York Oratory

08/09/2026

Today is the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the 12.10pm Mass, there will be hymns to honour Our Lady.

St Philip said, 'To obtain the protection of our Blessed Lady in our most urgent wants, it is very useful to say sixty-three times, after the fashion of a Rosary, “Virgin Mary, Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me.” When we make this prayer to our Blessed Lady, we give her every possible praise in the least possible compass, because we call her by her name of Mary, and give her those two great titles of Virgin, and Mother of God, and then name Jesus, the fruit of her most pure womb.'

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
Our Lady of York, pray for us.
Our Lady, Queen of the Oratory, pray for us.

04/09/2026

Try to remember the kind of September.

04/09/2026

September is here, and things are beginning to get busy again! Here are a few things to note as we look ahead to the weekend:

Faith on Fridays: Tonight at 7.30pm in the Upper Room (enter through the carpark)
Br Alexander will present a five-week series on the psalms we sing at Sunday Vespers (60 min)

Vespers and Benediction: Sunday at 4pm
This is beautiful way to end the Lord’s Day in prayer, giving thanks to God and placing the week ahead into His hands. (60 min)

Brothers of the Little Oratory: Sunday at 5.15pm in St Philip’s Chapel
Founded by St Philip Neri for men living in the world, the exercises of the Little Oratory helps its members to sanctify their daily lives through prayer, spiritual exercises, and Christian fellowship. All men are warmly invited to attend — you need not be a member of the Brothers to join us. (30 min)

Compline: Sunday at 6.15pm at St Joseph’s Church (YO30 6JX)
On the first Sunday of each month, the York choral ensemble Caelestis leads us in Compline, the Church’s final prayer of the day. (30 min)

03/09/2026

Don’t forget: Faith on Fridays resumes tomorrow with a five week series on the psalms of Sunday Vespers. 7.30pm in the Upper Room.

Br Alexander will lead the first instalment of Faith on Fridays series, beginning 4th September, discussing the psalms of Sunday Vespers. Please note that Faith on Fridays will take place in the Upper Room: please enter through the Church car park.

02/09/2026

The York Oratory seeks to appoint a permanent soprano for the Oratory Choir.

The Congregation of the Oratory was founded by St Philip Neri in Rome during the sixteenth century. The Oratory was established in England in 1848 by St John Henry Newman in Birmingham. In 2013, the Fathers of the Oxford Oratory were invited by the Bishop of Middlesbrough to establish a new community at St Wilfrid’s Church in York.

The York Oratory maintains the tradition of excellence in liturgical music, and to this end we are seeking a permanent soprano as part of the vocal quartet for the 12 noon Mass on Sundays, Vespers and Benediction during the seasons of Advent and Lent, the Sacred Triduum and mid-week holy days throughout the year.

We are also seeking reliable deputies for soprano, alto (m or f), tenor and bass.

This post is suitable for experienced singers with excellent sight-reading ability, who are used to working as the sole contributor to a voice part.

The usual weekly commitment is as follows:

Sunday: 10:30 rehearsal.
12:00 sung Latin Mass

In Advent and Lent only
16:00 Latin Vespers & Benediction, preceded by a rehearsal.

For holy days, the usual commitment is:

4.30pm rehearsal
6pm Mass.

The repertoire ranges from Gregorian chant, through to polyphony and the Viennese School, to the early 20th Century. These positions are open to non-Catholics, but a respect for Catholic teaching and tradition is essential.

Appointments will be reviewed after the period of one year with the possibility of renewal.

The salary for each singer will be in the order of £4,100 plus additional professional fees.

Applications, which include a cover letter, curriculum vitaæ, and the names and contact details of two referees, should be sent via e-mail to the Director of Music, Mr Samuel Austin, at [email protected] The deadline for applications is Friday 18th September 2026, with the start date for successful candidates being Sunday 4th October 2026.

Please do not send audio samples. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview and audition w/c 21st September.

Samuel Austin, Director of Music

01/09/2026

Yesterday’s pilgrimage brought together several hundred pilgrims from across England and Scotland to honour the Pearl of York, St Margaret Clitherow. We were delighted to welcome pilgrims from as far afield as the United States as well.

St Margaret gave her life for the Catholic faith, being martyred for sheltering Catholic priests in her home during the Reformation.

May her courage and steadfastness inspire us never to be fearful or ashamed of professing our Catholic faith, but to witness to Christ with the same courage and fidelity. St Margaret Clitherow, pray for us!

31/08/2026

Thank you to all who joined us for the annual pilgrimage in honour of St Margaret Clitherow and the Martyrs of York. Thank you to the Lord Mayor and the Sheriff for their presence and to the The Bar Convent Heritage Centre for their hospitality. It was a beautiful day.

28/08/2026

The summer holidays are coming to an end; but so much is happening this autumn. Read all about it.

28/08/2026

We look forward to welcoming you on Monday for the annual Pilgrimage in honour of St Margaret Clitherow and the Martyrs of York. We are honoured this year to have the participation of the Lord Mayor and Sheriff of York. Please join us from 9.00am at the . At 10.30am, we will convene outside Micklegate Bar before the procession sets off at 10.45am.

12.00 noon High Mass at the Oratory with music of Palestrina
2.30pm Rosary, led by the Brothers of the Little Oratory and the Women’s Oratory
3.00pm Benediction

25/08/2026

Fr Daniel recently gave this fervorino to the Brothers of the Little Oratory at the Edinburgh Oratory-in-Formation.

Interested in learning more about the Brothers of the Little Oratory? The Brothers meet for weekly exercises on Sundays at 5.15pm in St Philip’s Chapel, followed by tea. These exercises are much like those given in the Roman Oratory by St Philip.

All Catholic men over the age of eighteen who wish to deepen their spiritual lives using the Philippine model are welcome to attend the Sunday exercises. If you have any questions, please see Br Paul.

A fervorino given at the Edinburgh Oratory-in-Formation