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
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 |
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| 17.11.2024 | Photographs from Confirmation Mass on 3rd November 2024 now online | Photographs taken by our parish photograhers from the recent confirmation mass are now online. Please note that only photos of candidates where permission has been explicitly provided are included. Click on the link for more. |
| 17.11.2024 | Today is Safeguarding Sunday | The theme this year is “Let’s talk about it”. It’s time to have open and honest conservations about what we got wrong and what we’re getting right. It’s an opportunity to talk about how we can work together to prevent abuse and create a world where every child and adult can feel safe. We believe that safeguarding is an outworking of our faith in a loving and just God – the God who calls us to speak up on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves and to defend the rights of the vulnerable (Proverbs 31:8). Please join us in praying for all those who work to ensure our communities are safe for all. |
| 23.11.2024 | Baptism | Congratulations to Theodore Rupert McAtamney who was Baptised on Saturday. Please keep Theodore, his parents and godparents in your prayers |
| 24.11.2024 | New Lectionaries | Would all those who have made donations to offset the cost of the new Lectionaries please confirm with Fr Frank in order that the dedicatory book plates may be allocated. |
| 24.11.2024 | November is the month of Remembrance | Requests for Masses to be offered for your deceased loved ones in November and throughout this year in Masses for the Holy Souls can be made using the envelopes available in the Narthex |
| 24.11.2024 | Youth Sunday | We will be celebrating Youth Sunday at our 9.30am Mass on Sunday 24th November. There will be craft activities and party food after Mass for the children. All are welcome. |
| 25.11.2024 | Job Vacancy 1 | The Archdiocese of Birmingham invite applications for the new CEO of the first enlarged Catholic Multi-Academy Trust in the Archdiocese. We are looking for an outstanding, dynamic, innovative and visionary Catholic servant leader to lead this new Trust of 63 schools by example and with wisdom. For further details, please see the Diocesan Education Service website: https://www.bdes.org.uk/vacancies.html . The closing date for applications is 25th November 2024. |
| 29.11.2024 | Bill on Assisted Suicide | In early September 2024, when Parliament returned and a Bill on assisted suicide – so-called assisted dying – started its passage through the House of Lords, our Lead Bishop for Life Issues, Bishop John Sherrington, called for Catholics to unite in prayer and compassionate action. That call is renewed now, urgently, as on Friday, 29th November, the House of Commons will hear the Second Reading of a bill on assisted suicide tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. This is another attempt to legalise assisted suicide and we ask you to contact your MP to voice your opposition. The charity Right to Life UK has a simple online mechanism to do this. It takes little more than a few minutes to input your postcode, make sure the suggested text suits your viewpoint and submit your message to ask your MP to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law. To contact your MP please visit: https://righttolife.org.uk/ASthreat. |
| 30.11.2024 | Christmas Fayre | There will be a Christmas Fayre in our parish hall from 10.00am to 2.30pm on Saturday 30th November, in aid of Save the Children. Hand-crafted items, and other items suitable for presents, will be on sale. There will be refreshments, including home-made cakes. No charge for entry. If anyone would like to bake cakes to sell, or can help in any other way, please contact Julia Greensall on 07855 843 914. |
| 08.12.2024 | Parish Quiz | Our recent quiz night raised £302 for parish funds – thanks once again to Kathy and Bob for organising it and to everyone who helped out. |
| 11.12.2024 | Parish Coffee Morning | Our next coffee morning will take place in the Narthex at 10.30am on Wednesday 11th December – tea, coffee, mince pies, sausage rolls and good conversation in abundance - everyone welcome to join us. |
| 11.12.2024 | 100 Club | The Annual Draw took place on 11th December 2024 at the parish get together. The lucky winners are: 1st prize (£300) – Joe Martin; 2nd prize (£200) – Eileen Selby; 3rd prize (£100) – Bridget Harrison. |
| 15.12.2024 | Carol Service | Our Carol Service is at 6pm on Sunday 15th December, with the usual mix of traditional carols, readings and music from the choir, followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the Parish Room. Donations of mince pies are very welcome – please bring them to Mass on Sunday 15th December. |
| 15.12.2024 | Giving Tree | Our Christmas Giving Tree is in the Narthex. Please take a tag specifying a type of gift and return the wrapped gift (or gift card!) under the tree as soon as possible. Gifts will be donated to Fr Hudson’s Caritas, to be distributed to those involved in their projects: www.fatherhudsons.org.uk/what-we-do/. |
| 15.12.2024 | Save the Children Christmas Fayre | Many thanks to those who attended or supported the Fayre. I am delighted to say that £1,380 was raised; all the money will go to support the work of Save the Children. The support of the Church is greatly appreciated. Best wishes to you all. Julia Greensall |
| 15.12.2024 | Second Collection | There will be a second collection today for the poor parishes of our Diocese |
| 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 |
| 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. |
| 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 |
16.04.2017
Read Father Frank's Easter message by folowing the link
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14.04.2017
The traditional Churches Together ‘Walk of Witness’ will leave St Peter’s Church at 10.30am and process to the village via Blessed Robert Grissold Church. It will be followed by a Frugal Lunch in the Methodist Church Hall.
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12.04.2017
There will be an opportunity for silent adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Confession on Wednesday evening immediately after Mass
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09.04.2017
A huge thank you to Tracey McAtamney and her team of helpers for the work put into organising a very successful Spring Fayre, and thank you to everyone who donated prizes and gifts etc. The event raised £794, a terrific result.
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05.04.2017
Next meeting is this Wednesday April 5th at 11am. We will meet at Maureen Carroll's house, 14 Arden Close, Balsall Common for tea, coffee and cakes
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02.04.2017
Easter Cards are now on sale at the back of church. All proceeds to HCPT.
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02.04.2017
Balsall Common Christian Youth Group meets tonight for years 7 and above, 6.30-7.45pm. This week it is Blessed Robert Grissold’s turn to host and the activities will include making bath bombs, games and cake! Please speak to Claire Keane/Kathryn Driffield for more information. The Group meets on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.
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01.04.2017
This will be held on Sat 1st April 1- 3.30pm. Thank you to everyone who has already donated to this, we now have some lovely items for the Fayre. We are still in need of Easter Eggs, bottles etc. All donations to Tracey McAtamney at 86 Meeting House Lane (Tel: 01676 532940). Special Thanks to Nailcote Hall who has donated Sunday Lunch for 4 people in the Oak Room. Also to Haigs Hotel, The SnowDome, The Butterfly Farm, Hatton Adventure World and many others who have donated raffle prizes. For the children - Decorate Egg Competition - Bring along to the Fayre. Simply boil an egg and decorate! There will be three prizes and each child will receive a chocolate egg for entering!
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26.03.2017
The candle is lit this week for Patrick Flynn (RIP).
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26.03.2017
Many thanks to the men of the parish for the pancake extravaganza last Sunday which was a great success and raised £90 for Church funds
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25.03.2017
Churches Together Lenten Breakfasts are being held on Saturday mornings during Lent at the Methodist church from the 4th March to the 1st April. Each church hosts the breakfasts and Blessed Robert Grissold will be hosting on the 25 March. We need volunteers on this occasion. See notice board for more information or speak to Louise or John Perry.
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23.03.2017
The next Parish Council meeting is on Thursday 23rd March at 7:30 in the Parish Room. All welcome
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19.03.2017
On Sunday 19th March, after 9:30 mass, the men of the parish will provide a pancake breakfast (as a change to the usual bacon butties). A variety of toppings will tantalize your taste buds, so put the date in your diary and come along to support the event!
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19.03.2017
Balsall Common Christian Youth Group meets tonight for years 7 and above at St. Peters 6.30-7.45pm. Please speak to Claire Keane/Kathryn Driffield for more info. The Group meets on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.
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12.03.2017
Meditations before the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesdays continue to reflect on the writings of Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan who in 2000 Pope John Paul II chose to preach a course of Spiritual Exercises for himself and the Curia. Archbishop Van Thuan majors on "hope" in his addresses - a hope that he discovered during his 13 years imprisonment for his faith, nine of which were spent in solitary confinement. This Wednesday's meditations continue to explore the great blessing of coming into the present moment - the place where God - the eternally present 'I AM' - is to be found. We are greatly assisted in this by having Christ present to us, in the sacrament of the altar. In our prayerful stillness and reflection before Christ in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar we can be present to the One who is ever present. All welcome.
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12.03.2017
The candle is lit this week for Maureen and Joe Martin (RIP).
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12.03.2017
In order to help us to prepare prayerfully for Easter there will be Stations of the Cross on Tuesday mornings after Mass at 10am. Also, there will be Lent talks on the Eucharist after 7pm Mass on Wednesdays. The course is open and accessible to all, wherever you are on your Christian journey. (Please bring a Bible if you can). We begin with coffee at 7.30pm and finish before 9pm. Also there will be a Mass at 7pm on Thursdays followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and meditations on the spiritual life, finishing at 8.00pm with Benediction.
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12.03.2017
"During this week we remember especially the often forgotten pain of those suffering with dementia, and those who care for them." Bishop David McGough. Prayer cards available at the back of the church.
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12.03.2017
Cake will be available after Mass every Sunday in Lent - a joyful and enjoyable way of giving the seasonal alms. All donations will go to support the Columban’s missionary work. Thanks for the cakes already offered. If you would like to contribute cakes, please see Sara Stevens.
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12.03.2017
Thank you to everyone who came to the Breakfast last week. We hope you all enjoyed the chatter with friends and meeting new parishioners. Everyone was very generous and we raised £200 which will be sent to help Fr. Ed. O'Connell in the shanty towns of Peru.
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Parish Calendar
