The Reliquary Bust of St Philip
St Philip Neri, the founder of the Oratory, was born in Florence in 1515 so this year is the 500th anniversary of his birth. There will be celebrations in Florence and in Rome in the course of the year. For those members of his spiritual family unable to get to those celebrations a bust containing our founder's relics will visit every Oratory in the world. In that way we can be united in spirit with our holy father St Philip and with each other. The bust will probably come to York towards the end of this year.
The photographs show the blessing of the very fine new carving by the Archbishop of Seville in the Oratory church in that city.
Fr Richard's Visit to Goa and Sri Lanka
Fr Richard was privileged to visit Goa and Sri Lanka in the first two weeks of January. There were three main reasons for the visit: to encourage a group of priests who want to refound the Oratory in Goa; to represent the Oratorian Confederation at the Canonisation of St Joseph Vaz who was a founding member of that community and went on to become the Apostle of Sri Lanka; finally to take part - with hundreds of thousands of others - in the exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier. The body of this great Jesuit Missionary saint is exposed for veneration every ten years and still inspires enormous devotion among Catholics - and members of other faiths - across India and further east. Family members from our Goan community in York made him very welcome. Here is a link to an article he wrote about St Francis Xavier and St Joseph Vaz, and a few photographs. York now feels very cold!
With Fr Mario Aviles, the Procurator of the Confederation of the Oratory outside the sacristy on the beach and with Most Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao the Archbishop of Goa; St Joseph Vaz's birthplace, Benaulim, Goa; the former house and church of the Goa Oratory, India; the procession of the relics; and the shrine of St Francis Xavier in the Jesuit Church of Bom Jesus.
St Joseph Vaz
The Holy Father Pope Francis will canonize Joseph Vaz, the great Oratorian Apostle of Ceylon, during his visit to Sri Lanka this week. Fr Richard will be present at the canonization, representing our Apostolic Visitor, Fr Felix Selden. We will celebrate St Joseph Vaz’s feast day on Friday 16th January, and the 12pm Sung Latin Mass on Sunday 18th January will be a Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving, with the singing of the Te Deum. There are very few canonised Oratorians – St Joseph will only be the third – so do come and celebrate this great event in the life of the Oratory with us.
Fr Richard recently visited Goa, where St Joseph Vaz was born, and sent us a few photographs of his birthplace and the former Oratory church in Goa.
The house where Joseph Vaz was born.
The Goan Oratory church
Christmas Service Times at St Wilfrid's and St Joseph's
Fr Richard, Fr Nicholas, Fr David, Fr Mark, Br Adam and Ciarán wish all the parishioners and visitors to St Wilfrid's and St Joseph's a happy, holy and peaceful Christmas.
MASSES AT ST WILFRID’S
Christmas Eve
6pm Family Mass, Children's Procession to the Crib and Blessing of the Crib
11.15pm Carols and Readings followed by Midnight Sung Latin Mass
Christmas Day
8.30am Mass with Carols
10.30am Mass with Carols
4pm Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and Prayers at the Crib
St Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day)
Mass at 12.10pm
There will be no Vespers and Benediction on Sunday, 29th and no 8am Mass on Monday, 30th
MASSES AT ST JOSEPH’S
Christmas Eve
Masses at 5.15pm and 8.00pm
Christmas Day
Mass at 9.30am
St Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day)
Mass at 2.00pm
Pictures of the Rorate Mass
Here are some pictures of our very prayerful Rorate Mass last Saturday morning. Veni ad salvandum nos, Domine Deus noster. O come and save us, Lord our God. 
Rorate Mass
We will celebrate the Mass of Our Lady for Advent on Saturday, 20th December. This Mass, known by its Introit as the Rorate Mass, is traditionally sung in the early morning by candlelight. Our Mass will be at 7:00am in the Lady Chapel at St Wilfrid's.
This is a beautiful and evocative way to prepare for the coming of Our Lord at Christmas as we wait in expectation with his Blessed Mother.
Rorate Caeli desuper et nubes pluant justum. Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One.
Christmas Service Times
Christmas Eve
6pm Family Mass, Children's Procession to the Crib and Blessing of the Crib
11.15pm Carols and Readings followed by Midnight Sung Latin Mass
Christmas Day
8.30am Mass with Carols
10.30am Mass with Carols
4pm Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and Prayers at the Crib
St Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day)
Mass at 12.10pm
There will be no Vespers and Benediction on Sunday, 29th and no 8am Mass on Monday, 30th
MASSES AT ST JOSEPH’S
Christmas Eve
Masses at 5.15pm and 8.00pm
Christmas Day
Mass at 9.30am
St Stephen’s Day (Boxing Day)
Mass at 2.00pm
Survey on the Rectory Roof
We plan to decorate and use the top floor of the house but before that happens we need to be sure the roof is in good condition. It's fine at the front which had new slates not long ago. But we await the verdict on today's survey.... Here's a picture of the brave chap who climbed the ladder up there!
New Sunday Mass times begin next weekend
- 6:15pm (Saturday) VIGIL MASS
- 8:30am QUIET MASS
- 10:30am FAMILY MASS WITH CHILDREN’S LITURGY
- 12:00 noon SUNG LATIN MASS EXTRAORDINARY FORM
- 6:00pm SUNG LATIN VESPERS
- 6:30pm approx BENEDICTION
Another Military Parade
A gloomy winter day was livened up by Army Medics, including 34 Field Hospital based here in York, parading outside St Wilfrid's, after a homecoming thanksgiving service at York Minster. The Military Hospital at Camp Bastion became the world's leading trauma care facility. The Lord Mayor and the Sheriff of York met the troops.
For video clips click here and here.