Breakfast with the Grand Master

Today we were very honoured to welcome His Most Eminent Highness Fra' Matthew Festing as our guest to breakfast.

Fra' Matthew is the Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta, and a patron of our Campaign. The Order is descended from the Knights Hospitaller, founded in Jerusalem in 1048 to help and protect pilgrims. Today, the Order provides medical and social care, as well as humanitarian aid around the world.

Information functions and Campaign total

Unfortunately Fr Nicholas has had to cancel the Information Function planned for this Saturday, 25th February as he has to be in Birmingham that afternoon.

However, there are still two more coming up next month: Friday 9th March at 8pm and Saturday 24th March at 11am. Please e-mail Fr Nicholas, campaign@oxfordoratory.org.uk if you would like to make a booking, or phone 01865 315 816.

Information functions are a chance for you to learn a bit more about our building and fundraising projects and ask any questions you may have, and all are very welcome.

As of today, the total raised so far is £2,073,319,98. That's almost £30,000 more in the last three weeks!

Meanwhile, the Parish Centre is almost completely empty, and just last week we had people in planning where to put the scaffolding. The builders are busy getting ready to move in any day now. We'll be sure to let you know when they do!

Over £2m raised! More restoration in Church!

The current Campaign total is £2,045,749.47 which makes us almost half-way to our total of £5 million. As you may have read, this means we can now start work on the new building.

Meanwhile, plans for the restoration of the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes are underway.


...and while that's going on, the designers are busy coming up with something for the ceiling.


Read all about it in our latest newsletter:

New Building to start soon

After many months of preparation, work on the nerw accommodation block and parish rooms will begin at the end of this month. The work is bring carried out by Stepnell Ltd of Rugby.

At the moment we have committed ourselves to the £750,000 needed to put the building up and make it weather-proof. To fit out the accommodation and parish rooms we need to raise further funds by the summer. We are waiting for the exact figures for this, but current estimates are that £270,000 is required for the next stage.