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
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and we leave behind the touching scene of the crib. Jesus has moved from the helpless infant of Bethlehem to a grown man who takes upon himself a tremendous burden and responsibility. The burden is the weight of the sins of humankind. The responsibility is to make reparation for those sins.
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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 |
|---|---|---|
| 24.05.2025 | Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes | Every year, hundreds of pilgrims from across the Archdiocese of Birmingham join together for the Lourdes Pilgrimage. 2025 is the Year of Jubilee and Archbishop Bernard invites you to come with us on this very special occasion in the life of the archdiocese: “It’s a great experience to be together with upwards of 700 fellow pilgrims.” The pilgrimage dates have been announced: Saturday 24 – Friday 30 May 2025, and you can now express your interest in a place or get more information by visiting www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/lourdes. |
| 10.03.2025 | Escorted Tour to Westport, Knock and County Mayo | Departing 10th March 2025. £799.00 pps – price includes flight, 10kg hold luggage, 4 nights in 4* Castlecourt Hotel, Westport with dinner, bed & breakfast. Lunch on three days. All entertainment, excursions and transport included. Visit Knock, Galway City, Kylemore Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Ballintubber Abbey, Quiet Man Museum. Single supplement on enquiry. Contact 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com. |
| 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. |
| 12.01.2025 | Weekday masses | Weekday Masses will resume this week on Wednesday at St Francis. There will be no Mass at BRG on Tuesday as Fr Frank will be taking his post-Christmas break. Please see the Deanery website for weekday Masses in the area (a link to the Deanery website is at the end of this newsletter). |
| 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 |
| 15.12.2024 | Second Collection | There will be a second collection today for the poor parishes of our Diocese |
| 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 | 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 | 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. |
24.05.2025
Every year, hundreds of pilgrims from across the Archdiocese of Birmingham join together for the Lourdes Pilgrimage. 2025 is the Year of Jubilee and Archbishop Bernard invites you to come with us on this very special occasion in the life of the archdiocese: “It’s a great experience to be together with upwards of 700 fellow pilgrims.” The pilgrimage dates have been announced: Saturday 24 – Friday 30 May 2025, and you can now express your interest in a place or get more information by visiting www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/lourdes.
|
10.03.2025
Departing 10th March 2025. £799.00 pps – price includes flight, 10kg hold luggage, 4 nights in 4* Castlecourt Hotel, Westport with dinner, bed & breakfast. Lunch on three days. All entertainment, excursions and transport included. Visit Knock, Galway City, Kylemore Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Ballintubber Abbey, Quiet Man Museum. Single supplement on enquiry. Contact 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
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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.
|
12.01.2025
Weekday Masses will resume this week on Wednesday at St Francis. There will be no Mass at BRG on Tuesday as Fr Frank will be taking his post-Christmas break. Please see the Deanery website for weekday Masses in the area (a link to the Deanery website is at the end of this newsletter).
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09.01.2025
The next meeting of our regular prayer group will be on Thursday 9th January at 3:00 pm.
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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
|
15.12.2024
There will be a second collection today for the poor parishes of our Diocese
|
15.12.2024
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
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
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.
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Parish Calendar
