Friday College Mass

Our College Prayer Space is where all students, staff and members of our wider school family have a weekly opportunity to celebrate Mass at 8.15am on Fridays.

The Mass finishes each week ahead of registration, and all present are invited afterwards to join together for complimentary refreshments and an opportunity to discuss the themes of the Mass with the priest celebrating and members of staff attending. For our weekly college Masses we are joined by Father Godlove as well as Canon John Rafferty and Canon Pat Monroe.

 

End of Term Masses

For large events in the liturgical calendar, we have Mass for multiple-year groups. This happens during Advent and Lent, and pupils will take part in the planning and delivery of Mass by creating Bidding prayers and the special offertory. As well as our Masses celebrating Christmas and Easter, we also have Mass for our student leavers. For year 11 and year 13, students also have a say in the preparation of Mass, by choosing readings that speak to them about their time in our college, and also collaborating on the bidding prayers and special offertory. For these larger Masses, students will take ownership of their faith not only by creating the prayers we use, but also by volunteering to read, or to be a part of our Capriccio Singers and lead on the music of the Mass.

Reconciliation

Members of the clergy are invited to college on a termly basis to provide an opportunity for regular Reconciliation for Blessed Thomas Holford students. Students are informed of the availability of this sacrament within the school during form time, and are given the opportunity to book a time-slot throughout the day to undertake this sacrament.

This opportunity feeds into our school’s understanding of the importance of reconciliation. Once students have experienced the divine significance of this sacrament, they witness echoes of reconciliation throughout the daily life of Blessed Thomas Holford Catholic College; in our expectations of team-work, in our hope for harmony and in our school family’s steadfast belief in the healing power of forgiveness.

 

Confirmation

The staff at Blessed Thomas Holford are Catechists within the parishes of St Josephs, Sale, Holy Family, Sale Moor, All Saints, Ashton on Mersey, Our Lady of Lourdes, Partington and St Vincents Altrincham. Although the sacramental programme is a parish activity the staff are able to support students in their faith journey. The staff arrange retreats and formations session across 6 months of the year.  

The Sacrament of Confirmation is a significant rite in the Catholic Church. It is one of the seven sacraments and is considered to be the sacrament of Christian maturity.

Through Confirmation, Catholics believe they receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which strengthens their faith and helps them live as witnesses of Christ. This sacrament is usually administered by a bishop, who anoints the candidate with chrism oil, laying his hands on them and saying, "Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Confirmation is received by young people who are in Year 8 and above, usually around the age of 13, although adults who are converting to Catholicism also receive Confirmation.

If you wish you child to be confirmed please contact your local parish church for further details.