Corpus Christi (A)

Second Sunday after Pentecost

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PROCESSION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

This Sunday there will be (weather permitting) an outdoor Procession of the Blessed Sacrament at 3.30pm, following after Vespers in church at 3:00pm. Please note that there will be no parking in the forecourt of the Oratory House from 12.30pm to 4.15pm. Click here for more information.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION

The Brothers of the Little Oratory invite you to another Day of Recollection on Saturday 13^th June. The day will begin with 10am Mass at Our Lady’s Altar in the Oratory Church, followed by a programme of two conferences, including our guest speaker Br Ælred of the Benedictine Abbey of Farnborough, who will talk about “Prayer in a monastic context”, prayers, Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, concluding at 3pm. Exceptionally this time, the event will start at St Wilfrid's Hall in the morning and then move to the Little Oratory in the afternoon. All are welcome – men and women – and no registration is required.Please bring a packed lunch; St Wilfrid’s Hall will be open, with spiritual books available for quiet reflection. Tea and biscuits will be available after Benediction.

ORATORY SUMMER FÊTE

The Annual Oratory Summer Fête will take place this year on Saturday 20^th June. The Garden Party is our major annual fundraising event, with books and gifts for sale, games for children, and refreshments to enjoy, all within the garden of Oratory House. If you would like to volunteer to assist with planning or with facilitation on the day, please email youngadultsgroup@bromptonoratory.co.uk.

ORATORY SUMMER ORGAN RECITALS

This year, there will be two organ recitals taking place in the Oratory Church at 7.30pm on Wednesdays in June.The first is given by the Oratory’s Organist, Ben Bloor, on 17^thJune, with works by Johann Sebastian Bach. On 24^th June,our outgoing Pettman organ scholar, Evan Lawrence, will give his valedictory recital in the church, with works by Bach, Brahms, Howells and Franck. Admissionto the recitals is free, with a retiring collection and all are very welcome. Click here for more details.

ST PHILIP NERI CIRCLE FOR MEN

The circle meets once a month for spiritual discourse in a familiar way on a work of spir­ituality or theology with the aim of drawing lessons for our own life from the work studied. The next meeting will be on Monday 15^th June, from 8.00pm to 9.15pm. Our new reading will be St Augustine of Hippo’s Letter to Proba, a wonderful short treatise on prayer. The circle is open to men only. For more information, email Fr Michael Lang at michaellang@rcdow.org.uk.

2026 ORATORY PILGRIMAGE TO TURKEY – AN ILLUSTRATED REVIEW

Last May, Fr Michael Lang led a a pilgrimage to Turkey, which included 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. On Friday 3^rd July at 6.45pm in St Wilfrid’s Hall, Fr Michael will share his impressions of the pilgrimage and talk about the historical and religious significance of the sites the group visited. The presentation will be illustrated with photographs from the trip. All are welcome.

BEYOND TYBURN: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE LONDON MARTYRS

Learn about the London martyrs we seldom hear about and the hidden secrets of London places we pass by every day, at Tyburn Convent, 8 Hyde Park Place, W2 2LJ on Wednesday 17^th June at 6pm. Light refreshments provided. RSVP cenacletotheholyspirit@yahoo.com. The talk is free, but donations for the convent are welcome.

KNIFE CRIME REDUCTION FORUM

Caritas Westminster and the Tollington Park J & P group invite you to join an online Knife Crime Reduction Forum on Thursday 18^th June, 7.00–8.15pm. Knife crime affects communities across London, especially young people and their families. This forum will bring together parishes, schools and the wider community to hear about existing initiatives, share ideas and encourage practical action within parishes. Al lare welcome, whether already involved or simply wishing to listen and learn more. For more information and to register, see https://caritaswestminster.org.uk/event/knife-crime-reduction-forum-working-together-for-safer-communities/.

HEART TO HEART WOMEN'S RETREAT

At the Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst, Lancashire, Friday 19^th to Monday 22^nd June. Three days of guided prayer, discernment and silence in beautiful surroundings, led by Fr Bernard Murphy, CFR and the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. The retreat will offer space fo rattentiveness to the Lord based on principles of Ignatian spirituality. More information at https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/heart-to-heart-retreat/.

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 Thursday 9.30am–1.30pm. They need all sort 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.

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

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CONTACTLESS GIVING AVAILABLE

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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, 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.