Sunday 14th December 2025
Third Sunday of Advent (A) / Gaudete
PROCESSION IN HONOUR OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
This Sunday at 4.00pm (after Vespers), there will be the annual Procession in honour of the Immaculate Conception, followed by Solemn Benediction.
NEW LONDON ORATORY WEBSITE
We trust that our new website (the address remains the same) will be a great service to anyone who wants to know more about or connect with the Oratory. It is a work in progress and still needs adjustments. If you have any comments and suggestions, write to webmaster.bromptonoratory@gmail.com.
ORATORY CHRISTMAS LUNCH
The Oratory will host the Christmas Lunch (on Christmas Day) for the elderly and lonely as in previous years. We are looking for drivers to pick up and return one or more guests on the day. If you are able to help, please let us know by email: svpxmaslunch@gmail.com.
ACN UK CAROL SERVICE
On Wednesday 17th December at 7.00pm, Aid to the Church UK will hold a Carol Service in the Oratory Church with the Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory School, conducted by Charles Cole, with organ and brass ensemble. Entrance is free and a collection will be taken for ACN’s work with persecuted Christians. An optional festive reception willf ollow. For more information and to book, click here.
ORATORY CAROL SERVICE
The annual Carol Service with the Choir of the London Oratory, and the Oratory Junior Choir will take place on Thursday 18th December at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7.00pm. The Carol Service is open to all and is free to attend, but there will be a collection taken. We invite those who are able to provide greater financial support to the event to register via this page as Patrons. Patrons will be able to reserve seat(s) at the front of the Church for this service For more information and to register as a Patron, click here.
On Thursday 18th December, the 12.30pm and 6pm Mass will be in the Little Oratory. The Church will close at 3pm for Carol Service preparations. There will be no Holy Hour. On Friday 19th December, the 12.30pm Mass will be in the Little Oratory.
CHRISTMAS
Wednesday 24th December: CHRISTMAS EVE
Church opens 6.30am to 7.00pm.
Masses: 7.00am, 8.00am (1962 Missal), 12.30pm.
6.00pm Vigil Mass of Christmas with Carols.
Church closes at 7.00pm and reopens at 11.15pm.
11.30pm Christmas Carols and Midnight Mass (Sung Latin) with Choir and Orchestra.
Thursday 25th December: Christmas Day. Holyday of Obligation
Church open from 7.30am to 5.30pm.
Mass: 8.00am, 9.00am (1962 Missal), 10.00am, 11.00am (Sung Latin), 12.30pm, 4.30pm.
4.00pm Solemn Benediction.
No 7.00pm Mass.
Friday 26th December: Saint Stephen, Protomartyr
Church open from 9.00am to 1.00pm.
Mass:10.00am, 11.00am (1962 Missal), 12.30pm.
Fora full list of Masses & other services in the Christmas Time, see the posters & handbills.
CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS HANDMADE IN BETHLEHEM
Bethlehem Baubles is a social enterprise producing unique recycled glass decorations handmade by artisans in and around Bethlehem. Every year the artisans change the designs and include dated ribbons with the baubles, making them very collectible. They work closely with Muslim and Christian communities to provide much needed employment and support for families in the Holy Land – the heart of the Christmas events. We are encourage you to buy their decorations not only because they are lovely and for a worthwhile cause, but because they will also give the Oratory £3.50 for every item sold. Using our unique code c9 will also give you a 5% discount. You will see a sample bauble in the Oratory Bookshop and the flyers explaining it all are at the back of the church. Take one home with you and please remember to use our unique code c9 when you checkout online at www.bethlehembaubles.com.
ORATORY 2026 PILGRIMAGE TO TURKEY – STILL PLACES AVAILABLE
There are still places available on our pilgrimage to Turkey with the theme “In the Footstepsof Abraham, the Apostles, and the Early Fathers of the Church”, led by Fr Michael Lang from 1st to 9thMay 2026. The tour will include ancient Syriac monasteries in Tur Abdin,the historical Christian centres of Edessa and Antioch, Tarsus, the birthplace of the Apostle Paul, the rock churches of Cappadocia and much more. Pope Leo XIV mentioned some of the places we hope to visit in his address to clergy and religious during his present Apostolic Viist in Turkey (click here for the text). If you are interested and for more information, please contact Fr Michael at michaellang@rcdow.org.uk.
PARISH TALK: SCIENCE – GOD’S NEW ALLY
On Monday 12th January 2026 at 7pm, there will be a talk in St Wilfrid’s Hall entitled Science: God’s New Ally. For more than four centuries, advances in science gave rise to the view that the Universe could be explained without reference to a Creator. By the early twenty century, materialism had become the predominant theory. But with unexpected and astonishing force, the pendulum of science has swung back the other way over the past 100 years, owing to new discoveries in physics, cosmology, biology and more. Join Michel-Yves Bolloré and Olivier Bonnassies as they trace the history of these scientific breakthroughs, all detailed in their book God: The Science, The Evidence, The Dawn of a Revolution, which has sold over 400,000 copies worldwide,and is newly released in English. The speakers will discuss the book and the discoveries which converge in making science God’s new ally. After the talk, copies of the book will be on sale for the special price of £10 (RRP £22) – card payments preferred. The talk is open to all, with a suggested donation of £5 per person. For more information and to sign up, please visit the Registration page. We expect this event to be popular, so please register if you intend to come.
YOUNG AELFRED BY MARIA WADDELOVE
The author asks, “Why choose to write about King Alfred? The historical sources tell us much about this exceptional monarch: he truly deserves the title Great, defending his kingdom of Wessex against the Viking attacks with great courage, to lay the foundations of what would become England.” She then goes on to explain why she has chosen the Young Prince for her subject: “In Young AelfredI have taken this wonderful king and tried to envisage what he would have been like as a boy.” Maria Waddelove presents a young boy whose adventures are always coloured by the greater adventure to which we are all called, that of the Christian life. This is an inspiring book, not just for those aged 8–13,but for all of us in these times when there are all too few real-life heroes around. The book will make a great Christmas present for any age and isfor sale in the Oratory Shop for £9.99.
CARITAS WESTMINSTER ANNUAL GIVING CALENDAR
Caritas Westminster has launched its Annual Giving Calendar, encouraging adults and children to support their neighbour over Advent and Christmas. Each day of Advent the calendar invites individuals to contribute aspecific item on the calendar to their local food bank. Posters are displayed on the notice board as you enter the church. You can scan the barcode and download the calendar. We invite everyone to take part in this worthwhile cause.
IGNATIAN SPIRITUAL EXERCISES FOR MEN
Five-day Ignatian retreats formen only conducted in English by the Benedictine Fathers of Abbaye Saint-Josephde Clairval in Flavigny (France): 4th–9thand 11th–16th February at Stonyhurst, Clitheroe, Lancashire;30th April–5th May at Benburb Priory, Co. Tyrone,Northern Ireland; 23rd–28th July in Kilsheelan, Co.Tipperary, Ireland. For more information and how to book, click here. Contact abbey@clairval.com.
HELPING THE HOMELESS AND NEEDY IN OUR AREA
HTB (Holy Trinity Brompton) run a morning shelter to assist those who are homeless or vulnerable at St Augustine's Church, 117 Queen's Gate, SW7 5LP, every Wednesday 8am–1.30pm and Thursday 9.30am–1.30pm. They need all sort of help (serving, hosting, washing up, sewing, cleaning). If you are willing to spare some time for this service (you do not need to stay the whole time) or would like to know more on how you can help, please email HTB (mentioning that you heard about this from the Oratory) at shelter@htb.org.
ORATORY SCOUT GROUP
Our Scouts Group has moved under the umbrella of the Catholic Scouts of Europe and is now ready to accept new applications for boys from School Years 3 to 6 (Cubs), Y7 to Y11 (Scouts) and girls between Y3 to Y6 (Guides Cubs), Y7 to Y11 (Guides). Email oratoryscoutgroup@bromptonoratory.co.uk.
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.
MASS INTENTIONS
Click here for more information.
CONTACTLESS GIVING AVAILABLE
Click here for more information.
For a larger donation, please consider a bank transfer, because we have to pay a percentage fee for any card payment. For our account details, please contact generalenquiries@bromptonoratory.co.uk. Please add your first and last 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.
EXPLORE WHITFIELD
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