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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
04.12.2016
Please choose gift tags and return the presents under the tree so they can be given to those in need of extra support this Christmas. Father Hudson's Society have specifically requested the children's presents for children of different ages. Please help as much as you can. The Society is going to let us have a list of commonly requested items to give us ideas for gifts. This will be on the notice board when received
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30.11.2016
The series of meditations continue this week, drawing on the life and writings of St. Therese of Lisieux. Therese’s "Little Way" of confidence and trust in God's love and mercy is a way to God for everyone. One Jesuit writer says: "There is only one way for people to confront themselves and that is through silence. All of us need to develop a tolerance for silence, a place to touch the wellsprings of life inside of us." We can find this silence before Christ present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar. All welcome.
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29.11.2016
Requiem Mass on Tuesday at 1.00pm. Please note the change in time to the Mass on Tuesday. The Funeral Mass is for David Doyle, Rose Doyle’s son. You are welcome to add your prayerful support to the Mass through your attendance.
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27.11.2016
The dedication for this week is for Dennis Clifford RIP & Family
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27.11.2016
Advent begins next Sunday. There will be a Mass at 7.00pm on Wednesdays with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament following until 8.00pm. The meditations accompanying Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during Advent and Christmas will reflect the themes of those holy seasons. In addition, during Advent, there will be Mass on Thursdays at 7.00pm followed at 7.30pm by talks and discussion on the scriptural stories of Jesus' conception, birth and childhood. We will aim to finish around 8.45pm. It would be helpful if you would bring a Bible to these Thursday sessions
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27.11.2016
The Advent Talks and discussions in Advent will follow the 7.00pm Mass on Wednesdays. We will aim to finish around 8.45pm. It would be helpful if you could bring a Bible to these Wednesday evening sessions. Advent meditations will accompany adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after the 10.00am Mass on Thursdays. Meditations, silent reflection and prayer will finish at 11.00am with Benediction. No specialist knowledge required for these Advent devotions. All welcome
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27.11.2016
After mass today. Includes mince pies, small Christmas cakes, jams, chutneys and pickled onions, cards and gifts. Proceeds for Parish funds. We are also selling olive wood carvings, cribs and tree decorations, all made in the Holy Land. Proceeds for these will be sent there via Friends of the Holy Land in Kenilworth
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27.11.2016
Please choose gift tags and return the presents under the tree so they can be given to those in need of extra support this Christmas. Father Hudson's Society have specifically requested the children's presents for children of different ages. Please help as much as you can. The Society is going to let us have a list of commonly requested items to give us ideas for gifts. This will be on the notice board when received.
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27.11.2016
St George and St Teresa Catholic Primary School is looking for a governor from Balsall Common. This is a great opportunity to be involved in a vital part of the Catholic community in this area. If you are interested, please see Father Frank.
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27.11.2016
Christmas Cards, Advent Calendars and Ordinary Calendars are on sale from this Sunday. Proceeds to HCPT Group 83
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20.11.2016
The total donated was £300.39, which was an amazing result. Many thanks to all who made a donation and to those who helped with the baking
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13.11.2016
The dedication for this week is for Jean Clarke RIP and Ann Greenwood
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13.11.2016
Congratulations to Sophie Wilson Ramsay (née Dodd) and Mark on the birth of Henry Joseph.
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13.11.2016
Our Millennium Breakfast No. 61 was a great success and we can now send £211 to help Fr Ed in Peru. This amount is the most we have made for a Breakfast and we thank everyone for your generosity. Fr Ed will be delighted and he will be able to help some of the poor living in shanty towns in Peru.
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13.11.2016
Project Host. Please remember that the provision of cakes with tea and coffee after mass next Sunday will give you an opportunity to make a donation to the joint Save the Children & Churches Together Project supporting the children of Syria.
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13.11.2016
As part of a special feature in the Christmas newsletter about the Consecration of our church, we would like as many parishioners as possible to share their memories of the special day and the work that went into preparing for it. We will be handing out slips at mass next week, 20th November, for you to write a sentence or two (or more if you wish!) on your own particular experiences. If you prefer, you can email us instead - iehclarke@btinternet.com. Thank you.
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13.11.2016
We need your contributions of articles and photos for our Christmas newsletter. If you’ve never written for the newsletters before, this would be an ideal time to try it as we’ve had such a busy year! Perhaps you could give a behind-the scenes look at some of the preparations for the consecration, or review a parish event, or share your experience of the weekly meditations and reflections after mass, or write about some other aspect of parish life. All items, long or short, will be very welcome. Please email them to Ian and Ellie Clarke: iehclarke@btinternet.com.
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08.11.2016
Mass on Tuesday this week will begin at the earlier time of 9.30am to allow for Father to attend the Deanery Clergy meeting
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06.11.2016
Our 61st Breakfast will be on Sunday November 6th after Mass. There will be the usual menu of orange juice, warm croissants, toast, butter, jam, tea & coffee all for a donation of £2. Everyone is welcome, so please come and join us. There will be a chance to meet and chat with other parishioners
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06.11.2016
The dedication for this week is for Graham Jones RIP
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Parish Calendar
