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
In the Gospel today Christ teaches us about the relationships we should nurture and enjoy as members of his Body - the Church. As the baptised we are called to live and act in a way that is caught up in God’s love and life. In this way we witness to Christ in the world. We are not to live as those who do not know Christ - those who quarrel and divide over selfish preferences, those who are motivated by self-serving desire. Rather, as members of the Church, we are to live differently, bearing witness to the alternative life Christ brings, for, as members of his Body, we are bound to him in his loving mission to the whole of creation. As co-workers with Christ, we are called to enact God’s deep love for the world - to get our minds off ourselves and our petty self-interests and to live together harmoniously.
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In the Gospel today Jesus teaches that the lives of his followers should have a distinctive quality. Like salt, we should add a peculiar flavour to life because our life in Christ is distinctive and peculiar - different from what the world has to offer. This distinctive and peculiar quality of the Christ-life in us should shine like a light in the world, because Christ is the Light of the world. But if we lose our distinctive and peculiar taste - if the light in us is dimmed or hidden through sin, or compromised with the world - then we are no longer fit for purpose and we fail in our witness to the love and light of Christ - a witness that is vital in order that all may “taste and see that the Lord is good”.
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According to Christ's teaching, even the destitute, if they have the faith, hope and love of Christ, are in far happier circumstances than the selfish rich. Jesus says, "Woe to you rich ones you have your consolation now." If through the faith, hope and love of Christ the poor can avoid the destructive bitterness which often accompanies destitution, they are far more open to the Gospel message and the Kingdom of Heaven than the rich and comfortably indifferent. The faithful poor have no treasure here below, their treasure is above, their solitary refuge and boast is in the Lord – their greatest treasure.
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This is the Sunday within the Octave of Payer for Christian Unity and, as Christians, we must be deeply committed to that unity among believers for which Jesus prayed. The two great commands of Christ, to love God with our whole strength and being and to love our neighbour as our self, show us the way to that unity, for the more we grow in love and unity with God the more we will grow in love and unity with one another. The scriptures proclaim God’s great love for the world and of his plan to draw all things together in unity in Christ. It is our great privilege to be caught up in this great love of God which we celebrate in the Eucharist where, by faith, we perceive God drawing and gathering his scattered creation into one in Christ.
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In today's Gospel the Baptist calls Jesus the 'Lamb of God.' This title expresses Jesus' sacrificial character for, in the Old Covenant, a lamb was one of the usual animals of sacrifice. This name also points to Jesus' purity, to his gentle patience and to his humble and loving resignation with which he submitted to the sacrifice of the Cross.
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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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The Pope’s Prayer Intention for January: Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church
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If we want to understand Jesus’ life and mission there is no better place to begin than with the mystery of the Holy Family of Nazareth. The humble home of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Nazareth is a fruitful school of the Gospel and a place where Christian virtues are nurtured and thrive. Here we see the outworking of the Divine plan to make the family a community of life and love - the “domestic church” - in which the members of the family are formed in the faith. In this way the Holy Family is a model for every Christian home.
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We see in the Gospels how God fulfils the promises he has made through the people of the Old Covenant, and he does this in a bewildering way. The fulfilment of the promises of old comes through a young Jewish girl who accepts the will of God and the work of his Holy Spirit in her. Her husband, Joseph, is confused about the events surrounding the conception and birth of Jesus but such perplexity is to be expected because God’s ways are not our ways, his thoughts are not our thoughts and, according to God’s loving purposes, revealed in both the Old and New Testaments, something utterly ‘good’ and utterly ‘new’ is breaking into our world with the birth of Christ
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We see in today’s Gospel how God fulfils the promises he has made through the people of the Old Covenant, and he does this in a bewildering way. The fulfilment of the promises of old comes through a young Jewish girl who accepts the will of God and the work of his Holy Spirit in her. Her husband, Joseph, is confused and perplexed by how is betrothed came to be found with child but he believes God’s word, delivered by the angel of the Lord, and takes his wife to his home.
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In the first reading today we hear some of the loveliest words in Scripture. The prophet Isaiah, setting aside the fear and gloom of the contemporary political situation, looks forward to a Golden Age when God’s salvation will transform every living thing. The barren places of nature will bloom; the weak and the frail will be strong; Jerusalem will be a new centre of creation. And if we listen carefully, we will recognise words used by Handel in his setting of the Messiah - celebrating the God, who comes to us in Jesus, to make all things new.
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The invitation to welcome the God who comes to us in Christ and to cast away empty living is repeated in the liturgy of the Second Sunday of Advent. The Opening Prayer of the Mass asks that no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet Christ. And today we hear the lonely voice of John the Baptist who exhorts us to prepare a way for the Lord. May our faithfulness to the spirit of Advent create a space so that the Lord can come to us.
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As we begin Advent our thoughts are guided, through the liturgy, to the coming of Christ - his first coming to us in humility and weakness and his second coming in majesty and power. The description of the Second Coming of Christ should not fill us with fear, rather we should look forward to it and prepare for it through prayer and right living. So let us resolve to stay close to Christ through our daily prayer. Perhaps praying the rosary daily - even if it is only offering up a decade - and meditating on what Christ wants to say to us in the Gospels. In this way we will learn to discern his voice - calling us to follow him in the way we must walk.
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The feast of Christ the King, which the holy Church throughout the world celebrates today, brings to a close the Church’s liturgical year. Our image of a monarch tends to be of one who lives a privileged life and lords it over others. Christ our King is not like that. He came to serve, not to be served and he wants us to imitate him in his loving service of others. That is why, as St. John of the Cross said: “In the evening of life we shall be examined on love.” If to love and to serve our neighbour is heavenly, hell is the suffering of one who can no longer love.
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The Gospel today speaks of persecution for Christ’s true followers and Jesus makes it clear that in time of trial it is profitable for us to endure this suffering for the sake of Christ. The Lord says: ‘By patient endurance you will win life for yourselves.’ To patient endurance in every trial we suffer, in every affliction, whether this is insolent and contemptuous treatment, humiliations, bodily weakness or the attacks of Satan, or any trial whatsoever caused either by people or by evil spirits, must be added wholehearted thanksgiving, prayer and humility. For, it is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give God thanks, for he disposes all things, good or otherwise, for our benefit.
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In the Gospel today Jesus speaks of the life of the Resurrection and he makes it clear that this is eternal life - a life qualitatively different from our natural life - because ‘the children of the Resurrection’ ‘can no longer die.’ We were made children of the Resurrection through Baptism - when we were baptised in the name of God the Holy Trinity in whose eternal life we now share. It is because we are ‘children of the resurrection’ that we ‘dare’ to call God ‘Our Father’ and it is for this same reason that we are presented, at Baptism, with a candle lit from the Easter candle which represents the light and life of the Resurrected Christ, in whose light and life we share. And being children of the Resurrection, we are also children of God - the God who lives and reigns for ever and ever and we are called to shine as lights in the world to the glory of God, our Father
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We have completed the month of the Holy Rosary. St Dominic, a Catholic, did most in the development and the early spreading of the Rosary, and many Catholic saints since have highly praised the power of this great means of prayer, nevertheless the Rosary is valued and prayed by members of many different Christian traditions, including Lutherans, Methodists and Anglicans. Richard Baumann, a Lutheran, writes: “When the Rosary is said, truth sinks into the subconscious like a slow and steady downpour…It is a long and persevering gaze, a meditation, a quieting of the spirit in praise of God.” J. Neville Ward, a Methodist minister says: “The Rosary has a profound message for our times…It is a message of consolation, Scriptural in its background, and reasonable as well as devotional in its content.” According to the Reverend Ward, the Christian who has a Rosary in his or her hand is within an ancient tradition, for no other scheme of prayer has been so widely used in the Christian West. And the Anglican Guardians of the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham write in their handbook: “The Rosary is a devotion of which many people are frightened. But it is quite simple and quite sensible; it is like looking at a picture book on our mother’s knee… pictures connected with the Life, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord, are shown to us by His Mother and our Mother, who prays with us and for us.” The Holy Rosary is a sure weapon and protection of true unity in the Church.
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October, the month of the Rosary continues. Through praying the Rosary, we are invited to contemplate the mysteries at the heart of our faith. This leads us to draw closer to Jesus’ life and teaching and helps them to become ever more deeply embedded in our hearts and minds. We can also relate the mysteries of the Rosary to our own lives - applying them to our own spiritual journey and needs. Also, we can name an intention as we pray the Rosary, dedicating our prayer to someone or something - giving thanks to God or exercising love for others by praying for them or asking God’s grace for our own personal needs. If anyone requires instruction on how to pray the Rosary, I will be happy to help.
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In October we find ourselves in the month of the Holy Rosary and so it is fitting, at this time, that we should reflect on the power of the Rosary as a means of prayer and of the important part it can play in our spiritual life. God’s grace comes to us through our praying the Rosary and that is why the saints prayed it faithfully and why Popes have endorsed it through the ages. Our Holy Mother has urged the praying of the Rosary wherever she has appeared in recent times. Surely this should be an encouragement to us to try and pray, at least, a decade of the Rosary daily. To this end, it can be useful to carry a Rosary with us always and to have one beside our beds. If anyone requires instruction on how to pray the Rosary, I will be happy to help
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October is the month of the Rosary - a form of prayer which has been practiced and encouraged by saints and
Popes down through the ages. More importantly it is a prayer that has been urged by Our Blessed Lady herself. Mary
appeared to St Dominic and instructed him to use the Rosary in combating heresy. In the apparitions in Lourdes in 1858,
Our Lady appeared with the Rosary in her hand and recited it together with Bernadette. And in Fatima, in 1917, she
appeared again holding the Rosary and encouraged the faithful to be diligent in praying the Rosary. It was at Fatima that
Mary identified herself as “the Lady of the Rosary” and asked for the “Fatima prayer” to be said after each decade: “O my
Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of your
mercy.”
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We hear in the Gospel today of the apostles’ desire to grow in faith, “Increase our faith,” they say. Jesus’
response is to speak of how faith can accomplish great things, even if it is small. What Jesus seems to be saying is that what
really matters is that faith is exercised, put into practice - that is how it strengthens and grows. Our faith increases when
we put it into practice, and our practice is to be that of disciples of Jesus. And when we have proved faithful servants of
Christ, all we can rightfully say is: “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.”
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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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Praying the Rosary in May, the Month of Our Blessed Lady - the Holy Rosary is a rich and complete form of prayer. In the first place it is “Trinitarian.” We begin the Rosary with the sign of the Cross as we invoke the Three Persons of the
Most Holy Trinity: “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” We then recite the Apostles Creed, which calls to mind each of the Divine Persons in turn: “I believe in God the Father Almighty…and in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son…I believe in the Holy Spirit.” And each decade of the Rosary concludes with the Trinitarian prayer: “Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.” The Rosary is also Christ-centred for the mysteries of the Rosary upon which we meditate are the mysteries of Christ’s life. And in every “Hail Mary” prayed, we honour Christ by saying: “Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.”
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Praying the Rosary in May, the Month of Our Blessed Lady - The Holy Rosary is a form of prayer which has been practiced and encouraged by saints and Popes down through the ages. More importantly it is a prayer that has been urged by Our Blessed Lady herself. Mary appeared to St Dominic and instructed him to use the Rosary in combating heresy. In the apparitions in Lourdes in 1858, Our Lady appeared with the Rosary in her hand and recited it together with Bernadette. And in Fatima, in 1917, she appeared again holding the Rosary and encouraged the faithful to be diligent in praying the Rosary. It was at Fatima that Mary identified herself as “the Lady of the Rosary” and asked for the “Fatima prayer” to be said after each decade: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of your
mercy.”
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Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. Humankind not only receives and experiences the mercy of God, but is also called to practice mercy towards others. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” It is to this end that we receive the transforming Spirit of God - the Holy Spirit, who through the power of God’s great loving mercy, transforms our interior life in order that it might radiate outwardly and be a transforming power in the world.
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Christ has risen. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the joy of Easter. Today, with the Holy Church of God throughout the world, we proclaim and celebrate the truth which is foundational to our Christian faith, that on the third day Christ rose from the dead. And Christ, the Risen One, does not depart from us but returns to greet us with his peace and to remain with us until the end of time. And we share his peace and rejoice in his presence in the Mass.
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Holy Week begins today with Palm Sunday when the Church recalls the entrance of Christ the Lord into Jerusalem to
accomplish his Paschal Mystery. The Paschal Mystery, the passage from death to life, is the heart of our faith. The account of the
Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus forms the oldest part of the Gospels. It is what the evangelists recorded first. For them,
it was the heart and nucleus of the Lord’s witness to the loving purposes of God. That is why the Paschal Mystery is at the heart
of our communal celebration as the Church and is at the heart of our lives as Christians and this is why the liturgies of Holy Week
and Easter are so important. Through the Easter Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday we celebrate the
greatest mysteries of our redemption keeping, through very special celebrations, the memorial of our Lord’s crucifixion, burial and
resurrection. I hope as many of us as possible will gather for these key celebrations in the Church’s calendar.
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We see in the Gospel today how the Jewish Law was interpreted at the time of Jesus such that it prescribed the death penalty for the sin of adultery. Jesus rejects the lack of humility and lack of mercy, shown in the story, by the woman’s accusers. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus’ just authority made her accusers, all men, walk away. Jesus forgives the woman taken in adultery and rejects the cruelty and double standards of her accusers.
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Jesus’ parables invite us to reflect on where we find ourselves in the story he is telling. So in today’s Parable of the
Prodigal Son who do we most identify with? With the Father, having a care and concern for those in need and having a good nose
for when a party is needed? Or do we identify more with the reckless, but eventually repentant, younger son? Do we see something
of ourselves in his destructive self-centredness? Or do we see more of our self in the elder son - are we more like him in being full
of resentment and making other people pay for our loveless faithfulness? Perhaps we see a little of all the characters in us. Wherever
we find our self in the story, Christ invites us to reflect on the journey we have to make to be one with him.
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In today’s Gospel Christ calls us to repentance. It is a call for us to come to our senses - to realise who we really are and to be those people - and through Baptism we are children of God. Repentance is about turning away from all that prevents us from realising our true identity and a turning towards the God who wants us to live in a loving relationship with him and with one another. Repentance is about us realising the abundant life God created us for. It’s the reason Christ came to proclaim his message of repentance - for as he said: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” and to that end he calls us to, “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”
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Today in the Gospel we hear how the apostles Peter, James and John were given a glimpse of Christ’s glory on the Mount of the Transfiguration - the same glimpse of glory that we are all given when we gather for the Mass, for in and through the sacred mysteries of the Eucharist we ascend to the heavenly places where, with Angels and Archangels and all the host of heaven, we worship the Beloved Son of God who sits at the right hand of the Father. God, the Holy Spirit, gathers us into the cloud of his glory. We listen to him in the scriptures. We feed on him in the Sacrament of the altar. No wonder the disciples “kept silence.” “Master,
it is wonderful for us to be here.”
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Holy Week and Easter are the climax of the Christian liturgical year. The time of the Passion and Resurrection is proceeded by Lent, a lengthy period of preparation for these saving and illuminating mysteries. Lent is a time of penitence. It is a time for us to examine our conscience and seek reconciliation with the Lord. Lent is also a time for spiritual growth and enlightenment. In Lent we are invited to listen, and respond, ever more faithfully to the voice of God. Lent also commemorates Israel’s liberation from slavery in Egypt and their forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Lent relates this to our own spiritual journey, to our liberation, our pilgrimage, our feeding on divine manna and of our meeting with God. And, as we see from today’s Gospel, Lent also recalls the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert during which he contended with Satan, the tempter. And our Lent must be a period of fighting against temptation. From this one can see that Lent is a very rich, a very deep mixture of elements which serve to purify and enlighten us. During the time of Lent the Church leads us towards the radiant glory of the Paschal feast. The more serious our Lenten preparation has been, the deeper we shall enter into the mystery of Easter and gather its fruits.
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In today’s Gospel Jesus says: “A man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.” Lent begins on Wednesday - Ash Wednesday - with the Blessing and Imposition of the Ashes. The Church’s season of Lent is an opportunity for us to go deeper into what is at the heart of our lives and what should be first in our hearts. It’s a season in which we are invited to grow in our awareness of those things that blind us to the truth about ourselves and the truth about Christ. Lent is an opportunity to notice the “plank” in our own eye that prevents us seeing clearly how to love God and how to love our neighbour as our self. And it is only by seeing clearly that we can act and speak lovingly. On Ash Wednesday, a day of penance, abstinence and fasting, we enter into the joyful season of Lent - joyful because it is a time established for the purification of our souls and the renewal of our hearts.
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In today’s Gospel Jesus calls us to love our enemies - to love like the God in whose image and likeness we were originally created. Humanity has made itself the enemy of God through its sinfulness - our turning our backs on the way of God’s love. This is seen most keenly in the way humanity treated God’s beloved Son. Yet God loves us. He loves us as we are, but he loves us too much to let us stay as we are. His love wants to transform us, more and more, into the likeness of Jesus, who is true the image of God and who loved his enemies - praying for those who crucified him: “Father, forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.”
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We were made by God and created for God - to know him and love him forever. So we are happy now if we are poor - poor in the sense of knowing our poverty with regard to the riches of the life for which God has created us. We are happy because this knowledge of our poverty allows us to realise our absolute need of God which leads us to turn to him in trust - trusting in his power to save us. And God does not disappoint those who turn to him in trust.
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After the miraculous catch of fish, which we hear about in the Gospel today, Peter realised, as never before, his own sinfulness and the holiness of Jesus. He asked Jesus to depart from him but Christ showed him that his sins and weaknesses would not prevent him from sharing in his work. While our sinfulness humbles us we should not let it get us down or make us feel that we do not belong to the company of Christ. Christ came to “call sinners.” He is known as the “friend of sinners” - he comes to help us to overcome our sins. That is why, with confidence, we can come before him in the Mass to confess our sins.
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Mary the Mother of Jesus lovingly and willingly united herself to her Son’s sacrifice on the Cross, sharing
in his self-giving for our salvation and redemption. That is why several Popes have called Mary Co-Redemptrix. Mary
teaches us to have faith. If our faith is week, we should turn to Mary. Jesus dying on the Cross bequeaths his mother
to all mankind and especially to all his disciples.
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In today’s Gospel Jesus says: “A man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.” Lent begins on Wednesday - Ash Wednesday - with the Blessing and Imposition of the Ashes. The Church’s season of Lent is an opportunity for us to go deeper into what is at the heart of our lives and what should be first in our hearts. It’s a season in which we are invited to grow in our awareness of those things that blind us to the truth about ourselves and the truth about Christ. Lent is an opportunity to notice the “plank” in our own eye that prevents us seeing clearly how to love God and how to love our neighbour as our self. And it is only by seeing clearly that we can act and speak lovingly. On Ash Wednesday, a day of penance, abstinence and fasting, we enter into the joyful season of Lent - joyful because it is a time established for the purification of our souls and the renewal of our hearts.
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Can we trust the Gospel accounts of what Jesus said and did and of who he claimed to be? Luke, Gentile doctor, Christian convert and missionary companion to St Paul, seems to have no doubts. In the prologue to his Gospel he describes the received teaching as “well founded.” and his confidence is in no small part due to the fact that the accounts of Jesus’ life and mission which had been handed down, were the work of those who, from the outset, were “eyewitnesses.” So we can reliably learn what Jesus said and did, and about who he claimed to be, by attending to the Gospels.
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Love and marriage are very much in the air in our readings today. The scriptures reveal how God created us in order that we might know and love him. God delights in us or, as Isaiah in our first reading puts it: ‘As the bridegroom rejoices in his bride so will your God rejoice in you.’ Two become one in marriage and God created us so that we might be united with him in love - and our God is passionate about our being made one with him - So passionate that he gives himself totally for us in Christ who is born among us to win our love and devotion. This is the greatest love story ever told. Christ reveals the God of love to us in order that we might fall in love with him and so, like him, be prepared to leave all to be wedded to him.
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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 |
|---|---|---|
| 19.03.2026 | 40 Hours Adoration of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament | 40 Hours Adoration of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament will take place at St John the Evangelist, Banbury from Thursday 19th March at 6.30pm through to the 4pm Vigil Mass on Saturday 21st March. This is part of the deanery prayer for vocations |
| 14.03.2026 | One Pot Supper with entertainment | We are holding an evening of food and merriment on Saturday 14th March at 7 pm. The cost is £10 per head. Pam is collecting names / money on Sunday after Mass. Please support this event in aid of Parish funds |
| 07.03.2026 | Churches Together Lent Breakfasts and Talks | These will be held at the Methodist Church each Saturday from 21st February until 21st March, breakfast from 8.45am, the talk at 9.00am. BRG will be hosting on 7th March. Please see Louise Perry if you can help |
| 06.03.2026 | World Day of Prayer | This years’ service, prepared by the people of Nigeria, will be held at the Methodist Church on Friday 6th March at 6.30pm and will be followed by light refreshments. Everyone is welcome. |
| 01.03.2026 | March, the month of prayer for vocations | Our prayer before the Blessed Sacrament on the First Tuesday after Mass (at BRG) and every Thursday (at SF) during March will be dedicated to this intention |
| 21.02.2026 | Lent Breakfasts | As usual the Methodist Church is the venue for the Churches Together Lenten Breakfast talks. The theme is “Good Books”. These will be each Saturday morning from 21st February until 21st March, breakfast from 8.45am (pastries, tea & coffee) donations please. The talk begins at 9.00am. Each church will act as host in turn. Blessed Robert Grissold will be hosting on 7th March. Volunteers welcome |
| 18.02.2026 | Ash Wednesday Mass and imposition of Ashes | Ash Wednesday Mass and imposition of Ashes: 6.30pm on Wednesday 18th February |
| 18.02.2026 | Lent | Let us make every effort to make a good start to the season of Lent and to use this time to renew and deepen our life in Christ. To help us prepare for the celebration of Our Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection the following are available during Lent att Blessed Robert Grissold, Balsall Common: Tuesdays 10:00am Mass followed by Stations of the Cross |
| 18.02.2026 | Changes in Lent | In the penitential season of Lent, we do not sing the Gloria, and the Alleluia is dropped from the Gospel Acclamation |
| 17.02.2026 | Churches Together Quiet Mornings | The next Quiet Morning will be on Shrove Tuesday, 17th February, 9.30 am – 12 noon. It will be at St Mary’s Church in Temple Balsall and led by the vicar Debbie Collins. |
| 17.02.2026 | Midweek Mass | Weekday Mass at BRG: 10:00am on Tuesday 17th February |
| 15.02.2026 | Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament | Mass on the First Tuesday of each month will be followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction at 11:00am. |
| 15.02.2026 | Second Collection | There will be a second collection today for the LIFE Charity |
| 15.02.2026 | Prayer Tree | All are invited to use our Prayer Tree in the Narthex. Take a tag, date it, write your prayer, and hang it on the tree. Prayers stay on the tree for one month and are shared at prayer group meetings |
| 11.02.2026 | Parish Coffee Morning | The next Parish Coffee morning will be in the Narthex at 10.30am on 11th February with coffee and tea, cakes, scones and good conversation. If you haven’t been before, give it a try - you will be made very welcome! |
| 01.02.2026 | Second Collection | There is a second collection next Sunday (1st February) for Racial Justice. |
| 01.02.2026 | Planned Giving | Thank you to everyone who responded to our first Planned Giving event by taking out a new standing order (or increasing an existing standing order) and/or signing up for Gift Aid. If you haven’t yet set up a standing order or Gift Aid and would like to do so, Iain Butlin-Moran will be available in the Narthex for the next few Sundays with forms and details of how to set these up. |
| 01.02.2026 | Choir | Weekly choir practice will start today after mass, working on music for Easter. New members very welcome – no previous choir experience needed! Please speak to Ian or Ellie Clarke if you are interested in joining. |
| 01.02.2026 | Healthcare Volunteers in Lourdes | Are you a doctor, nurse or carer? Would you consider donating your time and expertise on next year’s Lourdes Pilgrimage? Every year sick pilgrims are able to make the journey to Lourdes thanks to the support of a dedicated Healthcare Team. Without their expertise many pilgrims would not be able to go. If you are a healthcare professional and would like to try something new, please consider joining us. You will make a real difference. For more information, and to access the Volunteer Pilgrimage Pack and an application form, please visit https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/lourdes-pilgrimage. |
| 01.02.2026 | Reception of Adults into full Communion with the Church | If any adults are interested in entering into full Communion with the Catholic Church, please contact Fr Frank ASAP as formation will begin shortly |
| 01.02.2026 | Sacrament of Confirmation (for young people) | If any young people in our Parish, from Year 6 upwards, are interested in preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation, please contact Teresa Green on 07583 540060 or speak to Fr. Frank. Preparation will commence at the end of January. |
| 27.01.2026 | Weekday Mass this Tuesday | There will be no weekday mass this Tuesday. Fr. Frank will be taking his post-Christmas break at this time, apologies for any inconvenience. |
| 18.01.2026 | Churches Together Service for Christian Unity | A service for Christian Unity will be held today, 18th January at 4pm at St John the Baptist Church Berkswell. The theme this year is ‘Light from Light for Light’ and it has been prepared by the Armenian Apostolic Church. All welcome, light refreshments will be served. |
| 18.01.2026 | Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity | The week of prayer for Christian unity begins this Sunday 18th January with a theme of “One Body, One Spirit”. |
| 14.01.2026 | Coffee Morning | The next Parish Coffee morning will be in the Narthex at 10.30am on Wednesday 14th January with coffee and tea, cakes, scones and good conversation available to all. If you haven’t been before, give it a try - you will be made very welcome! |
| 13.01.2026 | Planned Giving Campaign | There will be a meeting for members of the Planned Giving Steering Group and co-ordinators of volunteer rotas at 7.00pm on Tuesday 13th January in the Parish Room, to discuss the next phase of our Parish Planned Giving Campaign |
| 08.01.2026 | Prayer Group | Next meeting is on Thursday 8th January at 4pm. Everyone is most welcome |
| 04.01.2026 | Christmas Mystery Prize | A sincere thank you to everyone who contributed towards the Christmas Mystery Prize Draw. The results were announced and three very satisfied winners took their bag of mystery prizes home! We raised £150 towards parish funds. |
| 04.01.2026 | Thank you | Thanks to all those who worked so hard to prepare for the Christmas celebrations. Thanks also for your cards, gifts, kindness and support. I am overwhelmed by your generosity. Also, I am grateful for your devotion to the Mass - for ensuring that there is in this place a faithful witness to the love, light and hope of Christ and his in-breaking Kingdom. That is the peculiar and incomparable gift we are called to offer to the world as the Church, but, in order for this to happen, we have to be faithful to the Mass, to worship and prayer and many have to give of their time and energy in raising funds and being responsible for day to day administration and maintenance. May the Lord bless you for all your hard work on behalf of Christ and his Kingdom. It is a privilege and a joy to share with you in this service. Fr. Frank |
| 24.12.2025 | Christmas Offerings | 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. |
| 21.12.2025 | Christmas Masses | 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. |
| 21.12.2025 | Carol Service | 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 |
| 21.12.2025 | Father Hudsons Caritas Collections | 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 |
| 21.12.2025 | CAFOD World Gifts | 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 |
| 14.12.2025 | Quiz Night Total | 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 |
| 14.12.2025 | Christmas Giving Tree | 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 |
| 14.12.2025 | 100 Club | 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! |
| 10.12.2025 | Fr. Hudsons Carol Service | 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. |
| 07.12.2025 | Parish Planned Giving | 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. |
| 07.12.2025 | 100 Club | 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 |
| 07.12.2025 | Collection in memory of Maureen Carroll | 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. |
| 07.12.2025 | Second Collection today | There will be a collection today for the poor parishes of the diocese. |
| 30.11.2025 | Tuesday Masses | 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 |
| 30.11.2025 | Thank You | 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 |
| 29.11.2025 | Quiet Morning | 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. |
| 23.11.2025 | Knitted Prayer Cloths | 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 |
| 22.11.2025 | Save the Children Christmas Fayre | 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. |
| 16.11.2025 | Holy Souls | Throughout November Masses for the Holy Souls will be offered, and we will pray for those whose names have been placed before the altar. |
| 12.11.2025 | Parish Coffee Morning | 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! |
| 10.11.2025 | Jubilee Tour to Westport, Knock & Co Mayo | £799.00 pps. Price includes flight from Birmingham, 10kg hold luggage, 4 nights’ in 4* Castlecourt Hotel, Westport with Dinner, Bed & Breakfast. Full use of leisure facilities. All entertainment, excursions and transport included. Visit Knock Shrine, Ballintubber Abbey, Fr. Peyton Centre & Kylemore Abbey. Irish music nightly. Single supplement on Enquiry. Contact 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com. |
| 09.11.2025 | Remembrance Sunday | Today is Remembrance Sunday when we pray for the repose of the souls of all those who have lost their lives because of war, praying especially for local residents who died serving our country. The silence we keep presents us with an opportunity to remember, honour and give thanks to God for all those courageous men and women who have laid down their lives for the sake of others and in defence of what is right and good. |
| 09.11.2025 | Church Deep Clean | Many, many thanks to all who participated in the much-needed deep clean of the church. I was a wonderful turn-out |
| 06.11.2025 | Carols at Hilliers Garden Centre | Berkswell choir will be singing carols at Hilliers Garden Centre on Thursday 6th November between 5.30 pm & 7.00 pm. Please come and join the choir. Contact Emma Bratton on 07977593017. |
| 03.11.2025 | Bereavement Sessions | St Peter’s Church, Balsall Common, is running sessions for anyone bereaved anytime, starting on Monday 3rd NovemberSave the Children Christmas Fayre 1.15pm to 2.45pm. Further details on our church notice board. To book a place please contact Rev’d Suzy Pearson on 07443345584 or email vicar@spcbalsall.org.uk. |
| 02.11.2025 | Change to weekday Mass | There will be no Mass on Tuesday 4th November. This is because Fr Frank has transferred his day off this week in order that we can celebrate All Souls Day on Monday 3rd November, there will be a 6.30pm Mass offered for All the Faithful Departed. |
| 01.11.2025 | Churches together coffee morning | Churches Together Coffee Morning is held the first Saturday of each month (1st November) at the Jubilee Centre, 10.30-12.00. All Welcome. |
| 26.10.2025 | Book of Remembrance | We will be updating the Book of Remembrance in the church and on our website in preparation for All Souls. If you would like anyone to be added, please complete one of the forms in the book and leave it on the lectern. Alternatively, you can email the full name of the person along with the date and month of their anniversary to iehclarke@btinternet.com. |
| 23.10.2025 | St. George & St. Teresa Primary School | St. George & St. Teresa Primary School, Bentley Heath will be having open mornings at 9.15am on the 23rd October and 4th November. |
| 20.10.2025 | Advanced Notice | Fr Frank will be away from the Parish from Monday 20th October until Friday 24th October. There will be no midweek Masses that week. |
| 19.10.2025 | Fr. Frank | Please note that Fr. Frank is away from the parish from Monday 20th October to Friday 24th October. |
19.03.2026
40 Hours Adoration of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament will take place at St John the Evangelist, Banbury from Thursday 19th March at 6.30pm through to the 4pm Vigil Mass on Saturday 21st March. This is part of the deanery prayer for vocations
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14.03.2026
We are holding an evening of food and merriment on Saturday 14th March at 7 pm. The cost is £10 per head. Pam is collecting names / money on Sunday after Mass. Please support this event in aid of Parish funds
|
07.03.2026
These will be held at the Methodist Church each Saturday from 21st February until 21st March, breakfast from 8.45am, the talk at 9.00am. BRG will be hosting on 7th March. Please see Louise Perry if you can help
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06.03.2026
This years’ service, prepared by the people of Nigeria, will be held at the Methodist Church on Friday 6th March at 6.30pm and will be followed by light refreshments. Everyone is welcome.
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01.03.2026
Our prayer before the Blessed Sacrament on the First Tuesday after Mass (at BRG) and every Thursday (at SF) during March will be dedicated to this intention
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21.02.2026
As usual the Methodist Church is the venue for the Churches Together Lenten Breakfast talks. The theme is “Good Books”. These will be each Saturday morning from 21st February until 21st March, breakfast from 8.45am (pastries, tea & coffee) donations please. The talk begins at 9.00am. Each church will act as host in turn. Blessed Robert Grissold will be hosting on 7th March. Volunteers welcome
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18.02.2026
Ash Wednesday Mass and imposition of Ashes: 6.30pm on Wednesday 18th February
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18.02.2026
Let us make every effort to make a good start to the season of Lent and to use this time to renew and deepen our life in Christ. To help us prepare for the celebration of Our Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection the following are available during Lent att Blessed Robert Grissold, Balsall Common: Tuesdays 10:00am Mass followed by Stations of the Cross
|
18.02.2026
In the penitential season of Lent, we do not sing the Gloria, and the Alleluia is dropped from the Gospel Acclamation
|
17.02.2026
The next Quiet Morning will be on Shrove Tuesday, 17th February, 9.30 am – 12 noon. It will be at St Mary’s Church in Temple Balsall and led by the vicar Debbie Collins.
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17.02.2026
Weekday Mass at BRG: 10:00am on Tuesday 17th February
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15.02.2026
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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15.02.2026
There will be a second collection today for the LIFE Charity
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15.02.2026
All are invited to use our Prayer Tree in the Narthex. Take a tag, date it, write your prayer, and hang it on the tree. Prayers stay on the tree for one month and are shared at prayer group meetings
|
11.02.2026
The next Parish Coffee morning will be in the Narthex at 10.30am on 11th February with coffee and tea, cakes, scones and good conversation. If you haven’t been before, give it a try - you will be made very welcome!
|
01.02.2026
There is a second collection next Sunday (1st February) for Racial Justice.
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01.02.2026
Thank you to everyone who responded to our first Planned Giving event by taking out a new standing order (or increasing an existing standing order) and/or signing up for Gift Aid. If you haven’t yet set up a standing order or Gift Aid and would like to do so, Iain Butlin-Moran will be available in the Narthex for the next few Sundays with forms and details of how to set these up.
|
01.02.2026
Weekly choir practice will start today after mass, working on music for Easter. New members very welcome – no previous choir experience needed! Please speak to Ian or Ellie Clarke if you are interested in joining.
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01.02.2026
Are you a doctor, nurse or carer? Would you consider donating your time and expertise on next year’s Lourdes Pilgrimage? Every year sick pilgrims are able to make the journey to Lourdes thanks to the support of a dedicated Healthcare Team. Without their expertise many pilgrims would not be able to go. If you are a healthcare professional and would like to try something new, please consider joining us. You will make a real difference. For more information, and to access the Volunteer Pilgrimage Pack and an application form, please visit https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/lourdes-pilgrimage.
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01.02.2026
If any adults are interested in entering into full Communion with the Catholic Church, please contact Fr Frank ASAP as formation will begin shortly
|
01.02.2026
If any young people in our Parish, from Year 6 upwards, are interested in preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation, please contact Teresa Green on 07583 540060 or speak to Fr. Frank. Preparation will commence at the end of January.
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27.01.2026
There will be no weekday mass this Tuesday. Fr. Frank will be taking his post-Christmas break at this time, apologies for any inconvenience.
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18.01.2026
A service for Christian Unity will be held today, 18th January at 4pm at St John the Baptist Church Berkswell. The theme this year is ‘Light from Light for Light’ and it has been prepared by the Armenian Apostolic Church. All welcome, light refreshments will be served.
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18.01.2026
The week of prayer for Christian unity begins this Sunday 18th January with a theme of “One Body, One Spirit”.
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14.01.2026
The next Parish Coffee morning will be in the Narthex at 10.30am on Wednesday 14th January with coffee and tea, cakes, scones and good conversation available to all. If you haven’t been before, give it a try - you will be made very welcome!
|
13.01.2026
There will be a meeting for members of the Planned Giving Steering Group and co-ordinators of volunteer rotas at 7.00pm on Tuesday 13th January in the Parish Room, to discuss the next phase of our Parish Planned Giving Campaign
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08.01.2026
Next meeting is on Thursday 8th January at 4pm. Everyone is most welcome
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04.01.2026
A sincere thank you to everyone who contributed towards the Christmas Mystery Prize Draw. The results were announced and three very satisfied winners took their bag of mystery prizes home! We raised £150 towards parish funds.
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04.01.2026
Thanks to all those who worked so hard to prepare for the Christmas celebrations. Thanks also for your cards, gifts, kindness and support. I am overwhelmed by your generosity. Also, I am grateful for your devotion to the Mass - for ensuring that there is in this place a faithful witness to the love, light and hope of Christ and his in-breaking Kingdom. That is the peculiar and incomparable gift we are called to offer to the world as the Church, but, in order for this to happen, we have to be faithful to the Mass, to worship and prayer and many have to give of their time and energy in raising funds and being responsible for day to day administration and maintenance. May the Lord bless you for all your hard work on behalf of Christ and his Kingdom. It is a privilege and a joy to share with you in this service. Fr. Frank
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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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10.11.2025
£799.00 pps. Price includes flight from Birmingham, 10kg hold luggage, 4 nights’ in 4* Castlecourt Hotel, Westport with Dinner, Bed & Breakfast. Full use of leisure facilities. All entertainment, excursions and transport included. Visit Knock Shrine, Ballintubber Abbey, Fr. Peyton Centre & Kylemore Abbey. Irish music nightly. Single supplement on Enquiry. Contact 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
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09.11.2025
Today is Remembrance Sunday when we pray for the repose of the souls of all those who have lost their lives because of war, praying especially for local residents who died serving our country. The silence we keep presents us with an opportunity to remember, honour and give thanks to God for all those courageous men and women who have laid down their lives for the sake of others and in defence of what is right and good.
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09.11.2025
Many, many thanks to all who participated in the much-needed deep clean of the church. I was a wonderful turn-out
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06.11.2025
Berkswell choir will be singing carols at Hilliers Garden Centre on Thursday 6th November between 5.30 pm & 7.00 pm. Please come and join the choir. Contact Emma Bratton on 07977593017.
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03.11.2025
St Peter’s Church, Balsall Common, is running sessions for anyone bereaved anytime, starting on Monday 3rd NovemberSave the Children Christmas Fayre 1.15pm to 2.45pm. Further details on our church notice board. To book a place please contact Rev’d Suzy Pearson on 07443345584 or email vicar@spcbalsall.org.uk.
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02.11.2025
There will be no Mass on Tuesday 4th November. This is because Fr Frank has transferred his day off this week in order that we can celebrate All Souls Day on Monday 3rd November, there will be a 6.30pm Mass offered for All the Faithful Departed.
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01.11.2025
Churches Together Coffee Morning is held the first Saturday of each month (1st November) at the Jubilee
Centre, 10.30-12.00. All Welcome.
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26.10.2025
We will be updating the Book of Remembrance in the church and on our website in preparation for All Souls. If you would like anyone to be added, please complete one of the forms in the book and leave it on the lectern. Alternatively, you can email the full name of the person along with the date and month of their anniversary to iehclarke@btinternet.com.
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23.10.2025
St. George & St. Teresa Primary School, Bentley Heath will be having open mornings at 9.15am on the 23rd
October and 4th November.
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20.10.2025
Fr Frank will be away from the Parish from Monday 20th October until Friday 24th October. There
will be no midweek Masses that week.
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19.10.2025
Please note that Fr. Frank is away from the parish from Monday 20th October to Friday 24th October.
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Parish Calendar
