On Saturday and Sunday Bishop William Kenney came to make the canonical visitation of our parish. This happens every six years or so, and last time Bishop Kenney performed the visitation here the weather then was ice and snow that blocked the roads and stopped people coming to Mass. History repeated itself, and we woke on Sunday morning to see Oxford shrouded in white.

The Bishop was still able to visit the sick, our scouts, a first Holy Communion class, a Saturday morning talk, and the Companions of the Order of Malta Shower Project, as well as to preach at all Masses.

The Oratorian habit makes an excellent target against the snow:

Nevertheless, the Fathers and Brothers can be adept at throwing snowballs:

They can also make igloos:

Our prayerful congratulations go to Fr Mario Aviles, Procurator General of the Oratorian Confederation, whom the Holy Father has appointed to be the auxiliary Bishop of Brownsville, Texas.

Father Aviles was born in Mexico on 16th September 1969. He joined the Congregation of the Oratory in Mexico City in 1986 and in 1988 he moved to the Pharr Oratory in Texas.  He was ordained a priest on 21st July 1998.

Since 2000, Fr Mario has been a member of the Permanent Deputation of the Oratorian Confederation. He was elected Procurator at the 2012 Congresso.

The Diocese of Brownsville comprises 4, 296 square miles. It has a total population of 1,350,158 people of which 1,147,634 or 85 percent, are Catholic. The current bishop of Brownsville is Bishop Daniel E. Flores.

Here is Fr Mario together with Fr Visitor and the Permanent Deputation at the 2012 Congresso in Rome:

Bishop Robert Byrne, Cong. Orat. came yesterday to confirm in the Extraordinary Form. Another ten candidates received the sacrament: eight children and two adults.

 

Here are the shoeboxes for refugee children being prepared to be sent off. Thank you to all those who filled a box. If you didn’t manage to get yours back in time, then please keep it ready for next Christmas!

Twenty-eight of our young parishioners were confirmed by Bishop William Kenney, C.P. last Saturday.

Bishop Robert Byrne will be confirming some more in the Extraordinary Form this coming Saturday.

As well as looking forward to the visit of His Grace the Archbishop for the Immaculate Conception, we will also welcome Bishop Kenney again the following day for the canonical visitation of our parish.

CHRISTMAS 2017

CONFESSIONS:

Before every Mass – and on Saturday 23rd December from 10.00 am – 6.30 pm

Saturday 16th December

7.00 am – Advent Rorate Mass by candlelight

Wednesday 20th December

8.00 pm – Carol Service

Sunday 24th December, CHRISTMAS EVE

SUNDAY MASSES AS USUAL

5.30 pm – Vespers
6.00 pm – Benediction
6.30 pm – Vigil Mass with carols

The Church reopens at 11.00 pm                                                                          11.15 pm – Carols and Readings                                                                          Midnight Mass at midnight

Monday 25th December, CHRISTMAS DAY

8.00 am – Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form)                                                        9.30 am – Parish Mass, with Children’s Liturgy                                                 11.00 am – Solemn Mass                                                                                               5.30 pm – Solemn Benediction
NO EVENING MASS

Tuesday 26th December, ST STEPHEN’S DAY

Mass at 10.00 am only

Sunday 31st December – feast of the Holy Family

8.00 am – Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form)                                                           9.30 am – Parish Mass
11.00 am – Solemn Mass
6.00 pm Benediction (no Vespers)
6.30 pm – Evening Mass
11.00 pm Mass and Benediction for New Year

Monday 1st January, NEW YEAR’S DAY – Mary Mother of God

Mass at 10.00 am only

Saturday 6th January, SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY

11.00 am – Solemn Mass in the Extraordinary Form
3.00 pm Children’s Epiphany Procession and Benediction in the Crib

Sunday 7th January – TRANSFERRED SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY

8.00 am – Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form)                                                        9.30 am – Parish Mass, with Children’s Liturgy                                                  11.00 am – Solemn Mass
5.30 pm – Solemn Vespers
6.00 pm – Benediction
6.30 pm – Evening Mass

 

We begin the novena in preparation for the Solemnity of Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception on Tuesday 28th November. There will be novena and Benediction each evening (6.30pm on weekdays; 6pm on Saturday and Sunday).

On Thursday 7th December there will be Solemn First Vespers and Benediction at 6.30pm.

On 8th December itself, His Grace the Archbishop will celebrate a Solemn Pontifical Mass at 6pm.

Once again this year we are collecting shoe boxes with presents for refugee children, to ensure that they have gifts on Christmas Day. You can collect your box from the back of church and return it by 18th November, together with £5 for postage. There are full instructions as to what is suitable to put in the box. Last year we distributed 300 boxes; this year we hope to manage 400.

Here is Br Henry handing a box to a willing parishioner:

Our Forty Hours’ Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament began last night with a Solemn Mass, a vigil for Young Oratory and Gaeta, Compline sung by the Dominicans, and then watching all through the night until Matins and Lauds at five o’clock.

The Blessed Sacrament continues to be exposed until midnight tonight. At 5pm today there will be a Musical Oratory of hymns and readings: “Sweet Sacrament Divine”.

There will be a Mass for Peace at 6.30pm.

On Sunday the Blessed Sacrament will be placed once more on the throne after the Solemn Mass of the Sacred Heart at 11am, and there will be Solemn Vespers, Procession and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at 5pm.