Communion is at the very core of all that takes place at the Oratory. The daily celebration of the Eucharist, the coming together as one community and the importance that is attributed in celebrating liturgical feasts and important feast days in the liturgical calendar, is the spring of living water that all who come receive. Formation of the word and preparation to observe important seasons especially Advent and Lent and the culmination of the celebration of Christmas and Easter are central to every pastoral programme.
Particularly the coming together at the early start of day for morning prayers in Advent and Lent gives every person the opportunity to come to realize the journey of preparation. This is further sustained through the importance given to the celebration of the Saturday evening and Sunday morning Liturgy.
Attention has been given especially to the renovation of the main Chapel and the focus on iconography. In keeping the design of the Church simple and sleek, the focus is on the surrounding six icons that mark the important stages of the life of Christ and the central focus that looks on all who enter the church – the Christ – in whom all who enter are encouraged to surrender their burdens and find rest. The cross positioned centrally over the altar guides us through the liturgical year.
The Oratory holds simple yet precious symbols which accompany us throughout the year – the glorious cross; the suffering cross and the redeeming cross – bringing the word more to life through these strong images. The figure of Mary is central as her image is marked upon the entrance of the door symbolically representing that she is the one to intercede for us all and bring us closer to her Son. Mary Help of Christians is the title she holds and takes her place centrally in the Church.
The setup of the Church and the way in which members of the community sit around, is symbolical in itself as we are all parts of the body of Christ making us one body. The head, mouth, body and womb of the Church are reflected through centrality of the presbyter who leads and heads the congregation; the proclamation of the word, the chanting of psalms and the catechism of the gospel from the ambone; the Eucharist celebrated from the central altar; and finally, the image of life represented by the baptismal font which in the shape of a cross, reminds us of the mystery of life and death.