A Parish Mission is about to begin for all those living in the Our Lady of the Assumption parish area, Maryvale in Birmingham, and everyone is invited to join in.

Entitled Mission imPossible the aim is to achieve parish renewal and is a response to the Diocesan Vision.

It runs from Sunday 6 to Sunday 20 October and highlights include dedicated Masses, home visits in the community, a series of talks entitled ‘Heart Speaks to Heart’, a Testimonies Night and a social justice event.

Dedicated events are also taking place for the young people of the parish through Maryvale Primary School and Cardinal Wiseman Secondary School. These school-based outreach projects are being led by the Sion Community and the House of the Open Door respectively.

Planning for the Mission started in 2023 and it is being led by a Mission Working Party comprising the parish clergy, the Sisters Minor of St Francis, a number of the lay faithful with the support of Brother Loarne, a Franciscan Friar and the Sion and HoD communities already mentioned.

Deacon Gary O’Brien said: “The background to this Mission is that both Our Lady of the Assumption, Maryvale (OLAM) and Christ the King, Kingstanding have been under the care of the same parish priest for some time now and effectively operate as a single parish, although canonically they remain separate. Some while ago the Parish Council discerned the need to maintain a visible worshipping presence in both parishes given the prominent geographical locations of both Churches. 

“Our Lady of the Assumption, in particular, is based on the top of the hill at the bottom of which is the Maryvale Institute, so closely associated with St John Henry Newman. This required us to address the specific structural demographic changes which the parish of Our Lady of the Assumption has experienced since the last mission there nearly 20 years ago.

“Through parish renewal we are hoping to see a growth in grace and formation for those actively participating; more people encountering Christ; a better understanding of the Mass and more.”

The parish is responding to the four themes of the Diocesan Vision:

•    Evangelisation This is at the heart of the Mission especially with the Testimonies Night and the kerygmatic talks supplemented by the personal visiting.
•    Formation for the laity and for the clergy. The collective and co-responsible effort which has gone into the preparation of the mission has already provided decisive moments for renewal. The mission to the two schools in the parish will also be a vehicle for formation in discipleship.  
•    Liturgy and Worship The ‘Come and See’ Masses are intended to be a bridge for returners to worship. The Mission will also be supported by a Novena beforehand and by daily mass/exposition as well. 
•    Charity and Social Outreach The personal visits will undoubtedly uncover a number of needs to which the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) and the Maryvale Community Project (both active in the parish) will be in the best position to respond.

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