Holy Rood Catholic Church, Swindon

Introduction

Replacement of the roof and the electrics took place at Holy Rood Catholic Church, Swindon.

Architecture and furnishings

Installation work at Holy Rood Catholic Church, Swindon provided a new sound system, heating, emergency exits and a disabled ramp. Items of brassware and vestments kept for daily use were replaced at Holy Rood Catholic Church, Swindon.

Music and liturgy

Youth Ministry volunteers for Children’s Liturgy of the Word, First Holy Communion and Confirmation receive regular monthly team building and training. A Sunday music group started in 1999 to make a Mass more family friendly, mixes adults and young people, and chooses old and new music for the readings and liturgical seasons. The New Life Choir leads music at Advent and Lent penitential services, the first Mass of Christmas on Christmas Eve, the Easter Vigil and Confirmation Masses. The New Life Choir is a part-time choir that gathers a few times a year and sings traditional hymns and modern worship songs.

A formal traditional choir sings the order of service, 4 hymns and a communion anthem. A choir sings at funerals from the front row. That choir keeps two music folders, black for the Mass and regularly sung anthems and blue for Christmas and Easter services. Members of that choir attend voluntarily and are not paid from the money they raise.

Proceeds from that choir go to causes as they arise and to annually agreed charities. Money from that choir buys Easter eggs on Easter Sunday. At Christmas that choir buys gifts for people in greater need, typically Oxfam village gift projects. Funds from that choir buy new music and pay for parish training and singing events. A few members of that choir maintain the music folders and copy the music.

Parish life

Chosen Youth, for people aged 16 years and over, is part of Holy Rood Youth Ministry and is supported by it. The parish priest anoints someone going into hospital for a major operation beforehand.

Laudate formed in Autumn 2012 from the Holy Rood Young Adults group to reach younger parishioners with more modern Christian worship songs. A group sings fortnightly at the Saturday evening vigil Mass. Readers are invited to training or a retreat each year.

Regular CAFOD and Missio collections are an established part of parish life. The parish holds a monthly collection for Swindon Food Collective. A bi-monthly collection of coffee, tea, sugar and biscuits supports hospitality at The Harbour Project for refugees and asylum seekers. Parishioners fundraise and volunteer for The Medaille Trust, the Sleep Out for Threshold Housing Link and the Women’s Refuge. A Help and Advice board in church lists agencies that can respond to particular needs.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Since 1889 the Holy Rood Parish Care Group has helped the poor, needy, sick, lonely, homeless and housebound, and its main work is visiting parishioners and supporting the parish priest. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is offered, and perpetual adoration is included. After the opening prayer the priest calls the children forward, and they return to their families at the preparation of the gifts.

Parents and godparents are welcomed by a Baptism Preparation program. A wedding here, or a marriage abroad for a parishioner, needs contact at least 6 months beforehand. A 1 day course forms part of marriage preparation. During adoration the Blessed Sacrament is reposed for Mass and funerals.