Challenge and Scandal of Sanctity

Bishop Erik Varden's compelling talk on holiness, given as this year's St William of York Lecture.

Night Fever

A night of invitation for those passing by the church to come inside, light a candle and encounter the beauty of Jesus Christ: 7-9pm, 13/12

Isaian Advent

Bishop Erik Varden, the Cistercian Bishop of Tronheim, gave this reflection at our Advent Musical Oratory.

Advent Musical Oratory with Bishop Erik Varden

Tuesday 10th December at 7pm: Music, readings, and an Advent Reflection by the Bishop of Trondheim

You are the glory of Jerusalem - The Immaculate Conception 2024

The novena before Our Lady's Immaculate Conception begins on 29th November. Find details of all our celebrations for the feast here.

The Destruction of the first Temple

This week's Talking Heads ends the Second Book of Kings with disaster in Jerusalem, but after seventy years the exiles will return.

Music for Advent 2024

Keeping Advent can be difficult amid the secular preparations for Christmas, but we have the music you need.

Advent Sunday Candlelight Compline

Come to St Joseph's for Compline by candlelight on Advent Sunday, 1st December, at 6.15pm

Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar carries the gold from the Temple and the King of Judah off to Babylon in this week's Talking Heads.

You are a priest for ever

You are a priest for ever

Josiah makes Judah great again

Josiah makes Judah great again, but then is killed by Pharaoh Neco. What goes wrong?

Josiah and Religious Restoration

When a scroll of the Law is found in the Temple it accelerates Josiah's restoration of traditional religion in Judah.

Isaiah is sawn in half by his grandson

More disfunctional family relationships in Christ's ancestry: Manasseh has his own grandfather sawn in half. Watch last week's Talking Heads

Music for November

Here is November's Music list, including All Saints', All Souls' and Br David's ordination Mass.

Act now to oppose assisted suicide

Unite in prayer and compassionate action to oppose assisted suicide

She scorns you, the virgin daughter of Zion

Lord Byron makes a guest appearance in this week's Talking Heads

Music for October

Some beautiful feasts in October with some beautiful music

Feast of our Cardinal

9th October is the day that St John Henry Newman was received into the "One Fold of the Redeemer". Come to celebrate his feast day with us.

Standing up to Doubt

In this week's Talking Heads, the Rabshakeh tries to undermine morale in Jerusalem, just as doubt tries to undermine our faith.

The Last Kings of Judah: A new series of Talking Heads

Our Bible Study group, Talking Heads, starts again soon, and will read about some more of Our Lord's ancestors in the Second Book of Kings.

Come and See! New series of Faith on Fridays

Our Friday night series of talks will be rather interactive this autumn, with visits to the organ loft, bell-tower, sacristy, and church.

Learn to sing Gregorian Chant

Br Paul's Chant Group begins again on Sunday 8th September.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

The Parish Choir starts singing again after the summer from Sunday 8th September. New members are always welcome.

A summer of pilgrimage

The whole of the Christian life is a journey towards heaven. When we make a pilgrimage, it is part of that journey.

Go out to the whole world, proclaim the Good News

Recently we were visited by Fr Brendan Aroh of the Spiritan Fathers.

Pilgrimage in honour of the Pearl of York - August Bank Holiday 2024

This year's pilgrimage for St Margaret Clitherow and the Martyrs of York is on Monday 26th August. Details here.

All roads lead to Osmotherley

The diocesan pilgrimage to the Lady Chapel at Osmotherley for Assumptiontide is on Sunday 18th August. There is a coach from York

The Assumption 2024 - Mass Times

Thursday 15th August is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady and a holy day of obligation

Vespers for the Feast of St James

As part of the Incorporated Organists' Festival 2024, there will be sung Vespers for the feast of St James in our church at 6pm

A new Statue of St Wilfrid

On the feast of our church's Dedication, a new statue of our patron was unveiled and blessed.

Missa Cantata for the feast of SS Peter & Paul, Saturday 29th June

This Saturday for the feast of SS Peter & Paul there will be a sung Latin Mass at 12.10pm. Music by Palestrina & Stanford.

The lost tribes of Israel

What happened to the ten tribes of the northern Kingdom of Israel? Find out as we read chapter 17 of the second Book of Kings.

Jesus of Nazareth is passing by

Last week we celebrated Corpus Christi. Come this weekend to adore the Lord during our Forty Hours' Devotion.

God is with Us

This week's Talking Heads deals with King Ahaz, to whom Isaiah made the prophecy that a virgin would conceive and bear a Son, Immanuel.

Corpus Christi Procession

Join our Procession on the feast of Corpus Christi, Thursday 30th May.

St Philip's Day - Monday 27th May

Find out how we are celebrating the feast of our Glorious Patriarch, Saint Philip Neri, Apostle of Rome

Icons of the Mother of God

Find out how to interpret icons of the Mother of God in this fascinating talk.

An earthquake in the Temple

What does Isaiah mean when he says, “In the year that King Uzziah died”? What caused the earthquake, through which the Lord spoke His word?

Defeat snatched from the jaws of Victory

A time of peace and prosperity for Israel and Judah is squandered, with injustice and stupidity prevailing.

Music for May

Music for May at the Oratory, including the feasts of the Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, St Philip's Day, and Corpus Christi.

The tomb that gives life

Even when Elisha has died, his bones bring a corpse back to life. Watch this week's Talking Heads.

The Murder of Zechariah

In this week's Talking Heads the blood of Zechariah the priest cries out from the Temple after his stoning.

Music for April

Music for the rest of this month

More Faith on Fridays

A new series in May: The Petrine office, Church etiquette, the Holy Spirit, how to go to Confession, and Our Lady as Ark of the Covenant.

The wickedest woman in the Bible

This week's Talking Heads finds hope amid the almost-total destruction of the House of David.

Consequences

Talking Heads starts again Monday. The steady decline of Israel's religious practice leads inevitably to exile; but God's Providence remains

Easter Vigil Order of Service

Our photocopier is broken! Of course, this would happen on Holy Saturday, but you can obtain the booklet down the magic wire here.

Welcome to Holy Week

Here are all the times of services and confessions during this Holy Week and on Easter Day.

Iconography of the Passion

As we prepare for Holy Week, we see how the successive scenes of the Passion and Death of Christ have been represented in art

Music for Holy Week 2024

The Church's Great Week approaches

The Crucifixion

Don't miss Sir John Stainer's Crucifixion: A Meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer. 7pm on Wednesday 20th March.

The bloody reign of Jehu

Seventy severed heads are piled up at the gates of Jezreel, and Jehu wipes out the followers of Baal. What is the Lord's ultimate judgement?

Push her out!

Manic driving, violent revolution, and the defenestration of Jezebel in this week's Talking Heads.

Music for March 2024

Music for March at the Oratory

A new organ for St Joseph's

A good pipe organ has been donated to St Joseph's. We only need to pay for transport and installation. Find out how to help.

Elisha weeps

In this week's Talking Heads: Elisha weeps, and in his tears we find the key to the message of salvation contained in his ministry.

Talking Heads: The siege is lifted

The siege of Samaria is lifted - but salvation comes from an unexpected quarter: four lepers, who sit outside the city gate.

A new deacon

Br David was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Middlesbrough on Saturday 17th February

Talking Heads: And the iron blade floated up.

An axe head floats up in the Jordan, Elisha routs the King of Aram, and there are grim events during the siege of Samaria. Watch here.

Music for February 2024

You who once were far away have been brought near.

In Talking Heads this week Naaman the enemy becomes a worshipper of the Lord.

Windows into eternity

In the Barocci Group this month we learned more about one of our City's greatest treasures: the glass of the Minster.

Elisha and the Woman of Shunem

Some moving events in the first Talking Heads of this year.

A new series of Faith on Fridays

Our Faith on Fridays series resumes this week: for converts, for new Catholics, for those who want to know more, for everyone and anyone.

The extraordinary career of the Prophet Elisha

A new series of Talking Heads starts soon.

Music list for January 2024

Rococo Interiors

Illuminating the origins of the Rococo, learn how a change in sumptuary laws on beeswax candles influenced 17th & 18th century French decor.

The Oratory Carol Service

The Oratory Carol Service of Nine Lessons and Carols takes place tonight at seven o'clock. See the order of service here.

We must not cancel hope

Read Fr Richard's Sermon given at the Carol Service of the University of York in Heslington Church.

Advent Musical Oratory - Wednesday 13th December

Join us for our Advent Musical Oratory - the perfect way to escape the pre-Christmas bustle.

100th online episode of Talking Heads

Episode 100 of our Bible Study Talks reaches II Kings 3.

Seeing within

The latest session of the Barocci group learnt about Caspar David Friedrich and the German Romantic movement. Watch here.

In a Whirlwind

A highly dramatic series of events in II Kings, Chapter 2.

Advent Music list

Read the exciting music list for Advent.

Immaculate Conception Novena

The novena in preparation for the Immaculate Conception begins on Wednesday 29th November. Read all about our celebrations here.

Is there no God in Israel?

In this week's Talking Heads: the King of Israel consults Baal-Zebub, god of Akron, and gets a fiery response from Elijah.

The death of Ahab

Ahab comes to a sticky end - & the unanimous, false prophecy of 400 leads us to ask how God reveals Himself authentically in the scriptures.

Naboth's Vineyard

Elijah and Ahab have a fiery confrontation in Naboth's vineyard. The blood of Jezebel and Ahab will be licked up by dogs.

New Catholic Philosophy Group

Starting this week, a new group to discuss philosophical questions and texts.

Ahab and Ben Hadad

Watch the latest Talking Heads, reading Chapter 20 of I Kings, here.

Music for November

See the November music list.

The Spanish Golden Age

All Saints' and All Souls' Mass times

All Saints' Day is on Wednesday 1st November, and is a holy day of obligation. The following day, Thursday 2nd November, is All Souls' Day.

Faith on Fridays

Coming soon: An informal series of presentations and discussions, for converts, new Catholics, anyone and everyone.

Elijah goes on strike

Watch this week's Talking Heads: Elijah lies down and wants to die, but the Lord sends an angel to feed him with miraculous bread.

Elijah and the Prophets of Ba'al

The priests of Ba'al hop about their altar, gashing themselves until the blood flows. Elijah calls on the Lord with and fire comes down.

Elijah the Tishbite

This week's Talking Heads introduces the figure of Elijah, a prophet consumed by righteous zeal.

The Feast of our Cardinal - 9th October

We celebrate Saint John Henry Newman with a sung English Mass at 12.10pm, and a Latin High Mass at 6pm.

Jeroboam and the Altar

Talking Heads is back for a new series. Find out more about some exciting passages from the Bible here.

Salome dancing before Herod

Watch the latest Barocci presentation, featuring Moreau's painting of Salome

Music for October

Music list for October.

Wisdom took root among an honourable people.

Read Fr Richard's sermon, given at the English Oratories' pilgrimage to Walsingham last Saturday.

What is a Musical Oratory?

We have a Musical Oratory on Monday 11th September at 7pm. People have been asking what is this?

Ravens, chariots, whirlwinds, vineyards, forests, bears, axes, and mantles.

These are just some of the exciting objects in the lives of Elijah and Elisha about which we shall hear in the new series of Talking Heads.

Come and sing for us!

The Oratory is seeking to appoint experienced singers to sing on Sundays and holy days.

Coming soon: The St Margaret Clitherow Pilgrimage

Join us on August Bank Holiday Monday for the annual walk remembering St Margaret Clitherow and the Martyrs of York

Martyrs' Map of England and Wales

See this excellent map, compiled by Graeme Garvey, showing the origin of all the English and Welsh martyrs. Click on it for biographies.

Forthcoming Pilgrimage to Walsingham

Details of the English Oratories' pilgrimage to Walsingham on Saturday 9th September.

Sorolla - the painter of light

Watch the latest film from the Barocci group, about the Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla, whose centenary is this year.

Solomon's wives lead his heart astray

The bright promise of Solomon's youth gives way to idolatry in old age. Watch this week's 'Talking Heads'.