The Oratory supported the Companions of the Order of Malta throughout the pandemic. In partnership with Westminster City Council, the Companions, using St Joseph’s Hall as their base of operations, distributed 50,000 items of clothing, toiletries and light entertainment (books, etc.) to the rehoused homeless. Through this process, we have learnt a lot about how we can best contribute to helping the homeless. While it may appear easiest to give money directly to needy individuals, the advice of our charity partners is that it is better to support organisations dedicated to assisting them. Sadly, money given directly is often misspent and can do more harm than good. We appreciate your great generosity and your desire to support those in need, which was exemplified in the life of our founder, St Philip Neri. But we invite you to consider making your kind contributions - whether of time or money - through the following routes, by which they can be most effectively deployed.
Some ways you can help:
Leave donations in the Poor Box / St Anthony's Bread box by the Sacred Heart Chapel or at the Oratory House: funds are used for the provision of food, clothing and bedding, and for other urgent expenses for the homeless and destitute;
Support the Companions of the Order of Malta (https://www.orderofmalta.org.uk/companions/);
Donate to Glass Door, a London-based homeless charity (https://www.glassdoor.org.uk/);
Join our Parish’s St Vincent de Paul Society / Outreach Programme by emailing generalenquiries@bromptonoratory.co.uk.