29th Sunday of the Year (A)

21st Sunday after Pentecost

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APPEAL AND COLLECTION FOR PONTIFICAL MISSION SOCIETIES

This Sunday is World Mission Sunday. At all Masses there will be an appeal and a special collection for Missio (Pontifical Mission Societies). The appeal will be preached by Fr Liam Durrant of the Mill Hill Missionaries.

OCTOBER ROSARY

In October the Rosary will be said every day 20 minutes before the evening Mass at the Lady Altar.

COFFEE AFTER SUNDAY 10AM AND 11AM MASSES

We need more volunteers to maintain this much-appreciated weekly offer after the 10am and 11am Masses. If you can spare a few hours per month for either of them, please contact Fr Michael Lang on michaellang@rcdow.org.uk or 020 7808 0900.

OCTOBER ORGAN RECITALS

At the Oratory’s annual Organ Recital Series this October, players from the UK will present varied programmes, delivered on the famous J. W. Walker instrument designed by the legendary former Organist of the Oratory, Ralph Downes, and listed Grade 1 in the Institute of British Organ Studies register of organs of historical importance. Mondays in October at 7.30pm. Admission is free with a retiring collection, and all are welcome. For more information see the posters in the church porch or click here.

APPEAL AND SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR ST RAPHAEL’S FUND

The will be an appeal at all Sunday Masses on 24^th & 25^th October by the Oratory Fathers on behalf of St Raphael’s Fund, which is the fund for the Oratory’s own students for the priesthood.

RENEWED APPEAL FOR THE BUILDING OF A CHURCH IN THE GAMBIA

The Oratory Parish is renewing its appeal for the building of a new church in Kerewan in the Gambia, West Africa. The church is an outstation of the growing St Peter’s Parish, Lamin, in a largely Muslim area of the Diocese of Banjul. In 2023, thanks to your generosity, we raised around £7,000, which has made a significant contribution towards the construction of the church. Much progress has been made, but the building is not yet complete. A further £25,000 is needed to finish the project.The appeal has the support of the local Bishop. We would be most grateful for any contributions towards bringing this worthy project to completion and providing the local Catholic community with a fitting place of worship. If you would like to make a donation or request further information, please contact Fr Michael Lang at michaellang@rcdow.org.uk.

CANDLELIT PROCESSION AT OUR LADY OF WILLESDEN

Join Archbishop Richard Moth and many pilgrims to ask Our Lady’s prayers for the gift of priests for the Church,and for the Protection of London. Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden, 1 Nicoll Road, NW10 9AX. Sunday 18^th October at 7pm.

PRAYING WITH THE SCRIPTURES WORKSHOP LED BY ARCHBISHOP RICHARD MOTH

On Saturday 24^th October from 2 to 5pm, there will be a workshop on the prayerful reading of Scripture (Lectio Divina) with Archbishop Richard Moth at Westminster Cathedral Hall. If you are interested, you can book a place on this website.

VISIT OF NATIONAL PILGRIM STATUE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA

Westminster Cathedral on Saturday 31^st October, 12noon to 5pm. The day will include a procession and enthronement of the Fatima statue, followed by Mass by Archbishop Richard Moth. There will be opportunities to venerate the relics of Saints Jacinta and Francisco. Participants will pray the Rosary for world peace and attend informative talks and videos on the Fatima message. A book table with devotional materials will be available, and attendees may enrol in and be invested with the Brown Scapular.

ENGLISH CATHOLIC HISTORY ASSOCIATION DAY CONFERENCE

At the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St Gregory, Warwick Street. Saturday 31^st October, 10.30am–4pm. Speakers Charles Coulombe and Fr Stewart Foster. All welcome. ECHA members £9/non-members £12. For more information, see https://echa.org.uk/2026/09/06/london-history-day-31st-october/.

ORATORY CAROL SERVICE

The annual Carol Service will be on Thursday 17^th December at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7.00pm.

LONDON CATHOLIC ORCHESTRA

The London Catholic Orchestra is a new project-based ensemble bringing together musicians who share a love of the Western classical tradition and the beauty of orchestral music. There are no auditions or membership fees, but players should be able to prepare orchestral repertoire independently and perform to a high standard. Please complete the registration form (https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/NFYfKA45uv),if you are interested. When concerts are being planned, musicians will be contacted with details of repertoire, rehearsal dates, performances and venues.

GRACEMEET

GraceMeet is a new Catholic matchmaking service built by a young Catholic in London for single adults seriously seeking marriage. There is no swiping. Each week an AI suggests a small number of carefully chosen matches based on faith, values and life stage, every profile is identity verified, and the service is free while in its early stages. Find out more at gracemeetapp.com.

ORATORY SCOUT GROUP

Our Scout 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 Y3 to Y6 (Cubs), Y7 to Y11 (Scouts) and girls from School Years Y3 to Y6 (Guides Cubs) andY7 to Y11 (Guides). Email oratoryscoutgroup@bromptonoratory.co.uk.

HELPING THE 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 Thursday 9.30am–1.30pm. They need all sorts of help (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.

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 to attend 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, psychotherapy and coaching it supports individuals who are going through challenges such as anxiety, depression, inability to cope with daily life, relationship issues, and bereavement. Whether you are struggling with change, big decisions or simply day-to-day life, Wilfrid’s House offers emotional and practical support. For further information: 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. 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-12.00noon; 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, 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.