Category Archives: Parish Priest

Dear friends,

Each year I look forward to the month of November filled as it is of reminders of our faith and the challenges we face in our daily lives.  

My prayers of late have been focussed on the Palestinian and Israeli people whose continual conflict has escalated to such a level where so many lives are lost each and every day through mass attacks by missiles or aircraft strikes, or from subversive action on the ground, all with devastating consequences.  It’s hard to see where all of this might end and if it is possible for people to sit around a table and find a common, and mutually beneficial solution.  Yet, other wars still rage and people suffer and so our prayers are still needed as the conflict between Russian and Ukrainian troops continues.

Many politicians exchange words of hope and yet have incessant arguments about the right way forward, but arms are still supplied with the sole purpose of making one side stronger than the other.  I find it hard to take sides, rather I prefer to commit all such matters to our Lord and pray that his calming self, might encourage discussion rather than dissention, positivity instead of procrastination, and love instead of loathing.  God’s people, whether we call him Almighty God, or Allah or Elohim or any other name, do not seek war but long for peace, and peace is what we should pray for as we live each day as a pilgrim people, and as God’s children.

As each year passes, I cannot ignore, as none of us can, that age changes us.  We ache that little bit more than we did last week or last year, we forget people’s names or what we went into a room to do, or what it was that we meant to do this morning.  Things that were once very familiar are no longer so.  At the beginning of this month I shall be 93 years of age and I thank God that I have been able to serve as a priest in the church for the majority of my life; I thank him for the people that I have met on my journey of faith and for the parishes in which I have served; I thank him for the friends I have made for the joys brought by kindness and for the privilege of living.  Age, they say, is nothing more than a number and I hope to serve this parish and the people of St Hilda’s for many more years to come.

The 1^st November is the feast of All Saints, a day when the church gives thanks for the lives of the many saints who have gone before us and share in that great Communion of all who live in God’s presence.  The 2^ndis the feast of All souls, a time to pray for loved ones whose lives on earth have ended and who have begun their journey in Paradise.  As always, we shall pray for individuals at our mass on that day so do come to St Hilda’s, or pass the names of those who have died in your family to me or to the PCC Secretary, Mrs Carole East.

Time may well be passing and wars continue to rage, but God is with us and his love will sustain us through any trial.

Every blessing.

The Reverend Fr Ronald Croft

Dear friends,

Since I last wrote to you, we have said goodbye to three of our church stalwarts. Firstly, Alex Walker who left St Hilda’s to follow his vocation of ordination to the priesthood. Alex will be resident at The College of the Resurrection at Mirfield for the next two years. Alex was a great asset to St Hilda’s serving as a sacristan, thurifer, PCC member and on Deanery Synod. On the 17^th September at Alex’s last Holy Mass with us, we presented him with a beautiful sick communion set.  We wish him every blessing as he follows this new path.

Then on Sunday 1^st October we said goodbye to Canon Paul Denby and his wife Julie, they are relocating to be nearer their daughter down south.  Both Father Paul and Julie have worked tirelessly for St Hilda’s for the past 16 years. Both being members of the PCC and various committees. Far too many to list here. Their time and talents have shown no bounds.
We had a collection for them as well, to show how much we much we care for them. We presented them with a monetary gift, so when they are settled, they can buy something to remind themselves of their time here at St Hilda’s.

Alex, Fr Paul and Julie will be greatly missed, so we have now appealed to our congregation to help fill some of the gaps that we are now facing.

We are recruiting new Servers in the sanctuary, both male and female; we are looking for new members of the PCC, those to serve on the Croft and Maintenance Committees as we look to bring in new members but above all we are a team, a group of committed individuals that make up the body of Christ in the place.

Next year I shall celebrate my diamond anniversary as a priest, 60 years of faithful service with over 25 of those years spent served in this parish of St Hilda’s.  Over that time there have been many changes, some good and others that cannot be rejoiced, but I truly believe we are on the threshold of becoming a team that will change the face of this church where young and old can coexist and all flourish as we serve of Lord in the best possibly way that we can.

No one is too old to take up a new role and neither is anyone to new to our church to take on a leadership role.  It is time to think about ourselves and to take up the challenge of serving God in a way that is unfamiliar.  Our aim must surely be to prepare for the next generation of worshippers for our church, to ensure that the fabric is strong and in good condition, perhaps to encourage one another to think about leading our worship from the choir pews.  There are so many roles that you can do, why not have a go.

To help us we have the saints around us offering prayer for God’s people.

1^st St Thérèse of Lisieux, born in 1873 in a small French town of Alencon.  At 15 years of age she became a Carmelite nun and she had a vision of the baby Jesus, which she believed was a sign from God.  She was a faithful young woman until her death in 1897.  4^th St Francis of Assisi asked his followers to praise God in his Creation in every being, animals, and insects.  9^th St John Henry Newman was a respected Anglican priest who became a Catholic in 1845.  He was made a cardinal for his major contribution in spiritual writing.   15^th Teresa of Ávila, born in 1515 and considered to be an intelligent woman. She joined a convent at 16 and became a nun 5 years later.  She died in 1582 at the age of 67 and made a saint in 1622.  Named a Doctor of the church because of her writing was an immense honour especially for women of her time; 18^th St Luke the Evangelist was most probably what we would call a Vet but is considered to be the Patron Saint of Doctors and he was the writer of the third gospel and met our Lord.

Every blessing.

The Reverend Fr Ronald Croft

Dear friends,

Since I last wrote to you, we have said goodbye to three of our church stalwarts. Firstly, Alex Walker who left St Hilda’s to follow his vocation of ordination to the priesthood. Alex will be resident at The College of the Resurrection at Mirfield for the next two years. Alex was a great asset to St Hilda’s serving as a sacristan, thurifer, PCC member and on Deanery Synod. On the 17^th September at Alex’s last Holy Mass with us, we presented him with a beautiful sick communion set.  We wish him every blessing as he follows this new path.
Then on Sunday 1^st October we said goodbye to Canon Paul Denby and his wife Julie, they are relocating to be nearer their daughter down south.  Both Father Paul and Julie have worked tirelessly for St Hilda’s for the past 16 years. Both being members of the PCC and various committees. Far too many to list here. Their time and talents have shown no bounds.
We had a collection for them as well, to show how much we much we care for them. We presented them with a monetary gift, so when they are settled, they can buy something to remind them of their time here at St Hilda’s.

Alex, Fr Paul and Julie will be greatly missed, so we have now appealed to our congregation to help fulfil some of the gaps that we are now facing.

We are recruiting new Servers in the sanctuary, both male and female; we are looking for new members of the PCC, those to serve on the Croft and Maintenance Committees as we look to bring in new members but above all we are a team, a group of committed individuals that make up the body of Christ in the place.

Next year I shall celebrate my diamond anniversary as a priest, 60 years of faithful service with over 25 of those years spent served in this parish of St Hilda’s.  Over that time there have been many changes, some good and others that cannot be rejoiced, but I truly believe we are on the threshold of becoming a team that will change the face of this church where young and old can coexist and all flourish as we serve of Lord in the best possibly way that we can.

No one is too old to take up a new role and neither is anyone to new to our church to take on a leadership role.  It is time to think about ourselves and to take up the challenge of serving God in a way that is unfamiliar.  Our aim must surely be to prepare for the next generation of worshippers her eat our church, to ensure that the fabric is strong and in good condition, perhaps to encourage one another to think about leading our worship from the choir pews.  There are so many roles that you can do, why not have a go.

To help us we have the saints around us offering prayer for God’s people.

1^st St Thérèsa of Lisieux, born in 1873 in a small French town of Alencon.  At 15 years of age she became a Carmelite nun and she had a vision of the baby Jesus, which she believed was a sign from God.  She was a faithful young woman until her death in 1897.  4^th St Francis of       Assisi asked his followers to praise God in his Creation in every being, animals, and insects.  9^th St John Henry Newman was a respected Anglican priest who became a Catholic in 1845.  He was made a cardinal for his major contribution in spiritual writing.   15^th Teresa of Ávila, born in 1515 and considered to be an intelligent woman. She joined a convent at 16 and became a nun 5 years later.  She died in 1582 at the age of 67 and made a saint in 1622.  Named a Doctor of the church because of her writing was an immense honour especially for women of her time; 18^th St Luke the Evangelist was most probably what we would call a Vet but is considered to be the Patron Saint od Doctors.  He was the writer of the third gospel and met our Lord.

Every blessing.

The Reverend Fr Ronald Croft

Dear friends,

August is traditionally the month that holidays are taken and enjoyed by thousands of people throughout the land.  Individual’s thoughts are very much occupied with images of sea and sand, ice creams, candy floss, the heat of the sun, sun cream and not least with enjoying food and drink.  I can only wish those of you who have already been away or who are about to go off to foreign climes my very best wishes – you all deserve it!

For the church, August is a very important time too and there are two very special dates, though those dates are surrounded by over 20 Saint’s day. The first date falls on the 6^th August, the day of Christ’s Transfiguration.  The Transfiguration commemorates the occasions when our Lord took three of his disciples, Peter, James and John up a mountain, where Moses and Elijah appeared and Jesus was transfigured, his face and clothes becoming dazzlingly bright.  The three disciples witnessed the wonderful event and though they were held in that moment of splendour and awe, they had to come down off the mountain and rejoin their everyday life.  We do not see such splendour but we are constantly dwelling on the light and joy of Christ’s light.

However, that same day the world commemorates the deaths of millions as we reflect on the final days of World War II and the tragic events of Hiroshima when the first of two atom bombs were dropped on that city and three days later another on Nagasaki.  The bombing of those two cities precipitated the end of the conflict with Japan.  

The second important day is that of the Feast of the Assumption on the 15^th August.  This feast day marks the belief that when Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, died, her body was ‘assumed’ into heaven to be reunited with her soul, instead of going through the natural process of physical decay upon death.  Mary was and remains  very special in the life of the church because she was chosen, marked out as a young woman to bear the child who would transform the whole world and bring hope and love and joy to all who follow him.

As I write the rain pours down but the sun will return!  

Enjoy this month and as the sun shines, may God’s blessing be upon you and give you peace.

The Reverend Fr Ronald Croft

On the 2^nd July in Manchester Cathedral, three men were ordained priest from the Catholic tradition of the Church of England by the Bishop of Beverley.  Fr Mitchell, Fr Thompson, and Fr Oliver-Hemmings-Faye began their priesthood with a life-long commitment to those they will serve.  We pray that Almighty God will bless each one of them, and all those ordained this Petertide: we will pray for them, and for their parishes and those who have been chosen to encourage them on their journey.

Such occasions make all of whom were ordained many years ago to reflect on God’s call and to think about those with whom we shared our own ordination.  Many have gone to glory and now rest in the arms of God in paradise, but others labour on continuing to offer what we can to God’s people.

I truly believe that all of us, whether those ordained or those we serve, are each called to God’s service and to offer the gifts that we have to help others on their journey in life as we all face the challenges that are before us. We still pray for those who face war and violence each and every day in the Ukraine, those who wake each day uncertain where they will find the money to pay for things many take for granted, those who struggle to find food or shelter and so the list goes on.  Our Lord calls each of us into his service and we should listen and respond to that call and bring what little comfort we can to those in need.

Soon, with God’s will, I shall celebrate 60 years as a priest and it has been a privilege to serve many of those years here in Prestwich.  It is a joy to see so many of you as I walk around the parish, and I simply thank God that he called me all those years ago to train and to be ordained and to serve in such a wonderful place.

Pray for those three new priests as they begin their ministries in this diocese and pray too that God calls others to join them and so build up the church for the future.

Finally, I ask your prayers for Alex Walker, a man who serves St Hilda’s as our MC, Thurifer and sub-Deacon as is needed.  Alex has recently been accepted for training for the priesthood and will begin his two-year course of training in September as he moves to the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield.

God bless you all and do listen – God may well be calling you to help others!

The Reverend Fr. Ronald Croft

The month of June hails the traditional beginning of the holiday period with people looking for seaside resorts either here at home or in parts of Europe around the coasts of Spain, Portugal or even further afield.  The world is no longer such a big place and very little of it remains unexplored.

I discovered from my diary that every day of June has special significance in one way or another.  We celebrate, or some do the days of ‘Global parents’ (1^st) World Bicycle Day (3^rd), National Cheese Day (4^th), National Best Friends day (8^th), World Blood Donors Day (14^th), Father’s Day, International Sushi, and Picnic Day (18^th); we even have Global Beatles Day (25^th) – the world has gone mad!

In the church we celebrate Trinity Sunday (4^th), a time of reflection on the three persons, yet one God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  We give thanks for Corpus Christ, the body of Christ on the 8^th, giving thanks for him feeding in the Sacraments and heling us in our lives.  But we never lose track of the saints who gave their lives for the faith.  John Fisher, an English academic and Chancellor of the University of Cambridge who refused to succumb to the wishes of Henry VIII and was executed for his faith, and Thomas More who suffered a similar fate for the same reasons (June 22), the Birth of St. John the Baptist (June 24) the Solemnity of Saint Peter and St Paul (June 29), a day when many are made deacons and others ordained priests.

But amidst all of this the world continues in chaos with bombs and rockets exploding in the peaceful cities of the Ukraine with the Russian leader seemingly focussed on nothing else but the destruction of that state.  There seems to be no end in sight and people, in this conflict, and elsewhere, continue to die unnecessarily.  Our economy spirals out of control and money just does not go as far as it once did.  Yet, despite all of this, there remains hope, hope that good will come, hope that people will be free to live and love without fear, and hope that things will change for the better.

God is with us and on the first Sunday in June, as we celebrate the Undivided Trinity, we can give thanks that, in God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that there is real hope through him – for without him there is surely none!

Have a lovely summer and remember that you are loved, always.

May God bless you all.

Reverend Fr. Ronald Croft

The month of May sees the continuation of the Sundays following Easter but it is a month punctuated by Saints as well as a major feast, but this year we celebrate another event of significance to our own country.

On Saturday the 6^th May we will share in the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the service held in Westminster Abbey.  It will be splendid though different from that of the late Queen Elizabeth II.  In 1953 her Coronation was televised, though in Black and White, and the Abbey was filled with 8000 guests.  At home many gathered around their television sets though there were very few sets at that time.  We all went to our neighbour’s house eager to see the service.  The TV was so small that it had a magnifying glass in front of the screen but we were there and we saw it all.  Everyone was spellbound by the beauty and splendour of the occasion.

The King has decided on a smaller event with only 2000 fortunate guests invited to attend.  Though the vast majority of the service remains as it was for the late Queen, the King has strived to make the service more inclusive and more reflective of the diverse nation that it has now become.

I certainly hope that you will all enjoy this historic event and offer support to the King and Queen as they take up this great responsibility of service at a time of difficulties in this world and nation.

As we approach the end of May, having celebrated a number of saints and their contribution to the world of faith, we come to Pentecost Sunday, a day we give thanks for the coming of the Holy Spirit.  It is God’s spirit that will guide us, and Guide the King, in our lives and lead us to follow in Christ’s footsteps, helping and praying for one another with the prayers of the saints to strengthen us.

In the week that follows Pentecost we pray for and pray with a woman whose life was changed with the simple word ‘yes’.  The Blessed Virgin Mary heard the word of God from the Archangel on that faithful day that changed the world and it was through her humility that we all have a future, a future Christ has promised to all who come to him.  We pray especially for her on 29^th May (Mary, Mother of the Church) and on the 31^st May as we think particularly of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

May is traditionally called the ‘Month of Mary’, the Queen of heaven.  She is generous and so we ask her to pray for King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their special day as this nation welcomes their new monarch and mark the next stage in our lives.

May God bless you all.

Reverend Fr. Ronald Croft

The month of April begins with Holy Week and concludes the season of Lent.

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday as we recall our Lord’s triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem riding the foal of an Ass.  It was a day of rejoicing, of expectation and of hope at a time of oppression by the Roman authorities.  We think of the disciples and their journey with our Lord as they surely moved from joy to despair and back again.

Maundy Thursday was the day when Christ instituted the Eucharist and shall recall that in our church at 7.30pm.  This will be followed by a Watch as we ‘stay awake’ with Christ a sit in silence as the sacrament is exposed.

Then comes Good Friday, ‘good’ because it led to the Resurrection and to the joy of Easter Day.  Jesus is betrayed, beaten, and made to carry the weight of the Cross, a symbol of his dying for each one of us. This service begins at 2pm.

Holy Saturday is a day of reflection, contemplation and waiting, as we think of Christ in his tomb.  The silence the fear and desolation of his followers, even though he had told them what was to happen.  At 8pm we will light the New Fire, bless the Paschal Candle as light is spread throughout the church to prepare us for the Easter Mass.

And finally, Easter Day.  The joy of the of Christ’s resurrection and the hope for all of us of eternal life.

In a way the week mirrors our lives with its joys and sorrow, feelings of loss and uncertainty, silence and waiting.  Many suffer, and not because they should but because it is part of life.  Pray for one another in our parish, pray for family, friends and neighbours, enjoy an Easter Egg, a reminder of his Tomb.

Do come and join us for all or any of the services.

Fr Paul joins with me in wishing you all a very happy Easter.

May God bless you all.

Reverend Fr. Ronald Croft

March is the month where we considering the majority of the Lenten Season this year before we move into April and thoughts of Holy Week and the joy of Easter.  However, we begin the month celebrating with our Welsh friends on St David’s Day when leeks and daffodils will be seen in many places.  We celebrate too with our Irish friends too as we celebrate St Patrick’s Day on the 17^th.

Saint David was a native of Wales and was made bishop of Mynyw, now the city of St Davids, during the 6th century David.  He was a renowned preacher and teacher and founded a number of ‘Houses’ and monasteries and is the Patron Saint of Wales.  March also gives the Patron Saint of Ireland.  St Patrick was a fifth-century Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland and was known as the Apostle of Ireland, he shares his role as Patron Saint of Ireland with two others Brigit of Kildare and Columba.  Patrick was never formally canonised,nevertheless, he is venerated by the church and by the people around the world.

If you are free on the evening of the 17^th March then join us at the Lenten Supper, a wonderful occasion when we have music and potato pie and a great deal of fun.

Of course, we should not forget Sunday 19^th March for it is Mothering Sunday, not Mother’s Day which is an Americanism created in 1908 by a lady who wished to celebrate her own mother.  Mothering Sunday can be traced back to the 8^th Century and in the church, we celebrate this day as we remember our own mothers, the Blessed Virgin and Mother church all of whom sustain us by prayers and constant love throughout our lives.

In the same week we remember St Joseph (20^th) and also the Annunciation of the BVM (25^th).  So, it is a month of saints and month to recall so many people of the past as we move to the Feast of the Resurrection.

Let us use this month to prepare, to put right relationships with God and other people who we have wronged or hurt in any way.  We hurt people sometimes without even knowing it perhaps by ill-chosen words, or by doing what we want without care for those we love, or even worse by ignoring people.  Put things right, seek forgiveness and then with St David, St Patrick, St Brigit, St Columba, St Joseph, and the Blessed Virgin we can love our Lord knowing that we are doing his will.

May God bless you all.

Reverend Fr. Ronald Croft

Sunday 5^th February is the day that we celebrate the Feast of Candlemas, though the actual date is the 2^nd of February.  It is a service that marks the end of the Christmas season and is 40 days after the event at the stable in Bethlehem.  It is also the Feast of the Presentation when Mary and Joseph took our Lord to the Temple to present the child to God as the Jewish custom dictated.  In the readings for that day, we are privileged to hear the words of the Nunc Dimittis as the prophet Simeon’s ‘life is fulfilled’ now that he has seen the Lord.

Very few people have been granted the wonderful gift of seeing the Lord on a one-to-one basis.  There must have been thousands that saw him as the Bible record the huge crowds that followed him where he stopped on his journey. Many were fed by him, either spiritually or practically, on the hillside during what is called the ‘Sermon on the mount’.  Of course, our Lord’s life was littered by encounters as he healed the sight of an individual, or cured people from leprosy, or indeed brought them back from the dead.  These were times of miracles, more general encounters that benefitted just one person.

The truth is that those same things still happen, times when inexplicable things happen and people are cured of terrible illnesses, times when science is confounded by healing that seemed beyond the skills medicine. Such events cannot be explained, nor should they, other than to say that God still works wonders in the lives of people; they do indeed have a personal encounter and sometimes they do not even know it!

God’s love for us is constant and as strong as ever.  His arms are open to welcome all who would come to him and long to change their lives, find a new path and experience God’s grace.

Why not join us at Candlemas on the 5^th or Ash Wednesday one the 26^th as we begin the Season of Lent or at any of our services – they are shown to the right of the website.  You will be warmly welcomed.

May God bless you all.

Reverend Fr. Ronald Croft