Situated on Oxford Road at the heart of the University of Manchester, the famous Holy Name Church serves the university community in Manchester. Built and served by members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), the Holy Name is a stillpoint and sacred space in the middle of an internationally important area of study, research and health care.
Current timetable of opening times and Mass times:
Sunday Mass at 11am and 7pm;
(church open 10am - 12 noon and 6pm - 8pm)
Monday - Saturday Mass at 12.30pm
(church open 10.30am - 4pm in the winter months)
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
Monday to Saturday, 12 noon - 12.25pm
(church open 10am - 12 noon and 6pm - 8pm)
Monday - Saturday Mass at 12.30pm
(church open 10.30am - 4pm in the winter months)
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
Monday to Saturday, 12 noon - 12.25pm
18th May 2023
Statement by the Cathsoc President on behalf of the committee and chaplaincy concerning pictures/videos taken in the church
Firstly, I’d like to underline the fact that the Cathsoc is a separate entity from the chaplaincy and Holy Name Church. Decisions about use of the church are made by the chaplaincy team without any consultation with CathSoc.
Recently, several people have seen or have brought up the fact that there are certain distasteful pictures/videos online, which were taken in the church. Understandably, your concern about these images and the captions below them are completely valid, and the CathSoc and the chaplaincy team agree that they are deeply inappropriate with regard to Catholic teaching, and one would not expect to see them in a church.
Furthermore, delving further into the relevant account, one finds an explanation regarding the pictures/videos taken in the church which suggests there was some kind of collaboration between this group and the church. We wish to clarify that there no such collaboration took place. It suggests that the nature of this activity was discussed at length with the church and approved, but after speaking to the Lead Chaplain I have established that this is a false claim. The group asked to use the church for dancing and were not explicit about the nature of their group nor the kind of dancing they planned to do, nor the way they planned to publish it on social media. No one from the chaplaincy team was present during the filming.
Therefore, the main outcome of the meeting with representatives of Cathsoc and the chaplaincy was that their openness and hospitality had been taken advantage of in a dishonest manner, and a misrepresentation of facts had occurred. In the future, the chaplaincy will ask more questions about groups who request to use the church.
Again, as stated previously, it is understandable that some of you may be quite upset by this, as are we. Hence, if you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to raise them.
Eleanor Calnan, Cath Soc President
Approved and endorsed by Fr Peter Scally SJ on behalf of the chaplaincy team.
Statement by the Cathsoc President on behalf of the committee and chaplaincy concerning pictures/videos taken in the church
Firstly, I’d like to underline the fact that the Cathsoc is a separate entity from the chaplaincy and Holy Name Church. Decisions about use of the church are made by the chaplaincy team without any consultation with CathSoc.
Recently, several people have seen or have brought up the fact that there are certain distasteful pictures/videos online, which were taken in the church. Understandably, your concern about these images and the captions below them are completely valid, and the CathSoc and the chaplaincy team agree that they are deeply inappropriate with regard to Catholic teaching, and one would not expect to see them in a church.
Furthermore, delving further into the relevant account, one finds an explanation regarding the pictures/videos taken in the church which suggests there was some kind of collaboration between this group and the church. We wish to clarify that there no such collaboration took place. It suggests that the nature of this activity was discussed at length with the church and approved, but after speaking to the Lead Chaplain I have established that this is a false claim. The group asked to use the church for dancing and were not explicit about the nature of their group nor the kind of dancing they planned to do, nor the way they planned to publish it on social media. No one from the chaplaincy team was present during the filming.
Therefore, the main outcome of the meeting with representatives of Cathsoc and the chaplaincy was that their openness and hospitality had been taken advantage of in a dishonest manner, and a misrepresentation of facts had occurred. In the future, the chaplaincy will ask more questions about groups who request to use the church.
Again, as stated previously, it is understandable that some of you may be quite upset by this, as are we. Hence, if you have any other questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to raise them.
Eleanor Calnan, Cath Soc President
Approved and endorsed by Fr Peter Scally SJ on behalf of the chaplaincy team.
Baptisms & Marriage
Holy Name is not a parish church but is a part of the Catholic Chaplaincy to the institutions of higher education in Manchester. (We are in fact in the parish of St Augustine). The Diocese of Salford authorises us to celebrate the sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony only for students currently enrolled, and academic staff, at one of those institutions. If you have an enquiry regarding one of these sacraments, please contact Fr Brendan Callaghan SJ, who will be very happy to help you: bcallaghansj@jesuit.org.uk
Holy Name is not a parish church but is a part of the Catholic Chaplaincy to the institutions of higher education in Manchester. (We are in fact in the parish of St Augustine). The Diocese of Salford authorises us to celebrate the sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony only for students currently enrolled, and academic staff, at one of those institutions. If you have an enquiry regarding one of these sacraments, please contact Fr Brendan Callaghan SJ, who will be very happy to help you: bcallaghansj@jesuit.org.uk
