Sacraments
Sacraments
Special Services and Sacraments –
Births, Marriages and Deaths are marked by special liturgies in the Catholic Church. Please speak to one of the priests in order to make a start with planning these liturgies
Baptism
Baptisms
‘Baptism is the way out of the kingdom of death into life, the gateway to the church, and the beginning of a lasting communion with God’.
CCC, 1213-1216, 1276-1278[1]
Baptisms at Holy Rood are celebrated most Saturdays at 12.30pm during a special service which may include a number of families. Whilst it is appropriate for baptisms to be celebrated within regular Sunday Mass, our current congregation/church size makes this impractical at this point in time. We are currently running a Baptism Preparation program to which parents and godparents are all welcome. To book a baptism and sign up for the preparation program please contact the parish office: 01793 522062 email: swindon.holyrood@cliftondiocese.com
Confession
"In the life of the body a man is sometimes sick, and unless he takes medicine, he will die. Even so in the spiritual life a man is sick on account of sin. For that reason he needs medicine so that he may be restored to health; and this grace is bestowed in the Sacrament of Penance."
--St. Thomas Aquinas
Confessions take place on:
Saturdays at 11.00am - 11.30am & 5.00pm - 5.30pm
Always check the newsletter for any changes in confession timings.
Children on the First Holy Communion programme will make their first confession during a special reconciliation service which is incorporated in the programme.
To help prepare for this precious sacrament please take a little time reflecting on the leaflet below;
Eucharist
The Eucharist is the very sacrifice of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus which he instituted to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until his return in glory. Thus he entrusted to his Church this memorial of his death and resurrection. It is a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet, in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us. (Compendium CCC271)
The Eucharist is the source and summit of all Christian life. In the Eucharist, the sanctifying action of God in our regard and our worship of Him reach their high point. It contains the whole spiritual good of the Church, Christ himself, our Pasch. Communion with divine life and the unity of the people of God are both expressed and effected by the Eucharist. Through the Eucharistic celebration we are united already with the liturgy of heaven and we have a foretaste of eternal life. (Compendium CCC274)
Confirmation
The essential rite of Confirmation is the anointing with Sacred Chrism (oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop), which is done by the laying on of the hand of the minister who pronounces the sacramental words proper to the rite. In the West this anointing is done on the forehead of the baptized with the words, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”. In the Eastern Churches of the Byzantine rite this anointing is also done on other parts of the body with the words, “The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit”. (Compendium CCC267)
Holy Rood Youth Ministry runs a comprehensive programme for Confirmation. We endeavour to make sessions fun, enjoyable and relevant to our young people; because of this the programme is constantly being reviewed and revised. Currently, Confirmation Masses are celebrated in June, but this is subject to change. Details of the next programme will be advertised in the church newsletter and on the Youth Ministry noticeboards, as well as on this website.
Registration for the next confirmation programme at Holy Rood is now closed. Candidate sessions will be starting at the end of January 2025. The next opportunity to register will open in September 2025. Please contact us on confirmation.swindon.holyrood@cliftondiocese.com for any more information.
Marriage
God who is love and who created man and woman for love has called them to love. By creating man and woman he called them to an intimate communion of life and of love in marriage: "So that they are no longer two, but one flesh" (Matthew 19:6). God said to them in blessing "Be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28)
Christ not only restored the original order of Matrimony but raised it to the dignity of a sacrament, giving spouses a special grace to live out their marriage as a symbol of Christ's love for his bride the Church: "Husbands, love your wives as Christ loves the church" (Ephesians 5:25).
If you would like to book your wedding at Holy Rood, or are considering getting married abroad and are a parishioner of Holy Rood, please contact the parish office or one of the priests at least 6 months before the wedding date.
As part of the preparation couples will need to attend a 1 day Marriage preparation course, to book yourself on a course please contact the parish office 01793 522062.
Holy Orders
The sacrament of Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time. (Compendium CCC 322)
The sacrament of Holy Orders is composed of three degrees which are irreplaceable for the organic structure if the Church; Bishops, Priests and Deacons. (Compendium CCC 325)
Any men who are interested in finding out more about vocations to the Priesthood and Diaconate, please follow the links below;
Sick
Any member of the faithful can receive this sacrament as soon as he or she begins to be in danger of death because of sickness or old age. The faithful who receive this sacrament can receive it several times if their illness becomes worse or another serious sickness afflicts them. The celebration of this sacrament should, if possible, be preceded by individual confession on the part of the sick person. (Compendium CCC 316)
The proper time for receiving this holy anointing has certainly arrived when the believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age (CCC 1528)
If you have a family member in hospital in danger of death, please ask a member of the hospital staff to contact the catholic hospital chaplain.
If you have a family member in a nursing home in danger of death, please contact the patients parish priest, or the local catholic priest.
If you or a family member are going into hospital for a major operation please contact the parish priest who will anoint you before hand.
Please don't leave contacting a priest to the last moments of a persons life, it is better to contact the priest as soon as a serious illness is diagnosed.