Receiving Holy Communion
At the York Oratory Churches we use Option Two in the guidance issued by the Bishops' Conference. Holy Communion will be given in St Philip's Chapel and the Baptistry at St Wilfrid's and in the Lady Chapel at St Joseph's after the final blessing of every Mass. There will be a brief pause while the celebrant returns to the sacristy to sanitise his hands. Directions will be given at the end of each Mass and a steward will be on hand to guide you.
If you are at all unsure about receiving Holy Communion please be reassured that there is not - and never has been - any obligation to receive Holy Communion at every Mass and that you probably should not receive if you think you are at all vulnerable. It is always possible to make a spiritual communion.
Live Streaming is back
A kind and brave parishioner has undertaken to operate the camera for the 12.10pm daily Mass and 10.30am Sunday Mass for the time being, while we arrange a long term way of broadcasting. We’re sorry that the Extraordinary Form Mass is not available right now, but hope that will come before long.
Go to our YouTube channel to see all the York Oratory’s moving pictures.
Virtual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Walsingham
Sadly it is still not possible for us to go in person to Walsingham. But there is a virtual diocesan pilgrimage. To find out more please click here, or to leave an online petition click here.
Information Forms
Every now and again it’s a good idea for us to make sure that we have contact details for as many people as possible, and that these are correct and up-to-date. Forms are available at the back of church, and it would be really helpful if you could complete one and return it, even if you think we already know all about you! Alternatively you could print off the form here and return it:
Or else, you could simply email the information to Fr Daniel: daniel@yorkoratory.com
The information will be kept in accordance with data protection regulations, and we’ll never share your details without your permission.
Newsletter 20.9.20Mass intentions for the week beginning Sunday, 20th September.
Please click here for the list of Mass intentions for the week beginning Sunday, 13th September.
Brother Gabriel
Please pray for Perry Fox who received the habit of St Philip this evening as Br Gabriel. He has taken the name of St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin, an Italian Passionist saint and the patron of Oratorian novices. Br Gabriel is originally from Sheffield and graduated this year in Psychology from the University of Bristol. He is pictured with the community, with his Novice Master, Fr Daniel and his former University Chaplain, Fr Rupert Allen who encouraged his vocation.
Livestream Masses and Vespers
Some of you may have come across Perry Fox who has been staying at the Oratory for the last few months. On the other hand, you may not have, because in these strange times it has been hard to get to Mass. Among Perry’s many jobs has been taking charge of the camera for the live stream Masses.
We hope to give Perry the Oratorian habit on Tuesday and he will begin his noviciate for our community. When that happens he needs to be serving Mass rather than filming it. Since we have nobody capable of taking this task on, the broadcast Masses will have to stop for the time being.
We are looking into setting up a new, unmanned system. We will keep you posted about progress. We do see that in these times it is important that we do our best to keep this service going.
We intend to begin having Vespers again in October but until then there will be no afternoon service of any kind until the end of September.
The Newsletter is Back!
Click Newsletter 13.9.20 for this week's newsletter.
Musical News
Although our music has perforce had to be somewhat limited of late, there is still good news about our musicians, and hope on the horizon. Congratulations to Molly and Philip Morgan, of 10.30am Mass choir fame, on the birth of James in May. James is currently being exhibited to his American family, and when the quarantine period is over, the choir will sing again at the Sunday 10.30 Mass.
Congratulations also to our organist, Robert Smith, who was married to soprano Hattie Peck on Saturday 5th September in Wells Cathedral, with musical accompaniment by our Director of Music, John Ridgeway-Wood.
Sunday Vespers and Benediction will start again on Sunday 4th October at 4pm.
Sadly, there can be no congregational singing for now.
Meanwhile, we were able to have a socially-distanced barbecue for all our singers and musicians. 
