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 there will be no Masses in our church from 7th to 12th September, from 14th to 19th September and 21st to 25th September. Thereafter, all will resume as normal with Confessions and Mass on Saturday 26th September.
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 on Friday 28th August and also Tuesday 1st to Friday 4th September.
REFLECTION
To follow Christ is to suffer. But there are also great rewards. We are weak and cowardly. Without God we can do nothing. ‘It sometimes happened in prison that you know a man for several years, thought of him as a refined and educated man, and had a high regard for him. But then one day you discover that behind the facade lay such barbarism and cynicism that you were revolted. The opposite might also happen, that a chance moment might reveal in his soul such wealth of feeling and heart. In each of us there are two people. There is the animal self, who is out only for his own happiness, at the expense, if needs be, of the rest of the world. And there is the spiritual self, seeking for himself only the kind of happiness that means happiness for other people too.’ DOSTOYEVSKY
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.
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
EVANGELIUM COURSE
Holy Rood Church, within the Hinksey parish, are running an Evangelium course, starting Friday 4th September. Sessions will be every Friday, 7pm to 9pm, in term time, ending on Friday 19th March 2027. – 25 sessions in all. The course is free and is designed for all who want to know more about the Catholic Faith: whether you are starting with little or no knowledge at all, or seeking to grow in the faith, or simply curious to find out how it all works. If you are interested in attending, please email the Hinksey church office directly at office@hinkseyparish.org or email evangeliseabingdon@outlook.com for more information.
PASTORAL PROGRAMME FOR AUTUMN
The Douai Abbey pastoral programme for the Autumn is now available here.
PRAYER EVENT
A United Prayer Event is being organised by Churches in Abingdon (CiA) on Thursday 8th October at 7.30pm at the Abingdon Baptist Church. All are welcome. This is a chance for people from all the churches in Abingdon to come together to share what is going on in their churches and pray for the town and all the outreach work. Further details to follow.
ALPHA COURSE
Christ Church is hosting an Alpha course beginning Wednesday 16th September at 7pm at Christ church. Please see their website here for further details.
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
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.
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.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
Lord my God and my loving Father, you have made me to know you, to love you, to serve you, and thereby to find and fulfil, myself. I know that you are in all things and that every path can lead me to you. But of them all there is one especially by which you want me to come to you. Since I will do what you want of me, I pray you send your Holy Spirit to me: into my mind to show me what you want of me; into my heart, to give me the determination to do it, and to do it with all my love, with all my mind, and with all my strength right to the end. Amen.
11th WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE CARE OF CREATION
Tuesday 1st September is the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. It opens a ‘Season of Creation’ which runs from 1st September to 4th October (the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi). Pope Francis established this Day of Prayer and this season to encourage the Catholic community to pray for, protect and share our common home. "They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Isaiah 2:4) is the theme set by Pope Leo XIV, and you can read his message here.
SOCIAL EVENT FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS
Over the years, there are a number of parishioners who have lost a partner, and we are starting an afternoon social open to you all. This will start on Thursday 3rd September from 1.30pm to 3.30pm in the parish centre. Do come and join us for tea or coffee and a chat. You can contact Dot Holliday or Mary Kelly through the parish office or the information in our parish newsletter.
UPCOMING SECOND/RETIRING COLLECTIONS
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·The second/retiring collection on Sunday 13th September will be for the Catholic Education Service.
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The second/retiring collection on Sunday 20th September will be for Home Missions
NEW CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL
Since the closure of OLA School in August 2025, 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.
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.
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.
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.