Sunday 1st November 2026
All Saints
NO SERVICE ON PICCADILLY LINE
On Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November, there will be no service on the entire Piccadilly Line. This is due to planned works in connection with the line upgrade.
ALL SOULS
Monday 2nd November is All Souls’ Day. The Solemn Mass of Requiem will be at 6.30pm. Other Requiem Masses will be at 7am, 8am (1962 Missal) and 12.30pm. Click here for more information.
INDULGENCES FOR SOULS OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED
On All Souls’ Day a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Holy Souls, is granted to those who visit any parish church or public oratory and there recite the Our Father and the Creed once. Every day from 1st to 8th November inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Holy Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed. The usual conditions for indulgences apply:
1. Only one plenary indulgence can be granted per day.
2. It is necessary to be in the state of grace, at least by completion of the work.
3. Freedom from attachment to sin, even venial sin, is necessary to gain a plenary indulgence. To be free of attachment to sin means that there is no particular sin in our life that we are unwilling to renounce. If this condition is lacking, the indulgence is only partial.
4. Holy Communion must be received each time the indulgence is sought.
5. Prayers must be recited for the intentions of the Holy Father on each day the indulgence is sought. No particular prayers are prescribed. One Our Father and Hail Mary suffice.
6. A sacramental confession must be made within a week of completion of the prescribed work. One confession made during the week, made with the intention of gaining all the indulgences, suffices.
COFFEE AFTER 10AM MASS ON ALL SAINTS’ DAY
There will be a special coffee hour after the 10am Family Mass on Sunday 1st November at St Joseph’s Hall to celebrate All Saints. Children are invited to dress as their favourite saint, with a prize for the best costume, and a parade around the front courtyard of the church (weather permitting).
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.
CELTIC HARP CONCERT
There will be a harp concert with an Anglo-Irish theme in St. Wilfrid's Hall on Saturday 14th November at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. The concert is in memory of Della Howard, whose anniversary is about then, and of Marlain Fielding, who loyally helped Della with the Gift Stall at the Oratory Summer Fête and who died earlier this year. After the concert, there will be a brief reception with wine and canapés. If you knew Della or Marlain and would like to come please contact Angela Delbourgo at angldlbrg@aol.com.
ORATORY CAROL SERVICE
The annual Carol Service will be on Thursday 17th December at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7.00pm.
CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH
The Oratory will host its annual Christmas Day lunch (Friday 25th December) for the elderly and those who might otherwise be alone on Christmas Day. Volunteers are needed on Christmas Day to pick up our guests from home between 9.45am and 11.45am and bring them to the Oratory House. Drivers are also needed to return them home again after lunch at any time between 3.45pm and 4.45pm. Please email Steve if you can act as a driver: stevenbuckingham23@gmail.com.
CATHOLIC HEROINES OF THE ENGLISH REFORMATION
Learn about the unknown Catholic women who helped save the Faith in England. Tuesday 1st December, 7pm (after 6pm Mass & Benediction) in St Wilfrid’s Hall at the Oratory. RSVP cenacletotheholyspirit@yahoo.com.The talk is free, but all donations go to support the Fathers of the London Oratory.
MAGNIFICA HUMANITAS
The Friends of Westminster Cathedral are inviting everyone on Wednesday 4th November at 6.30pm to Westminster Cathedral Hall for a talk by Fr Hugh MacKenzie on Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on artificial intelligence. Drawing on the Holy Father’s teaching, Fr Hugh will consider what makes human intelligence unique, why our God-given dignity cannot be reduced to data and algorithms, and the dangers of allowing technology to take the place of human judgement,authentic relationships or spiritual fulfilment. For further details and tickets visit https://westminstercathedral.org.uk/news-events/.
SPUC PRO-LIFE SOCIAL
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) invites all young adults aged 18–35 to come along to its next pro-life social on Friday 13th November from 7pm to 10pm in the Teahouse Theatre in Vauxhall (SE11 5HL). To register, please visit https://spuc.org.uk/event/london-youth-social-5/.
FATIMA AND FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTION SYMPOSIUM
Join Sr Angela de Fátima Coelho and Fr Lawrence Lew OP at St Mary’s, Cadogan Street, SW3 2QP, on Sunday 22nd November from 12:30pm to 7pm. The symposium will include Holy Mass, a Marian Procession, the Rosary, talks on the First Saturday Devotion and the spirituality of the Little Shepherds. Attendance is free, but registration is required. Please bring your own packed lunch. To register visit https://bit.ly/4dgPDE3.
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.
EXPLORE WHITFIELD
EXPLORE WHITFIELD