Holy Mass is celebrated regularly in term. Everyone is welcome, although no-one is compelled to come.
Normally we have a Lay Chaplain, Mike Clark, who is with us each day, and a Priest Chaplain, Fr Francis Wadsworth, who is based at the nearby church of St Marie’s, Bury but who is able to visit us often.
Currently, while Mike is leading the RE Team, the role of the Chaplaincy
is being undertaken by Maria Pleydell and Fr Andrew Starkie. Fr Andrew offers
Mass each Monday and Tuesday lunchtime. We also welcome priests from the Diocese whenever they are able to be with us or when an important feast day occurs. Parents, local people and members of the Diocese are welcome to attend Mass at the College, but should make themselves known to the Reception first, so they can be escorted to the Chapel. Students wishing to serve at the altar should make themselves known to Mike Clark.
Regular Assemblies punctuate the College year, and focus on particular seasons or themes. One of their great features is student involvement. We welcome students who wish to make short films, PowerPoints, sing, suggest music, or exercise their gifts and talents in other ways, in order to bring our celebrations to life. In One World week, we are particularly eager to have expressions of different cultures.
As mentioned above, there is a daily opportunity to join informal prayers to begin the morning in the chapel. In addition, parts of the Divine Office are celebrated publically in the privileged seasons of Advent and Lent, and at certain other times.
Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament , which is reserved in the Chapel, is a great privilege and members of the College and the wider Community are invited to come into the Lord’s presence and feel at home in the chapel for their private prayers. There is always a selection of materials to help with prayer in the chapel, and both our Chaplains are willing to help further.
Additional Worship is also a feature of certain seasons of the church’s year, especially Eastertide - although it is important to remember that all our college celebrations are secondary to the involvement in Parish Church life that we encourage our students to have. The College, through its Chaplaincy, is not seeking to replace this, but to encourage it.