News and Events

This page is dedicated to recent events that have taken place at Holy Rood. A detailed history of the Parish can be read by clicking on the Parish Profile page below. All copyright is reserved, please contact watford@rcdow.org.uk for any republication or photographic permission.

Second Night of Light at Holy Rood

On Friday 2 June, between 8pm-10pm, Holy Rood once again played host to a Night of Light. This event, inspired by Nightfever, sees the confirmation candidates of the parish host an evening of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with music, welcomers, confession and street evangelisation, all of which takes places with the Church illuminated by candlelight.

The confirmation candidates ran the event themselves, planning the event, dividing up roles, rehearsing the music and putting together little gift bags for those who weren’t able to come to the Church. Those bags include details as to the times of services, a candle and a scripture quote chosen by the candidates.

This year, the event attracted a larger crowd than before with over 300 vistors to the Church over two hours, whilst this included parishioners who wanted to show support, over 50 people were brought in by the candidates. A number spoke of how they had passed this church every day but never entered before, others how they do come in but had never seen it in a service, when the church is so full of life.

The evening was concluded with Benediction, given by Bishop Nicholas Hudson, who also preached on the presence of Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist.

Please keep our candidates in your prayers, as they approach their confirmation on 2 July.

Corpus Christi procession at Holy Rood

On Sunday 19 June the 12.30pm Sunday Mass was followed by a eucharistic procession through the streets of Watford and concluded with benediction in the parish garden.

The tradition of eucharistic processions on Corpus Christi dates back to the early days of the feast, its purpose is to bring the presence of God into the secular world, for he himself is the sole saviour and redeemer of mankind. As Pope emeritus Benedict XVI said “It was born for the very precise purpose of openly reaffirming the faith of the people of God in Jesus Christ, alive and truly present in the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist. It is a feast that was established in order to publicly adore, praise and thank the Lord, who continues ‘to love us to the end,’ even to offering us his body and his blood.”

The procession involved over 100 parishioners of Holy Rood and included members of the Syro-Malabar community that also worship at Holy Rood. Following Our Lord were the children who had recently celebrated their first holy communion. These children also scattered flower petals in front of Our Lord as he was placed in the parish garden for a time of adoration prior to benediction.

Over 200 visitors to Holy Rood Night of Light

On the evening of Friday 10 June the doors of Holy Rood were opened to celebrate its first Night of Light. Between 8 and 10pm the Bentley-designed church was illuminated with hundreds of candles and passing members of the public were invited to come in to say a prayer, light a candle or just admire the beauty of the Church that they may pass everyday.

The focus of the Night of Light, which was run by the confirmation candidates of the parish, was adoration of the Blessed Sacrament alongside street evangelisation. The candidates acted as servers during Exposition and Benediction, as well as musicians, sacristans and welcomers for visitors to the Church. In total the candidates welcomed over 200 people into the Church, many of whom had only entered it for the first time that evening.

The candidates also went along the busy Market Street in Watford to invite passers-by into the Church. For those unable to come in they gave them a bag containing information about the times of Mass and Confession, a set of rosary beads, a candle and one of many scriptural passages that the candidates had found inspiring in their time of preparation for confirmation.

The evening was closed by Benediction given by His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols. Prior to Benediction the Cardinal spoke on those words of the first chapter of Genesis “And God said: “Let there be light”, and there was light”. He reflected upon the centrality of the light of Christ in illuminating our lives in a world that can seem chaotic and offering little hope. By contrast, knowing God in our lives and inviting him to dwell within our person gives us the strength and the direction to follow His calling for us.

Please keep our candidates in your prayers as they approach their confirmation. The Mass will take place on 3 July at 12.30pm celebrated by Bishop Paul McAleenan, auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and former parish priest of Holy Rood.