor will be Sharon Seager, who has trained and continues to be mentored by senior faculty of the Prosopon School of Iconography. Sharon also organises and assists with courses given by visiting Prosopon tutors across the UK. For more on the Prosopon School, see https://www.prosoponschool.org. When: Tuesday 30th July to Friday 2nd August & Monday 5th to Wednesday 7th August 2024. Time: 9.30am – 5.30pm each day. Where: St Joseph’s Hall at the Oratory. Cost: £471 to cover tuition, all materials, teas/coffees. For further information, contact Sharon on Instagram: @iconsthroughsharon. For admin details etc, email Marie-Claire at mc.kaminski56@gmail.com. Numbers restricted to only 10 places!
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES FOR MEN
Five-day Ignatian retreats for men only conducted in English by the Fathers of Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval in Flavigny (France): Saturday 13th to Thursday 18th July in Creeslough, Co. Donegal, Ireland, Tuesday 23rd to Sunday 28th July in Co. Waterford, Ireland, and Sunday 15th to Friday 20th September in Godalming, Surrey. Contact by phone: (33) 03 80 96 22 31, or email: abbey@clairval.com. For more information, click here.
ROSARY ON ZOOM
The Rosary on Zoom is a virtual community from around the world taking turns throughout the day to pray the Rosary uninterruptedly, every day. This initiative started at Easter 2020. Since then, people from the Oratory in London, Basílica de La Milagrosa in Madrid and Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Hong Kong have met on Zoom daily to pray the Rosary. Witnessing the graces and friendships flowing from the initiative, the community has expanded its reach. Go to https://www.universalrosary.org/ to join. Guided meditation in English at 1.00pm, and Rosary at 1.30pm (UK time).
MASS INTENTIONS
CHILDREN’S AREA
On Sunday mornings, St Gregory’s Library at the back of the Church is made available to parents whose children become restless during Mass. There are books and some toys. Entrance is through the Sacred Heart Chapel at the back of the church. Children must be supervised by their parents at all times. If you can spare a few hours on a Sunday occasionally to help, please contact David Campbell (phone 07768176848).
ORATORY SCOUT GROUP
We meet in St Michael’s Hall at the Oratory and have four sections offering a Catholic scouting experience for all children – boys and girls aged 6 to 18.
Beavers (aged 6–8): Friday 5:30–6:30pm. Leaders: Gio, Julia, Lilian, Louis.
Cubs (aged 8–10½): Friday 6:00–7:15pm. Leaders: Socorro, Adam, Alex, Genevieve, Stephanie.
Scouts (aged 10½–14): Friday 6:30–7:45pm. Leaders: Silvia, Socorro, Mark, Gabriel, Mattia.
Explorers (aged 14–18): Fridays 7:00–8:00pm. Leaders: Mattia, Valeria
Please note that there is a waiting list to join the Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts. Please email our Group Scout Leader Mattia Barbarossa at oratoryscoutgroup@bromptonoratory.co.uk
We are currently seeking volunteers to assist as leaders. All ages accepted, but younger members of the Oratory congregation would be especially welcome. No prior experience is necessary. Please contact Mattia Barbarossa at oratoryscoutgroup@bromptonoratory.co.uk.
ORATORY BOOKSHOP & REPOSITORY
The shop is usually open: Sunday 9.30am–4.30pm. Wednesday 11.00am–1.30pm, Thursday 11.00am–2.00pm & 3.15pm–5.45pm, Friday 5.00pm–6.00pm, Saturday 10.45pm–1.15pm & 3.15pm–5.45pm. In order to keep to these opening times, we need more volunteers. If you are willing to help, please contact the Oratory House.
COST OF LIVING CRISIS
Caritas Westminster has an updated list of organisations that can offer help in the present cost of living crisis. Click here for more information.
CONTACTLESS GIVING AVAILABLE
Click here for more information.
You can still make a donation via Stripe (see here) or make a bank transfer. Our account details are:
Account Name: The Oratory
Sort Code: 60 04 04
Account Number: 18192947
Please add your surname and first name as a reference, to help our bursar.
The Oratory very much depends on your contributions, and we thank you in advance for your generosity.
GIFT AID – HELPING THE ORATORY
If you are a UK taxpayer, the Oratory can claim back from the Inland Revenue 25p of every £1 you give, at no cost or inconvenience to you. Setting up a Gift Aid arrangement helps the Oratory to increase its income (click here for the forms).
PRIEST REFERENCE FOR SCHOOL APPLICATIONS
Parents who wish one of the Oratory Fathers to give their child a school reference must register with the “Mass Attendance” scheme. Registration forms are available from the Oratory House.
UNABLE TO GET TO MASS ON SUNDAYS?
The Oratory runs a bus service staffed by volunteers to help the elderly and/or incapacitated attending the 11am Mass each Sunday. The minibus has a lift for wheelchairs and volunteers help passengers go to Holy Communion if required. The service is available to parishioners and those who live in the Fulham and Earl’s Court areas. Please email generalenquiries@bromptonoratory.co.uk or telephone 020 7808 0900 if you are interested in making use of this service, or if you would like to volunteer as a driver or helper.
PSYCHOTHERAPY AND LIFE COACHING
Wilfrid’s House is a BACP-accredited, registered charity based at the Oratory and committed to helping people cope with life’s challenges`. Through low-cost counselling and psychotherapy, they support individuals who are going through challenges such as anxiety, depression, inability to cope with daily life, relationship issues, and bereavement. Through low-cost life coaching, they support individuals who are feeling overwhelmed and unable to move forward with purpose. Whether you are struggling with change, big decisions or simply day-to-day life, coaching offers emotional and practical support, enabling clarity and structure and helping you achieve your goals. Further information at www.wilfridshouse.org.
For job vacancies in the Diocese of Westminster, see https://jobs.rcdow.org.uk/.
INFORMATION FOR MARRIAGE
If you would like to be married at the Oratory, we will need at least 6 months notice. For the initial enquiry please come to the Oratory House in person and ask to speak to the priest on duty (see Hours of Duty below). All subsequent meetings, bookings and arrangements will be done through him, so please make a note of his name! No wedding bookings will be taken over the telephone or by email.
If you do not normally worship at the Oratory, please state the name of the church where you usually attend Mass and give the reasons you wish to marry here (for instance, personal connection to the Oratory or one of our schools). It is important to approach the church first before making your plans for a reception venue. We do not have weddings on a Sunday.
There are various arrangements and legalities, both civil and ecclesiastical which need to be attended to. You will also need to undergo a course of preparatory instruction about the sacrament of marriage. Speak to the priest for more details.
Hours of Duty:
Monday-Saturday: 9.30am-12.00pm; 3.00pm-5.30pm.
INFORMATION FOR BAPTISM
According to canon law, “Parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptised within the first few weeks. As soon as possible after the birth, indeed even before it, they are to approach the parish priest to ask for the sacrament for their child, and to be themselves duly prepared for it” (Code of Canon Law, can. 867 §1).
Those wishing to have their child baptised should contact the Oratory House and ask to speak to the priest on duty. All subsequent meeting, bookings and arrangements will be done through him. It will be necessary to meet with the priest for a class on the sacrament of baptism.
Normally baptisms take place in the parish where a family is resident. If you do not live within the territorial boundaries of the Oratory parish but have a good reason for wanting to have your child baptised here, please explain that to the priest on duty. In such cases your own parish priest will need to give permission for the baptism to take place at the Oratory.
The choice of godparents (sponsors), who are to help the baptised to live a good Christian life and faithfully to fulfil the duties inherent in baptism, is an important one. “There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each” (Code of Canon Law, can. 873). A godparent must be a Catholic of not less than sixteen years of age, who has been confirmed and who lives a life of faith that befits the role to be undertaken. A baptised person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may be admitted in company with a Catholic sponsor as a Christian witness.