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.

Holy Communion under Both Kinds.  We have reintroduced the practice of offering the Precious Blood to people coming for Holy Communion, as well as the Body of Christ.  One person (the priest) gives out the Body of Christ at the front of the church in the centre, and two Eucharistic Ministers, one each side of the priest administer the Chalice.  If you wish to receive from the Chalice after you have received the Host, move to one of the Eucharistic Ministers.  He or she will offer the Chalice to you with the words, “The Blood of Christ”.  You reply, “Amen”, take the Chalice and carefully take a sip.  Then give the Chalice back to the Minister and return to your place in the church.

Vocations to the Priesthood.  Each Deanery in the Archdiocese is given a month to pray especially intensely for Vocations to the Priesthood.  JULY IS OUR MONTH.  Please make it your special intention. 

Diocesan Prayer for Vocations

Heavenly Father, we ask you to send labourers into your harvest.  Inspire, in the hearts of your people, vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life.  Bless our families with a spirit of generosity, so that those whom you call have the courage to give themselves to your Church in faith.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

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 11^th 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.”

Parish Day Out.  On Thursday, 13^th 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 visits, a play-area, places to eat, a farm shop, and more.  If you would like to go, places may be limit ed, so please sign up on the list in the church porch or email Geraldine (olhoc.oxford@rcaob.org.uk).

Holiday.  I shall be taking a few days’ break this week and next, hopefully to re-charge the batteries.  There will be no public weekday Mass during that time, but I shall offer Mass each day for the intentions on the list.  Next Sunday Fr. Patrick Riordan SJ has agreed to come to celebrate the two Masses here at Sacred Heart.

If you need a priest during that time, please call Canon Mervyn at Corpus Christi (01865 762433, corpuschristi.oxford@rcaob.org.uk), or the Fathers at St Edmund’s (01865 243694, ofmca.oxford@rcaob.org.uk).

Tailpiece: A man was thinking about how good his wife was and how fortunate he was to have her.  In the happiness of his heart he turned to God and asked, “Lord, why did you make my wife so kind-hearted?”  The Lord responded, “So that you could love her, my son.”  Delighted with this, the man continued, “And why did you make her so beautiful?”  “Again, so that you could love her, my son,” said the Lord.  The man thought about this. Then he said, “I don`t mean to seem ungrateful or anything, but … why did you make her so stupid?”  The Lord answered, “So that she could love you, my son.”

May God bless you and all those whom you love.

Fr. Harry

For more details please see the Newsletter for the week.