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.

The national Dementia Prayer Week, 12^th-19^th March, Dementia Prayer Week invites us to pause, pray, and stand in solidarity with those living with dementia, their families, and all who care for them. It highlights the dignity of every person, reminding us that each life remains precious and loved by God, even when memory fades.

Littleway Healing Ministries is holding a Day of Healing at Our Lady’s on Saturday, 18^th April, 10.30 am – 4.00 pm, led by Fr. Kevin Dixon, Mrs Helen Callaghan and the Littleway Team. Join us for praise, prayer and testimonies. All are welcome, come for the day, bring a packed lunch, or just pop in. For more: info@littlewayhealingministries.com

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 this Friday, when the subject will be “Mary and the Saints”.

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: (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

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 that sounds exciting to you, and you can spare an hour or so a week, visit oxfordprolife.org.uk/volunteer. 

Readers for Holy Week and Easter:  please let Sally know if you are available to read from Palm Sunday through to Easter Sunday, so that she can prepare a rota.  Thank you.

Young Discerners’ Group.  Are you a young man in School Years 9 – 13, who wants to explore a Vocation to the Catholic priesthood? You are invited to St. Mary’s College, Oscott in Birmingham on Saturday, 9^th May 2026, 10:30 am – 4:00 pm. Spend time with others who are thinking about a Vocation and meet Fr. Craig Szmidt (Diocesan Director of Vocations). There will be time for discussion and prayer, a tour of Oscott, and an opportunity to speak with seminarians, joining them for Mass and lunch. Parents are also invited and will be able to ask any questions they may have to a priest’s parents.  To find out more, or to book (by 26^th April), contact Deacon Owen Gresty 0121 321 5135 or deacon.owen@vocations.org.uk Free of charge – but booking is essential.

Tailpiece: A new Parish Priest was greeting parishioners as they left after Mass. Most of the people were very polite, except for one man who said, “That was a very dull and boring sermon, Father.” The next week, the same man again appeared and said, “I don’t think you did much preparation this week.”  He appeared yet again the following week, this time muttering, “You really blew it. You didn’t have a thing to say, Father.”  Thoroughly demoralised, the priest could stand it no longer. He went to the sacristan and asked about the man.  “Oh, don’t let him bother you,” said the sacristan. “He’s a little slow and doesn’t really understand things. He just goes around repeating whatever he hears other people saying.”

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

Fr. Harry

For more details please see the Newsletter for the week.