Welcome to the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church Oxford
Sacred Heart Church in Blackbird Leys, Oxford is part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. We hope that you will find our website useful and enjoy searching through the various aspects of life in the parish. Here you will be able to check our weekly newsletter, news and forthcoming parish events, read about how to go about with Sacramental preparation and find out Mass times and other services.
Whatever your reason for visiting us, we pray that God will bless your search and grant you many blessings
Parish Priest : Fr. Harry Curtis
(Also serving Our Lady of Christians, Cowley, 01865 770910)
E-mail : fr.harry.curtis@rcaob.org.uk
Parish Secretary : Reena Bartrip
10:00 am – 1:00 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
Telephone : 01865 455182
E-mail : sacredheart.oxford@rcaob.org.uk
This Parish operates in accordance with Statutory Safeguarding Guidance and the National and Archdioceses policies & procedures at all times. At present, our Parish Safeguarding Representative is Onyi Anyanwu. She can be contacted at: sg.sacredheart.oxford@rcaob.org.uk or alternatively the Diocesan Safeguarding team can be contacted on 0121 230 6240/ safeguarding@rcaob.org.uk if you have any concern. For more details, visit the page Safeguarding.
This Friday is the First of the Month. We shall say the Novena Prayers to the Sacred Heart during Exposition before Mass on Thursday evening, and offer to God the intentions that have been placed in the basket.
The Season of Creation 2026: “Make Living Water Flow”. Each year from 1st September to 4th October, the Christian family unites for this worldwide celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home. This year, the theme for the Season is “Living Water”, from Ezekiel 47:1-12, which portrays God’s life-giving water flowing from the temple of God. The river grows deeper and deeper, restoring barren land, reviving waters, and sustaining flourishing ecosystems.
Annual Diocesan Novena to pray for the Canonisation of Blessed Dominic Barberi, 18th August, until his feast day on 26th August. Blessed Dominic arrived in the Archdiocese from Italy in February, 1842. He was known for holiness of life and for his love for the poor. He received many people into the Catholic Church, the most famous being St John Henry Newman in October 1845.
A Message from the Bishops’ Conference.
Act Now to prevent the legalising of assisted suicide:
Archbishop Richard Moth, president of the Bishops’ Conference, explains our opposition to this legislation:
“The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which aims to legalise assisted suicide has returned to the House of Commons, and Members of Parliament will vote on its Second Reading on 11th September. This bill is wrong in principle. It is also deeply flawed and, if passed, could lead to vulnerable people feeling pressured into ending their lives. I urge you to write to your Members of Parliament to petition them to vote against the Bill at Second Reading.”
News for Young Parishioners. On Saturday, 26th September, the Kenelm Youth Trust will be taking part in a Pilgrimage Walk from St Michael’s Church in Penn, Wolverhampton, to St Francis of Assisi Church, Shelfield, Walsall. The Walk is around a 12-mile route between two diocesan shrines for the Jubilee of St Francis of Assisi. All are welcome to join, whether a young adult, a youth group or a family, we would love to welcome you. Please let Joyce know if you are interested.
Parish Day Out. On Thursday, 13th August, we are planning an outing by coach to Millets Farm Centre, near Abingdon (10.00 am from Sacred Heart, 10.30 am from Our Lady’s, and leave to come back, 4.00 pm). £15 for adults, £5 for children under eleven years old. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult). Millets is a family-oriented farm with plenty to see and do: animal walkway, a play-area, places to eat, a farm shop, a garden centre, and more. If you would like to go, places may be limited, so please sign up on the list in the church porch or email Geraldine (olhoc.oxford@rcaob.org.uk).
Tailpiece: A man had a habit of grumbling at the food that was put in front of him at family meals. Then he would lead the family in praying the Grace Before Meals. One day his little girl asked, “Daddy, does God hear us when we pray?” “Of course,” he replied. “He hears us every time we pray.” She thought about this, and then asked, “Does he hear everything we say the rest of the time?” “Yes, dear, every word,” he told her. She thought about it a bit more and then asked, “Then which one does God believe?”
May God bless you and all those whom you love.
Fr. Harry
For more details please see the Newsletter for the week.
Sacred Heart Oxford 