First Sunday of Advent (C)
NEW MASS LECTIONARY
The Lectionary is the book that contains the Scripture readings for Mass and other liturgical celebrations. After a long and thorough discussion, the Bishops of England and Wales decided that a new English translation of the Mass Lectionary should be introduced on the First Sunday of Advent 2024. This is part of the ongoing process of revising the liturgical translations that were implemented after the Second Vatican Council. The new Lectionary will use the English Standard Version – Catholic Edition of the Bible and the Abbey Psalter. In fact, this will not be a significant change for us at the Oratory, because we have continued to use the Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition Lectionary (rather than the Jerusalem Bible Lectionary) since the post-conciliar reforms. Both the Revised Standard Version and the English Standard Version stand within the King James Bible tradition and are quite close to each other. The English Standard Version has been revised by Catholic scholars for liturgical use. New Sunday and Weekday Missals, with the updated Scripture readings, are now available from the Oratory Bookshop. For more information click here.
ADVENT SUNDAY MUSICAL ORATORY
The Brothers of the Little Oratory invite you to the annual Advent Musical Oratory with the Oratory Junior Choir next Sunday 1st December at 4.30pm in the Little Oratory. There will be readings, Advent hymns and choral pieces. All welcome. See also here.
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Monday 9th December is the transferred Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Masses will be at 7am, 8am, 12.30pm and 6.30pm (Solemn Pontifical Mass with the Rt Revd Michael Campbell, O.S.A., Bishop Emeritus of Lancaster).
BACH: CHRISTMAS ORATORIO
The Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory School, directed by Charles Cole, will give a performance of J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio on Monday 16th December at 7.00pm in the Oratory Church. For tickets and more information, see https://www.londonoratoryschola.com/.
BETHLEHEM BAUBLES
These traditional glass decorations are handmade using recycled glass in Bethlehem. In collaboration with Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans, the baubles are “Handblown by Muslims – Painted by Christians – Shipped by Israel”. Sales generated from this project will be used to train up a new generation of painters and glass blowers, helping them to build a future in Palestine. Christmas baubles are £20 each. Visit https://www.bethlehembaubles.com/. Fill in this code (c.9) at checkout and receive a discount and £3.50 from each bauble sold will be donated to your church.
CAROL SERVICE
The annual Carol Service will be on Friday 20th December at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7.00pm.
ONLINE COURSE: THE GEOMETRY OF COSMATESQUE ORNAMENT
Cosmatesque ornament is a type of inlay stonework used to decorate medieval churches in Rome and in its vicinity. Elaborate patterns on floors, columns and immovable church furnishings were made from coloured stone or glass cut into small geometric shapes. A notable example outside of Italy is the marble floor of Westminster Abbey. Cosmatesque ornament is a beautiful, if less known, ingredient of the artistic heritage of the Church, a Catholic geometric art. During this online course organised by the King’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts from 5th March to 9th April 2025 students will learn about the different components of a Cosmatesque pavement and will acquire skills necessary to analyse and draw the various parts and their infilling patterns with the use of a compass and ruler. All levels of ability and experience in geometric drawing are welcome. For further information and to book, click here.
MARIAN APOSTLES GROUP PILGRIMAGE TO FRANCE
The Marian Apostles group is organising a pilgrimage to France from Friday 9th to Saturday 24th May 2025 with Tangney Tours. The pilgrimage will be led by Fr Thomas Crean, OP with the Marian Franciscans Sisters. The theme of the pilgrimage is: “Persevering to the end: the need for private and public prayer”. Visits include Marian shrines, Paray-le-Monial, Tours, Mont Saint-Michel, and more. Further information and booking forms from Tangney Tours. You can also contact Annabelle at 07733 223 903.
HELPING THE HOMELESS AND NEEDY IN OUR AREA
With the winter months approaching, HTB (Holy Trinity Brompton) will run a sleep-in night shelter in partnership with Glassdoor to assist those who are homeless or in dire need at St Augustine's Church, 117 Queen's Gate, SW7 5LP, every Wednesday evening. They will provide a hot meal service (3pm–9pm) for their guests and need volunteers to help in the kitchen – preparing, cooking, and washing dishes, as well as serving food.
If you are willing to spare some time and help with this service (no one needs to stay the whole time – any availability is welcome, e.g. 7pm–9pm or 3pm–5pm), please email HTB (mentioning that you heard about this from the Oratory) at shelter@htb.org.
They are also running their Love Christmas Campaign this year, aiming to offer 400 Christmas gifts for each homeless guest we serve, for those living on the streets, and for the women-only shelter provided by Glassdoor. If you would like to help with this program or purchase a gift for their guests, please click on this Amazon Wishlist link.
CHILDREN’S AREA
St Gregory’s Library will remain open on Sunday mornings for parents whose children become restless during Mass. During redecoration of the Sacred Heart Chapel, entrance will be from the Church porch. Children must be supervised by their parents at all times. If you can spare a few hours on a Sunday occasionally to help, please contact David Campbell (phone 07768 176 848).
MASS INTENTIONS
CONTACTLESS GIVING AVAILABLE
Click here for more information.
You can still make a donation via Stripe (see here) or make a bank transfer. Our account details are:
Account Name: The Oratory
Sort Code: 60 04 04
Account Number: 18192947
Please add your surname and first name as a reference, to help our bursar.
The Oratory very much depends on your contributions, and we thank you in advance for your generosity.
GIFT AID – HELPING THE ORATORY
If you are a UK taxpayer, the Oratory can claim back from the Inland Revenue 25p of every £1 you give, at no cost or inconvenience to you. Setting up a Gift Aid arrangement helps the Oratory to increase its income (click here for the forms).
PRIEST REFERENCE FOR SCHOOL APPLICATIONS
Parents who wish one of the Oratory Fathers to give their child a school reference must register with the “Mass Attendance” scheme. Registration forms are available from the Oratory House.
UNABLE TO GET TO MASS ON SUNDAYS?
The Oratory runs a bus service staffed by volunteers to help the elderly and/or incapacitated attending the 11am Mass each Sunday. The minibus has a lift for wheelchairs and volunteers help passengers go to Holy Communion if required. The service is available to parishioners and those who live in the Fulham and Earl’s Court areas. Please email generalenquiries@bromptonoratory.co.uk or telephone 020 7808 0900 if you are interested in making use of this service, or if you would like to volunteer as a driver or helper.
PSYCHOTHERAPY AND LIFE COACHING
Wilfrid’s House is a BACP-accredited, registered charity based at the Oratory and committed to helping people cope with life’s challenges`. Through low-cost counselling and psychotherapy, they support individuals who are going through challenges such as anxiety, depression, inability to cope with daily life, relationship issues, and bereavement. Through low-cost life coaching, they support individuals who are feeling overwhelmed and unable to move forward with purpose. Whether you are struggling with change, big decisions or simply day-to-day life, coaching offers emotional and practical support, enabling clarity and structure and helping you achieve your goals. Further information at www.wilfridshouse.org.
For job vacancies in the Diocese of Westminster, see https://jobs.rcdow.org.uk/.
INFORMATION FOR MARRIAGE
If you would like to be married at the Oratory, we will need at least 6 months notice. For the initial enquiry please come to the Oratory House in person and ask to speak to the priest on duty (see Hours of Duty below). All subsequent meetings, bookings and arrangements will be done through him, so please make a note of his name! No wedding bookings will be taken over the telephone or by email.
If you do not normally worship at the Oratory, please state the name of the church where you usually attend Mass and give the reasons you wish to marry here (for instance, personal connection to the Oratory or one of our schools). It is important to approach the church first before making your plans for a reception venue. We do not have weddings on a Sunday.
There are various arrangements and legalities, both civil and ecclesiastical which need to be attended to. You will also need to undergo a course of preparatory instruction about the sacrament of marriage. Speak to the priest for more details.
Hours of Duty:
Monday-Saturday: 9.30am-12.00pm; 3.00pm-5.30pm.
INFORMATION FOR BAPTISM
According to canon law, “Parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptised within the first few weeks. As soon as possible after the birth, indeed even before it, they are to approach the parish priest to ask for the sacrament for their child, and to be themselves duly prepared for it” (Code of Canon Law, can. 867 §1).
Those wishing to have their child baptised should contact the Oratory House and ask to speak to the priest on duty. All subsequent meeting, bookings and arrangements will be done through him. It will be necessary to meet with the priest for a class on the sacrament of baptism.
Normally baptisms take place in the parish where a family is resident. If you do not live within the territorial boundaries of the Oratory parish but have a good reason for wanting to have your child baptised here, please explain that to the priest on duty. In such cases your own parish priest will need to give permission for the baptism to take place at the Oratory.
The choice of godparents (sponsors), who are to help the baptised to live a good Christian life and faithfully to fulfil the duties inherent in baptism, is an important one. “There is to be only one male sponsor or one female sponsor or one of each” (Code of Canon Law, can. 873). A godparent must be a Catholic of not less than sixteen years of age, who has been confirmed and who lives a life of faith that befits the role to be undertaken. A baptised person who belongs to a non-Catholic ecclesial community may be admitted in company with a Catholic sponsor as a Christian witness.