Oxford Catholic Chaplaincy Latest News
Click here for a message from the Chaplains - September 17
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As Chaplains, we are always here for you. Sometimes, though, it may help to have a fellow student as a 'godparent' to help you settle in to university, and introduce you to the many sights of Catholic Oxford! Complete this brief form and we will try to give you godparents with at least one from the same college or course.
Current students, you can sign up to be a 'Godparent' here.
(pre-MT21)
Masses at the Chaplaincy:
Sundays 11am (followed by tea/coffee) and 5.45pm.
Mon-Fri 6pm.
Student Mass and (free!) breakfast on Wednesdays at 8am.
The Chaplains
‘Farewell’ community meal for Frs Ian and Nick – to be rescheduled again
While we hoped to be out of isolation on Saturday, the University has strongly advised us to continue isolating until Sunday night. We are sorry to postpone the farewell for Frs Ian and Nick again.
Regarding NHS Track and Trace
This message is particularly for those of you who have been to the Chaplaincy since last Friday morning and who use the NHS Track and Trace App when you visit.
Latest news from the Chaplaincy
[a] Chaplaincy resident had tested positive to COVID after taking a Lateral Flow Test. They had self-isolated immediately. We await the result of the PCR test, due sometime in the next 48 hours.
End of Year Chaplaincy Retreat – Barmouth 2021
A time to unwind at the end of the year in a house by the sea with magnificent hills to east and the south.
Some Changes at the Chaplaincy
Frs. Nick and Ian are being asked by the Jesuit Provincial to take up new missions from this September.
Fr Matthew’s #ChaplaincyChallenge!
All this week I am trying to reduce to a minimum all forms of food packaging for all the food I eat. See how I get on!
The Feast of the Conversion of St Paul – final day of the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity
Perhaps in this time of shared vulnerability, of reduced in-person contact, the spiritual bonds that unite us with our fellow Christians seem more precious. There is a sense too of how fundamental to our humanity is our openness to God: we are not masters of our destiny. We know ourselves in these times to be creatures. We are being invited to live more humbly.
Returning to Lockdown
Public worship is still permitted, as is one one-to-one walk a day. If you are in Oxford, we do hope to see you at one of our Masses (please see details below) and please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you would like a walk and a chat.
Newman Society’s Mass of Thanksgiving 2020 – homily by Fr Matthew Power SJ
How is it that you can, as a University Catholic Society, continue, in the coming year, to contribute to the mission of the Church, in its nurturing of the faith, in its building up of community, in its ecumenical and interfaith relations, in its championing of the right to life and the care of our common home, in manifesting the kind of openness and accountability that has, at times, been absent in Church organisations, most recently in the Church itself in relation in its response to child abuse.
Bishops’ Response to the IICSA report – Chaplaincy’s next steps
We wish to take the Bishops’ statement as an occasion to renew our efforts at the Chaplaincy to do all we can to safeguard children and the vulnerable, to support those who have been affected by abuse, and to ensure that as a community we are committed to best pastoral practice.