We are St John Paul II Catholic Parish in Eccles, Manchester, UK, in the Diocese of Salford, serving the churches of Holy Cross, Patricroft and St Mary's RC, Eccles. Please look through these pages to discover more about who we are, where we've come from and what we stand for - or, better still, come along and join us at any of our Masses or other Services which you will find detailed in the parish newsletter or on the noticeboards outside and inside the main door of each church. We are a large and busy parish, and as a community we are greatly enriched by the presence and active involvement of parishioners from many different cultures and backgrounds. We strive to be welcoming to all. If you are new to the country, new to the area or simply curious about what our worship entails, please join us and perhaps spend a few moments introducing yourself to one of our stewards at the church door, or to Fr Martin after Mass. We will try to answer any questions you may have, and will be happy to discuss with you the varied ways you can become involved if you wish.
Our Services from Holy Cross are usually broadcast live on this page (and also on Facebook and YouTube where they continue to be available later). Drop into one of our Services sometime and see if there's anything that speaks to you! Please note that funerals are only broadcast at the request of families and otherwise these will not appear online.
The parish of St John Paul II was formed on 29th November 2018 from the amalgamation of the former parishes of Holy Cross, St Matthew and St Gilbert, Eccles, and St Mary, Eccles, and is a part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford. Our boundaries encompass Eccles, Barton Moss, Barton upon Irwell, Brookhouse, Monton, Patricroft, Peel Green, Winton and parts of Worsley.
In the Sacraments of the Church, we believe that we receive special Graces from God to give us strength and guidance in our Christian journey through life. The Sacraments are rich in symbolism, and all require a proper period of preparation in order to appreciate the great spiritual richness they contain.
If you would like to get involved in the parish, there are many ways you can do this. The parish cannot function without the generous support of our many volunteers, and we are always happy to welcome new volunteers on board.
Find forthcoming feastdays and events in the Parish Calendar, and make a note in your diary.