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 : Rev. Canon 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.
Citizens UK is an organisation that deals with the social welfare of local people. We should like to launch a group in this deanery and we hope to have 2-3 volunteers from each parish to kickstart this project. If you would like to help please come and see me. Thank you.
Readers at Mass. There is a new rota available for readers at the 9.00 am Sunday Mass. If you would like to be included on the rota (or if you think that your name may somehow have been left off), please speak to Deirdre Wallace after Mass. She will be very happy to hear from you.
Kenelm Youth Trust. It is not too late for those aged 18-25 to apply to join the Kenelm Youth Trust Mission Team this year. Whether you are thinking about deferring university, taking a gap year, reconsidering your options after results day, or simply looking for an unforgettable year before moving on to university or employment, joining the Diocesan Mission Team could be the perfect opportunity. They are still accepting applications for this year, so get in touch as soon as possible. Contact Hannah Smith: hannah.smith@kenelmyouthtrust.org.uk 01538 703224.
Assisted Suicide Bill. On Friday, 11th September the House of Commons will debate and vote on a Bill to legalise assisted suicide. We believe this is wrong for many reasons. Please contact your MP, urging him/her to attend the debate and vote against the Bill.
The Annual Diocesan Novena to pray for the Canonisation of Blessed Dominic Barberi, started last Tuesday and will continue until his feast on Wednesday, 26th August.
Marriages. Congratulations to Carla and Francisco who were married at Our Lady’s this weekend. And also to Virna and Tito who were married recently in Dili, East Timor. May God bless them throughout their lives.
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.
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. Please ask Joyce for more details.
Early notice: A Mass for the Sick, with the Sacrament of Anointing, will be celebrated here on Saturday, 17th October, at 1.00 pm. If you know of anyone who is sick and/or housebound who might like to attend if they are given help with transport, please tell them about it, and let me know about them.
Tailpiece: Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were on a camping holiday. One night they had a conversation:
Holmes: “Watson, look up there. What do you see?
Watson: “I see thousands of stars and galaxies. I see planets and a beautiful moon. I even see a shooting star.”
Holmes: “And what do you deduce from that?”
Watson: “I deduce that there must be a God. Furthermore, it makes me think how wonderful God must be to have created such a vast and awe-inspiring array.”
Holmes: “Very good. Anything else?”
Watson: “Well, I suppose it also makes me realise how small and insignificant human beings are in comparison to such splendour. What do you deduce, Holmes?”
Holmes: “I deduce, my dear Watson, that someone has stolen our tent.”
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 