25th Sunday of the Year (A)

17th Sunday after Pentecost

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HOME MISSION SUNDAY

This Sunday is Home Mission Sunday, and we are asked to pray especially for the mission of the Catholic Church in England and Wales. There will also be a special collection to support the Bishops’ Conference’s home mission work at each Mass. See https://cbcew.org.uk/home-mission-sunday for more information.

Confraternity of the Precious Blood devotions will start again this Sunday at 3pm.

SCRIPTURE GROUP

The Scripture Group will meet again on Tuesday 22^nd September from 8pm to 9pm in the Oratory House. There will be no meeting on 29th September.

ST THOMAS AQUINAS STUDY GROUP

The first session will be on Wednesday 23^rd September at 7.30pm in St Joseph’s Hall and once a fortnight after that. The topic for this year will be the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit according to St Thomas. For further information, please email generalenquiries@bromptonoratory.co.uk.

ORATORY LATIN CLASSES

The first session will be on Wednesday 30^th September in St Joseph’s Hall. The Intermediate Class (last year’s Beginners’ group) will run from 6.45 to 7.30pm and the Advanced Class from 7.30 to 8.30pm. For further information, please email generalenquiries@bromptonoratory.co.uk.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

First Holy Communion classes start in October. Please choose either Wednesday at 5pmor Saturday at 11.30am for your child. Each class lasts 45 minutes. The course runs during term-time until June 2027, when the First Communion Mass takes place. Saturday classes start on 3^rd October and Wednesday classes on 7^th October. If you are interested for your child, please download an application form from here, and return it to Fr Rupert McHardy at the Oratory House.

CONFIRMATION

Confirmation will start in January 2026 on Thursdays at 5.15pm. If you are interested for your child,please complete the application form, which can be downloaded from here, and return it to Fr Rupert McHardy at the Oratory House.

ORATORY CATHOLIC ENQUIRY GROUP

The Oratory runs a course of instruction for those wishing to explore and learn more about the Catholic faith. The classes are principally intended to support those interested in becoming Catholic (whether or not already baptised), and those wishing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation as an adult. The course, which covers the basics of Catholic teaching and practice, begins on Tuesday 13^th October at 8pm in St Joseph’s Hall at the Oratory, and meets weekly on Tuesdays at the same time. Click here for more information.

COFFEE AFTER SUNDAY 9AM MASS

Coffee after the 9 o’clock Mass will be served in the hall on the last Sunday of each month from 27^th September. If you would like to help our small team of volunteers, whether setting up or serving, or contributing cake and biscuits, please email delia.gaze@btinternet.com.

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.

CHRISTUS MEDICUS

A group for Catholic university students of the healthcare professions and biosciences. This semester (September–December 2026) ten in-person talks will be delivered by a range of special guest speakers on the theme of: “Learning from the Lord: how to follow and imitate Jesus in healthcare”. The group meets every Wednesday from 6pm in the Chaplaincy room of King’s College London: Guy’s Campus. For more information, and to sign-up, please email Laurence Jasper (laurence.jasper@kcl.ac.uk) using your university email or check out this website: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/events/christus-medicus-group-at-guys.

THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO: A JOURNEY

Learn the traditional songs of the Camino de Santiago and experience a pilgrimage in music. This programme includes two workshops introducing songs sung by pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela, followed by a mini-pilgrimage from Farm Street Church to St James’s Spanish Place on Saturday 17^th October, 11am to 1pm, singing these songs along the way. The sessions will be led by Rafael Montero, founder of El Parnaso Hyspano, and offer an opportunity to reflect on the experience of pilgrimage in our own lives. To take part in the final pilgrimage, participants should attend at least one of the workshops. The minimum donation is £10, and all materials and refreshments are provided. For full details and booking, visit https://shorturl.at/r04MW.

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.

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.