We are fortunate at Holy Cross to have a full-time Lay
Chaplain and also access to a Priest Chaplain, and the Chaplaincy offers many
opportunities to enrich your life and understanding.
The Chaplaincy plays a key role in fostering the mission and ethos at Holy Cross and strives to provide students and staff with opportunities to develop personally and spiritually. We are proud of our Catholic tradition whilst also welcoming students and staff of all faiths. Our Lay Chaplain, Mike Clark, offers support as part of the pastoral team and is always available to anyone who would like to share any joys, problems or difficulties. Also available is our Priest Chaplain, Fr Francis Wadsworth, who is the Parish Priest of St Marie’s & St Joseph’s, Bury.
For part of the academic year 2011-12, Mike will be seconded to the role of Head of RE in the College as part of a maternity cover. For this period of time
Maria Pleydell will serve as temporary Lay Chaplain, working closely with Fr Andrew Starkie who will be an additional temporary Priest Chaplain on a part-time basis – mostly on Monday and Tuesdays. Maria and Fr Andrew should be the first points of contact, rather than Mike, during this time. For this period Mass will be offered in the Chapel twice a week: at the beginning of the first lunchtime slot on Mondays and at the beginning of the second lunchtime slot on Tuesdays.
There are many ways for us to develop our faith life, which is one reason we have a variety of opportunities on offer. Some of these include:
- Prayer – the Chapel is available anytime as well as scheduled prayer times during the week.
- Liturgies – Mass in the Chapel, Ash Wednesday services etc.
- Kintbury retreats / Day trips / Staff Retreat Day
- Lourdes Pilgrimage / World Youth Day
• Assemblies - Student involvement is very important as we gather at key times during the year (e.g. Induction, One World Week, Advent-Christmas, Lent-Easter, Leavers’ Assembly)
- Life Xplored Group / Christian Union / Bible Study / Alpha Course
- Charity fundraisers (e.g. Valentine’s Day, sports tournament, raffles, sponsored walks/runs)
- Community Service (e.g. senior citizen parties, street cleaning, church maintenance days)
- Volunteer opportunities
- Children’s Christmas Party for children at Millwood and Elms Bank schools
- Spectrum bereavement programme
For more information contact:
- Mr. M. Clark (mcl@holycross.ac.uk)
- Fr. F.Wadsworth, St. Marie’s Presbytery, Manchester Rd, Bury