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All children who have received their First Holy Communion are invited to become altar servers. Older children and adults are also welcome. After a year or eighteen months of training, new altar servers receive their medals and are formally enrolled into the Guild at the Servers’ Mass on St. Stephen’s Day. For more about the Guild of St. Stephen visit their website. Contact: Deacon Michael

A branch of the Association for the Propagation of the Faith (APF) has been established in this parish for over 50 years. A.P.F. Mission Boxes may be obtained at any time, for opening either quarterly or half-yearly, whichever is more convenient to members. The magazine "Mission Today" is given free to all members each quarter Contact: the parish office

The Catholic Secondary School for North Oxfordshire (BGN) School is the only Roman Catholic Voluntary-Aided Secondary Comprehensive Day School for pupils aged 11 to 18 in North Oxfordshire. It is a school which is true community driven by the example of Christ and His teachings, and a place that strives for excellence in everything it does. BGN has a long tradition of Oxbridge entry. It aims to provide an excellent all-round education and to assist the young people in its care to recognise their own worth, gain confidence to face the challenge of living a Christian, Catholic environment and to equip them to fulfil their potential in modern life. Prospective parents are invited to visit the school. A prospectus is available on request. More information on the school website http://www.bgn.oxon.sch.uk/
Contact: 01295 264216.

This records the memory of friends, family members and former parishioners. The pages are turned every other day. If you would like someone to be included, please submit the name of the person along with the exact date of their death (day, month, year) to the parish office.

As part of its fund raising efforts for the projected community centre the parish is currently running a ‘buy a brick’ scheme. Bricks cost £10.00 each and may be purchased from the parish office.

The association for professional Catholic gentlemen. For further details please contact Tim Lane or visit their website.

The Parish of the Immaculate Conception has an active child protection policy. Contact: Elizabeth Green

Childline: 0800 1111 - website,
NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 - website.

Normally the choir comprises about 15 members (men and women), and any new members would be warmly welcomed. Choir practice is held every Wednesday in the Church at 7.30 p.m. Contact: Ann Kearsley or Michael Liddell

Music at the 9.00 am Mass is provided by the guitars and voices of the second of our choirs. If you are interested in a less formal approach to church music please contact Jan Hartley.

Christian Aid works through local organisations, called partners, in 54 countries; helping poorer people to help themselves. We are currently working on getting Bicester recognised as a ‘Fair Trade Town’. Contact: Ron Weaver. More about the work of Christian Aid on their website.

At each of the weekend Masses two or more Church Wardens are always in attendance. Contact: The Parish Office

The cleaning of the church is undertaken by teams of 3 to 4 people. A different team cleans the church each week. Volunteers are always required. Contact: Parish Office.

The Parish of the Immaculate Conception is currently embarked on its largest project since the building of the church itself – the construction of a new and much needed community centre. When built the centre is intended to serve the wider community of Bicester as well as the immediate parish family. This will take considerable funding and all contributions are gratefully accepted. For full news on the project visit its own web page.

Confession – see Reconciliation.

The preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation is done within the parish by parish catechists for all children at Catholic and non-Catholic schools. The Confirmations are held once a year at about Pentecost, and the children are usually about 11 or 12 years old. Contact: Parish Office.

Any of the people mentioned in this Handbook may be reached via the Parish Office between 9.00 am and 3.00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays or Fridays. Your message will be passed to the appropriate person who will contact you. Alternately, please send an e-mail to the address on the front page.

If you are a taxpayer, the Covenant Scheme is a way to increase the Church’s income without costing you anything extra. As a charity, we reclaim some of the tax you have already paid. To enable us to do so, you sign a form covenanting to pay the amount you would normally pay on a regular basis in the Sunday collection. This becomes the net amount, and we claim back the tax. All details remain confidential and direct debits from your bank can be arranged. Contact: Parish Office.

Eucharistic Ministers – see Special Ministers of the Eucharist.

Usually immediately after weekday Masses. Exposition is accompanied by the recitation of the Rosary. On Friday evening there is silent Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament between 7.00 and 8.00.

Holy Orders – see Vocations.

The Church is served by Readers at daily Mass and by a rota of Readers for the Sunday Masses. Contact: Kath Kallay.

Each weekday, after the Mass of the day, a small group gathers in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for the recitation of the Rosary. This is always accompanied by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

Weekday Masses – please refer to the services page.

Holy Days of Obligation – Masses at 10.30 am and 7.30 pm.

There is Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Rosary after the weekday Masses.

If you wish that a Mass be said for a particular intention, please fill in the details on one of the envelopes provided and, enclosing your offering, pass it to Fr. Paul, one of the church wardens, the parish office or post it through the letterbox of the presbytery. If you wish the Mass to be celebrated on a particular date, please give a minimum of one month’s notice. Whilst it may not always be possible to meet your request every effort will be made.

Couples preparing to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony spend some time in discussions with the Parish Priest. These centre around the couple’s relationship and commitment to marriage. Leading up to the ceremony, they will meet to look at marriage, the Catholic Faith, and the finer details of the ceremony. Contact: Fr. Paul Martin.

The Media Watch Group was set up with the aim of monitoring both the broadcast and printed media for unwarranted bias, moral content and decency. Contact:

If you would like to take on the ministry of welcoming worshippers to the Sunday Masses and in distributing newsletters and hymnbooks, please contact Karen Ingram.

Classes are held each year from January to June for those children, aged eight or over, wising to prepare to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Holy Communion and Confirmation. Full details here. Contact: Parish Office.

The weekly parish bulletin is distributed at all Sunday Masses and is available in the church porch through the week. It gives up-to-date information on parish activities as well as guidance and spiritual direction for the week. Any notices have to be submitted by Thursday morning. Contact: Lucia Hattam.

The Parish Office is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 9.00 am and 3.00 pm.

Parish Prayer is available every 2^nd & 4^th Thursday of the month. It lasts for one hour starting with a short reflection or scripture passage. Prayer is mainly in silence, sometimes interspersed with a reflection or scripture passage if this is relevant. There is time to praise and thank God for his many blessings and for individuals to bring needs or concerns to the group for prayer. Contact:

Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Paul Martin

Parish Deacon: Rev. Mr. Michael Panejko

Parish Secretaries: Lucia Hattam and Maurina Renda

Since its small beginnings in 1999, the website has grown to include news, information about the history of the Parish, the various Parish groups and activities, the newsletter and service times. The services, newsletter, and rotas pages are updated every week, other pages being updated as required.

The stall is open either side of the weekend Masses; missals, rosary beads, crucifixes, Mass cards, occasional cards, Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation gifts, as well as seasonal items for Easter and Christmas. Items range from those for babies through to senior citizens. From the Piety Stall, the schools are serviced with stock items for sale amongst the young mothers. Advice can be sought on availability and orders placed on receipt of a nominal deposit. Contact: Nicky Blacker.

Meet weekly on Thursday at 8.30 pm to reflect on the forthcoming Sunday’s readings. For further details please contact Nick StJohn.

Each Associate is called to live his or her baptismal calling in a ‘Presentation’ way. By the very name, Associates wish to be associated with the Sisters in their mission. We meet on the first Wednesday of every month in the Presentation Convent, King’s End, Bicester from approx. 7.30 until 9.00. Everyone is welcome. Contact the Presentation Convent.

Known as "Seekers" in the parish, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is held every Tuesday evening at 8.00 pm in the presbytery. It is for non-Catholics who wish to join the Church or Catholics who wish to know more about their own faith. The full 2008/2009 programme is available here.

Contact: Ellen Hawkins

Readers – See Lectors.

Confessions are heard on Saturday 11.00-11.30 a.m. and between 4.45 and 5.30 p.m. and at call. During Advent and Lent there are special Services of Reconciliation held with a number of visiting priests. Children are prepared for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Eucharist programme.

Religious Life – see Vocations.

Rosary – see Marian Devotions

Parents presenting their children for the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist and Confirmation are required to request these by arrangement at a Sunday Mass. Please refer to each individual Sacrament for details of the programme. Full details about the programme can also be found here.

We are a group of parishioners who aim to achieve a sense of community in our Parish by organising various social events. Contact: Nicky Blacker

Special Ministers of the Eucharist take a part in the daily Mass and at the Sunday Masses where a rota system is used. The 6.00 p.m. Saturday Mass and 9.00 Sunday Mass is served by five Ministers at each Mass in rotation. The 11.00 a.m. Sunday Mass us served by four Ministers in rotation. Some of the Ministers visit the housebound and sick. Contact: Kath Kallay

Contact: Patricia Pickering – Head Teacher.
Tel: 01869 252035

After the 11.00 a.m. Mass in Bicester, light refreshments are served: in the presbytery. All are very welcome and volunteers are always welcome to assist in serving the refreshments. Contact; Parish Office.

A stall selling fairly traded items such as coffee, tea, chocolate, paper goods and gifts is now available on a weekly basis, rotating between the Sunday Masses in Bicester. It is also available at St. Mary’s School once a month. Contact: Neil Poole. More about their work on their website.

If you feel that you have a vocation to the Priesthood, Permanent Diaconate, or to the religious life, please contact Fr. Paul.

Weddings – see Matrimony