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Missio Press Release: Venerable Pauline Jaricot
Missio is very excited for the upcoming beatification of one of our founders, Venerable Pauline Jaricot, on 22 May 2022 in Lyon, France. This will be a day of prayer and celebration for the global Missio family, and the whole Church. Pauline Jaricot Born in 1799, Pauline Jaricot was a remarkable young lay woman with formidable faith. Through her resolution and strong beliefs, she founded...
Bishop At Easter Vigil : “God never gave up on us”
Bishop David Oakley celebrated a beautiful liturgy at Northampton Cathedral on Holy Saturday evening. He was joined by priests and people of the Northampton cluster of parishes including, Towcester and East Hunsbury, Northampton Cathedral and Kingsthorpe. The liturgy began as always around the fire, the light of Christ outside the doors of a Cathedral in darkness. One by one was individuals had...
Enter Into The Mystery of This Obedient Love
Bishop David has called on all God's people to enter into Holy Week beyond our head knowledge of Jesus' dying and rising from the dead but live it in our hearts. Here is the full text of his homily from Palm Sunday at Northampton Cathedral. When the hour came Jesus took his place at table, and the apostles with him. In this way, the evangelist begins an account of the most dramatic moment in the...
Bishop’s Consecrate Ukraine and Russia to Our Lady
As the conflict in Ukraine and Russia continues, Bishop David accompanied by Bishop Emeritus Peter joined with Pope Francis and Bishop's from across in consecrating both nations to the Sacred Heart of Our Lady. Explaining the consecration Pope Francis had written to Bishops earlier in the week saying "This Act of Consecration is meant as a gesture of the universal Church, which in this dramatic...
Diocese Seeks New Choral Director
Having successfully been awarded the first year of seed funding offered by the Hamish Ogston Foundation and the National Schools Singing Programme, our diocese will now be seeking a Choral Director to lead the program.Initiated in the Diocese of Leeds, the NSSP aims to fund and support engagement with diverse communities offering a route into choral and church music. More information about the...
Catechists AGM
Parish catechist representatives from across our diocese met on Saturday 26th March at the St Thomas Centre, Northampton for the third annual AGM. Joined by Bishop David they discussed the joys and challenges of catechesis as they continue to discern what the Spirit is saying across our diocese. Following an opening prayer and time of general sharing, Bishop David spoke and thanked them for...
Ordination Joy!
On Friday 25th March, Bishop David presided at the Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood of Deacon Liam Castle. On a sunny Friday morning, Deacon Liam was joined by his family and close friends swell as brother priests from our own diocese and friends from his seminary years. Bishop David knows Fr Liam well as he was Rector tot he seminary at Oscott from seven years, the entirety of Fr Liam's...
Sub Tuum Praesidium
Today at 4pm (UK time) Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the protection of the Sacred Heart of Mary.The Pope has invited all Bishops, priests, religious, and Catholic faithful to “assemble in their places of prayer on 25 March, so that God’s Holy People may raise a heartfelt and choral plea to Mary our Mother.” Bishop David will begin the consecration service at 12.30 live from...
Full Blaze!
Our diocesan youth ministry department, NYMO have announced that bookings are closed for the conference for young people being confirmed, BLAZE. The highlight of Blaze is an opportunity to meet Bishop David who will confirm them in their parishes later in the year. It is just ten years since the first Blaze when just 30 young people met at Thornton College on a Saturday in May to meet Bishop...
Act of Consecration To The Sacred Heart of Mary
"This Act of Consecration is meant to be a gesture of the universal Church, which in this dramatic moment lifts up to God, through his Mother and ours, the cry of pain of all those who suffer and implore an end to the violence, and to entrust the future of our human family to the Queen of Peace." Pope Francis Bishop David has announced that he will join Pope Francis and Bishop's from around the...
I Dream Of A Growing Church!
Our diocesan Synod team led a feedback day last Saturday for diocesan local listeners. Joined by Bishop David the day was mainly feedback from the team split with small group conversation where the listeners had the opportunity to reflect on what they had heard. Looking at how we are viewed as a Church was in many ways quite sobering. It is clear that for a significant number of participants...
Aylesbury Students Sell Cakes for Cafod
Students from St Louis Catholic Primary School in Aylesbury did an awesome job raising money for CAFOD this lent. Taking charity seriously the students and staff at the school showed great care to raise funds and awareness for the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development. Bishop David visited the school this week and thanked the students for reaching out to those in most need in such an...
Port Chaplains Busy This Lent
When the Evergreen container ship got stuck in the Suez Canal last year, it was carrying 18,300 containers, but it only had a crew of twenty-five on board. While ships like this mean that goods can be delivered more quickly and cheaply than ever before, for seafarers there is less time for rest, more stress, and often a sense of isolation. Stella Maris port chaplains, such as Wojciech Holub, who...
Reaching Out To Victims and Survivors of Abuse
Work began on a brand-new initiative in our diocesan plan to reach out to victims and survivors of abuse. Reaching out to a group which has historically been ignored or pushed aside has been a key priority for our diocese, led by our safeguarding team. A new healing garden based at the St Thomas Centre at our Cathedral has been designed to enable those who have suffered at the hands of our...
Diocesan Statement
STATEMENT REGARDING THE MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF ST PAUL On Thursday 17th February the Vicar General, Rev Canon Michael Harrison released the following statement to clergy of the diocese of Northampton. At the end of February four priests of the Missionary Society of St Paul, ministering in parishes across our diocese will be leaving. The general and regional superiors for the congregation have...
Sleep Out To Support The Homeless
Two members of Bishop David’s staff will be sleeping rough in February to raise money for charity. Siobhan O’Donovan and Lorna Heron, the Bishop’s housekeeper and secretary respectively will be sleeping out through the night from 7.30pm on Saturday 26th February until 7.30am Sunday 27th February. They will be equipped with just a sleeping bag and a makeshift shelter. Bishop David is a patron of...