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
This week the Church celebrates the Feast of the Archangels Ss Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. In our scientific and materialistic age it is easy to lose sight of the supernatural nature of our faith. In the Creed we profess our belief not only in the 'visible' but also in the 'invisible' and this invisible realm is the home of the Holy Angels of God. The Angels of God are our brothers who protect us from evil and who guide us in our journey toward God. In the Mass we pray to Almighty God that the gifts of the altar may be borne by the hands of his holy Angel to his altar on high and we join with all the Angels in heaven in hymning God’s praise as we acclaim: 'Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.' Also, each of us has a Holy Guardian Angel, appointed by God, who protects us from the beginning of our life in our mother’s womb and accompanies us on our path to heaven. Devotion to the Holy Angels is a powerful means of turning us away from the errors of materialism toward the true faith in the invisible realm of the supernatural.
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There are notable parallels between the Parable of the Unjust Steward, which we hear in the Gospel today, and the
Parable of the Prodigal Son. Each story has a noble master who shows amazing grace to his wayward underling. Both stories
have a subject who wastes his master’s goods and in both stories the wasteful servant or son wake up to their dire situation and
then they throw themselves on the mercy of their master. In these two parables the principal concern for Jesus is not financial
propriety, rather, through these stories, he is inviting us to reflect prayerfully and deeply on the weightier matters of God, his
grace and mercy, and salvation
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An Invitation from Archbishop Bernard Longley : Today we give thanks for the gift of Catholic education. Our schools
have a mission to form Christ-centred pilgrims of hope, with kind hearts, questioning minds, a thirst for knowledge and a hunger
for justice. We urgently need more Foundation Directors and Governors to help guide our schools and keep Christ at the heart of
their mission. This is not simply an administrative role, it is a true vocation and a way to serve Christ and His Church. If you are
a practising Catholic, committed to our mission, and willing to share your time, skills, and faith, you can make a lasting difference
for thousands of children and young people. No prior experience is required as full training and support are given. The Holy
Cross teaches us that service is not always easy, but it is always fruitful when rooted in love. Please speak to your Parish Priest
or visit the Diocesan Education Service’s website for further details: https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/news/could-you-be-
a-foundation-governor-or-director-at-your-local-catholic-school and https://www.bdes.org.uk/governor-online-application-
forms.html to complete an online application form
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Regarding discipleship and following Jesus, today’s Gospel makes it clear that it is a choice which each of us has to make. Christ calls us to radical commitment to him and for that reason he asks all those who would be followers to first count the cost of discipleship. The cost is great. Its demands all total but the reward is inexpressibly greater. We cannot follow him in our own strength. He leads us, he empowers us, he gives us the strength to follow so that we might increasingly immerse ourselves in that incomparable love of his which was revealed in his Passion and Cross - a love that is stronger than death and the love we were created to know and share in forever.
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The Gospel today speaks to us of humility and humility is necessary if we wish to be pleasing to God and find entry into his kingdom. Humility is one of the marks of a saint. Because the saints were close to God and deeply aware of his great holiness they felt their faults, failures and weaknesses more profoundly. We are to be humble, like Jesus and the saints, if we are to find favour with God. Humility is about being realistic about who and what we are in the light of the holiness of God.
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In today’s Gospel Jesus says: “Try your best to enter by the narrow door”
- and Jesus is the “narrow door.” through which God’s eternal plan is realised in time and space - through Christ, God’s kingdom comes on earth and God’s plan for his creation is fulfilled. So, if we want to get on board with the true meaning and purpose of life - If we want to understand and live according to God’s eternal loving purposes - then we need to try to enter into this sacred mystery through Christ, for he is the “narrow door” in time which opens on to eternity and the truth of our existence.
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Let us pray that societies where coexistence seems more difficult, might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious or ideological reasons.
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We must be open and ready to receive the God who comes to us in every present moment. God’s name, revealed to Moses, is I AM. He is, therefore, the Ever-Present One. Too often, our minds are distracted by what has been or by what might be – by things past, which no longer exist and by things which may or may not come to pass. God, however, the Great I AM, meets us in real time – the only time which is real, the present moment. Prayer and the sacraments – especially the Sacrament of the Eucharist – can help to make us present to the One who is present to us in the sacrament of the present moment.
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The Gospel calls us to place all our trust in God and his providence. Through prayer and the sacraments, we are to store up treasure for ourselves in heaven. Though we are poor in spiritual things, God makes us rich through his grace, allowing us to be sharers in his life and love.
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The Pope’s Prayer Intention for July: “Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel,”
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The mystery revealed in today’s readings is of God in Christ, our friend and companion - the Divine guest who comes
to us and we are invited to welcome him, just as Abraham did at the Oak of Mamre and as Martha and Mary did at Bethany.
Both Abraham and Martha welcomed their Divine Guest amidst a flurry of activity; whilst Mary sat at his feet and listened to
him in the stillness. However we receive the God who comes to us, only one thing is needed - a heart open to love.
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As followers of Christ, we are all called to be like the Good Samaritan. We are to love our neighbour as ourselves - serving all people without distinction of race, colour or creed and having a special concern for the poor and marginalized. We are to demonstrate our love of God through being reconcilers, peacemakers and healers in a wounded world
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In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus sending out his Apostles to share in his mission of spreading the Good News of the
Kingdom of God and Jesus still sends us out today. Christ’s missionary mandate is still in force. We ascend with Christ in and
through the Mass to the heavenly places where we worship the living God with angels and Archangels and all the hosts of heaven.
After having fed on heavenly things, shared in the Holy Spirit and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
we are sent out at the end of the Mass for the life of the world. Christ’s missionary mandate to his Church still stands. The
Church on earth is missionary by nature - the Church exists for others - in order that they might be drawn into the communion of
love which exists between God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that love, revealed fully in the Cross of Christ, urges us on.
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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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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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June is the month of the Sacred Heart. 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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June is the month of the Sacred Heart. The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus falls on Friday 27th June - which we will celebrate with a Mass at 9.00am at St Francis. All welcome. Great benefits are promised to those who practice this devotion. Also, during this month, we can seek to deepen our devotion to the love of God revealed in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - a devotion encouraged by St Margaret Mary, whose relic rests in the altar at Blessed Robert Grissold church. We might even consider consecrating ourselves to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. To this end I have included, below, a Prayer of Consecration, written by St Margaret Mary, which we could pray during the month of June.
Consecration to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ I give and consecrate to the Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, my whole life, all my actions, my trials, my sufferings, devoting every portion of my being to loving, honouring, and glorifying him, to working for his love alone, renouncing with all my heart whatever may be displeasing to him. I take you, then, O Sacred Heart, for the one object of my love, the protector of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my inconstancy, the redeemer of all my faults, and my sure refuge in the hour of death. O Heart of all goodness, be my justification before God the Father, and shield me from the effects of his just anger. O Heart, overflowing with love, I place all my confidence in you, for I dread my own weakness, while I hope everything from your goodness. Destroy in me whatever displeases you or goes against your will. May pure love of you be so deeply imprinted in my heart that I may never forget you nor be separated from you. I implore you by all your love that my name be graven upon you. May it be my happiness to live and die as your slave. Through Christ our Lord. Amen
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Praying the Rosary in May, the Month of Our Blessed Lady - The Holy Rosary is a rich and powerful prayer. Firstly, the Rosary is vocal prayer in that, the fixed words can be prayed aloud, but it also lends itself to meditative prayer as we reflect on each of the mysteries. This enables personal insights that can change our lives and meditation can lead to loving contemplation when our mind is seized by the depth of the mystery we are praying. That’s why Pope St John Paul II wrote:“The Rosary belongs among the finest and most praiseworthy traditions of Christian contemplation.” The words of the Rosary also contain prayers of praise and petition and the faithful often offer up each decade of the Rosary for a special intention. Countless believers, down through the ages have born witness to the fruitful results of praying the Rosary. How could it be otherwise when, as Pope St John Paul II says: “To recite the Rosary is nothing other than to contemplate with Mary the face of Christ.”
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Praying the Rosary in May, the Month of Our Blessed Lady - The Holy Rosary is both Trinitarian and Christ-centred but it is also a Marian prayer. In the Rosary, we are happy to praise the mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the words of the Archangel Gabriel and her cousin Elizabeth: “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.” And in the Rosary, we meditate and reflect on the important events in Our Lord’s life through the eyes of Mary. Another prayer that makes the Rosary Marian is the concluding prayer - the “Hail Holy Queen.” But the two most important prayers of the Rosary are the Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary. As St. Louis de Montfort said: “How could there possibly be any more pleasing prayers to Almighty God and the Blessed Virgin, or any that are easier, more precious or more helpful than these two prayers?”
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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 |
|---|---|---|
| 07.08.2016 | Services this week | Please note that there is a Eucharistic Service at 10.00am on Tuesday and normal weekday Mass service is resumed on Wednesday 10th August with Mass at 7.00pm followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and meditations until 8.00pm. There will be a 10.00am Mass on Thursday. |
| 14.08.2016 | Please pray for | Adrian Stewart and Frank Clements, recently departed and for all those who mourn their passing. Their Requiem Masses will be held at Blessed Robert Grissold on Thursday and Friday of this week at 11.30 a.m. |
| 14.08.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is for Delia Murray and Diana Turner |
| 21.08.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is for Delia Murray and Diana Turner |
| 21.08.2016 | Finance Committee Meeting | There will be a meeting of the Finance Committee after Mass today |
| 21.08.2016 | 100 Club Winners | August's draw winners are: 1st: No. 56 (Rory Murtagh) - £75; 2nd: No. 11 (Kathy Jones) - £45; 3rd: No. 26 (Eileen Innes) - £30 |
| 28.08.2016 | Lourdes Visit | Ros Cawley, Chris Mitchell & Maureen Carroll are going to Lourdes next Friday. They will be staying at Hosanna House, a House owned by H.C.P.T. in Bartres near Lourdes. During their week's stay they will remember you all. Do remember them in your prayers. If you have a petition you wish them to take, please give it to either Ros or Chris. Thank you |
| 04.09.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is for Joanna Gibbs and Hosanna House Group 524 |
| 10.09.2016 | Deanery Readers' Day Saturday 10th September 10am – 4pm, Leamington Spa | For Readers and anyone interested in becoming a Reader. This is a chance to explore in more detail, the Ministry of Reader and your place in it. For more details, please see the notice board or contact Kate Tennyson on 01926 314077, or email kate.tennyson@googlemail.com. There is a letter of invitation for all readers, at the back of church. If you are not yet a reader but wish to attend, please contact Kate as above to obtain detail |
| 11.09.2016 | Children's Liturgy Rota (Help needed) | Please can parishioners (particularly parents of young children) give some thought to joining our children's liturgy rota? You are welcome to volunteer as a leader or a helper, or both! New child protection rules mean that we need to have two vetted people in every session we run, and without more volunteers we will have weeks when we are not able to run a session. The vetting procedure is very simple. Please speak to Louise Perry or Kathryn Driffield if you can help |
| 15.09.2016 | Parish Council Meeting | There is a meeting of the Parish Council at 7.30pm on Thursday 15th September in the church hall. |
| 18.09.2016 | Baptism today | The Baptism of Oliver Westwood will take place today at 11 am today |
| 18.09.2016 | Lourdes | Chris, Ros & Maureen returned back last Friday having had a very good week at Hoanna House in Lourdes. We did remember you all there. We thank you for your prayers. Maureen did light your candles that you asked her at Easter. Apologies for the delay! |
| 24.09.2016 | Balsall Common Festival Tombola Saturday | We urgently need more bottles for our stall. At the moment we only have 102 and have only two weeks to make up the number to 300. Can you please support us over the next two Sundays and bring whatever you can. Thank you |
| 25.09.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is for Joe Sheen |
| 25.09.2016 | Quavers Children’s Choir | The children’s choir practice will restart this week after mass. All welcome |
| 25.09.2016 | Intinction | It has been brought to my attention that some are dipping the consecrated host into the precious blood of Christ at Holy Communion. This practice is forbidden. If you do not wish to drink from the chalice then just receive Communion in one kind. To receive Communion in one kind is to receive a full Communion. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Father Frank |
| 25.09.2016 | Family Ministry Project Worker | The Archdiocese wishes to appoint someone to this full-time post based at the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham. For further details contact 0121 360 8118 |
| 02.10.2016 | October and the Rosary | October is the month of the Rosary and it is a good time therefore to renew our devotion to this rich source of prayer. We will offer up a decade of the Rosary at every weekday Mass throughout the month of October. On Friday 7th October we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary and we will pray 5 decades of the Rosary after Mass. All welcome |
| 05.10.2016 | Get-together | We are meeting this Wednesday, 5th October at 10.30am in the parish room for tea and coffee |
24.12.2025
The collection at our Christmas masses will be the customary Christmas offering for your priest. Thank you for all your support and generosity throughout the year.
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21.12.2025
The masses at our church are on Wednesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) at 6.00 pm and Thursday 25th December (Christmas Day) at 09.30 am.
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21.12.2025
Thank you to everyone who helped to make our carol service last week such a joyful occasion – including the readers, musicians and singers, wardens, children’s liturgy, refreshments team, and all who helped to prepare the church and clear up afterwards
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21.12.2025
Thank you to everyone who donated gifts or cash to Fr. Hudsons this Advent. Our collection in Maureen’s memory raised £370.65, and the charity was delighted to receive the gifts at the beginning of this week, in time to be distributed at their Christmas events. Claire Keane
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21.12.2025
There are a few CAFOD World Gifts catalogues at the back of the church. If you would like to give a World Gift to someone who has everything, or to a child or grandchild (for example) to teach them the real meaning of Christmas, then please take one. The gifts start from £5 and there are a few different ideas for less than £10! You can also buy them from the CAFOD World Gifts website: https://worldgifts.cafod.org.uk/. Chris Lynn
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14.12.2025
Our quiz night in November raised £330 for parish funds – many thanks to Bob & Kathy for organising it and to all who helped to make it such a successful evening
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14.12.2025
Please pick a tag from the Christmas tree and buy a gift to donate to the charity Fr Hudsons Caritas, who support families in need. Please wrap the gifts, attach the tag (you can add comments about the gift in pencil) and place them under the tree by 14th December
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14.12.2025
The results of the draw on 10th December are as follows: 1st Prize (£300) – E. Power, 2nd prize (£200) – E. Selby, 3rd prize (£100) – B. Gibbs, 4th prize (£50) – C. Keane. The £100 Club raised £600 for parish funds, thanks to Ken and Stefan for running it!
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10.12.2025
We are invited to the charity’s carol service, led by Archbishop Bernard Longley, at 11.30am on Wednesday 10th December. Further details on the noticeboard.
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07.12.2025
Following last week’s presentation by Ian Clarke about Planned Giving, our volunteers will be available after Mass today to assist with standing order and Gift Aid forms.
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07.12.2025
Stefan Hunka and Ken Higgins will be in the Narthex after Mass today if you wish to sign up for the 100 Club. The next draw will take place on 10th December
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07.12.2025
We are collecting donations for Fr. Hudsons Caritas in memory of Maureen, who died earlier this year. Envelopes will be available on 7th December; donations will be collected after mass on 14th December. There will also be a collection at the Carol Service.
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07.12.2025
There will be a collection today for the poor parishes of the diocese.
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30.11.2025
Please note the new start time for Tuesday masses – 10.00 am. Mass on the First Tuesday of each month will be followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction at 11:00am
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30.11.2025
Thank you to all those who supported the Save the Children Fayre last week. A total of £1,668 was raised, including £47.50 from the sale of cakes after Mass. Julia Greensall
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29.11.2025
Churches Together in Balsall and Berkswell are holding a Quiet Morning, led by Rev’d Kathryn Darby, Methodist Minister on Saturday 29th November, 10am to 12 noon (coffee available from 9.30 am) at The Old Hall, Temple Balsall (adjacent to the church). If you wish to attend, please contact Doug Timmis on 01676 543346 – limited places available.
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23.11.2025
There are some small, knitted prayer cloths at the back of the church, that have been knitted by a member of our congregation. Each one has a blessing for you in every stitch. The church hopes you can find comfort in using these whenever you feel the need. There is no charge, but donations are welcome
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22.11.2025
This will be held in our Parish Room on Saturday 22nd November from 10.00am to 2.30pm. Hand-crafted items and gifts will be on sale. Refreshments available. Entry is free. If you would like to donate cakes, raffle or tombola prizes (or help in any way), please contact Julia Greensall on 07855 843 914.
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16.11.2025
Throughout November Masses for the Holy Souls will be offered, and we will pray for those whose names have been placed before the altar.
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12.11.2025
Our next Coffee morning will be in the Narthex at 10.30am on 12th November with coffee, buns and good conversation available in abundance. If you haven’t been before, give it a try - you will be made very welcome!
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Parish Calendar
