Blessed Robert Grissold Catholic Church
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Welcome to the website of Blessed Robert Grissold Catholic Church in Balsall Common. Here you can find details of the parish, our latest newsletter, services and sacraments offered by the Church and, in our parish archive, the events we have held. As a parish we value your privacy. Please follow the link here to learn more about the privacy policy that covers all catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Birmingham,
Father Frank writes
By referring to himself as a prophet in today’s Gospel, Jesus identifies himself with the long line of Old Testament prophets who suffered rejection or violence because of the unpopularity of their message. The failure of the people of his home town to accept him and his message anticipates the more general rejection of those who will hand him over to be crucified: “He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.”
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Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Peter, the brother of Andrew, the Galilean fisherman who was called by the Lord to be the leader of the Twelve. Paul, the tent-maker from Tarsus, a Pharisee and a Roman citizen who was called to be the Apostle of the Gentiles. Jesus’ key question, addressed to Peter and the disciples in today’s Gospel, is addressed to all who are called to be Christ’s disciples. The key question is who Jesus is for us.
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St Paul, in our second reading today, tells us that, “For anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here.” St John in his Gospel puts it like this: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Those in Christ have been given the power to be children of God, because they have been re-born, created anew, born from above - born not by natural generation, nor by human choice, nor by man’s decision, but of God. Such is the nature of our supernatural life in Christ - a life which is a light to the world. A life we need to nurture if we are to be effective in evangelisation and mission.
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In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus telling Parables of the Kingdom. The first declares that the growth of the Kingdom resembles the mysterious process of nature; so too the growth of the Kingdom is equally mysterious, as God’s ways always are. A second parable, that of the Mustard Seed, stresses the enormous potential of the Kingdom in spite of its tiny beginning. A parable, from the Greek word meaning “laid alongside,” can be seen as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
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The Gospel of Christ is something so radically good and new that it can be difficult to accept - even by those who are closest to Jesus. The Gospel today tells us that Jesus’ own relatives thought he was “out of his mind.” And others accuse him of siding with Satan and with those who oppose God. They do not have “eyes to see” or “ears to hear” and so his message seems like foolishness or worse - like blasphemy against God - Such is their blindness and deafness to the true God who lives and speaks in Christ.
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Today’s feast turns our thoughts to the sacred mysteries of the Eucharist, and one of the peculiarities of the Eucharistic feast is that we, the Church, become the Body of Christ through our partaking of Christ’s Body and the consequence of our assimilation to the Body of Christ is that, like Christ, we become spiritual food for the life of the world, to be broken, given away and consumed. The Eucharist makes the Church, by making the Church Eucharist.
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We are not to approach God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God in three Persons as a mathematical puzzle or a philosophical problem but, rather, as the Divine community of love whom we are called to know and enjoy for ever, for the one God, who has revealed Himself as Trinity, has made us for himself - to know and enjoy him forever. That is why, in and through sacred mysteries which we celebrate in the Eucharist, he gathers us to himself so that, by grace, we might share in the life and love of the Most Holy Trinity for ever.
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Today the Church of God throughout the world celebrates the Solemnity of Pentecost. It is God’s Spirit who inspires us to obey God’s commandments. All who love God experience the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. He counsels us and reminds us of what Jesus has said. The Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. As we thank God today for the gift of his Holy Spirit let us pray that our Christian discipleship manifests these fruits of God’s Spirit
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The Gospel today invites us to celebrate the mystery at the heart of our salvation: God longs for us to be united with him, and with one another, in love. The readings from John typically rejoice at the Good News that we are truly loved by God - the God who is love. And God’s great love is revealed most powerfully in the life death, resurrection and ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ and is made truly present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
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Jesus calls us to follow his example in choosing to give ourselves in love, even when it hurts for this is the kind of love that mirrors God’s love. Authentic love is about self-giving - this cannot be accomplished in our own strength - but we can choose to try, confident that our efforts will be backed by God’s energetic and all-conquering love.
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Through the Eucharist we make our home in Christ who describes Himself in today’s Gospel as “the true vine.” He is the “vine” and we are the “branches” which feed on His life in and through the miracle of the Mass. The Mass is vital to the Church’s mission and evangelisation, indeed, as St John Fisher once stated “When someone observes with attention the periods of spiritual flourishing of the Church and the times of degeneration as well he must realise this: the cause of degeneration in the Church is almost always the negligence and abuse of this most holy Sacrament of the Altar. On the opposite side however he will notice this: the times of genuine reform and the flourishing of the life of the Church were always preceded by a tender devotion to this most holy Sacrament.”
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Today is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. We pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life and that all believers will be faithful to their baptismal vocation. To follow Christ is to love him, to trust him, to serve him and to do his will - which is also what it means to be faithful to our vocation. Christ, the Good Shepherd, tells us that his sheep follow him “because they recognise his voice.” We have to learn to distinguish the voice of the one true God from the voices of the many false gods and idols which call to us today.
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The consequences of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ do not end with Easter Day. For those for whom the power of the Resurrection was a first-hand experience, it affected the rest of their lives. Today we remember that the Resurrection was a dynamic and transforming experience for the friends of Jesus and we pray that it may be so for us also.
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Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. Humankind not only receives and experiences the mercy of God, but is also called to practice mercy towards others. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” It is to this end that we receive the transforming Spirit of God - the Holy Spirit, who through the power of God’s great loving mercy, transforms our interior life in order that it might radiate outwardly and be a transforming power in the world.
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Christ has risen. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the joy of Easter. Today, with the Holy Church of God throughout the world, we proclaim and celebrate the truth which is foundational to our Christian faith, that on the third day Christ rose from the dead. And Christ, the Risen One, does not depart from us but returns to greet us with his peace and to remain with us until the end of time. And we share his peace and rejoice in his presence in the Mass.
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Holy Week begins today and it is the most important week in the Church’s calendar. Holy Week opens with Palm Sunday when we carry palm crosses in procession to commemorate the Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem. During Holy Week we celebrate the Easter Triduum, comprising the liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday evening). The liturgy of Holy Thursday commemorates the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, also there is the Washing of Feet in remembrance of our Lord’s example of humble service. On Good Friday we celebrate the Lord’s Passion and venerate the Cross. The wonderful liturgy of the Easter Vigil is celebrated on Saturday of Holy Week with the blessing and preparation of the Easter Candle and the celebration of Our Lord’s Resurrection. The celebration of Easter Sunday completes the celebrations we have prepared for during Lent. These sacred liturgies shine forth as the high point of the Church’s year. The Paschal Triduum is at the heart of all that it means to be the Church and we owe it to ourselves as Christians to be present at these key moments in the life of the worshipping community, for the sacred mysteries, which we celebrate on these three days, are not only the most beautiful liturgies of the Church’s calendar, they are also the axle on which the rest of the liturgical year turns.
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Jesus calls us to serve him and follow him - to conversion. To turn away from sin - from all that harms our relationship with God and with our neighbour and to turn toward him, to serve him, do his will, to be faithful to our baptismal vocation. Conversion is a gift from God, won for us through the sacrifice of Christ and we must ask for it through fervent prayer in order that we might know the power of Christ’s Resurrection working in our lives.
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Today is Mothering Sunday and so we give thanks to God for our mothers and for all who are mothers in our community. May God bless you in your high calling, remembering that the greatest of the saints, Our Blessed Lady, was, like you, a mother and that through loving devotion to her calling attained to the heights of holiness.
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The Father loves and liberates but in today’s Gospel we see how his house can become ‘a market place’ where people are exploited. Jesus’ protest and rejection of the trading taking part in the Temple affects powerful interests: the interests of those who have replaced God (without denying God openly) by greed, which Paul calls ‘idolatry.’ Paradoxically, this subtle and insidious substitution is often justified by religious arguments. None of us is immune from this. The Gospel today invites us to examine our conscience both at the personal level and as members of Christ’s Church. Through Christ we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Lent is an opportunity for us to cleanse the temple of our lives from all that harms and diminishes us and those around us.
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Today in the Gospel we hear how the apostles Peter, James and John were given a glimpse of Christ’s glory on the Mount of the Transfiguration - the same glimpse of glory that we are all given when we gather for the Mass, for in and through the sacred mysteries of the Eucharist we ascend to the heavenly places where, with Angels and Archangels and all the host of heaven, we worship the Beloved Son of God who sits at the right hand of the Father. God, the Holy Spirit, gathers us into the cloud of his glory. We listen to him in the scriptures. We feed on him in the Sacrament of the altar. No wonder the disciples “kept silence.” “Master, it is wonderful for us to be here.”
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Safeguarding
The Parish follows the safeguarding standards advised by The Archdiocese of Birmingham. You can view these standards by following the link here.
A link to the Archdiocese safeguarding website can be found here.
Safespaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church or as a result of their relationship with the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales or the Church in Wales. If you have been affected, however long ago, Safe Spaces can provide you with support. You do not have to have told the police or the church authorities, and you do not have to still be involved with the church. Your information will not be shared without your consent unless you or someone else is in immediate danger. To contact Safespaces, please follow the link to their website here.
The Isaiah Journey The Isaiah Journey is a working group of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales which has grown out of the need for a pastoral-spiritual response to the suffering of victims and survivors of abuse in the Church. It provides A Guide for Survivors of Abuse that can be found here.
The Safeguarding Rep for our Parish is Monica Green and she can be contacted via email at sg.brg.balsallcommon@rcaob.org.uk.
The Parish follows the safeguarding standards advised by The Archdiocese of Birmingham. You can view these standards by following the link here.
A link to the Archdiocese safeguarding website can be found here.
Safespaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church or as a result of their relationship with the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales or the Church in Wales. If you have been affected, however long ago, Safe Spaces can provide you with support. You do not have to have told the police or the church authorities, and you do not have to still be involved with the church. Your information will not be shared without your consent unless you or someone else is in immediate danger. To contact Safespaces, please follow the link to their website here.
The Isaiah Journey The Isaiah Journey is a working group of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales which has grown out of the need for a pastoral-spiritual response to the suffering of victims and survivors of abuse in the Church. It provides A Guide for Survivors of Abuse that can be found here.
The Safeguarding Rep for our Parish is Monica Green and she can be contacted via email at sg.brg.balsallcommon@rcaob.org.uk.
Parish Events
Looking for the rest of the Parish Event List? We have archived the list from our old site but you can still view them here.
Date
| Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 09.02.2025 | Snowdrop Sunday, today at Temple Balsall | Today from 2-5pm at St. Mary’s, Temple Balsall there is an opportunity to visit the churchyard, gardens and adjoining woods abundant with wild snowdrops. Homemade teas between 2-4pm. Free entrance, donations welcome. |
| 08.02.2025 | The Birmingham Lourdes Hospitalité | The Birmingham Lourdes Hospitalité: warmly invites you to a special Mass celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on Saturday, 8th February 2025, at 4:30 pm, in St. Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham. This celebration is a wonderful opportunity to come together in prayer, honour Our Lady, and seek her intercession for the sick and their carers. Special invitation is sent to all who have served in Lourdes, and schools, students, and Pilgrims planning to join our Diocesan Pilgrimage in May 2025. Refreshments will be served after Mass. For more information, please contact treas.hosp.lourdes@rcaob.org.uk |
| 28.01.2025 | Tony Cotterill (RIP) | Tony Cotterill (RIP), who many parishioners will remember from his attending BRG for many years, passed away just after Christmas. His funeral Mass will be on Tuesday 28th January at 11am at Christ the King in Coventry, and afterwards at the Church Social Club next door. Please remember Tony and his family and friends in your prayers |
| 26.01.2025 | Recently deceased | Recently deceased - Isabel Cusack, parishioner of St George & St Teresa. |
| 26.01.2025 | Father Hudsons | Father Hudsons have asked us to pass on their thanks for the many gifts (over 50) that were donated via the Christmas Giving Tree and which were distributed to those less fortunate than ourselves. |
| 26.01.2025 | Friends of the Holy Land | Friends of the Holy Land: Thank you for all who donated to the collection at the Carol Service to the Friends of the Holy Land. The amount collected for this charity was £82. |
| 21.01.2025 | Requiem Mass | Requiem Mass will be held for Martin Sheehy (RIP) this Tuesday 21st January at 10.45am. Please keep Martin, his family and friends in your prayers. |
| 19.01.2025 | Churches Together Service for Christian Unity | A service of prayer for Christian Unity is to be held at St Mary the Virgin Church, Temple Balsall on Sunday 19th January at 4pm. All are welcome. |
| 18.01.2025 | Week of Prayer for Christian Unity | The week of prayer is traditionally observed from the 18- 25 January – the octave of St. Peter and St. Paul. At the heart of our reflections for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is the question posed by Jesus to Martha: ‘Do you believe this?’ (John 11:26). Please visit www.cbcew.org.uk/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity/ for resources and prayers for this week of prayer. |
| 15.01.2025 | Parish Office | Sara’s normal parish office hours (Wednesdays 10.30am – 2.30pm) will resume from Wednesday 15th January. |
| 12.01.2025 | Choir | Choir practice after mass starts again today. If anyone is interested in joining the choir, please speak to Ian Clarke – no previous choir experience is necessary. |
| 12.01.2025 | Newsletter | Please note that David Green will be compiling the weekly bulletin, starting this week. Please send items to him at david.monica@btopenworld.com. If anyone is interested in joining the rota for producing the bulletin, please contact David Green or Ellie Clarke. |
| 09.01.2025 | Prayer Group | The next meeting of our regular prayer group will be on Thursday 9th January at 3:00 pm. |
| 08.01.2025 | Coffee Morning | The next Parish Coffee Morning will take place in the Narthex on Wednesday 8th January at 10.30 am - tea, coffee, scones, cake and conversation in abundance - everyone is welcome to join us. |
| 05.01.2025 | Christmas offerings for your Priest | As is customary, your offerings at Christmas went to your Parish Priest. Fr Frank would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generosity and ongoing support in this Parish. Thank you also for your cards and gifts. Hoping that you had a very blessed and peaceful Christmas season. |
| 26.12.2024 | Feast Days in Christmas week | Feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr on Thursday 26th December and Feast of St John the Evangelist on Friday 27th December – please see the deanery website for details of masses at nearby churches on these days: www.banburyandwarwick-catholicdeanery.org.uk |
| 24.12.2024 | Christmas Mass times at BRG | Christmas Mass times at BRG: Tuesday 24th December at 6.00 pm – Vigil of the Solemnity of the Nativity, Wednesday 25th December at 9.30 am – Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord |
| 22.12.2024 | Sunday Mass Books | We are now using the new translations of the Lectionary. The Parish has purchased 100 new Mass books (parts 1 and 2) at a cost of £1000 for this year. In total there is a set of six books that we will purchase over the next three years. If you want to contribute to the cost by dedicating two books in memory of a loved one, or as a gift from a family, we suggest a donation of £10. Please complete one of the forms given out at Mass and hand to the wardens with a cash, a cheque or pay by bank transfer. |
| 22.12.2024 | Job Vacancy | Friends of the Holy Land require two Office Administrators – one full-time, one part-time. please contact the Office Manager, Jen Hill, initially by phone. Tel 01926 512980. For further details please see: https://www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/jobs. |
| 19.12.2024 | Church Lighting Replacement | The high-level lighting in the church and hall is due to be replaced with LED lights over Thursday and Friday 19th and 20th December. Please note that during these 2 days, access to the church and hall will be prohibited to comply with Health & Safety requirements |
09.02.2025
Today from 2-5pm at St. Mary’s, Temple Balsall there is an opportunity to visit the churchyard, gardens and adjoining woods abundant with wild snowdrops. Homemade teas between 2-4pm. Free entrance, donations welcome.
|
08.02.2025
The Birmingham Lourdes Hospitalité: warmly invites you to a special Mass celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on Saturday, 8th February 2025, at 4:30 pm, in St. Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham. This celebration is a wonderful opportunity to come together in prayer, honour Our Lady, and seek her intercession for the sick and their carers. Special invitation is sent to all who have served in Lourdes, and schools, students, and Pilgrims planning to join our Diocesan Pilgrimage in May 2025. Refreshments will be served after Mass. For more information, please contact treas.hosp.lourdes@rcaob.org.uk
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28.01.2025
Tony Cotterill (RIP), who many parishioners will remember from his attending BRG for many years, passed away just after Christmas. His funeral Mass will be on Tuesday 28th January at 11am at Christ the King in Coventry, and afterwards at the Church Social Club next door. Please remember Tony and his family and friends in your prayers
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26.01.2025
Recently deceased - Isabel Cusack, parishioner of St George & St Teresa.
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26.01.2025
Father Hudsons have asked us to pass on their thanks for the many gifts (over 50) that were donated via the Christmas Giving Tree and which were distributed to those less fortunate than ourselves.
|
26.01.2025
Friends of the Holy Land: Thank you for all who donated to the collection at the Carol Service to the Friends of the Holy Land. The amount collected for this charity was £82.
|
21.01.2025
Requiem Mass will be held for Martin Sheehy (RIP) this Tuesday 21st January at 10.45am. Please keep Martin, his family and friends in your prayers.
|
19.01.2025
A service of prayer for Christian Unity is to be held at St Mary the Virgin Church, Temple Balsall on Sunday 19th January at 4pm. All are welcome.
|
18.01.2025
The week of prayer is traditionally observed from the 18- 25 January – the octave of St. Peter and St. Paul. At the heart of our reflections for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is the question posed by Jesus to Martha: ‘Do you believe this?’ (John 11:26). Please visit www.cbcew.org.uk/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity/ for resources and prayers for this week of prayer.
|
15.01.2025
Sara’s normal parish office hours (Wednesdays 10.30am – 2.30pm) will resume from Wednesday 15th January.
|
12.01.2025
Choir practice after mass starts again today. If anyone is interested in joining the choir, please speak to Ian Clarke – no previous choir experience is necessary.
|
12.01.2025
Please note that David Green will be compiling the weekly bulletin, starting this week. Please send items to him at david.monica@btopenworld.com. If anyone is interested in joining the rota for producing the bulletin, please contact David Green or Ellie Clarke.
|
09.01.2025
The next meeting of our regular prayer group will be on Thursday 9th January at 3:00 pm.
|
08.01.2025
The next Parish Coffee Morning will take place in the Narthex on Wednesday 8th January at 10.30 am - tea, coffee, scones, cake and conversation in abundance - everyone is welcome to join us.
|
05.01.2025
As is customary, your offerings at Christmas went to your Parish Priest. Fr Frank would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generosity and ongoing support in this Parish. Thank you also for your cards and gifts. Hoping that you had a very blessed and peaceful Christmas season.
|
26.12.2024
Feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr on Thursday 26th December and Feast of St John the Evangelist on Friday 27th December – please see the deanery website for details of masses at nearby churches on these days: www.banburyandwarwick-catholicdeanery.org.uk
|
24.12.2024
Christmas Mass times at BRG: Tuesday 24th December at 6.00 pm – Vigil of the Solemnity of the Nativity,
Wednesday 25th December at 9.30 am – Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord
|
22.12.2024
We are now using the new translations of the Lectionary. The Parish has purchased 100 new Mass books (parts 1 and 2) at a cost of £1000 for this year. In total there is a set of six books that we will purchase over the next three years. If you want to contribute to the cost by dedicating two books in memory of a loved one, or as a gift from a family, we suggest a donation of £10. Please complete one of the forms given out at Mass and hand to the wardens with a cash, a cheque or pay by bank transfer.
|
22.12.2024
Friends of the Holy Land require two Office Administrators – one full-time, one part-time. please contact the Office Manager, Jen Hill, initially by phone. Tel 01926 512980. For further details please see: https://www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/jobs.
|
19.12.2024
The high-level lighting in the church and hall is due to be replaced with LED lights over Thursday and Friday 19th and 20th December. Please note that during these 2 days, access to the church and hall will be prohibited to comply with Health & Safety requirements
|
Parish Calendar
