23rd & 24th Sundays of the Year (A)

15th & 16th Sundays after Pentecost

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There will be a special collection on behalf of the Catholic Education Service at all Sunday Masses.

OPPOSE THE ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL

Please take one of the cards that are available at the back of the church, send it to your MP, and state your opposition to the assisted suicide bill before the crucial vote on Friday 11^th September.

DEVOTION TO THE HOLY FACE OF CHRIST

There will be a talk on the Holy Face Devotion given by Fr Lawrence Carney, author of the book The Secret of the Holy Face: The Devotion Destined to Save Society on Wednesday 16^th September at 7pm in St Wilfrid'’s Hall at the Oratory. Fr Carney is a priest from the Diocese of Wichita, USA. He is also known for his book Walking the Road to God.

BROTHERS OF THE LITTLE ORATORY: SEVEN CHURCHES OF LONDON PILGRIMAGE

Following St Philip’s tradition in Rome, the Brothers of the Little Oratory will have their annual walking pilgrimage to Seven Churches of London on Saturday 19^th September. We will start with the 8am Mass in the Oratory and then visit Most Holy Redeemer, Westminster Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, St Etheldreda, Corpus Christi, St James’s Spanish Place,  finishing at Tyburn Convent. There will be hymns, devotions and spiritual readings along the way. All are invited. Please bring a packed lunch and water.

SCRIPTURE GROUP

There will be no meetings on 8^th and 15^th September. The Scripture Group will meet again on Tuesday 22^nd September from 8pm to 9pm in the Oratory House.

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.

SUNDAY MORNING COFFEE AFTER 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.

WESTMINSTER YOUTH MINISTRY YOUNG ADULTS MASS & RESONATE TALK

The Mass is held in Westminster Cathedral Crypt, followed by a panel Q&A. The panel will bring together three different vocations in the Church: priesthood, religious life, and marriage. The evening will be an opportunity to hear honest, real, faith-orientated reflections from people who live out their vocation in different ways. Whether you are discerning your future, wondering what God is calling you to, trying to understand vocation more deeply, or simply curious and have general questions to ask then this panel is for you! Tuesday 8^th September, Mass at 7pm, Talk at 7.45pm at Vaughan House, 46 Francis Street, Westminster, SW1P 1QN.

SPUC LONDON ONE-DAY CONFERENCE

The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) will hold a one-day conference on Saturday 12^th September,from 9am to 5pm, at the Holiday Inn Regent’s Park. Open to people of all ages,the conference will offer inspiring talks, seminars and practical workshops designed to equip participants to defend unborn children and the dignity of human life. The day also provides an opportunity to meet others involved in the pro-life cause. Admission £50, including all meals and access to the lectures, workshops and exhibition hall. Further details and booking are available at https://spuc.org.uk/event/london-one-day-conference-2026/.

BEYOND TYBURN: THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF THE REFORMATION

Learn about influential Catholics of the Reformation. Wednesday 16^th September, at 6:45pm (after 6pm Mass) in the downstairs parish room at St Anselm and St Cecilia’s Church, Holborn, 70 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, WC2A 3JA. RSVP cenacletotheholyspirit@yahoo.com. The talk is free, but donations are much appreciated.

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.

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

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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 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.