In addition to the two advertised Masses on our live stream, we will also sing Vespers at 6:45pm to celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation.

You will be able to watch here: oxfordoratory.org.uk/stream

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get automatic notifications when we are live. It’s completely free, and our streaming will become easier if we can make it past 1000 subscribers.

In response to the Prime Minister’s announcement tonight, our church is now closed with immediate effect. Further details will follow.

We will continue to stream Mass daily online: oxfordoratory.org.uk/stream

When we cannot get to Mass, there is not substitute. There is nothing else on earth that comes close to being there as Christ becomes present under the forms of bread and wine on our altar. We should express our sadness and our desire to be united with Jesus in our prayers to him. This is called an act of spiritual communion, whether we use our own words or a prayer composed by others. Some of these are provided below.

The Catechism says:

If…for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful…engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families. (CCC 2183)

When there is no Mass we can attend, we are not obliged to watch Mass online, although many will find this a helpful way of praying with the Church. We will be streaming two Masses live each day from the Oratory through our YouTube channel. Many other churches are also streaming their Masses. We have included some links below.

Our stream will be live at the following times:

Monday–Saturday 8am (EF Low Mass); 6pm (English Low Mass with sermon)

Sunday 8am (EF Low Mass with sermon); 11am (Latin Sung Mass with sermon); 5:30pm (Vespers & Benediction)

You could also spend some time reflecting on the readings of Mass each day. These can be found at universalis.com for the Ordinary Form, or divinumofficium.com for the Extraordinary Form.

Both websites also provide you with all the prayers of the Divine Office in each form. After the Mass, this is the greatest prayer of the Church, and consists of portions of the Psalms that are recited at different times of the day. One way of marking Sunday as a special day might be to say Morning Prayer (Lauds). We plan to stream Vespers and Benediction each Sunday. The monks of Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux stream the full office every day, which you can listen to here: barrouxchant.com.

Above all, at this time, is important that we have regular habits of prayer. Prayer should be something special because it is time spent with someone important to us, not because it is something rare. Our routines and familiar prayers should be a consolation while we look forward to getting back to Mass and receiving Holy Communion.

Our Live Stream and Recordings

oxfordoratory.org.uk/stream

Readings and Prayers for the Mass and Divine Office

universalis.com
divinumofficium.com

Other streams

Vatican News (Papal Daily Mass)
St Gregory & Augustine, Oxford (Daily Mass)
Lent in Isolation (Daily reflection, daily Mass)
Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, Gricigliano (Solemn Mass on Sundays)
Abbaye Sainte-Madeleine du Barroux (Divine Office, daily).

Prayers

Psalm 41 (42)

Like the deer that yearns for running streams,
so my soul is yearning for you, my God.
My soul is thirsting for God, the God of my life;
when can I enter and see the face of God?
My tears have become my bread, by night, by day,
as I hear it said all the day long: “Where is your God?”
These things will I remember as I pour out my soul:
how I would lead the rejoicing crowd into the house of God,
amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving, the throng wild with joy.
Why are you cast down, my soul, why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still, my saviour and my God.
My soul is cast down within me as I think of you,
from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon, from the Hill of Mizar.
Deep is calling on deep, in the roar of waters;
your torrents and all your waves swept over me.
By day the Lord will send his loving kindness;
by night I will sing to him, praise the God of my life.
I will say to God, my rock: “Why have your forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning oppressed by the foe?”
With cries that pierce me to the heart, my enemies revile me,
saying to me all day long: “Where is your God?”
Why are you cast down, my soul, why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still, my saviour and my God.

Psalm 62 (63)

O God, you are my God, for you I long; for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life, my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life, in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet, my mouth shall praise you with joy.
On my bed I remember you. On you I muse through the night
for your have been my help; in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast.
Those who seek to destroy my life shall go down to the depths of the earth.
They shall be put into the power of the sword and left as the prey of the jackals.
But the king shall rejoice in God; (all that swear by him shall be blessed,)
for the mouth of liars shall be silenced.

An Act of Spiritual Communion by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori

My Jesus, I believe you are present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things and I desire to receive you in my soul. Since I cannot receive you in Holy Communion now, at least come spiritually into my heart. As if you have already come to me, I embrace you and join myself wholly to you; do not allow me to distance myself from you. Amen.

Another Prayer of Spiritual Communion

I wish, Lord, to receive you with the purity, humility and devotion
with which your most holy Mother received you,
with the spirit and fervour of the saints.

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, be my sanctification;
Body of Christ, be my salvation;
Blood of Christ, fill all my veins;
Water of Christ’s side, wash out my stains;
Passion of Christ, my comfort be;
O good Jesu, listen to me;
In thy wounds I fain would hide;
Never to be parted from thy side;
Guard me, should the foe assail me;
Call me when my life shall fail me;
Bid me come to thee above,
With all thy saints to sing thy love,
World without end. Amen.

One of the realities of the current public health crisis is the effect it has on the most vulnerable in our Oratory family. A large number of elderly and those with health conditions will have to self isolate, a number of whom will not have a family support network to hand. Much of the provision for homeless people in Oxford has been required to cease and such people are hungry and more in need that usual.

A number of people have asked if the Oratory can co-ordinate a response to these problems and so on an ad-hoc basis for the time being we are launching ‘Oratory Outreach’. We need your help to make this happen.
At present we need volunteers for the following activities:

Breakfast Run

Street Activity
Mon – Fri from 8:00am. This run serves hot drinks and breakfast items to those on the streets.
3-4 volunteers. Volunteers can help with delivery or simply making up supplies in the kitchen.

Sandwich or Soup Making

At the Oratory
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun afternoons. Making up sandwiches for up to 20 people to be distributed. Possibly making soup to distribute as well.
3-4 volunteers.

Soup Run

Street Activity
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun from 6:00pm. This run serves hot drinks, sandwiches or soup to those on the street.
3-4 volunteers. Volunteers can help with delivery or simply making up supplies in the kitchen.

Phone Support

Volunteer from Home
As needed. Keeping in touch with those self-isolating to check-in or offer assistance. Needs can then be referred to the team if necessary.
No limit to volunteer numbers.

Shopping / Pharmacy pick-ups

Out-and-about
As needed. Doing shopping or collecting prescriptions and delivering them.
No limit to volunteer numbers.

If you would like to volunteer your time please sign up here: volunteering sign-up form.

If you know of someone in need, please give us their details here: referral of someone in need form.

Those helping and those we serve at home must be parishioners of the Oratory, and their need must be because of the present crisis. We are sadly unable to help others at present.

For more information or if you have any questions please contact our team leaders at outreach@oxfordoratory.org.uk.

Revised opening hours

The church will remain open everyday for private and individual prayer. All other scheduled Masses and devotions, including Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the Rosary and Stations of the Cross are suspended, as are all groups, talks and catechism classes. The church will be open at the following times:

Monday–Saturday 8:30–19:00

Sunday 8:30–10:30; 12:30–17:00

These adjustments to our opening times will allow the Fathers to celebrate Mass in the morning, and a Mass on Sunday at 11am.

Social distancing in church

Please come in during these hours to light a candle, to pray in the church or one of the side chapels, and to be in the presence of Our Lord Jesus who dwells among us in the tabernacle.

When you are in the church during opening hours, please observe the government’s guidelines on personal hygiene, hand-washing, and social distancing: you must be at least 6 feet (2 metres) apart from the next person, and regrettably there can be no communal or group prayers in the church.

Masses

The Fathers will continue to celebrate Mass every day, for the whole Oratory family, for the Church, and for the world. The celebration of Holy Mass has not been stopped, only public Masses which would cause people to gather in numbers.

Mass will be said for any intention that has already been booked. Unfortunately, you will not be able to be physically present in the church for any Mass. We will create a facility to book further Masses via our website soon.

Confession & sick calls

The Sacrament of Confession will be available Monday–Saturday from 9:30–10:00 and 17:30–18:00, on Sundays from 9:30-10:00, or on call. The Sacrament of the Sick will be administered in emergency situations on request. We will be unable to continue to bring Holy Communion to the housebound except in emergencies. If someone you know becomes seriously ill, please still call a priest.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales have announced today that from Friday evening, all public Masses will be suspended indefinitely. The last public Mass for the time being in our church will be at 10am on Friday 20 March. Masses and confessions will continue as advertised in our newsletter until then.

Even after Friday, the church will continue to be open for private prayer each day. The Fathers will do their best to make confession available throughout this period.

There will be further information from us later today.

The statements from the Bishops’ Conference can be read below.

Public acts of worship in Catholic Churches in England and Wales

Liturgical Advice for the Bishops of England and Wales in the light of the COVID-19 Pandemic