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.
Sacred Heart Parish Day – Summer Fete
This Saturday, 11th July, 12.00 noon – 4.00 pm.
This looks like being a great day, with games and stalls. There are also some incredible prizes to be won in the raffle, and raffle tickets are on sale today.
Holy Communion under Both Kinds. Before COVID, there was the custom here at Sacred Heart for people to have the opportunity at Mass to receive the Precious Blood from the Chalice as well as the Body of the Lord at Holy Communion. I think it is now possible to reintroduce this as an experiment. Starting today, there will be one person (the priest) giving out the Body of Christ at the front of the church in the centre, and there will be two Eucharistic Ministers, one each side with a 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.
Sea Sunday. Next week is Sea Sunday, when the Church prays for all those who live and work at sea. There will be a second collection for Stella Maris, the official maritime welfare agency of the Catholic Church in Great Britain. It provides practical and spiritual support to seafarers.
From CAFOD-DEC Venezuela Earthquake Appeal. “You can help our neighbours affected by the earthquakes in Venezuela with emergency shelter, water and food. CAFOD is already working with local Church partners to support people who have lost their homes, but we need your support to help more survivors. Your donation will provide essential supplies and help families rebuild their lives. Donate to the CAFOD-DEC Venezuela Earthquake Appeal in our special second collection today. Or you can donate directly at: cafod.org.uk/Venezuela or call 0300 999 0030. Please keep those in Venezuela in your prayers.”
Parish Forum Meeting. Next Sunday, 4.30 pm, in the parish hall. All invited and welcome.
Ordinations. Congratulations to Fr. Jonathan Henry from St. Anthony’s Parish in Headington, who was ordained a priest yesterday. Fr. Jonathan will celebrate his First Mass at 3.00 this afternoon (Sunday, 5th July) at St. Anthony’s. Next Sunday he will celebrate Mass at Corpus Christi, Headington, at 11.00 am. Please pray for Deacon Jithin Titto and Deacon Tenny Antony who will also be ordained priests this week. May God bless them all. Ad Multos Annos.
MARCH4LIFE 2026 We are invited to take part in a peaceful, joyful march in London on Saturday, 5th September – celebrating life and challenging abortion.
“WeBelieve” Festival at Oscott College, Birmingham. From Friday, 24th to Monday, 27th July: An unmissable opportunity to discover the traditions and charisms that flow through the Church, to grow in authentic community, and to encounter the transforming love of God. For more: http://www.webelievefestival.com.
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.
Tailpiece: A priest was out walking in his parish when he noticed a young boy on his tiptoes trying very hard to press a doorbell on a house across the road, but he was not tall enough to reach the doorbell. The priest walked across the street and offered to lift him up to reach the bell. The boy was delighted as he gave the bell a solid ring. Crouching down to the child’s level, the priest smiled benevolently and asked, “And now what, my little man?” With a mischievous grin the boy replied, “Now, Mister, we run!!!”
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 