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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
The Guardian
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
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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