The Catholic Church in Balsall Common (continued)

Many of our young people attended the thriving youth club, which was held in the church hall at Dorridge on Sunday evenings, cycling over in all kinds of weather. Then in the mid 50s a youth club was set up for St Philomena’s in the attic and kitchen of ‘Sunnyside’. Everyone who attended always had a good time.

Weddings were solemnised in the church. The Hammonds’ daughter Monica was married there in 1955 and her daughter Tess in the 1970s. In later years a Parish Committee was established at first with Mrs Frankie Spray in the chair. This brought new life into the Parish. Many ideas were put into action. Discussion Groups in parishioners’ homes considered doctrinal and social themes, sometimes at great length.

The Union of Catholic Mothers (UCM) was founded in the Parish. This proved to be very beneficial. Eventually it was wound up and the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) took its place, thus giving an opportunity for all women in the Parish to become members. Frequently with both groups meetings would be preceded by the celebration of mass. A wide range of speakers and social activities were arranged. They were always happy occasions.

In 1970 one of our parishioners became involved in the Handicapped Children’s Pilgrimage Trust (HCPT). Since then thousands of pounds have been raised through Coffee Evenings, Raffles and the Sale of Christmas and Easter Cards. The money goes towards the expenses of the children who go to Lourdes with Group 83 at Easter. On several occasions since the opening of our new church we have been privileged to share the celebration of mass with the pilgrims before they have set off on their journey.

The CWL gave way to a Ladies Group doing more or less similar things. Some years ago a Millennium Committee started to consider how we might celebrate this important milestone. Consequently, in 1999 we started to raise money for Father Ed O’Connell, one of our regular Columban Father visitors, and his Parish in Peru. Since then several thousand pounds have been sent to him and we are pleased to help in selling the splendid goods made by the women’s co-operative in his parish. Our Millennium Project will continue to the next millennium!

Even now fund-raising is high on the agenda. The Parish has an even greater debt to pay off. Jumble Sales, Parish Quizzes, Race Nights, Skittle Evenings and even Dinners still take place. They bring the Parish together and are hard work but enjoyable and at the same time raise money. Barbecues and rambles have been organised to add to the social life of the Parish.

Throughout the last sixty five years parishioners have ebbed and flowed. New faces have appeared and old ones have disappeared - but the Parish has thrived. At the beginning mass was always celebrated at 9am with Benediction at 4pm each Sunday. The Rosary was recited during the months of May and October and the Stations of the Cross were observed during Lent. These were always followed by Benediction, which was often attended by many people from outside the Parish. .

In early days the organist came from Coventry to play each Sunday. As the parish grew it became necessary to have two masses at 8am and 10am on the third Sunday of each month. Eventually this became the norm. Later the first mass was changed to 8.30am. Confessions were heard before mass and sometimes on Saturday morning after Instruction Classes. Occasionally there would be a weekday mass on Wednesday at 7.45pm, now of course it is held on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm. And of course we have a team of talented musicians and an excellent choir.

Occasionally mass with a Harvest theme has been celebrated. The harvest gifts being given to various families and individuals in the village. At Christmas, Midnight Mass was always very popular, the church regularly being full to capacity, with only a handful of people attending the morning mass. Now the situation is reversed - the morning mass being more popular.