MASSES AND OTHER INFORMATION
Please visit the Mass Times page for more information on Mass times and other events, or click here. Please note that the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated on Sunday 16th August.
PARISH OFFICE OPENING HOURS
The parish office opening hours are from 8.15am to 12.15pm Tuesday to Friday. Closed on Bank Holidays. The office will also be closed from Tuesday 11th to Friday 14th August and Tuesday 1st to Friday 4th September.
REFLECTION
At times, storms of one kind or another blow up and threaten not only our peace and our security, but our very life. At such moments we know we cannot save ourselves. Only God can save us and restore calm to our troubled lives. But we must learn to turn to God not just in times of difficulty but at all times. Like Peter, we too have often set out confidently across the waters of life. However, as soon as the winds of trouble rise against us, and the waves of adversity begin to buffet us, we lose our nerve and begin to sink. Lord, when our faith falters, as it often does, may we hear your gentle voice saying to us ‘Courage! Do not be afraid’. In that moment, Lord, may your divine power uphold us, calm our fears, steady our nerves and enable us to steer our little boat to a place of safety and peace, beyond the wind and the waves.
POPE LEO - RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE
Human life is a sacred gift that merits to be welcomed, protected and cared for in all its stages. Nevertheless, indifference, exclusion and violence threatening the dignity of the person, especially those who are particularly vulnerable, persists in many parts of the world. When respect for life diminishes, the throwaway culture grows, leaving many without the care, support and recognition they need. In his prayer intention this month, Pope Leo invites us to pray so that the unique and unrepeatable value of every human being might be recognised and that our societies be open to protecting life through love, tenderness and responsibility. “Today we ask for the grace to recognise and protect the unique and unrepeatable value of every human being. May we learn to welcome life unconditionally, to tenderly care for fragility, to accompany each stage with respect, and to bravely defend those who have no voice. Lord Jesus, may we love life as You love it: with tenderness, fidelity, and self-giving.”
PRAYING WITH POPE LEO DURING AUGUST
In his August prayer intention, Pope Leo invites us to pray for the evangelization of the city so that the Church might know how to reach out to everyone, offering comfort, community, and the joy of the Gospel in every corner of the city. Pope Leo's initiative called Pray with the Pope can be viewed here and also his worldwide prayer network for Scotland, England and Wales is available here. Pope Leo also told a group of journalists that we should “Work for peace and seek solutions without weapons.” He said: “Pray for peace, work for peace, less hatred. Hatred in the world is constantly increasing.” “Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats, nor with weapons, which sow destruction, pain, and death, but only through a reasonable, authentic, and responsible dialogue,” he said. His prayer for peace can be followed here.
DID YOU KNOW?
Our parish website (excluding livestream) is visited by people not only in this country, but all over the world. Over the last 7 days we had 744 visitors; in the last month 3,847 visitors, and over the last 12 months 48,808 visitors! Visitors commonly go to our News and Blog pages as well as looking at the information on the Sacraments pages and the Young Adults section of our Youth pages. The New? Searching? page in our About Us section is also frequented. So, in its way, our website is helping our parish to evangelise!
DIOCESAN CATECHIST DAY - 10th OCTOBER
Are you involved in passing on the faith in your parish? Join catechists from across the Diocese for a morning of prayer, inspiration, and practical formation as we reflect on our shared mission to form missionary disciples. We will explore how catechists can lead others to Christ, hand on the living faith of the Church, accompany people in conversion, and help build vibrant missionary parishes. Whether you are an experienced catechist or new to the ministry, you are warmly invited to attend. To register your interest please do so here, or email Meghan, the Formation for Mission Team Leader at: ffm@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
BIBLE ALIVE
From the Bible we draw life, strength and power to live the Christian life. Bible Alive is a Catholic scripture magazine which draws its strength, inspiration and direction from the liturgical cycle. The essence of Bible Alive are the daily reflections, which are written in an accessible and warm style inviting the reader to penetrate and plumb the depths of the scripture reading of the day. There are limited copies available for sale on the table at the back of the church.
CAR PARKING PLEA - AND AN UPDATE
The residents of Penlon Place and Radley Road are having increased issues with parking within their street and road when services in our church are being held. Poor parking has also made it incredibly dangerous to enter and exit their road due to the junction being blocked. Please use the public car park near Waitrose (free parking on Sunday) or other public car park, and leave the church car park for those who are genuinely unable to walk the short distance to church. Please park sensibly.
Also, the single yellow line on Radley Road is in operation Monday-Saturday 8am-6pm, but outside of these times vehicles can park on this restriction – but please do not block access to houses. Thank you for your understanding and support.
A petition has been initiated by members of the local community about the traffic situation caused by the parking restriction, which you are encouraged to read and to sign using the link here. Thank you again for your understanding and support.
CLIMATE CHANGE - SHOW YOUR STRIPES
Show Your Stripes Day is an annual global event in June that uses climate stripes to visually communicate rising temperatures and raise awareness about human-caused climate change. Each stripe represents one year, with blue indicating cooler-than-average years and red indicating warmer-than-average years. The stripes illustrate the dramatic warming trend since the Industrial Revolution. The stripes in the image above are for our area (Oxford) from 1860 to the present, and are very interesting! You can visit the Show Your Stripes website here. You can also access a very good resource here for families to help to both understand and to respond to 'the cry of the earth and cry of the poor.' (Pope Francis, Laudato Si' #49)
FANNING THE FLAME SUMMER CAMP
This popular camp is run by the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph and will be on 17th to 21st August this year at St Cassian’s Centre, Kintbury RG17 9SR for youths aged 11-17. For more information and to book, please visit here. This camp, through the lives of the saints and the sacraments, will focus on our allegiance to Jesus Christ, develop an understanding of why it is the best way to live, and how to joyfully and charitably share this truth with those we may encounter. This year there is space for about 50 young people to come together to re-connect with old friends and make new ones, to learn more about our loving God and deepen their relationship with Him. It doesn't matter where you are in your relationship with Christ, you are welcome to come and be drawn deeper! Ask questions, spend time with our Lord, receive the Sacraments, have a lot of silly fun, and be renewed in your life and faith!
CELEBRATE FESTIVAL
If you are looking for a fun, faith-time away as a family this summer, why not join in the very popular CELEBRATE festival in the beautiful West Sussex countryside at Worth School, West Sussex, from Saturday 15th to Wednesday 19th August. This event gets booked up very quickly, so to find out more, visit here.
GIFT AID GIVING
In the last 6 months we received £14,156 for Gift Aid from HMRC, representing about 20% of our total income as a parish. Thank you. However, as a result of changes to Diocesan record keeping and a change to our charity number we need to obtain an updated Gift Aid declaration from you. Without this we will be unable to continue to claim Gift Aid on your donations.
The diocese have developed an online form to make the process of obtaining valid Gift Aid Declarations easier. You can access the form here, or on the diocesan website, where the form can be found on the Support Us tab by choosing Gift Aid from the drop down menu. Filling in the form takes only a few minutes.
If you prefer, to fill out the paper-based Gift Aid Declaration, send a request to accounts.abi@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk and, once completed, return it to the Parish Office.
If you have any questions or need any help completing the form please contact Carole Sawyers on accounts.abi@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk or contact the Parish Office with your name and phone number.
SUPPORT THE FOODBANK
We cannot miss the fact that food prices have risen and are still rising. As a parish, we encourage you to please continue to support those who cannot afford enough food - through the Abingdon Food Bank. For practical reasons, and because nearly all supermarkets now have collection points as you leave their premises, it is easier for you to place your donations there, so please do not leave your contributions in our church. You can find out what is needed, the location of collection points, and also make a money donation, here. Thank you.
CATECHISM IN A YEAR
Fr Mike Schmitz from Ascension Press has produced a 365-day podcast entitled "The Catechism in a Year". Fr. Mike Schmitz guides listeners through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, providing insight, explanation, and encouragement as the Church's teachings are explored, following a reading plan inspired by Ascension's "Foundations of Faith" approach. Listeners can follow along with any recent version of the Catechism and can find the reading plan on the Ascension website. More information is available here.
Abingdon Community Fridge fights food waste by redistributing surplus food from local businesses and members of the community. The Abingdon Community Fridge is open to all. For more information visit their Facebook page here, or email info@abingdoncommunityfridge.org.uk
They are located at Hadland Road Community Centre, OX14 3YH and open on:
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Mondays: 4.00-4.30pm
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Thursdays: 1.00-2.00pm
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Saturdays: 10.30-11.30am
The Community Fridge is in need of funding to continue its work (hire of hall, insurance, food safety training for volunteers, etc.). To donate, please use this link here, or contact margaretdhancox@gmail.com
EMBARK ON A FAITH-FILLED JOURNEY!
Are you ready to explore the richness of the Catholic faith? The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is ready to begin this September. Join us for an exciting series of sessions designed just for you! If you are seeking baptism, from another Christian tradition or a Catholic who would like to be confirmed, this is the place for you. Dive deep into engaging discussions, connect with fellow inquirers and uncover the beauty of faith in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. This is your chance to ask questions, share experiences, and grow and deepen your faith! Sessions begin Wednesday 23rd September, 7.30-9.00pm via zoom. Contact details and to register: pehanley@hotmail.com Tel: 07506 753085. Please do join us on this incredible journey of discovery and connection. Everyone is invited.
THE RIGHT TO LIVE
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is back in the House of Commons and seeks to legalise assisted suicide. It will have its Second Reading and vote on Friday, 11 September 2026. Please write to your MP to make your voice heard and oppose the Bill. “This bill is wrong in principle,” says Archbishop Richard Moth, President of the Bishops’ Conference, “It is also deeply flawed and, if passed, could lead to vulnerable people feeling pressured into ending their lives. The Bill has a serious lack of protection for health and social care staff and risks putting many wonderful hospices and care homes in the position of no longer being able to operate. I urge you to write to your Members of Parliament to petition them to vote against the Bill at Second Reading.” You can do so by using the simple contact form on the Right to Life UK website here, the Bishops’ Conference website here, or by writing to your MP.
EXPERIENCED IN PR/COMMUNICATIONS?
The Pastoral Area Design Team urgently needs support from someone with PR/communications experience to help improve parishioner communication and engagement at this important stage. If you have skills in this area and could offer even a few hours each month, your help will make a real difference. Please contact Fr Jamie as soon as possible to find out more. Thank you.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
God, please give to your Church today many more priests after your own heart. May they be worthy representatives of Christ the Good Shepherd. May they wholeheartedly devote themselves to prayer and penance; be examples of humility and poverty; shining models of holiness; tireless and powerful preachers of the Word of God; zealous dispensers of your grace in the sacraments. May their loving devotion to your Son Jesus in the Eucharist and to Mary his Mother be the twin fountains of fruitfulness for their ministry. Amen.
CANON PETER'S FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
Canon Peter’s remains will be received into St John Vianney on Thursday 20th August. Vigil of the Deceased will be from 5pm until a Requiem Mass at 7pm at St John Vianney Church, Wantage followed by praying of the Rosary.
Canon Peter’s Requiem Mass, celebrated by Bishop Philip Egan, will be at English Martyrs Didcot at 10am on Friday 21st August, followed by burial at Chain Hill Cemetery. Refreshments will be served at St John Vianney Hall after the funeral on Friday.
NEW CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL
Since the closure of OLA School last August, a core group of parishioners have been working diligently to acquire the site to enable the re-establishment of a Catholic Secondary school. The school has to be independent until the education system enables a transition to a state funded school. The full proposal for the school can be read in the Prospectus which can be found here. More briefly, Bishop Philip's, and other endorsements of the proposal can be read separately here.
The group is now looking to recruit benefactors who will support the project financially which is a major undertaking. Please keep them and their work in your prayers so that the objectives can be achieved.
SUPPORTING OUR SCHOOL
St Edmund’s Catholic Primary School is in real need of new Foundation Governors for Sept 2026 - the position requires attendance at meetings at least every half term, all training provided. Please contact the school office at: office.3856@st-edmunds-rc.oxon.sch.uk for more information.
The Friends of St Edmund's School are looking to raise £10,000 to purchase necessary playground equipment for Key Stage 2. They are looking for any donations you can spare to help them achieve this goal as soon as possible. A huge thank you to those who donated last week – raising £1,500. You can still make a donation by visiting their Zeffy fundraiser page from the link here. Also, if you have any ideas to help them fundraise, please contact them by email at: friendsofsteds@gmail.com Thank you.
POPE LEO'S ENCYCLICAL LETTER
The Holy Father Pope Leo XIV published his first Encyclical Letter. It is called Magnifica Humanitas (‘Magnificent Humanity’) and it is full of helpful commentary on how, in an age when artificial intelligence is really taking off, the dignity and value of human person might be safeguarded. You can read the summary here – or the full text here.
YOUTH MINISTRY GAP YEAR OPPORTUNITY
Are you aged 18-25 and looking for a new challenge? The Diocese of Lancaster has a Youth Ministry team based in Keswick in the Lake District. They run retreats at Castlerigg Manor and also work in Churches and schools around the area. The ‘Youth Ministry Internship’ scheme comes with high quality training, experience, and recognised qualifications and gives young people the chance to join a welcoming community and a vibrant team doing some amazing work. Interested? Visit their website here or email: director@castleriggmanor.co.uk or .
BIBLE STUDY SESSIONS
Bible study sessions resume for another six sessions which will be running on Tuesday afternoons from 2pm to 3.30pm in the parish centre, beginning on Tuesday 6th January. For more information please email: evangeliseabingdon@outlook.com
'YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES' PRAYER
O Lord, graciously look down upon us your servants and upon our work to build Your Holy Church here in this place. Enlighten our minds and lead us into all truth as we seek to do Your will. Abundantly bless our labours, that Your Holy Church may serve You ever more faithfully to the glory of Your Holy name. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.
OPEN DOORS
Open Doors takes place on Mondays from 11am to 2pm in the Parish Centre and runs every Monday, except Bank Holidays. We offer tea/coffee, lunch (served at 12.15pm) and friendly conversation to anyone in the Parish or local community who is on their own or would like more company.
Open Doors sessions during the school summer holidays will be fortnightly instead of weekly. There will therefore be NO sessions on the following dates: 20th July, 3rd August, 17th August and 31st August (Bank Holiday).
FREE WEBINAR
Friends of the Holy Land are deeply grateful for the financial support from appeals they made in the parish. If you would like to hear more detail about their work supporting vulnerable Christian communities in the Holy Land, there is a free webinar on the fourth Monday of each month from 7.30pm-8.15pm. Just use the link here to register to attend and receive the online invitation.
ARE YOU IN NEED OR WANT TO HELP OTHERS?
For nearly two centuries the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) has been seeking and finding those in need and responding in love. As well as visits, we can offer practical and financial help where possible. We always maintain confidentiality. Our SVP members meet every fortnight on a Wednesday evening. If you are in need or know someone who is, do contact our parish SVP group via the parish office and we will see what we can do to help. Equally, if you would like to get involved in any way, please do contact us.
JOB VACANCIES IN OUR DIOCESE
All current vacancies in the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth can be viewed here.
PARISH NEWSLETTERS
Items for the newsletter should be sent to the parish office (abingdon@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk) by Wednesday morning of each week please. Copies are available in the church and on this website here. Please keep contributions as brief as possible and please take newsletters home with you. Thank you.
DIOCESAN NEWS
To keep up to date with the news of the Diocese and the Bishop please follow on:
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E- News: use the link here. (subscription service available)
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Facebook: @PortsmouthRC
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Twitter: @PortsmouthRC
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The Diocese website: https://www.portsmouthdiocese.org.uk/
If you would like to share news with the rest of the Diocese, please contact: communications@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
LITURGY WEBSITE AND UPCOMING COURSES
The Diocese now have a Liturgy website, which provides reflection, guidance and a chance to ask questions. You can access by clicking on the image above.
NEW TO THE PARISH? OR CHANGED ADDRESS?
We warmly welcome all new parishioners who have joined our parish in the last year. Please do make yourselves known if you have not already done so, and also let us know if you would like to contribute to parish life in any way. If you have already registered with us, but have changed your address or contact details, please also let us know. Forms and other information are available on our website here to register. Forms and other information are also available in the porch at our church. You can view and download our welcome booklet here. You can also view our latest annual report here.