This is the website of the Catholic Parish of The Holy Rood (which means "Holy Cross",) in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. You will find here lots of pictures of parish events, a weekly item by the Parish Priest, Fr Terry Boyle, articles about church matters from the Vatican Information Service and Catholic World News as well as homilies on the Sunday readings and general information about the Parish. Enjoy your visit.
Confirmation 2009
Confirmation night was a beautiful, prayerful and reverent occasion which summed up all that is so good and so rich between our school, our families at home and our parish. Bishop John came to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to 25 candidates and we pray that they will always listen to the guiding voice of God’s Holy Spirit throughout their lives. Many thanks to everyone who has walked with these young people in their preparation in school, home and parish. To see the pictures taken by Michael Galvin, just click on the smaller teaser image.
First Holy Communion 2009
Congratulations to the 19 children who made their first Holy Communion on June 13th in Holy Rood Church. It was a day filled with God’s grace and beauty and will be long remembered by all who filled the packed church. Many thanks to everyone who worked so hard in countless ways and we pray for all these children as they continue on their journey of faith with Our Lord Jesus. To see the pictures just click on the smaller image to the left!
May Procession 2009
The May Procession was absolutely magnificent. The whole occasion was full of joy and beauty and reflected the great devotion that exists here for Our Blessed Lady. There is no better person to lead us to Jesus than God’s own mother. Thank you to everyone who made such a big effort on this occasion ~ it was all more than worth it. To see the excellent pictures taken by Michael Galvin just click on the teaser image...
Fr Boyle in Fatima
Just a few photos of a visit to Fatima for the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima on 13th May. The night pictures were on the eve of the feast starting at 9.39pm and the others were next morning. Over 400,000 took part with several hundred priests and 24 bishops.
Mass to welcome the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre (April 2009)
On the second Sunday of Easter, Holy Rood Church welcomed the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre to the 11.15 Mass. The aims of this ancient order are:
“To support by our Prayers, our Presence on Pilgrimage and our Financial Contributions, principally through the Latin Patriarch, the Christian Community in the Holy Land”.
The Prayer of the Knights:
‘O Lord, In memory of the five wounds that we carry on our insignia we pray to You. Give us the strength to love all beings of the world that Our Father has created; and, more so, our enemies. Free our souls and hearts from sin, from partiality, from egoism and from cowardice so that we can be worthy of your sacrifice of love. Let Your Holy Spirit fall upon us all, the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre, so that it may render us as convinced and sincere ambassadors of Peace and Love among our brothers and sisters and, especially, among all those who do not believe in You. Give us Faith to face all the problems of everyday life and to deserve the day to approach Your presence humbly but without fear.'
Many thanks to Michael Galvin for this fine collection of photographs and more information about the order can be found on the web site below…
Easter Flowers 2009
The church looks particularly resplendent at this time of year thanks to the talents and hard work of our wonderful team of flower arrangers. A huge thank you to our florists from everyone for the great work they do to enhance God's building as a place of beauty and worship. To see the pictures of the Easter flowers just click on the smaller image...
Easter Vigil 2009
The Easter fire is kindled outside and brought into church to symbolise the light of Christ on th greatest feast of the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. If we die with Christ, we will rise with Him. Click on the small teaser image to see more photos of this great feast celebrated at Holy rood Church...
Good Friday 2009
Good Friday is called ‘Good’ because Jesus died to take away all of our sins. He died so that each one of us may have life and have it to the full. Click on the adjacent image to see this beautiful collection of photographs taken by Michael Galvin...
Holy Thursday 2009
The Mass of the Last Supper is possibly the most moving and beautiful Mass of the whole year and includes the command that Jesus left us with to 'love one another' as exemplified by the action of washing the feet of the disciples. Christian life is to be one of service for each other. At the end of this special Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is carried from the main altar to the Lady Chapel just as Jesus travelled from the last supper room to the garden of Gethsemane…The lights in the church are dimmed and people stay in quiet prayer to be with Jesus on this special night, to keep watch with him even until Midnight.
To see the pictures just click on the smaller image on the left...
To see the pictures just click on the smaller image on the left...
Palm Sunday 2009
Our Palm Sunday Procession started in the church hall at 9.15 to commemorate the entry into Jerusalem of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Just like the crowds 2,000 years ago, palms were waved as we entered into church to recall the Passion of Our Lord. To see these beautiful pictures taken by Parish Photographer Michael Galvin, just click on the smaller image above...
5th Sunday of Lent 2009
Pictures from the fifth Sunday of Lent can be seen by clicking on the teaser image above or linmk below...
Mother's Day 2009
This was one of those very special occasions at which you realised how lucky and blessed you were just to be there and experience the beauty, joy and goodness that existed at the 9.30
3rd Sunday of Lent 2009
More pictures from our Lenten journey this time from the 3rd Sunday of Lent!
Lent 2009
Pictures from the first two Sundays of Lent as children from school read and place symbols on the cross at the start of the 9.30 a.m. Masses. To see the pictures taken by Michael Galvin, just click on the smaller image above...
Carol Concert 2008
The school and parish carol concert was a wonderful event and a very big thank you to the children, families, staff, governors and parishioners who made the effort to come to church on a cold and dark winter's evening. The hurrying and scurrying in the streets outside the church can be contrasted with the beauty and peace experienced inside God’s house. To see the pictures taken by Michael Galvin just click on the teaser image above...
3rd Sunday of Advent 2008
The third Sunday in Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday or Rejoicing Sunday because the coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas is very near. More pictures from our wonderful children of the Parish who are helping us along the Advent journey...
Mission Together 2008
Holy Rood was delighted to host the annual Mission Together Liturgy with all the Catholic primary schools in Barnsley which included St Helen's Hoyland, St.Michael's Wombwell, St Dominic's Carlton, Sacred Heart Goldthorpe as well as Holy Rood School itself. We were also joined by children from St Michael's High School in an Advent liturgy for Bishop John. Mission Together is the official children's charity for Catholic schools money raised from all of us was presented to Bishop John who gave a special candle to each school in exchange. You can find out more about the charity on :
http://www.mission-together.co.uk/
To see the pictures from this great event just click on the smaller image above!
Second Week of Advent 2008
Our journey into Advent continues into the second week. More pictures of the wonderful children from Holy Rood School at the start of the 9.30 Mass. Many thanks as always to Michael Galvin for all of these...
First Sunday of Advent 2008
Sunday 30th November was the First Sunday of Advent and children from Holy Rood School greatly helped our understanding of this beautiful season by reading and placing symbols on the Jesse Tree at the start of Holy Mass. Very well done to these children and many thanks to their families for giving them such good support by bringing them to the practice the day before. To see the pictures from this Sunday just click on the smaller image…
Farewell to two beloved sisters
On Sunday 30th November there was a special Mass to remember Sister Collette and Sister Margaret who have now left the convent of mercy in Barnsley to go to a retirement home in St.Alban’s, Hertforshire. It was a sad and poignant occasion as both sisters will be sorely missed by many people and were dearly beloved and highly respected. Sister Collette has been in Barnsley for 60 years and worked at Holy Rood School for nearly 40 of those years where she was deputy headteacher at one time.
The sisters have dedicated their lives to the service of others in the school, parish, visiting the sick and housebound and attending the needs of homeless people near the convent. Their lives have been an inspiration and shining example of God’s love in action. We can also consider how many more lives have been touched by God’s grace through their prayerful intercessions. May God shower abundant blessings on both sisters and our thoughts, prayers and good wishes go with them.
To see the pictures of the Mass just click on the teaser image above…
Sponsored Walk December 2008
Braving the sub artic winds and treacherous ice the three of us managed to circumnavigate Newmillerdam to raise money to equip the new classroom at Holy Rood School. It was gruelling and ardous work and we had to take shelter in a local hostelry at one point. A huge thank you to everyone who so generously donated to this cause. To see pictures of the walk just click on the image above...
Christ The King 2008
There was a wonderful celebration at 9.30 Mass for the Feast of Christ The King. Our children's liturgy team were in full swing making crowns and the music was truly inspirational from our youth choir / orchestra led by Helen Walker and Barty Cooper. The children involved worked so hard for weeks beforehand practising and the end result was just magnificent. To see the pictures of Christ The King just click on the teaser image above...
Christmas Fayre 2008
The Christmas Fayre 2008 was one of the best ever with the church hall packed all afternoon. A wonderful social event for the parish which raised just over £2,000. A big thank you to everyone who helped with the preparation and stalls and to all of you who bought things on the day. Many thanks especially to Mrs Helliwell who took on the daunting task of co-ordinating the whole event and did a brilliant job! To see the great pictures from Michael Galvin just click on the teaser image above...
Harvest Festival 2008
Our Harvest Festival on Sunday 19th October and was really something special. So much hard work by so many people with the artwork, decorations, flowers, singing, hampers and a packed church ~ this was the home, school and parish at its very best. A raffle was held with all proceeds going to CAFOD. Many thanks to Helen Walker for co-ordinating much of this and to the children’s liturgy team for all they do with the children week in and week out. To see the pictures just click on the smaller image above…
Feast of the Holy Cross 2008
September 14th is the feast of the Holy Cross after which both our church and school are named ~ for 'Rood' is an old English word for 'Cross'. 'Ave Crux, Spes Unica ' is the Latin inscription above the church altar and it means 'Hail the Cross, our only hope'. A procession of children from school began in the church hall at 9.30 Mass and they followed the Cross -bearer into Holy Rood Church. To see the pictures just click on the smaller image above...
Lourdes 2008.
Hallam Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
UCM at Walsingham.
Holy Rood Uion of Catholic Mothers enjoyed a sunny day in Walsingham on the Annual UCM Pilgrimage with Bishop Brain presiding.
Bishop John's Visit 2008
On Pentecost Sunday 2008, the Parish welcomed Bishop John on an official visit to Holy Rood. The Bishop spoke at all three Masses that morning and at the 9.30 Mass there was apacked church and over 60 children takinig part in the children's liturgy. Confirmation candidates read superbly at the start of Mass and the church looked particularly resplendent on the great feast of Pentecost. Thanks to the goodwill of so many people, our parish continues to thrive and flourish. This is a great blessing and very well done to everyone involved. To see the pictures taken by Michael Galvin, just click on the smaller image above...
New Deacon's First Mass
It was aproud moment for both family and parish as Richard Booker said his first mass as newly ordained deacon. This was held at Holy Rood Church on Saturday 1st December 2007. To see this collection of pictures just click on the smaller image above...
New Deacon Ordained 2007
Congratulations to Richard Booker who was ordained to the Diaconate at the Cathedral on December 1st 2007.This is wonderful news for the Parish and we wish Richard every blessing in his new ministry. To see the pictures just click on the smaller image above...
Say it with Flowers!
The Flower Festival was not just one of the most beautiful events ever seen at Holy Rood Church but it can truly be described as an act of worship. Such has been the loving care, thought and attention to detail given by all the wonderful flower arrangers. The church is a joy and a wonder to behold and a million thanks to everyone who spent so much time and gave so richly of their talents to put on such a fabulous show. Click on the teaser image above to see 80 pictures of the festival!
MASS TIMES
BAZAAR 1899
The Souvenir Programme of the biggest Bazaar in the history of Holy Rood.
Other Pontifical Acts
The Holy Father appointed Msgr. Raffaello Martinelli of the clergy of the diocese of Bergamo, Italy, bureau chief at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as bishop of Frascati (area 183, population 121,000, Catholics 116,000, priests 162, permanent deacons 1, religious 703), Italy. The ...
The State Must Support Victims of Usury
Among his greetings at the end of the general audience, celebrated this morning in St. Peter's Square, the Pope addressed representatives of the Italian National Anti-Usury Council, whom he thanked for the "important and much appreciated work you carry our with victims of this social ...
Always Be Signs of Unity Among The Faithful
This morning in the Vatican, the Pope received the 34 metropolitan archbishops upon whom he imposed the pallium yesterday, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles. The archbishops were accompanied by members of their families.
The Holy Father addressed the prelates in various ...