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.

Welcome Fr. Patrick.  I am very grateful to Fr. Patrick Riordan SJ who has agreed to come to celebrate the two Masses here at Sacred Heart this weekend.  There will be no public weekday Mass this week, but I shall offer Mass each day for the intentions on the list. 

If you need a priest during this time, please call St. Edmund’s (01865 243694, ofmca.oxford@rcaob.org.uk).

Holy Communion under Both Kinds.  One person (the priest) will offer 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.

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 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).

Today is the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, to coincide with the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. This year’s theme chosen by Pope Leo is “I will never forget you” (Isaiah 49:15).

Tailpiece: The Pope had just finished a visit to the USA and was being taken in a limousine to the airport. Since he’d never driven a limo, he asked the chauffeur if he could drive for a while. Reluctantly, the chauffeur pulled over and climbed into the back while the Pope took the wheel. The Pope merged onto the highway and accelerated to over 90 mph to see what the limo could do.  Suddenly, he noticed a flashing blue light in his side mirror, so he pulled over. The trooper approached the limo, peered in through the windows, then said, “Just a moment please, I need to call in.”  The trooper called in and explained to the chief that he had a very important person pulled over for speeding. “How do I handle this, chief?” asked the trooper. “Is it the Governor?” asked the chief. “No, this guy is more important than the Governor!”  “Is it the President?” gasped the chief.  “No! Even more important than that!”  “Well, who is it?” screamed the chief.   “I don’t know, sir,” said the trooper, “But he’s got the Pope as his chauffeur.”

May God bless you and all those whom you love.

Fr. Harry

For more details please see the Newsletter for the week.