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.
Sacred Heart Christmas Bazaar. This year our annual parish bazaar will take place on Saturday, 5th December. Raffle tickets will be on sale after Mass today. Please take some to sell and bring the stubs and money back to Jacqui in good time before the bazaar. Please put the date in your diary, There is a list of raffle prizes in the porch.
Parish Accounts, 2025. I am grateful to Kylla, our parish treasurer, for preparing these details. Please see me if you have questions.
| Parish income | 2025 |
| Offertories (inc £10,678.25 by gift aid) | £19,692 |
| Rental income | £26,985 |
| Donations (inc £65 by gift aid) | £ 1,694 |
| Interest income | £ 1,399 |
| Fundraising | £ 2,959 |
| Repository/Newspapers/Votive Candles | £ 1,113 |
| Tax refunds from gift aid | £ 4,157 |
| Church Hall Rent | £ 9,004 |
| Other collections for parish (eg Windows)* | £ 2,596 |
| Total | £69,599 |
| Parish expenses | 2025 |
| Church (Lit. Past/Property Costs/Utilities) | £16,413 |
| House (Domestic/Property Costs) | £ 1,286 |
| Clergy (Salary/Supply priests/Expenses) | £ 3,212 |
| General (Office/Levies/Donations/ Repository/Newspapers/Votive candles) | £16,726 |
| 1 Sawpit Road/Church Flat expenses | £ 5,928 |
| Fundraising expenses | £ 330 |
| Personnel/Wages | £12,248 |
| Bank Charges | £ 174 |
| Total | £56,317 |
The annual “Fr Ian Ker Memorial Lecture” will be held at The College in Littlemore on Sunday, 1st November, at 4:00 pm. Dr Marie Daouda, Lecturer at Oriel College Oxford, will speak on “Newman as Novelist”. The event takes place on the first anniversary of St. John Henry Newman’s proclamation as a Doctor of the Church. For more information contact the Sisters of The Work: littlemore@newman-friends.org Tel: 01865 779743.
Confirmations. Bishop Richard will be coming to Sacred Heart for Mass at 10.00 am this Saturday, 31st October, to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please pray for all those who are preparing to receive this Sacrament.
November begins next Sunday, and it is the month when we traditionally pray for those who have died:
- Mass for the Deceased Clergy of North Oxford Deanery. Every year the clergy of North Oxford celebrate Mass together for their deceased brothers. You are welcome to join us to pray for your priests. Tuesday, 10th November, 12.30 pm, at Corpus Christi church, Headington.
- Blessing of Graves at Rose Hill on Sunday, 8th November. Meet at the cemetery Chapel at 3.00 pm.
- November Prayers for the Dead. Next week there will be memorial slips available to write the names of those for whom you wish to pray during November.
- Parish Memorial Mass for those in the parish who have died, especially those whose funerals have been held here during the past year, on Saturday, 7th November, 11.00 am. If you would like anyone’s name to be included in this special commemoration, please let me know (in writing).
- Remembrance Sunday. Sunday, 8th November, will be Remembrance Sunday when we remember and pray for those who have died in past and present wars. We shall have a short service after each Mass to lay a wreath at the foot of the cross and pray for those who have been killed and for peace.
Tailpiece: A Jesuit, a Dominican, and a Franciscan were out walking, talking together about religious matters, when suddenly a vision of the Holy Family appeared in front of them, with the Baby Jesus in the manger and Our Lady and St. Joseph praying over Him. The Franciscan fell on his knees, overcome with awe at the sight of God, born in such poverty. The Dominican likewise fell to his knees, adoring the beautiful reflection of the Holy Trinity in the Holy Family. The Jesuit walked up to St. Joseph, put his arm around his shoulder, and said, “So, have you thought about where you are going to send Him to school?”
May God bless you and all those whom you love.
Fr. Harry
For more details please see the Newsletter for the week.
