Holy Rood - Barnsley at George Street, Barnsley, EN S70 1AX GB - Home
Welcome to the Church of the Holy Rood
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, an occasional 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.
Parish Newsletters Now Available Online
For those of you who regularly visit our website, you will have noticed that the parish newsletters are now available online. They are in PDF format, which means you will need the Adobe Reader installed on your computer in order to open them. If you do't have it, it is a free download from Adobe.com
To read the latest newsletter, just select the date of your choice in the column on the left.
Enrolment for First Holy Communion 2012
Sunday 15th January 2012 saw the enrolment of children from Holy Rood School begin their preparation for their first Holy Communion later in June this year. The children received their red sashes and were given a special prayer book to remember the occasion by. Please keep these children and their families in your prayers on this time of grace and journey of faith. To see a larger picture just click on the smaller image...
Christmas Flowers 2011
The church looked particularly beautiful for Christmas and this is thanks to the talent, hard work and dedication of our wonderful team of flower arrangers. Many thanks to all of them and to see the pictures just click on the smaller image or link below!
Thermometer reaches £50,000!
Two years ago the parish began the daunting task of trying to raise £50,000 to pay for the much needed restoration work on the altar and lady chapel. This was a huge amount of money at any time but in such difficult economic times filled with doom and gloom it was an even bigger ask still. However the people of Holy Rood are among the finest to be found and thanks to a huge effort by so many people this target has now been reached in just under two years ~ what an incredible achievement this is and really well done to everyone who has made this possible.
Numerous events have been arranged that had the added bonus of bringing people together socially as well as raising funds. Things like the Race Night, Valerienco concert and an evening with Gervase Phinn will live long in the memory. Monthly collections and very generous anonymous donations have helped us reach this seemingly impossible goal ~ it works out an around £500 a week coming in every week for 2 years. Thank you so much to everyone for their kindness, generosity, dedication and hard work.
Click on the smaller image to see some test cleaning for the next area of the church that urgently needs attention ~ but details of that will follow in 2012!
Carol Concert December 2011
The joint school and parish carol concert was a wonderful occasion. Very well done to the children for reading and singing so well and to everyone who supported the occasion and were richly rewarded by the beauty of the event. To see the excellent pictures taken by Michael Galvin just click on the smaller image or link below...
Advent 2011
Some pictures from Christ the King through to the season of Advent at Holy Rood Church. To see the images just click on the small teaser picture with this article and enjoy!
Christmas Fayre 2011
Many thanks to everyone who helped make our Christmas Fayre such a wonderful occasion that was enjoyed by young and not quite so young alike! Over £1,700 was raised for the church which is a wonderful amount in such challenging economic times. To see the pictures just click on the smaller teaser image and enjoy them!
An Evening with Gervase Phinn
The evening with Gervase Phinn at the church hall was simply unforgettable for those lucky enough to be there. Over 190 tickets had been sold and Gervase entertained us all brilliantly with a succession of stories, anecdotes and quips about his life and times as a school inspector. Lots of money raised for the Restoration Fund and and another wonderful social evening for the parish. well done to everybody who organised and supported the event.
Enrolment Sundays Autumn 2011
Congratulations to all the children were were recently enrolled for the sacraments of first confession and confirmation. They will now begin their preparation at home, school and in the parish through the children's liturgy. Enrolment for first holy communion will take place in January 2012. Please remember all these children and their families during this special time.
UCM Walsingham Pilgrimage 2011 ~ Part Two
Over 160 pictures make up this second collection of photographs from the UCM pilgrimage to Our Lady's shrine at Walsingham. To see them just click on the smaller image or the link below ~ happy viewing!
UCM Walsingham Pilgrimage 2011 Part One
The annual UCM pilgrimage to Walsingham was gifted with beautiful weather. Click on the smaller image to see first collection of photographs taken by Michael Galvin...
School Summer Fayre 2011
Holy Rood Rood School's Summer Fayre is always one of the highlights of the year and brings together the school, home and parish in a special way. This year we were blessed with fine weather, good crowds and a really enjoyable afternoon was had by all. Many thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make it such a success. To see the pictures just click on the smaller image...
Confirmation 2011
The Sacrament of Confirmation was a moment of great blessing and joy for everyone at Holy Rood Church on 23rd June 2011 and a grace-filled experience in the lives of 25 young people that hopefully they will always remember. I am sure you will want to join in with Bishop John’s prayer that they will always be ‘Spirit-filled people’ and this will be evidenced in the way they live out their daily lives, allowing God’s Spirit to guide and mould them into truly ‘good’ people. Thanks to the many, many people at school, home and in the parish who helped in countless ways with the children’s preparation and on the night itself. To see the wonderful pictures from the night just click on the smaller image above!
First Holy Communion 2011
First Holy Communion Day 2011 was absolutely superb and such a special and memorable day in the lives of the children and their families. It was wonderful to see how well the children conducted themselves and how well they had been prepared to receive Our Blessed Lord for the very first time with such respect and reverence. Thank you to the magnificent staff at school who helped the children in their preparation, all of you at home and to those who made the church look so wonderful for this great celebration and to the choir for the music. It was a very moving occasion and God's blessings on the children and their families. To see the pictures taken by Michael Galvin just click on the smaller image...
After the Celebration ~ Now the Party!
After the celebration of the Jubilee Mass came the opportunity for everyone to get together in the church hall. A wonderful buffet had been laid out and the hall was beautifully decorated for the special occasion. Thanks to so many people who made a huge effort both before and also on the night itself. Can there be a better parish than Holy Rood where people give of their time and talents so freely ~ well done to everyone. Just click on the small picture to see Michael Galvin's great collection of photos!
Golden Jubilee Mass
"I was overwhelmed by the Golden Jubilee celebration. The church looked magnificent, the music was great and it was wonderful to see such a gathering of friends, old and new. Holy Rood is a parish with a big heart. Many thanks for all this and for the very, very generous gifts." Father Boyle on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee celebrating a legacy of 50 golden years in God's service. To see the pictures from the Jubilee Mass on May 27th just click on the smaller image...
May Procession 2011
The Parish was blessed with fine weather for our May Procession 2011 and many thanks to everyone for the great turnout with nearly 70 children taking part! Children preparing for their first Holy Communion were given special lillies to present to Our Lady during the Offertory of the Mass. It was a truly joyful ocasion for everyone there. Click on the smaller image to see the beautiful photographs...
Easter Sunday 2011
The 9.30 Mass on Easter Sunday morning saw a packed church to celebrate the Risen Christ. To see the pictures from this Mass just click on the smaller image...
Easter Vigil 2011 ~ Part Two
More pictures from the Easter Vigil including several of Robert Barraclough being received into the Catholic Church. God's blessings on Robert and his family and to everyone in the Parish during this special time of grace. To see these photographs taken by Michael Galvin, just click on the link below or the small picture with this article...
Easter Vigil 2011
The Easter Fire was kindled outside church from which the Easter Candle was lit to symbolise the light of Christ continuing to burn once again. Congratulations to Robert Barraclough, a teacher at Holy Rood School, who was received into the Catholic Church during the Vigil Mass.
Today we hear the ancient message once again: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. May the Risen Lord bless us this day. May he fill us with the wonder of his loving presence. May we help to bring love, peace and joy to those we meet today and every day. Amen. Just click on the smaller image to see some beautiful pictures from the first Mass of Easter 2011...
Easter Flowers 2011
The church looked resplendent for Easter thanks to the talents and hard work of our wonderful team of flower arrangers. To see the pictures just click on the smaller image...
Good Friday 2011
Good Friday is so called because Jesus died on the cross so that we might have life and have it to the full. Were you there when they crucified my Lord are the words from that beautiful hymn and God's people packed Holy Rood Church at 3.00 p.m. to devoutly recall the events of Our Lord's Passion and death on a wooden cross outside the walls of Jerusalem...to see the pictures just click on the smaller image...
Holy Thursday 2011
Holy Thursday is one of the most beautiful and evocative occasions of the whole year in which the Last Supper is recalled in a special way when Jesus instituted the Eucharist for the first time ~ 'Do this is in memory of me'. The symbolic act of washing the feet of the disciples reminds us that as Christians, we are called not to be served but to serve others. The church was open with the faithful watching until midnight. To see the pictures from this Mass just click on the smaller image...
Palm Sunday 2011
Palm Sunday marks the start of the holiest week in the Christian calendar. It begins in joyful triumph with Jesus entering the city of Jerusalem amidst cheering crowds. The week ends with his arrest in the garden and crucifixion on the cross on Good Friday. yet three days later the greatest miracle of all time happened when Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Death was not the end, light is stronger than darkness and love conquers even sin and death...to see the pictures from Palm Sunday just click on the smaller image...
Mother's Day 2011
The 9.30 Mass on Mothering Sunday is always an extra special occasion during which we remember our mums and the wonderful people they are! we also remember Mary who was God's own Mother and ask her to lead us safely to her Son Jesus. To see the pictures from the 9.30 Mass just click on the smaller image...
New Plaque and Window 2011
Click on the smaller image to see pictures of the new window in the Lady Chapel in memory of Pope John Paul II and the new plaque in church to commemorate the visit of Pope Benedict to the United Kingdom in 2010.
Parish Life in Lent 2011
It has been a busy time in Lent this year and here a re a few pictures from some of the events including children from school reading during the 9.30 Masses, our children’s liturgy, lenten lunches, stations of the cross and the visit of two Bishops to Holy Rood for the Lectio Divina sessions. Just click on the small image to see the collections of pictures with thanks to Michael Galvin...
UCM 70th Anniversary Mass 2010
Snow, ice and general transport difficulties failed to put a damper on the 70th birthday celebrations of the Union of Catholic Mothers at Holy rood, Barnsley on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 8th December 20110. Though the weather prevented Diocesan officers from being present, Holy Rood members, husbands, friend and supporters braved the icy conditions to attend Mass concelebrated in the newly refurbished church by Father Andrew Browne (Diocesan UCM Chaplain), Father Terry Boyle (Parish priest) and Father John Galvin (a native of Holy Rood Parish).
UCM members taking part in the readings, biddings prayers and the offertory procession were Theo Donnelly, Mary Bird, Margaret Hardcastle, Eileen Clarke and Monica Galvin. The Mass was followed by a pie and pea l;unch in the parish hall during which members recalled the foundation’s 50th anniversary celebrations, which were also disrupted by a heavy snowfall. However, on that occasion there was a prolonged power cut. Happily, that didn’t happen this time!
By Monica Galvin, UCM Barnsley
NORTHUMBRIA
Fr Terry has been away with Fr Tony for a few days following in the footsteps of St Aidan, St Cuthbert, St Wilfred and other Northern Saints. Here are a few pictures.
The Papal Visit to Cofton Park 2010
Many parishioners got up in the very early hours to travel from Holy Rood to Cofton Park for the Beatification of John Henry Newman by Pope Benedict. It was a truly historic occasion that will stay with those who went for the rest of their lives. To see the pictures from the Holy Rood Visit just click on the smaller image...
Sponsored Walk 2010
Father Boyle, Derek Skitt and John Gregson carried out an ardous walk across the rugged terrain and wild beasts of the Wentworth estate to raise money for the restoration fund.
Thank you so much to everyone who gave so generously to this walk which in the end has raised a truly incredible £2,078! This includes an anonymous donation of £1,000. The kindness and goodness of so many people in helping
Blessing of the School Grotto
Bishop John came to Holy Rood School to bless the newly built grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. The whole school gathered first in the hall for an assembly and to sing the Lourdes hymn before processing to the grotto for the blessing. Many thanks to the South Yorkshire dry stone walling association who used 3 tons of stone and volunteered their time to construct the beautiful grotto. The statue was donated by Derek Skitt and Stephen Wilkins made the beautiful outdoor candle holder. The gardens around the grotto are all the work of Jeff Andrews. So many good people to thank.Future generations of children will now know the story of Bernadette and Lourdes and school will have its own place of peace and sanctuary.To see the pictures just click on the smaller image and thanks to Michael Galvin for these pictures...
Foundation Stage Wedding of the Year!
Foundation Stage children from school came to church recently to act out in full costume what it would be like to get married! Father Boyle conducted the ceremony and as you can see from these great photos it was truly a memorable occasion for everyone but most of all the children themselves. Many thanks to the countless people who helped as without such support events like this just couldn't take place. To see the photos of the wedding of the year just click on the smaller image of the wedding cake!
UCM Visit to York May 2010
On Wednesday 11th May the Holy Rood UCM went to York by way of marking the 70th year since they were set up in Holy Rood ,Fr Boyle celebrated holy mass in the shrine of St Magaret Clitherow in the Shambles. Click on the smaller image to see the pictures...
Rite of Election 2010
Congratulations to all the elect who are preparing to be full members of the Roman Catholic Church this Easter. God's blessings and prayers for all of them and their sponsors. The parish is greatly blessed with these new members! To see the pictures just click on the smaller image above...
PARISH BOUNDARIES
Priests brought to their knees.
Church Restoration January 2010
In January 2010 work began on restoring the area above the altar to its former glory. This work should take around 5 weeks and is being undertaken by a team of church restoration specialists. To see the initial pictures just click on the small image above...
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…
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…
Lourdes 2008.
Hallam Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
MASS TIMES
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!
BAZAAR 1899
The Souvenir Programme of the biggest Bazaar in the history of Holy Rood.
Father Flood Cartoon for
The 7th Sunday of the Year (B)
The 7th Sunday of the Year (B)
Benedict XVI Invites The International Community To Help The Countries Of The Sahel
This morning in the Vatican, the Holy Father received in audience twenty-five members of the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel (the sub-Saharan region of Africa which includes countries on the west coast and central part of the continent). The institution came into being following John Paul ...
Holy See Press Office Rejects Unfounded Claims About The IOR And The AIF
The Holy See Press Office has issued a communique rejecting claims made in an article entitled "Money Laundering: Four Priests under Investigation. The Silence of the Vatican" which appeared yesterday in the Italian newspaper "L'Unita". Extracts from the communique are given ...
Jesus' Prayer Before Dying
The prayer of Jesus at the moment of His death, as narrated by St. Mark and St. Matthew was the theme of Benedict XVI's catechesis during his general audience, held this morning in the Paul VI Hall.
"In the structure of the narrative", the Pope said, "Jesus' cry rises ...