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
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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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 |
|---|---|---|
| 22.01.2017 | Week of Prayer for Christian Unity | The Churches Together Service will take place this afternoon at 4.00pm in St Peter’s Church. |
| 22.01.2017 | Meditations before the Blessed Sacrament | Meditations before the Blessed Sacrament continue to reflect on the writings of Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan who in 2000 Pope John Paul II chose him to preach a course of Spiritual Exercises for himself and the Vatican staff. Archbishop Van Thuan majors on “hope” in his addresses - a hope that he discovered during his 13 years imprisonment, nine of which were spent in solitary confinement. The hope he discovered in Communist prisons, where he was incarcerated for his faith, is also hope for the Church and the world. Faced with any darkness, we have a reason for confidence and that reason is Christ our Lord, the Hope of the world. |
| 19.01.2017 | Parish Pastoral Council | Our first parish council meeting for 2017 is being held on Thursday, 19th January at 7:30 pm in the Parish Room when we will be planning our programme for the year. We would be delighted to have some new members please come and join us and give us your views and support |
| 15.01.2017 | Youth Group | Coming up in 2017 a new churches together youth group will start. It will be on alternate Sunday nights for year 7 and older and starts on 15th January. It is being run jointly between the churches and will involve a mix of games, discussion and cake. Kathryn Driffield and Claire Keane are involved from our parish so please have a chat with them if you want to get involved. |
| 15.01.2017 | Candle of Dedication | The candle is lit this week for the John Hughes |
| 15.01.2017 | Churches Together Youth Fellowship Group | The first session will be held at the Methodist Church hall this evening from 6.45 until 7.45. All secondary school students of any faith will be very welcome. The session on 2nd April is going to be hosted by Blessed Robert Grissold and we are hoping that some of the BRG adults will come along to help out on the evening. Please ask Claire Keane or Kathryn Driffield for details |
| 15.01.2017 | Christmas Raffle | Thank you to all those that supported the parish Christmas Raffle this year and congratulations to those lucky enough to win one of the prizes. We raised an impressive total of £1,130 for parish funds |
| 11.01.2017 | Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament | On Wednesday evenings, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Meditations and silent prayer will follow the 7.00pm Mass, finishing at 8.00pm with Benediction. Why not be still and silent in the presence of Christ in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar? We so need silence in our busy, noisy lives, especially if we are to listen to the Holy Spirit within - then the Holy Spirit inspires us and fills us with his love. This is what it meant when it says in Holy Scripture that the Holy Spirit prays within us in sighs too deep for words. All welcome |
| 08.01.2017 | Candle of Dedication for 2017 | The diary for 2017 is now available at the back of the church. Our candle of Dedication next to the statue of the Sacred Heart, is lit anew each Sunday and burns for a week (Sunday to Saturday) in remembrance of a loved one, or in thanksgiving for a special occasion. The Dedication is included each week in our bulletin. Donation offers of £5 are suggested. You can request a Dedication by completing the details on the special envelopes at the back of the church and also filling in the name on the dates in the dairy. These can be handed to Bridget Harrison or Ann Ostler, if not, one of the wardens |
| 08.01.2017 | Candle of Dedication | The candle is lit this week for the People of the Parish |
| 08.01.2017 | Christmas Giving Tree | Many thanks for those who gave gifts. Altogether there were 57, of which 29 for Children. These were sent to Father Hudson's Care at Coleshill. The others were distributed among the local housebound, the sick & elderly of our Parish by our young people and in some cases their parents. A big and sincere thank you to all who did this. It was greatly appreciated |
| 03.01.2017 | Get together | Get-together this Wednesday, 3rd January. Meet at 12 noon in the parish room for a buffet lunch. All welcome. |
| 01.01.2017 | Thank You | "Thank you for your generous offerings, gifts and cards. Once again, I have very much appreciated the prayerful preparation for, and celebration of, Christmas at Blessed Robert Grissold. I am especially grateful to all those who attended the Advent meditations, talks and discussions. I hope, that like me, you experienced the mutual support and prayers of your brothers and sisters in Christ helpful in getting ready to receive the God who comes to us in Christ. Thank you, to all of you, for the many different ways in which you contribute, throughout the year, to the life of the community at Blessed Robert Grissold. With all good wishes for 2017." Fr Frank |
| 01.01.2017 | Father Frank is away | Father Frank is on his post-Christmas break from Monday. There will be a Eucharistic Service this Tuesday (3rd January). We welcome Fr Christopher Greaney to Blessed Robert Grissold next Sunday when he will celebrate the Mass of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. |
| 01.01.2017 | Candle of Dedication | The candle is lit this week for Baby Clara |
| 28.12.2016 | Christmas Meditations | Christmas meditations will accompany adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after 10.00am Mass on Wednesday. Meditations, silent reflection and prayer will last for half an hour after Mass finishing with Benediction at 11.00am. |
| 26.12.2016 | 2016 Carol Service now available online! | For those of you who were unable to attend our carol service this year or who would like to listen to it again, click on the link to be taken to our carol services page then navigate to the bottom of the page and click on 2016. A full recording of the service is available there. |
| 25.12.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is for the Ian Stewart RIP and next week for Baby Clara |
| 25.12.2016 | Safeguarding | Monica Green is the new Safeguarding Representative (children and adults) for Blessed Robert Grissold, with Louise Perry being her deputy. A new requirement is for all children under 18 to have parental/ guardian consent for their photographs to be used by the Parish, on the website, display boards in the Church or published Parish newsletters etc. Monica will be at the back of Church after Mass over the next few weeks with the relevant form. If you have any questions about this, please speak to Monica or Louise |
| 25.12.2016 | Christmas 2016 Newsletter now available | Our bumper 2016 Christmas newsletter is now available. It covers the period between Easter and Christmas 2016 and has a special extended article about the consecration of our church earlier this year. Click on the link to access our special newsletters page and then click on the Christmas 2016 link to access the newsletter. Alternatively paper copies will be available at both of our Christmas services on 24th and 25th December |
22.01.2017
The Churches Together Service will take place this afternoon at 4.00pm in St Peter’s Church.
|
22.01.2017
Meditations before the Blessed Sacrament continue to reflect on the writings of Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan who in 2000 Pope John Paul II chose him to preach a course of Spiritual Exercises for himself and the Vatican staff. Archbishop Van Thuan majors on “hope” in his addresses - a hope that he discovered during his 13 years imprisonment, nine of which were spent in solitary confinement. The hope he discovered in Communist prisons, where he was incarcerated for his faith, is also hope for the Church and the world. Faced with any darkness, we have a reason for confidence and that reason is Christ our Lord, the Hope of the world.
|
19.01.2017
Our first parish council meeting for 2017 is being held on Thursday, 19th January at 7:30 pm in the Parish Room when we will be planning our programme for the year. We would be delighted to have some new members please come and join us and give us your views and support
|
15.01.2017
Coming up in 2017 a new churches together youth group will start. It will be on alternate Sunday nights for year 7 and older and starts on 15th January. It is being run jointly between the churches and will involve a mix of games, discussion and cake. Kathryn Driffield and Claire Keane are involved from our parish so please have a chat with them if you want to get involved.
|
15.01.2017
The candle is lit this week for the John Hughes
|
15.01.2017
The first session will be held at the Methodist Church hall this evening from 6.45 until 7.45. All secondary school students of any faith will be very welcome. The session on 2nd April is going to be hosted by Blessed Robert Grissold and we are hoping that some of the BRG adults will come along to help out on the evening. Please ask Claire Keane or Kathryn Driffield for details
|
15.01.2017
Thank you to all those that supported the parish Christmas Raffle this year and congratulations to those lucky enough to win one of the prizes. We raised an impressive total of £1,130 for parish funds
|
11.01.2017
On Wednesday evenings, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with Meditations and silent prayer will follow the 7.00pm Mass, finishing at 8.00pm with Benediction. Why not be still and silent in the presence of Christ in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar? We so need silence in our busy, noisy lives, especially if we are to listen to the Holy Spirit within - then the Holy Spirit inspires us and fills us with his love. This is what it meant when it says in Holy Scripture that the Holy Spirit prays within us in sighs too deep for words. All welcome
|
08.01.2017
The diary for 2017 is now available at the back of the church. Our candle of Dedication next to the statue of the Sacred Heart, is lit anew each Sunday and burns for a week (Sunday to Saturday) in remembrance of a loved one, or in thanksgiving for a special occasion. The Dedication is included each week in our bulletin. Donation offers of £5 are suggested. You can request a Dedication by completing the details on the special envelopes at the back of the church and also filling in the name on the dates in the dairy. These can be handed to Bridget Harrison or Ann Ostler, if not, one of the wardens
|
08.01.2017
The candle is lit this week for the People of the Parish
|
08.01.2017
Many thanks for those who gave gifts. Altogether there were 57, of which 29 for Children. These were sent to Father Hudson's Care at Coleshill. The others were distributed among the local housebound, the sick & elderly of our Parish by our young people and in some cases their parents. A big and sincere thank you to all who did this. It was greatly appreciated
|
03.01.2017
Get-together this Wednesday, 3rd January. Meet at 12 noon in the parish room for a buffet lunch. All welcome.
|
01.01.2017
"Thank you for your generous offerings, gifts and cards. Once again, I have very much appreciated the prayerful preparation for, and celebration of, Christmas at Blessed Robert Grissold. I am especially grateful to all those who attended the Advent meditations, talks and discussions. I hope, that like me, you experienced the mutual support and prayers of your brothers and sisters in Christ helpful in getting ready to receive the God who comes to us in Christ. Thank you, to all of you, for the many different ways in which you contribute, throughout the year, to the life of the community at Blessed Robert Grissold. With all good wishes for 2017." Fr Frank
|
01.01.2017
Father Frank is on his post-Christmas break from Monday. There will be a Eucharistic Service this Tuesday (3rd January). We welcome Fr Christopher Greaney to Blessed Robert Grissold next Sunday when he will celebrate the Mass of the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord.
|
01.01.2017
The candle is lit this week for Baby Clara
|
28.12.2016
Christmas meditations will accompany adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after 10.00am Mass on Wednesday. Meditations, silent reflection and prayer will last for half an hour after Mass finishing with Benediction at 11.00am.
|
26.12.2016
For those of you who were unable to attend our carol service this year or who would like to listen to it again, click on the link to be taken to our carol services page then navigate to the bottom of the page and click on 2016. A full recording of the service is available there.
|
25.12.2016
The dedication for this week is for the Ian Stewart RIP and next week for Baby Clara
|
25.12.2016
Monica Green is the new Safeguarding Representative (children and adults) for Blessed Robert Grissold, with Louise Perry being her deputy. A new requirement is for all children under 18 to have parental/ guardian consent for their photographs to be used by the Parish, on the website, display boards in the Church or published Parish newsletters etc. Monica will be at the back of Church after Mass over the next few weeks with the relevant form. If you have any questions about this, please speak to Monica or Louise
|
25.12.2016
Our bumper 2016 Christmas newsletter is now available. It covers the period between Easter and Christmas 2016 and has a special extended article about the consecration of our church earlier this year. Click on the link to access our special newsletters page and then click on the Christmas 2016 link to access the newsletter. Alternatively paper copies will be available at both of our Christmas services on 24th and 25th December
|
Parish Calendar
