Saint Thérèse in Oxford

Thank You

2009-10-08T20:54:00.002+01:00

The Fathers of the Oratory would like to thank everyone who visited the relics of St Therese and especially all the helpers who made everything possible. About 6,200 people passed through! It was a time of great grace for us all and St Therese has touched all our lives.

Thank you also to Mgr Keith Barltrop and his team, Thames Valley Police, Oxford City Council Parking and the local media who were so helpful to us.

Pictures can be seen by clicking here.

There will be no more posts on this blog. We hope people have found it useful.

May God answer your prayers through the intercession of St Therese.

PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR YOUR VISIT

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ARRIVING & PARKING

Please note that parking is very difficult in central Oxford. There is some free parking to the north of our church in some of the side streets, but it is limited. Parking is available in St Giles' or at the multi-storey carpark at Westgate. Parking is free in St Giles and some other surrounding streets from 6.30pm to 8am. For details of street parking times and charges click here.

Coach drivers please see updated information here.

Park and Ride operates from five locations on the edge of the city. Pear Tree and Water Eaton are the closest. Park and Ride does not operate at night. From Pear Tree Park and Ride alight at the old Radcliffe Infirmary. From Water Eaton Park and Ride alight at Keble Road. Please click on Pear Tree or Water Eaton for prices and timetables.

For a map showing the location of the Oxford Oratory, please click here. If you are using a SatNav to drop pilgrims off at the church our postcode is OX2 6HA. But please note:

THERE IS NO PARKING AVAILABLE AT THE CHURCH

If there are queues to enter the church, they will stretch northwards, towards the old Radcliffe Infirmary. Volunteer marshalls will direct you.

Volunteer marshals will wear high-visibility tabards and badges. Please ask them for any assistance you require. They can direct you to First Aid if necessary.

AT THE CHURCH

The church may be crowded for the Masses and other services. We advise arriving early.

Loudspeakers will broadcast into the courtyard in front of church if necessary.

Before you enter the church, it is possible to purchase candles and flower petals. The candles may be lit inside - or if space runs out they can be left to be lit later. The flower petals may be touched to the reliquary casket and taken home.

You are asked to remain completely silent within the church, to switch of mobile 'phones and not to take photographs.

A one-way system will operate around the church. On the way to the relics it will be possible to go to Confession. Confessors will be on duty at all times, including during Mass. Leaflets are available to help you to make a good confession.

Information about the life of St Therese will be displayed around the church.

Once you have venerated the relics, you may stay in the body of the church for as long as you wish.

When you leave the church, there is a marquee where books, cards, medals, rosaries etc may be purchased. Free tea light refreshments will be available and sandwiches may be purchased.

GAINING THE INDULGENCE

The Apostolic Penitentiary has granted a Plenary Indulgence to all who venerate the relics of St Thérèse in our church. To gain the Indulgence:

1. Make a good sacramental Confession
2. Receive Holy Communion (within a few days)
3. Pray for the Holy Father's Intentions
4. Take part in a service or devotion in honour of St Thérèse,
or spend some time in prayer,
concluding with the Our Father, Creed and invocations to Our Lady and St Thérèse.

OTHER INFORMATION

Confession and refreshments will be available throughout the Visit of the Relics, from 3pm on Wednesday 7th October.

Please allow plenty of time for your visit and be patient if you have to wait.

Groups from schools, etc will be taken along an "express queue".

The sick and infirm will be taken straight to the relics without having to wait.

Veneration of the relics will not be possible during Masses and other services.

St Therese's Prayer for Priests

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O Jesus
I pray for your faithful and fervent priests;
for your unfaithful and tepid priests;
for your priests labouring at home or abroad in
distant mission fields.
for your tempted priests;
for your lonely and desolate priests;
for your young priests;
for your dying priests;
for the souls of your priests in Purgatory.
but above all, I recommend to you the priests
dearest to me:
the priest who baptised me;
the priests who absolved me from my sins;
the priests at whose Masses I assisted and who gave
me Your Body and Blood in Holy Communion;
the priests who taught and instructed me;
all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other
way
O Jesus, keep them all close to your heart,
And bless them abundantly in time and in eternity.
Amen.

Follow the Pilgrims' Progress

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Photos and reports of all the places visited by St Therese's relics are reported as soon as they happen and are posted on the St Therese Relics Blog. Keep abreast of what's going on and on the numbers by clicking here.

Slideshow of St Therese's Arrival in Porstsmouth

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See the photos by clicking here.

The Guardian

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This report in The Guardian also includes a radio report from Portsmouth describing the arrival of the relics.

BBC Radio Oxford Talks about St Therese

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Fr Richard gave a live interview to BBC Radio Oxford's Malcolm Boyden this morning. You can hear it on the BBC iplayer by clicking here. The interview comes 2 hours and 10 minutes into the show after Michael Jackson and the item on thatched bus shelters!

Therese in The Times

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Readers might be interested in this article about the arrival of the relics in Portsmouth today. There is another good article about the visit published last Saturday in "The Times".

Information for Clergy and Groups

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Now that the time is coming nearer for the visit of the relics of St Therese we have produced a downloadable pdf document for clergy and groups about some specific arrangements for the different events. To view it, please click here.

Please telephone the Oratory if you would like more information - 01865 315800.

We are looking forward to welcoming our pilgrims and visitors.

Divine Comedy - Our Play about St Therese

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The play will be performed in the Oratory Church on:

Wednesday 30th September at 8pm
Thursday 1st October (St Thérèse's Day) at 1pm (matinée for schools)
Thursday 1st October (St Thérèse's Day) at 8pm
Friday 2nd October at 8pm

Admission to the schools matinée will be free
Other performances: £5 or £3 (concessions)

Book tickets online at Tickets Oxford by clicking here. Tickets are also on sale at the Porters' Lodge or at the Oxford Playhouse.

View and download the poster by clicking here.

Find out more about the play by clicking here.

Therese Exhibition

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During the visit of the relics to the Oxford Oratory there will be an exhibition of the life of St Therese. It will include some books and manuscripts from our library and archives. Meanwhile the exhibition panels can be viewed online by clicking here.

Training Day at Westminster Cathedral

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We have received the following information from the Catholic Agency to Support Evangelisation. Anyone waning to help wth the visit of the relics would find this course very helpful.

Dear Friends,

This Saturday we are offering an evangelisation training day for those involved in welcoming in some way the visit of the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux.

The day will run from 11am – 5pm and is designed to cover:
• What is Catholic Evangelisation?
• How the visit of the relics supports evangelisation today (the ‘New Evangelisation’ and what it is)
• How to share faith using simple language (especially when speaking to people in the queues)
• Tips on welcoming and listening (especially to the anticipated visitors).

A small number of people have so far confirmed their attendance which means that they’ll be plenty of opportunity to ask questions, to share and to do some practical exercises. If you know of anyone who you think might benefit from the proposed day please do forward this information to them.

The venue is St Vincent’s (next door to The Passage) in Carlisle Place, Westminster (SW1P 1QW), which is around the corner from Victoria Station adjacent to Westminster Cathedral; for a map of the area please see here.

The day is donation only. Refreshments will be provided and attendees are invited to bring a packed lunch. Handouts will also be available.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to know more.

Yours sincerely and God bless you,

Clare Ward
CASE

Cardinal Newman to be Beatified

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Our Holy Father Pope Benedict today signed a decree recognising the miraculous cure attributed to the intercession of John Henry, Cardinal Newman, the founder of the Oratory in England. This is an answer to the unceasing prayers and work of many people over many years and is a cause of tremendous joy, not only to the Oratory but to the Church in England. Please follow the links below to the press releases from the Oxford and Birmingham Oratories.

Bishop Philip Boyce, OCD, of the Diocese of Raphoe, Ireland, who is coming to preach while the relics of St Therese are with us, is staying on to lead the celebrations of the anniversary of Newman's reception into the Church on 9th October 1845. Bishop Boyce is both a Carmelite and an expert on the work of Cardinal Newman.

Press release of the Oxford Oratory

Press release of the Birmingham Oratory

"Divine Comedy" goes into rehearsal

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Our Thérèsian Mystery Play, to be performed in the week before the visit, has now gone into rehearsal, after an intense and competitive period of casting. We can reveal exclusively that Fr Dominic Jacob has been cast as Pope Leo XIII and Fr Daniel Seward as Thérèse's father, Louis Martin. Fr Jerome Bertram and Fr Richard Duffield are taking the parts of Cardinal Newman (don't ask how he comes in, just come to the play!) and the Abbé Révérony.

Tickets for the play can be bought at the Oxford Oratory Porters' Lodge, at the Oxford Playhouse or online at Tickets Oxford.

For more information about the play, see the previous posts.

St Thérèse Prayer Book

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Family Publications, based here in Oxford, have brought out a prayer book with prayers by St Thérèse, as well as prayers to her or inspired by her. This book will be an excellent resource in preparing for the visit of the relics. It is on sale at the Oxford Oratory lodge bookshop or online at the Family Publications website.

Book Online

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Online booking is now available at Tickets Oxford for two events connected with the Oxford Oratory, our Therese Play, "Divine Comedy" and the Plock Cathedral Choir.

The Cathedral Choir of Plock in Poland are performing a concert of Western and Slavonic Music in support of our development campaign on Saturday, 11th July at 7.30pm in Merton College Chapel. Please click on the poster to enlarge it.

Here is the programme:

PART ONE (Mostly Western)

1. ‘Locus Iste’ - Anton Bruckner, 1824-1896
2. ‘Iustorum Animae’ - William Byrd, c.1543-1623
3. Organ : ‘ Voluntary VIII; Opus 2 ( No.2 )’ - William Walond, c.1727-1770
4. ‘Agnus Dei’ from the ‘Mass for Four Voices’ - William Byrd, c.1543-1623
5. ‘Funeral Ikos’ – Sir John Tavener, 1944 –
6. ‘Salve Regina’ (simplex Gregorian) followed by an organ improvisation based on it
7. ‘Veni Jesu’ - Luigi Cherubini, 1760 – 1842
8. From the verse-anthem ‘Lord, thou hast been our refuge’ :
‘The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord’ … ‘Thou openest thine hand’ - William Boyce, 1711-1779 9. ‘Magnificat Octavi Toni’ - David Bevan, 1951 -

PART TWO (Slavonic, mostly Polish)

1. ‘Bogurodzica’ – anon. c. 10th. - 13th. centuries
2. ‘Veni Consolator’ - Damian Stachowicz, 1658 – 1699
3. Organ : ‘ Preambulum’ - Mikołaj of Krakowa 1. ‘Połowa’, 16th. century
4. ‘Fortuna’ - Piotr Jańczak, 1972 -
5. ‘Notturno ‘- Henryk Czyż, 1923-2003
6. Organ : ‘Pastoralen für die Sommerflöte’ - Imants Zemzaris, 1951 -
7. ‘Radujsja’ - Paweł Czesnokow, 1877 – 1944
8. ‘Szczedryk’ - Mikołaj Leontowicz, 1877 – 1921
9. ‘Insanae et vanae curae’ - Joseph Haydn, 1732 – 1809

Online booking is also available for the Therese play "Divine Comedy"

Bishop McMahon writes about the visit

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Bishop Malcolm McMahon OP, the Bishop of Nottingham, is the bishop with overall responsibility for the visit of the relics of St Thérèse. He wrote an article last year in the Catholic Herald about the forthcoming visit. Bishop McMahon thinks the Patroness of the Missions will be a powerful force for the renewal of the Church in our country. To read the article, please click here.

Oxford Oratory Relic Chapel

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Work will shortly begin on the refurbishment of the Relic Chapel where we keep our "permanently resident relics"! We hope to begin the work by the end of June and finish in mid-September, in good time for the visit of the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux in October. We expect all the chapels to be in frequent use for Mass during the visit, so we want them all to look their best.

The chapel presently doubles as a baptistry, but the font will be taken away to be restored, and will probably not return until the new baptistry and chapel is built on the other side of church. The cupboards, altar, walls and ceiling will all be restored to their orginal condition, as will the shrine of St Aloysius. The whole chapel will be relit, with lighting within the relic cupboards and from the skylight above.

Pictures and information are available by clicking here.

New CTS Leaflet about the visit

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The Catholic Truth Society have brought out a new leaflet about the visit of the relics of St Thérèse to England. Copies are available in the Porter's Lodge at the Oratory, together with many other books, leaflets and prayer cards. Prayer to St Thérèse and finding out more about her life and mission are important ways of preparing for the visit. The more we have prayed and the more we have got to know Thérèse, the more we will get out of the visit.

To find out more about the CTS books and leaflets about St Thérèse, please click here.

The Reliquary

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The relics of St Thérèse have travelled all over the world. We post this picture to give pilgrims an idea of what the reliquary is like.

When the reliquary comes to the Oxford Oratory (it will be quite a squeeze at the door, but we have measured!) it will be placed below the altar steps. There it will be possible for many people to file past on the flat. The front pews will be turned sideways on to the reliquary to allow for a more prolonged stop where visitors can kneel or sit in prayer.

We hope there will be a constant vigil of prayer by the old and the young, the faithful, religious, deacons and priests.

Video Clips about the Visit

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The national oraganisers have released some video clips about the visit of the relics to England and Wales. To view them, please click here.

For some comments by Bishop Malcolm McMahon O.P. of Nottingham, the Bishop responsible for the visit, please click here.

Thérèse Play Poster

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A parishioner has designed a brilliant poster for our play "Divine Comedy - A Thérèsian Mystery Play". Apart from being a great design, it also gives details of the performance dates and buying tickets. To see the poster, please click here. For more information about the play please click here.

Priest Pilgrims

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St Therese (and the Carmelites) pray especially for priests. So we are keen to welcome priest pilgrims and to offer them an altar to celebrate Mass. We have ample books and vestments for both the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the Roman rite. Some periods during the visit may be busy so please e-mail us to arrange a time.

We hope to have confessions continually throughout the visit. Help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Private Masses

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We are keen for priest pilgrims to celebrate Mass during their visit and have ample books for both the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the Roman rite. We anticipate that certain times may be quite busy so please contact the Oratory to arrange a time.

Hermeneutic of Continuity Post

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St Therese's visit to Oxford has been kindly publicised by Fr Tim Finigan on his "Hermeneutic of Continuity" blog. Please visit the site to see his post and for excellent news and commentary on the Church today.

Subscribe to the blog for the latest news

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The blog is updated regularly with news about the visit. If you would like to be kept informed when the blog is updated, please subscribe by clicking here.

Brochure for the Visit

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Our brochure for the visit is now being printed and will be sent to parishes, schools and religious houses in the next week or so. It will be made available in the southern part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. We hope also to distribute it in the northern parts of Portsmouth Diocese and the western parts of Northampton Diocese.

You can download a pdf of the brochure here.

Secular Carmelites

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Find out about the lay dimension of Carmelite spirituality lived out in a busy family life, in the stress of work (or lack of work), in relationships, death or loss. The Carmelite life and Thérèse's "Little Way" are lived by many people in their everyday lives. Here is a link to more information about Secular Carmelites.

Divine Comedy "A Thérèsian Mystery Play"

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The Oxford Oratory is producing a play about the life and impact of St Thérèse:

Divine Comedy "A Thérèsian Mystery Play"

Please keep watching the blog for further information about this

The play will be performed in the Oratory Church on:

Wednesday 30th September at 8pm
Thursday 1st October (St Thérèse's Day) at 1pm (matinée for schools)
Thursday 1st October (St Thérèse's Day) at 8pm
Friday 2nd October at 8pm

Admission to the schools matinée will be free
Other performances: £5 or £3 (concessions)

Booking will open soon. Please keep watching the blog!

More about the play

Update on Carmelite Talks

2009-05-13T14:16:00.004+01:00

The three talks on St Thérèse to be given by the Carmelites from Boars Hill are now to be slightly earlier in the month. They will take place on the following dates:

September 09: Fr Vincent O'Hara OCD
September 16: Fr Michael McGoldrick OCD
September 23: Fr James McCaffrey OCD

These are all Wednesdays and the talks will be at 8pm at the Oratory.

There is no better way of preparing for the visit than by learning about St Thérèse's Carmelite spirit from her own brothers in religion.

Films about St Therese

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There will be showings of two films of the life of St Thérèse in the Oratory Parish Centre. These will be on Sundays at 2.30pm.

Sunday 27th September: “Thérèse” France 1986 90 mins, Winner of Cannes Festival Jury Prize 1986

Sunday 4th October: “Thérèse” USA 2004 96 mins.
Visit this film's website.

Free admission.

Carmelite Speakers

2009-05-11T12:58:00.004+01:00

We now have three Carmelite speakers booked to give talks on St Thérèse on the three Wednesdays leading up to the visit. The talks will be at 8pm at the Oxford Oratory.

September 16: Fr Vincent O'Hara OCD
September 23: Fr James McCaffrey OCD
September 30: Fr Michael McGoldrick OCD

Please keep an eye on this site for the titles of the talks. We are delighted to have the real experts from St Thérèse's own order to help us prepare.

INFORMATION FOR SCHOOLS, PARISHES AND GROUPS

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PARISH & PILGRIM GROUPS
Pilgrim groups or parishes may like to have their own celebrations before praying at the reliquary in the silence of the church. Two chapels are available for small groups of up to 35 for Mass, group prayers, and talks. Please contact the Oratory if you would like to book one of these.

SCHOOL VISITS
Schools are strongly encouraged to make group visits and the Fathers of the Oratory are happy to come in to schools for classes or assemblies. If you would like to arrange a visit, please contact Fr Daniel Seward or Fr Joseph Welch.

SPEAKERS
The Fathers of the Oxford Oratory are happy to come to speak at Sunday Masses or to parish groups to prepare for the visit of the relics of St Thérèse. Please contact Fr Richard Duffield if you would like to have a speaker for your group or parish.

Please contact us through the e-mail link in the right hand column.

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SERVICES IN THE CHURCH

Wednesday 7th October at 6pm
Processional Entry of the Relics
and Solemn Vespers of St Thérèse

6.45pm QUIET PRAYER

8pm
Concelebrated Sung Mass
Celebrant & Preacher: Rt Rev William Kenney C.P.
Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham

9.30pm – 10.30pm
Holy Hour for Students & Sixth Formers
Led by Fr Daniel Seward

10.30pm QUIET PRAYER

11.45pm
Sung Compline
Led by the Dominican Students of Blackfriars

Thursday 8th October at Midnight
All Night Vigil
Led by Fathers of the Oxford Oratory

5.45am
Matins and Lauds of St Thérèse
Led by the Sisters of the Work, Littlemore

6.30am QUIET PRAYER

8.30am
Sung Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form)

9.30am – 1.30pm QUIET PRAYER

1.30pm
Service for the Sick
Fr Aldo Tapparo, Chaplain JR Hospital, Oxford

2.30pm QUIET PRAYER

3.15pm
Benediction, Sermon & Processional Departure
Celebrant & Preacher: Rt Rev Philip Boyce O.C.D.Bishop of Raphoe, Ireland

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THE RELICS OF ST THÉRÈSE

The relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux are being exposed for veneration in churches throughout England & Wales in the autumn of 2009. They will be in the Oratory in Oxford on 7th and 8th October.

St Thérèse (1873–97) was a Carmelite nun inspired by an intense devotion to the person of Jesus Christ. Her practice of complete fidelity to Him in the smallest events of daily life, her “Little Way”, gives an example that shows how a profound spiritual life can be within the reach of ordinary men and women.

This teaching, as she lived it, is described in her autobiography, “The Story of a Soul”. It led the Church to declare St Thérèse a Doctor of the Church, a teacher of the most profound truths of the Catholic faith. The visit of her relics to the university city of Oxford teaches us that the most important lesson of all is to learn to know and love God in our own lives.

Relics remind us that God himself made human life holy when he became a man, Jesus Christ. He continues to make himself known in the words and deeds of holy people. Relics are a sign of God’s presence in his saints and a focus for our prayer. The relics of St Thérèse recall her “Little Way” of complete fidelity to Jesus Christ. In them she comes to us and invites us to follow Him.

Information for Coach Drivers

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Coach drivers or leaders who want to bring groups by coach may find this map useful. The Oxford Oratory is on the Woodstock Road, one of the main coach routes marked in red on the map. The church is just north of Little Clarendon Street. PLEASE DROP PASSENGERS OUTSIDE PUSEY HOUSE (on the corner of St giles and Pusey Street). The coach may then be parked easily at the Oxpens Coach Park or the Pear Tree Coach Park.

More about the play

2008-05-13T21:15:00.004+01:00

The young people of the parish are putting on a play about St Therese and her mission, to be performed shortly before her relics arrive in our church. The play will tell the story of Therese's life and vocation in the context of her relevance to the challenges faced by young people at the beginning of the 21st century. Through the 'little way' of one of the greatest saints of modern times, we discover the real meaning of love: a love which can transform lives, a love which leads to eternal happiness. "Divine Comedy: A Theresian Mystery Play" will be performed in our church at 8.00pm from the 30th September to the 2nd of October, with a free performance for schools on the afternoon of Therese's feast, the 1st of October. Tickets for the three evening performances cost £5.00 (£3.00 for concessions) and can be bought from the Lodge. Proceeds will go towards the building fund.

More about the play

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Talks by Carmelite Friars

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There will be three talks on St Thérèse, given by the Carmelites from Boars Hill. They will take place on the following dates:

September 09: Fr Vincent O'Hara OCD
September 16: Fr Michael McGoldrick OCD
September 23: Fr James McCaffrey OCD

These are all Wednesdays and the talks will be at 8pm at the Oratory. Admission is free and open to all.

Please look out on the blog for news of titles and precise location at the Oratory.

There is no better way of preparing for the visit than by learning about St Thérèse's Carmelite spirit from her own brothers in religion. We are mos grateful to the Carmelites for helping the visit in this way.

Books, Medals and Prayer Cards

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The Oxford Oratory Lodge shop already has a large selection of material to help prepare for a visit to St Thérèse’s relics in the weeks leading up to 7th October. There are books suitable for all ages. It will be possible to buy books, medals and prayer cards throughout the time of the visit.

Confessions

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Confessions will be heard continually in the church during the whole time the relics are here, including throughout the night.

Priests who are willing to help with confessions are asked to contact the Oratory Fathers through the link in the right hand column.

Refreshments, Facilities & Disabled Access

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The Oratory Church has disabled access through the main door and through the Porter's Lodge shop. The Parish Centre also has disabled access. It will be made easy to approach and reach the reliquary with a wheelchair.

The Oratory parish centre will be open for light refreshments throughout the time the relics are here.

There are WCs with disabled access in both the church and the parish centre.

The church has a loop system for the hard of hearing.

Private Masses

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Visiting priests who wish to celebrate a private Mass alone or with a small group (four or five people) are warmly welcome. Please contact the Oratory to arrange a time. Larger groups please see the relevant link.

Private Masses

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Visiting priests who wish to celebrate a private Mass are warmly welcome. Please contact the Oratory to arrange a time. You can contact us through the e-mail link in the right hand column.

Silent Prayer during the Visit

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Prayer is the key purpose of the visit. Thirteen hours of the twenty-two hours of the visit will be given over to silent prayer in church, including an all-night vigil. Pilgrims are asked to respect the silence of the church during their visit. There are places for group talks, refreshments, an exhibition, and a shop to buy souvenirs elsewhere on the Oratory buildings.

A Prayer to St Therese

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Lord Jesus, through the life of St. Thérèse, you have brought new hope to all who long to open their hearts to you. Teach us the secret of her ‘Little Way’ and help us to realise that we can always talk with You and bring You our gratitude, our smiles and our tears. Stay with us, Jesus, so that in the midst of our busy hours, we may turn to You in loving trust. Transform each passing moment of time into a moment of prayer. Fill every troubled heart with the confident faith of St. Thérèse. In joy and in sorrow, in every circumstance, may our hearts rest in Your peace. Amen.

INFORMATION FOR PARISHES, SCHOOLS AND GROUPS

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