No foreigner adhering to Yahweh should say, 'Yahweh will utterly exclude me from his people.' No eunuch should say, 'Look, I am a dried up tree.' For Yahweh says this: 'To the eunuchs who observe my Sabbaths, and choose to do my good pleasure and cling to my covenant, I shall give them in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I shall give them an everlasting name that will never be effaced. As for foreigners who adhere to Yahweh to serve him, to love Yahweh's name and become his servants, all who observe the Sabbath, not profaning it, and cling to my covenant: these I shall lead to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
Isaiah 56, 3-7
Everyone has a place in the church, every person without exception should be able to feel at home and never rejected
Benedict XVI
Masses, at which LGBT Catholics are particularly welcomed, are held at 5.00 pm, on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of each month, at one of Soho's most historic Catholic parish churches: The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption & St. Gregory, Warwick Street, London W1B 5NB, close to Piccadilly Circus. The church dates from the 18th century and was used as a chapel by the Portuguese and Bavarian embassies, built during a period when public Catholic worship was still outlawed.It appears that the Christmas carol 'O Come All Ye Faithful' may well have received its first public performance in the Church when it was the Portuguese Embassy chapel in 1795.
See: http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/Notes_On_Carols/adeste_fideles.htm
Westminster Diocese issued this statement on 18 December 2007:
Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Gregory
In recent years a number of homosexual Catholics, together with their parents, families and friends, have expressed their desire for pastoral care from the Diocese of Westminster. SinceMarch 2007, this has been provided by the parish of Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Gregory in Warwick Street, in the heart of Soho.
Recently there has been a review of the provision that has been provided and, as a result, Mgr. Seamus O’Boyle has been appointed Parish Priest. He will be responsible for ensuringthat all pastoral provision is given with due catechesis and formation according to the mind of the Church. The parish will continue to be sensitive to the pastoral needs of homosexual Catholics.
Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Gregory parish provides a welcome to all and every Mass celebrated at the Church has always, and will continue to be open to all.
Forthcoming Masses
5 July Canon Peter Webb
19 July Fr Dave Stewart SJ
The Schola Assumptionis & Consort will present a concert following this Mass including works by Byrd, Gesualdo, Morales, Palestrina, Tallis & Vistoria - 19.00 in the Church
2 August Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP
16 August Fr Michael Kirwan SJ
6 September Fr Tim curtis SJ
Further details of the masses here
Good Liturgy, Good Music, a Warm Welcome and Refreshments to Follow.
Come and meet us - we look forward to seeing you!
MUSICIANS WANTED
Please look at the Music Page
For directions to the Church of the Assumption, see:
http://sohomasses.googlepages.com/warwickstreet
Soho Masses News