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.

Lent 2026.

1. During Lent we do not pray the Gloria during Mass on Sundays, nor the joyful word “A******A!”.
2. Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, Thursdays, 6.00–7.00 pm, with the opportunity for Confession.
3. Stations of the Cross. Each Saturday morning, after the Mass.
4. “My Day by Day” booklets are available (£1). They contain the Mass readings for each day of Lent.
5. Walk With Me booklets for Lent are also available, with Lent calendars. They are an aid to daily prayer and reflection.
6. The statues in the church will be veiled from the 5^th Sunday of Lent (Passion Sunday) until Holy Saturday.
7. Penance Service. Thursday, 19^th March 6.00 pm.

Easter Duties.  All Catholics who have made their First Holy Communion should receive the Holy Eucharist sometime between Ash Wednesday and Pentecost Sunday.  They should also take part in the Sacrament of Penance before receiving this Easter Communion. 

Eucharistic Ministers.  Thank you to those who have let me know they would like to be Eucharistic Ministers.  There will be two training sessions on Thursday, 19^th and 26^th March, at 5.00 pm.  If anyone else feels that God is calling you to serve in this way, please see me. 

Annual Diocesan Thanksgiving Mass for Marriage. Married couples who are celebrating a milestone anniversary, and couples preparing to marry this year are invited to the Diocesan Thanksgiving Mass for Marriage at St Chad’s Cathedral in Birmingham on Saturday, 2^nd May, at 12.00 noon, followed by light refreshments. For info, and to register please visit www.vocations.org.uk/marriage-mass

Informal café-style discussions exploring aspects of prayer. On Thursday evenings in Lent: (5^th, 12^th and 26^th March), starting at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall at Corpus Christi RC Church, Margaret Road, Headington, OX3 8AJ, for just over an hour. Refreshments beforehand from 7.15 pm.   No need to sign up, just drop in – as and when you can.  For info, email John at johnkirwan1a@gmail.com 

First Holy Communion Mass of Enrolment.  Lessons began last Thursday. This weekend the children will be officially enrolled during Mass as candidates for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion. 

Enquiries about the Catholic Faith. We are rapidly approaching the end of this series of talks about our Faith, but newcomers are always welcome.  We shall meet in the parish hall at Our Lady’s at 4.30 pm this Friday, when the subject will be “The Kingdom of God”.

Thank you to everyone who came to the meeting with Bishop Richard last weekend.  He has written to say how much he enjoyed his visit and meeting you all.

Situation Vacant.  The Trustees of The Birmingham Diocesan Trust are looking to recruit a skilled and committed Catholic volunteer with professional experience of safeguarding to join the Board of Trustees and Chair the Safeguarding Sub-Committee.

We are looking for a Chair to lead and inspire who brings: 
•    Extensive experience of safeguarding in a professional capacity.
•    Experience of operating at strategic leadership level.
•    A solid understanding of good governance practices. 
•    A commitment to supporting the Church’s mission and who shares our values and vision as well as our passion and commitment to those we support.

Oxford Pro-Life Community are working to build a living and lively community of people in Oxford that has a real impact in promoting the respect for the inviolable right to life of all human beings. If you can spare an hour or so a week, visit oxfordprolife.org.uk/volunteer. 

Tailpiece: A teacher was telling her class that when Lot’s wife looked back at Sodom she turned into a pillar of salt, when Bobby interrupted. “My Mummy looked back once while she was driving,” he announced. “And she turned into a telephone pole.”

Another teacher said to her children, “We have been learning about how powerful the kings and queens were in Biblical times. But there is a Higher Power than kings and queens. Who can tell me what it is?” Tommy blurted out, “Please Miss, I know. … Aces.”

May God bless you and all those who are dear to you.

Fr. Harry

For more details please see the Newsletter for the week.