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
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
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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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Faith in the God of love can bring great happiness and confidence for “perfect love casts out all fear.” The warnings about the end times in the Scriptures are meant to be a source of hope for us, not fear, for “Christ, by his death and resurrection, has achieved our sanctification.” All we need to do is to place our trust in Christ and so be able to make the words of today’s psalm our own: “You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence.”
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Today in the Gospel we hear the story of the “Widow’s Mite.” The mite was the tiniest coin in circulation. In the Temple the rich were giving from their loose change, but the widow, out of her extreme poverty, gave everything she had: two small coins. Although poor and in need of the few coppers she had, she never hesitated, never counted the cost. She gave everything to God. The widow became famous, not because she gave so little but because, in her extraordinary generosity, she gave so much.
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Through liturgy and worship, formation, evangelisation and social outreach, the Diocesan Vision calls us to work for the renewal of the Church. The then Cardinal Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI, insisted that, “The true celebration of the Sacred Liturgy is the centre of any renewal of the Church whatever.” This is why the New Evangelisation must be founded on the faithful and fruitful celebration of the Sacred Liturgy as passed down and presented to us by the Church in her tradition. This is because it is in the Sacred Liturgy, especially in the Mass - the source and summit of the Church’s life, that we encounter the saving action of our Lord Jesus Christ in the most profound way. Liturgy for us in the Church is not just a series of actions or rituals but an encounter with the living Christ who alone offers perfect worship to God and who draws all people to himself through the Sacrifice of the Cross made present in the Eucharist.
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October is the month of the Rosary, and we have prayed a decade of the Rosary at each Mass during October as a gentle reminder, if it is needed, of the great riches that are to be had in this form of prayer. Padre Pio, the holy saint who received the stigmata, loved to pray the Rosary. He always kept his Rosary beads in his hand. Because he prayed it almost constantly, he was known as the ‘living Rosary.’ One day his superior asked him how many Rosaries he had prayed that day. Wanting to be respectful and honest with his superior he told him: “I have prayed thirty-four Rosaries today.” On another occasion a follower asked him to teach him a prayer that was most pleasing to our Blessed Lady. Without hesitation, he insisted that none is more beautiful or pleasing than the Rosary. And he further instructed him: “Always say the Rosary. The Rosary is a weapon in our hands.” Near the end of his life, he didn’t talk much and when people sought his advice or help, he would simply show them the Rosary. Let us follow St Pio’s example and always have our Rosary with us.
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October is the month of the Rosary, and the Rosary is 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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October is the month of the Rosary, 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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October is the month of the Rosary, 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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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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The Gospel today presents us with a lesson in humility. Whilst the disciples were arguing amongst themselves about who was “the greatest”, Jesus was arguing for being “last of all” and “servant of all” and Jesus backs up his words with his actions, for that is exactly what he became. He washes his disciples’ feet, the work of a slave, and he dies the death of an outcast criminal. And he wants us to share in his way of humility because it is the way of the God who stoops low to gather us into his kingdom.
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“Who do people say I am?” - This is the question posed to his disciples by Jesus in today’s Gospel. But more important is the question he poses to Peter: “But you, who do you say I am?” for this is a question posed to all of us too. So who is Jesus for us? Is he just a fine example of what it means to be a thoroughly decent human being or is there more to him than that? Is he, in fact, divine, the Son of God, the Second Person of God, the Most Holy Trinity made flesh? How we answer this question will determine how we respond to him and his message. It will deeply affect the way we live our lives, for if we truly believe that he is the Messiah and Son of God then why wouldn’t we make every effort to get to know him and his will for us and strive to live accordingly?
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St. James reminds us in our second reading today that we should not have a higher regard for those who are well-dressed and well-heeled. For him such an attitude is incompatible with faith in the one who washed the feet of his own disciples and who said: “Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your slave.” Discrimination against the poor, or partiality towards the wealthy, is seriously at odds with the teaching of Christ who, though equal with God, made himself poor so that we might be rich.
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Whilst people are often caught up with appearances, God looks on the heart. That’s why when He began His preaching Jesus said: “Set your hearts first on the Kingdom of God.” Like the Prophets of old Jesus calls for conversion of the heart rather than mere conformity to external standards and laws. This is not to say that the external customs and tradition of the Church are unimportant – far from it – The Christian faith is Incarnational. The Gospel of Christ is an affair of the heart that must be fleshed out in our daily life.
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The Gospel reading today points up the vital significance of the Eucharist. The fundamental importance of the Eucharist for the life of the Church can be seen in the words of St Irenaeus: “Our teaching is in accordance with the Eucharist, and the Eucharist, in turn, confirms our teaching.” The Fathers of the Church perceived the Eucharist as the revelation and fulfilment of the entire mystery of the salvation of the world by Christ and therefore of the entire content of the Christian faith. No wonder, therefore, that the Catechism teaches that the Eucharist is the ‘source and summit of the Christian life.’
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In today’s Gospel Jesus is teaching us what he wants us to know concerning the Eucharist and he says things that his followers find hard to accept. Nevertheless, this is his teaching and he insists that he is the “bread of life,” that “comes down from heaven,” that “anyone who eats this bread will live for ever,” and the “bread” he gives is his “flesh” which he gives “for the life of the world.” And Christ’s “flesh,” his Body, is the “bread from heaven” we feed on in the Mass today.
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The journey to the God of life is not an easy task. We tend to get lost along the way and we are discouraged by the efforts we have to make. On their way to the promised land, the Jewish people turned against Moses - their difficulties made them yearn for a mediocre but familiar existence. Freedom frightened them, slavery being more familiar seemed more secure. This is the temptation of every believer and this is why Jesus says to his disciples: “Do not be afraid.”
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After receiving Holy Communion, Mother Teresa prayed that God would give her the grace to radiate Christ to the people she moved among after being sent out from the Mass. This was her prayer: “Dear Jesus, help me to spread your fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that my life may only be a radiance of yours. Shine through me, and be so in me, that every soul I come in contact with may feel your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me, but only Jesus!” In this prayer we can see what is at the heart of the Archbishop’s vision for the Diocese - the worship and prayer of the Eucharist, the source of our Christian life, forming us for mission, evangelisation and social outreach.
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In the Gospel today Jesus says to his Apostles that they should come away to some lonely place all by themselves and rest for a while for there was so much coming and going that the Apostles had no time even to eat. So Jesus takes them off to a lonely place where they could be with Him by themselves. Jesus still invites us to find quiet and rest in His presence especially through Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Our Lord Jesus Christ is present in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. He invites us, He is waiting, He is longing for us to spend time with Him. Coming to Him just as we are. Love lives with Jesus present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Through this Sacrament Jesus shares with us all that belongs to Him.
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The disciples had already responded to the Lord’s call to them to “Come” and follow him, now Christ commands them to “Go.” The kingdom of God is at hand and the call is urgent. They are instructed to travel light. They were not to rely on their own resources but on the bountiful providence of God. Their simplicity of life would help them to remain unencumbered by distractions and help them to stay focused wholly on their mission.
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By referring to himself as a prophet in today’s Gospel, Jesus identifies himself with the long line of Old Testament prophets who suffered rejection or violence because of the unpopularity of their message. The failure of the people of his home town to accept him and his message anticipates the more general rejection of those who will hand him over to be crucified: “He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.”
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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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St Paul, in our second reading today, tells us that, “For anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here.” St John in his Gospel puts it like this: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Those in Christ have been given the power to be children of God, because they have been re-born, created anew, born from above - born not by natural generation, nor by human choice, nor by man’s decision, but of God. Such is the nature of our supernatural life in Christ - a life which is a light to the world. A life we need to nurture if we are to be effective in evangelisation and mission.
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In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus telling Parables of the Kingdom. The first declares that the growth of the Kingdom resembles the mysterious process of nature; so too the growth of the Kingdom is equally mysterious, as God’s ways always are. A second parable, that of the Mustard Seed, stresses the enormous potential of the Kingdom in spite of its tiny beginning. A parable, from the Greek word meaning “laid alongside,” can be seen as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.
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The Gospel of Christ is something so radically good and new that it can be difficult to accept - even by those who are closest to Jesus. The Gospel today tells us that Jesus’ own relatives thought he was “out of his mind.” And others accuse him of siding with Satan and with those who oppose God. They do not have “eyes to see” or “ears to hear” and so his message seems like foolishness or worse - like blasphemy against God - Such is their blindness and deafness to the true God who lives and speaks in Christ.
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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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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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The Gospel today invites us to celebrate the mystery at the heart of our salvation: God longs for us to be united with him, and with one another, in love. The readings from John typically rejoice at the Good News that we are truly loved by God - the God who is love. And God’s great love is revealed most powerfully in the life death, resurrection and ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ and is made truly present in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
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Jesus calls us to follow his example in choosing to give ourselves in love, even when it hurts for this is the kind of love that mirrors God’s love. Authentic love is about self-giving - this cannot be accomplished in our own strength - but we can choose to try, confident that our efforts will be backed by God’s energetic and all-conquering love.
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Through the Eucharist we make our home in Christ who describes Himself in today’s Gospel as “the true vine.” He is the “vine” and we are the “branches” which feed on His life in and through the miracle of the Mass. The Mass is vital to the Church’s mission and evangelisation, indeed, as St John Fisher once stated “When someone observes with attention the periods of spiritual flourishing of the Church and the times of degeneration as well he must realise this: the cause of degeneration in the Church is almost always the negligence and abuse of this most holy Sacrament of the Altar. On the opposite side however he will notice this: the times of genuine reform and the flourishing of the life of the Church were always preceded by a tender devotion to this most holy Sacrament.”
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Today is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. We pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life and that all believers will be faithful to their baptismal vocation. To follow Christ is to love him, to trust him, to serve him and to do his will - which is also what it means to be faithful to our vocation. Christ, the Good Shepherd, tells us that his sheep follow him “because they recognise his voice.” We have to learn to distinguish the voice of the one true God from the voices of the many false gods and idols which call to us today.
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The consequences of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ do not end with Easter Day. For those for whom the power of the Resurrection was a first-hand experience, it affected the rest of their lives. Today we remember that the Resurrection was a dynamic and transforming experience for the friends of Jesus and we pray that it may be so for us also.
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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 and it is the most important week in the Church’s calendar. Holy Week opens with Palm Sunday when we carry palm crosses in procession to commemorate the Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem. During Holy Week we celebrate the Easter Triduum, comprising the liturgies of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday evening). The liturgy of Holy Thursday commemorates the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, also there is the Washing of Feet in remembrance of our Lord’s example of humble service. On Good Friday we celebrate the Lord’s Passion and venerate the Cross. The wonderful liturgy of the Easter Vigil is celebrated on Saturday of Holy Week with the blessing and preparation of the Easter Candle and the celebration of Our Lord’s Resurrection. The celebration of Easter Sunday completes the celebrations we have prepared for during Lent. These sacred liturgies shine forth as the high point of the Church’s year. The Paschal Triduum is at the heart of all that it means to be the Church and we owe it to ourselves as Christians to be present at these key moments in the life of the worshipping community, for the sacred mysteries, which we celebrate on these three days, are not only the most beautiful liturgies of the Church’s calendar, they are also the axle on which the rest of the liturgical year turns.
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Jesus calls us to serve him and follow him - to conversion. To turn away from sin - from all that harms our relationship with God and with our neighbour and to turn toward him, to serve him, do his will, to be faithful to our baptismal vocation. Conversion is a gift from God, won for us through the sacrifice of Christ and we must ask for it through fervent prayer in order that we might know the power of Christ’s Resurrection working in our lives.
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Today is Mothering Sunday and so we give thanks to God for our mothers and for all who are mothers in our community. May God bless you in your high calling, remembering that the greatest of the saints, Our Blessed Lady, was, like you, a mother and that through loving devotion to her calling attained to the heights of holiness.
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The Father loves and liberates but in today’s Gospel we see how his house can become ‘a market place’ where people are exploited. Jesus’ protest and rejection of the trading taking part in the Temple affects powerful interests: the interests of those who have replaced God (without denying God openly) by greed, which Paul calls ‘idolatry.’ Paradoxically, this subtle and insidious substitution is often justified by religious arguments. None of us is immune from this. The Gospel today invites us to examine our conscience both at the personal level and as members of Christ’s Church. Through Christ we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Lent is an opportunity for us to cleanse the temple of our lives from all that harms and diminishes us and those around us.
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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. |
| 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 |
| 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 | 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 next Sunday 15th December. |
| 12.12.2024 | No Prayer Group this week | No meeting this week – the group will commence again on Thursday 9th January at 3:00 pm. |
| 11.12.2024 | Parish Coffee Morning | Our next coffee morning will take place in the Narthex at 10.30am on Wednesday 11th December – tea, coffee, mince pies, sausage rolls and good conversation in abundance - everyone welcome to join us. |
| 09.12.2024 | Midweek Mass on MONDAY 9th December | Mass at BRG at 7pm on Monday 9th December (Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary). There will be no mass on Tuesday next week. |
| 08.12.2024 | Second Collection next week | There will be a second collection on Sunday 8th December for the poor parishes of our Diocese. |
| 08.12.2024 | 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. |
| 08.12.2024 | 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/. |
| 08.12.2024 | Parish Quiz | Our recent quiz night raised £302 for parish funds – thanks once again to Kathy and Bob for organising it and to everyone who helped out. |
| 30.11.2024 | Christmas Fayre | There will be a Christmas Fayre in our parish hall from 10.00am to 2.30pm on Saturday 30th November, in aid of Save the Children. Hand-crafted items, and other items suitable for presents, will be on sale. There will be refreshments, including home-made cakes. No charge for entry. If anyone would like to bake cakes to sell, or can help in any other way, please contact Julia Greensall on 07855 843 914. |
| 29.11.2024 | Bill on Assisted Suicide | In early September 2024, when Parliament returned and a Bill on assisted suicide – so-called assisted dying – started its passage through the House of Lords, our Lead Bishop for Life Issues, Bishop John Sherrington, called for Catholics to unite in prayer and compassionate action. That call is renewed now, urgently, as on Friday, 29th November, the House of Commons will hear the Second Reading of a bill on assisted suicide tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. This is another attempt to legalise assisted suicide and we ask you to contact your MP to voice your opposition. The charity Right to Life UK has a simple online mechanism to do this. It takes little more than a few minutes to input your postcode, make sure the suggested text suits your viewpoint and submit your message to ask your MP to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law. To contact your MP please visit: https://righttolife.org.uk/ASthreat. |
| 25.11.2024 | Job Vacancy 1 | The Archdiocese of Birmingham invite applications for the new CEO of the first enlarged Catholic Multi-Academy Trust in the Archdiocese. We are looking for an outstanding, dynamic, innovative and visionary Catholic servant leader to lead this new Trust of 63 schools by example and with wisdom. For further details, please see the Diocesan Education Service website: https://www.bdes.org.uk/vacancies.html . The closing date for applications is 25th November 2024. |
| 24.11.2024 | Youth Sunday | We will be celebrating Youth Sunday at our 9.30am Mass on Sunday 24th November. There will be craft activities and party food after Mass for the children. All are welcome. |
| 24.11.2024 | November is the month of Remembrance | Requests for Masses to be offered for your deceased loved ones in November and throughout this year in Masses for the Holy Souls can be made using the envelopes available in the Narthex |
| 24.11.2024 | Job Vacancy 2 | Friends of the Holy Land require two Office Administrators – one full-time, one part-time. please contact the Office Manager, Jen Hill, initially by phone. Tel 01926 512980. For further details please see: https://www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk/jobs. |
| 24.11.2024 | New Lectionaries | Would all those who have made donations to offset the cost of the new Lectionaries please confirm with Fr Frank in order that the dedicatory book plates may be allocated. |
| 23.11.2024 | Baptism | Congratulations to Theodore Rupert McAtamney who was Baptised on Saturday. Please keep Theodore, his parents and godparents in your prayers |
| 17.11.2024 | Today is Safeguarding Sunday | The theme this year is “Let’s talk about it”. It’s time to have open and honest conservations about what we got wrong and what we’re getting right. It’s an opportunity to talk about how we can work together to prevent abuse and create a world where every child and adult can feel safe. We believe that safeguarding is an outworking of our faith in a loving and just God – the God who calls us to speak up on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves and to defend the rights of the vulnerable (Proverbs 31:8). Please join us in praying for all those who work to ensure our communities are safe for all. |
| 17.11.2024 | Photographs from Confirmation Mass on 3rd November 2024 now online | Photographs taken by our parish photograhers from the recent confirmation mass are now online. Please note that only photos of candidates where permission has been explicitly provided are included. Click on the link for more. |
| 16.11.2024 | Parish Quiz | Our parish quiz night is this Saturday 16th November, for teams of up to 6 people. The cost is only £10 per person, including supper (bring your own drinks). Kathy Jones will be collecting names and payment after mass. |
| 13.11.2024 | Parish Coffee Morning | Our next Coffee Morning will take place in the Narthex on Wednesday 13th November at 10.30am - tea, coffee, scones, cake and conversation in abundance - everyone welcome. |
| 10.11.2024 | Remembrance Sunday | This Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, when we will remember and pray for the war dead of the Parish. |
| 05.11.2024 | Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at BRG | Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at BRG will follow the 7.00pm Mass every first Tuesday of each month, followed by Benediction at 8.00pm. All welcome. |
| 03.11.2024 | Welcome | We welcome Archbishop Bernard and Father Dominic. We are very grateful to His Grace for agreeing to minister to the Sacraments to us today. |
| 03.11.2024 | Confirmation candidates | We pray for the confirmation candidates, their parents, families and friends, for their sponsors and catechists. |
| 03.11.2024 | New Encyclical | The Pope has issued his fourth encyclical, “Dilexit Nos” – He Loved Us. Cardinal Vincent Nichols has emphasised that the Letter is for all of us. For more information see www.cbcew.org.uk/new-encyclical-an-invitation-to-come-close-to-the-heart-of-jesus-says-cardinal/. |
| 02.11.2024 | Blessing of Graves at Oscott Cemetery | Family and friends of those buried at Oscott Cemetery are invited to the Blessing of Graves on Saturday 2nd November at 3pm. Please see the noticeboard for further information or contact Alison Hutcheson at the Cemetery Office - 0121 321 5026 between 10am & 2pm. |
| 27.10.2024 | BRG Church 30th Anniversary Celebrations (Parish Meal) | 2024 marks the 30th Anniversary of the opening of our Church. Archbishop Bernard Longley will celebrate mass in our church on Sunday 3rd November, Parish Quiz Night – Saturday 16th November (please note this is a change of date) and Youth Mass (followed by a party for the youth and children) – 24th November 2024 (Youth Sunday) |
| 27.10.2024 | Choir | We have just started practising music for Christmas! If you enjoy singing and would like to join us, please speak to Ian Clarke or email iehclarke@btinternet.com – no previous choir experience necessary! |
| 27.10.2024 | Book of Remembrance | This will be updated ready for All Souls Day. If you would like a loved one to be added, please complete one of the forms and leave it in the back of the book. |
| 26.10.2024 | St Margaret Clitherow Pilgrimage | On 26 & 27 October, including visits to the Shrine of St. Margaret Clitherow, her relics at the Bar Convent and the place of her execution. All welcome. For information and itinerary please see https://bookwhen.com/youngcatholicadults-yorkpilgrimage2024 |
| 26.10.2024 | Save the Children: Quiz night | Save the Children Quiz night will be held on 26th October at 7.30pm at St Peter’s Church Hall. Tickets are £14 per person including a supper of jacket potatoes (with a choice of fillings). Teams of 6 people. Tickets available from Linda Chesshire - telephone 07974932386. |
| 20.10.2024 | Second Collection | Today is World Mission Sunday – we can support the Church’s mission by contributing to Missio in today’s second collection. |
| 20.10.2024 | CAFOD | Again, an amazing collection for CAFOD Family Fast Day. We have collected £456.55 and of that, £300 has been gift aided. So, the total donation should come to £531.55! Thank you so much! Chris Lynn |
| 20.10.2024 | Flower Rota | The rota is being updated and more helpers are needed. It only involves a couple of times per year. Please see Pam Martin after Mass or call her on: 01676 534916 |
| 13.10.2024 | Guild of St Stephen | Congratulations to James Murtagh and Reece Abreu who will be enrolled into the Guild of St Stephen for Altar Servers at Mass this morning. |
| 13.10.2024 | Parish Supper | Thank you everyone who supported our Parish Supper last Saturday, and for all the help in making the evening such a success. We also made a profit of £333! Thank you all. Pam and Joe |
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.
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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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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
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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
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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 next Sunday 15th December.
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12.12.2024
No meeting this week – the group will commence again on Thursday 9th January at 3:00 pm.
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11.12.2024
Our next coffee morning will take place in the Narthex at 10.30am on Wednesday 11th December – tea, coffee, mince pies, sausage rolls and good conversation in abundance - everyone welcome to join us.
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09.12.2024
Mass at BRG at 7pm on Monday 9th December (Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary). There will be no mass on Tuesday next week.
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08.12.2024
There will be a second collection on Sunday 8th December for the poor parishes of our Diocese.
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08.12.2024
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.
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08.12.2024
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/.
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08.12.2024
Our recent quiz night raised £302 for parish funds – thanks once again to Kathy and Bob for organising it and to everyone who helped out.
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30.11.2024
There will be a Christmas Fayre in our parish hall from 10.00am to 2.30pm on Saturday 30th November, in aid of Save the Children. Hand-crafted items, and other items suitable for presents, will be on sale. There will be refreshments, including home-made cakes. No charge for entry. If anyone would like to bake cakes to sell, or can help in any other way, please contact Julia Greensall on 07855 843 914.
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29.11.2024
In early September 2024, when Parliament returned and a Bill on assisted suicide – so-called assisted dying – started its passage through the House of Lords, our Lead Bishop for Life Issues, Bishop John Sherrington, called for Catholics to unite in prayer and compassionate action. That call is renewed now, urgently, as on Friday, 29th November, the House of Commons will hear the Second Reading of a bill on assisted suicide tabled by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater. This is another attempt to legalise assisted suicide and we ask you to contact your MP to voice your opposition. The charity Right to Life UK has a simple online mechanism to do this. It takes little more than a few minutes to input your postcode, make sure the suggested text suits your viewpoint and submit your message to ask your MP to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law. To contact your MP please visit: https://righttolife.org.uk/ASthreat.
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25.11.2024
The Archdiocese of Birmingham invite applications for the new CEO of the first enlarged Catholic Multi-Academy Trust in the Archdiocese. We are looking for an outstanding, dynamic, innovative and visionary Catholic servant leader to lead this new Trust of 63 schools by example and with wisdom. For further details, please see the Diocesan Education Service website: https://www.bdes.org.uk/vacancies.html . The closing date for applications is 25th November 2024.
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24.11.2024
We will be celebrating Youth Sunday at our 9.30am Mass on Sunday 24th November. There will be craft activities and party food after Mass for the children. All are welcome.
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24.11.2024
Requests for Masses to be offered for your deceased loved ones in November and throughout this year in Masses for the Holy Souls can be made using the envelopes available in the Narthex
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24.11.2024
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.
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24.11.2024
Would all those who have made donations to offset the cost of the new Lectionaries please confirm with Fr Frank in order that the dedicatory book plates may be allocated.
|
23.11.2024
Congratulations to Theodore Rupert McAtamney who was Baptised on Saturday. Please keep Theodore, his parents and godparents in your prayers
|
17.11.2024
The theme this year is “Let’s talk about it”. It’s time to have open and honest conservations about what we got wrong and what we’re getting right. It’s an opportunity to talk about how we can work together to prevent abuse and create a world where every child and adult can feel safe. We believe that safeguarding is an outworking of our faith in a loving and just God – the God who calls us to speak up on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves and to defend the rights of the vulnerable (Proverbs 31:8). Please join us in praying for all those who work to ensure our communities are safe for all.
|
17.11.2024
Photographs taken by our parish photograhers from the recent confirmation mass are now online. Please note that only photos of candidates where permission has been explicitly provided are included. Click on the link for more.
|
16.11.2024
Our parish quiz night is this Saturday 16th November, for teams of up to 6 people. The cost is only £10 per person, including supper (bring your own drinks). Kathy Jones will be collecting names and payment after mass.
|
13.11.2024
Our next Coffee Morning will take place in the Narthex on Wednesday 13th November at 10.30am - tea, coffee, scones, cake and conversation in abundance - everyone welcome.
|
10.11.2024
This Sunday is Remembrance Sunday, when we will remember and pray for the war dead of the Parish.
|
05.11.2024
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at BRG will follow the 7.00pm Mass every first Tuesday of each month, followed by Benediction at 8.00pm. All welcome.
|
03.11.2024
We welcome Archbishop Bernard and Father Dominic. We are very grateful to His Grace for agreeing to minister to the Sacraments to us today.
|
03.11.2024
We pray for the confirmation candidates, their parents, families and friends, for their sponsors and catechists.
|
03.11.2024
The Pope has issued his fourth encyclical, “Dilexit Nos” – He Loved Us. Cardinal Vincent Nichols has emphasised that the Letter is for all of us. For more information see www.cbcew.org.uk/new-encyclical-an-invitation-to-come-close-to-the-heart-of-jesus-says-cardinal/.
|
02.11.2024
Family and friends of those buried at Oscott Cemetery are invited to the Blessing of Graves on Saturday 2nd November at 3pm. Please see the noticeboard for further information or contact Alison Hutcheson at the Cemetery Office - 0121 321 5026 between 10am & 2pm.
|
27.10.2024
2024 marks the 30th Anniversary of the opening of our Church. Archbishop Bernard Longley will celebrate mass in our church on Sunday 3rd November, Parish Quiz Night – Saturday 16th November (please note this is a change of date) and Youth Mass (followed by a party for the youth and children) – 24th November 2024 (Youth Sunday)
|
27.10.2024
We have just started practising music for Christmas! If you enjoy singing and would like to join us, please speak to Ian Clarke or email iehclarke@btinternet.com – no previous choir experience necessary!
|
27.10.2024
This will be updated ready for All Souls Day. If you would like a loved one to be added, please complete one of the forms and leave it in the back of the book.
|
26.10.2024
On 26 & 27 October, including visits to the Shrine of St. Margaret Clitherow, her relics at the Bar Convent and the place of her execution. All welcome. For information and itinerary please see https://bookwhen.com/youngcatholicadults-yorkpilgrimage2024
|
26.10.2024
Save the Children Quiz night will be held on 26th October at 7.30pm at St Peter’s Church Hall. Tickets are £14 per person including a supper of jacket potatoes (with a choice of fillings). Teams of 6 people. Tickets available from Linda Chesshire - telephone 07974932386.
|
20.10.2024
Today is World Mission Sunday – we can support the Church’s mission by contributing to Missio in today’s second collection.
|
20.10.2024
Again, an amazing collection for CAFOD Family Fast Day. We have collected £456.55 and of that, £300 has been gift aided. So, the total donation should come to £531.55! Thank you so much! Chris Lynn
|
20.10.2024
The rota is being updated and more helpers are needed. It only involves a couple of times per year. Please see Pam Martin after Mass or call her on: 01676 534916
|
13.10.2024
Congratulations to James Murtagh and Reece Abreu who will be enrolled into the Guild of St Stephen for Altar Servers at Mass this morning.
|
13.10.2024
Thank you everyone who supported our Parish Supper last Saturday, and for all the help in making the evening such a success. We also made a profit of £333! Thank you all. Pam and Joe
|
Parish Calendar
