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
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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Friday 2nd October marks the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels. This celebration was placed in the Roman Calendar in 1615. Sacred Scripture is full of stories of angels coming to help Patriarchs and all. Each person has his or her Guardian Angel. Angels are God’s messengers whose mission is to take care of us, to protect our way on earth, and to share with Christians the apostolic zeal to get souls closer to God. Saint Peter was liberated from gaol by an angel. Our Lord spoke of the angels of children who constantly behold His heavenly Father’s face. Our Guardian Angels are our friends.
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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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At the heart of the revelation of God in the scriptures is his gratuitous love and today’s Gospel teaches us that this kind of love is to be the norm of our relationship with others. According to Jesus’ teaching forgiveness is a vital part of the daily life of the Christian community. Peter wants to know just how far our forgiveness should go. Jesus answers that we must always forgive - that is the meaning of the mysterious expression “seventy-seven times.” This symbolic number indicates that there is to be no limit to forgiveness in the Christian community for love is not compatible with obligations that can be counted, rather it is gratuitous, like the love of God.
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In the second reading today St. Paul tells us: “Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour” And Jesus, in the Gospel says, “If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him.” We should remember that correcting others is a delicate business requiring discernment - we can easily expect too much too soon. People need time and space to grow - and that means time and space to grow through their mistakes. Jesus was blunt, forceful and highly critical in correcting the Pharisees but was patient, with hardly a word of criticism, in his dealings with sinners and humble folk. He wanted to correct all of these, not to hurt them, and he accomplished this because he worked from a discernment informed by love for all people. “Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour.
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Jesus never pretended that it would be easy to be a disciple of his. In today’s Gospel, Peter refuses to accept Jesus’ way - he is not prepared, at this stage, to accept the costliness of discipleship, the price of following him. Jesus strongly rejects Peter’s reaction but at the same time he is telling him to take up his place as a disciple again. Jesus knows that discipleship is a process, and, like Peter in the story, none of us is the finished article. So when we stumble and fall, like Peter, we must take our place behind Jesus and follow him in his way of the Cross and Resurrection.
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The Catechism teaches that from the beginning of his public ministry Jesus chose certain men, twelve in number, to be with him and to participate in his mission. He gives the Twelve a share in his authority and sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal. Simon Peter holds the first place in the college of the Twelve. As we hear in today’s Gospel, Jesus entrusted a unique mission to him. Because of the faith he confessed Peter will remain the unshakeable rock of the Church. His mission will be to keep this faith from every lapse and to strengthen his brothers in it. Pope Francis, as successor to St Peter, is called to the same ministry and mission as the first Bishop of Rome. We pray that God will grant him the grace to be faithful to this Divine calling
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The saints are our models of Christian life. This is especially true of the Blessed Virgin Mary because of the place she occupies in the history of salvation. Mary, our Lady of the Assumption, is the perfect Christian and as such she is the model for the whole Church. She can be seen as the Church in miniature. She shows us that we must be dedicated completely to Christ as she was, that we must be willing to suffer with him, as she did. And she also shows us that loyalty to Christ guarantees immortality, body as well as soul in complete happiness in heaven.
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In today’s Gospel Peter’s faith is tested when the going gets tough. When everything is going swimmingly we do not realise how small our faith is. We find out about our insufficiency and our absolute dependency on Christ when we are buffeted by the storms of life. As Thomas Merton says, when we have “nothing of our own to rely on, and nothing in our nature to support us, and nothing in the world to guide us or give us light - then we find out whether we live by faith.” But it is when we know our poverty of spirit that we are blessed according to Jesus, for it is then that we are aware that we are not self-sufficient but that our sufficiency is all in him.
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This Thursday is the Feast of The Transfiguration of our Lord. The Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ took place on Mount Tabor. Christ revealed himself in this glorious light in order to strengthen his disciples for the challenges which lay ahead. It would not be long before the weakness, humiliation and suffering of his Passion and shame of the Cross would become apparent. The Transfiguration reveals that light and glory of Easter - the light of the Resurrection which overcomes the darkness of sin and death. Christ reveals himself on Mount Tabor as the Son of God who is Light from Light and the glory of heaven.
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Both the “treasure” and the “pearl” spoken of by Christ in today’s Gospel express what the Kingdom of Heaven must be for disciples: something of ultimate worth. The demand of the Kingdom is radical - everything must be relativised in relation to the absolute value of the Kingdom. Finding the “hidden treasure” or the “pearl” is not the outcome of our work or calculation. With the Kingdom we are in the presence of something gratuitous - something freely given, not something we have earned and, therefore deserved. However, when the gift is given, our response has to be selling all we have in exchange for it.
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The thirteenth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel presents several parables on the Kingdom. All of them emphasise the presence of the Kingdom of God in history - a presence which involves a process. In the parable of the wheat and the darnel Jesus teaches us that that the enemy of souls is at work in the world, seeking to destroy the good seed sown by Christ. It also teaches us how difficult it is to distinguish between those who are in the Kingdom and those who are not and that, therefore, we should not judge others, for God will give the definitive judgement in the end
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Friday is the anniversary of the martyrdom of Blessed Robert Grissold. Robert Grissold was born around 1575 in Rowington to a Catholic family. When he grew-up he became the servant of Mr. Sheldon of Broadway, Worcestershire, in whose service he probably met the priest Fr. John Sugar. Fr. Sugar was once an Anglican priest but, having been received into the Catholic church, went to the English College at Douai to be formed for the Catholic priesthood. Robert and Fr. John came to Rowington and on Sunday 8th July 1603 they were captured in a lane near Baddesley. Both were offered their freedom if they would conform to the Church of England - both refused. On the 16th July, both men were taken to Gallow’s Hill, outside Warwick, and were executed. Robert was buried beneath the gallows. Almighty God, you gave to John Sugar and Robert Grissold the joy of sharing in the suffering of your only Son, may the lives of your holy ones inspire us to greater endeavour in the service of your people. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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What great condescension and humility is revealed in the Gospel today. The Master comes to console his fallen servants. He shows us pity when we deserve punishment - he addresses the guilty ones with words of kindness and compassion: “Come, learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.” God is humble; we are proud. He bends low in order to raise us up. We can see his gentleness and humility from what he has become. Heaven is his throne.
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Regarding discipleship and following Jesus, Christ calls us to radical commitment to him. The cost is great, it demands our all 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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In today’s Gospel Jesus tells us: “Do not be afraid,” but there is so much fear in the world today. All sorts of harm spring from fear. The world today, its political and economic structures, reflect the fears that our in our hearts - the fears that lead to gross inequalities, injustice, hatred and conflict. Jesus came to show us another way - the way to overcoming fear with that change of heart that desires the love of God and neighbour above all else. This is the perfect love that casts out all fear and marks the coming of God’s Kingdom. This is the love we feed on in the Mass. This divine love is the source of that peace that Jesus shares with us - a peace that the world cannot know or give. We are called to be filled with his love that casts out fear so that we can bring its healing influence to a world in much need of healing and peace.
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We are all called to holiness, we are all called to follow Jesus, we are called to make Jesus known to all people. This is a matter for all of us. As Cardinal Newman wrote "He called us first in Baptism: but afterwards also; whether we obey His voice or not, He graciously calls us still...Abraham was called from his home, Peter from his nets, Matthew from his office, Elijah from his farm, Nathaniel from his retreat; we are all in the course of calling, on and on, from one thing to another.
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Everything begins, one might say, from the heart of Christ who, at the Last Supper, on the eve of his passion, thanked and praised God and by so doing, with the power of his love, transformed the meaning of death which he was on his way to encounter. The fact that the Sacrament of the Altar acquired the name "Eucharist" - "thanksgiving" - expresses this: that changing the substance of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is the fruit of the gift that Christ made of himself, the gift of a Love stronger than death, divine Love which raised him from the dead. This is why the Eucharist is the food of eternal life, the Bread of Life. (Pope Benedict XVI)
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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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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 |
|---|---|---|
| 25.10.2026 | Discussions and reflections of the Faith | Father Frank plans to run a course on one evening in the week at Blessed Robert Grissold starting around the end of September. If anyone is interested in exploring the Catholic faith especially with a view to being received into full communion, this course would be helpful. All welcome. |
| 17.10.2026 | Quiz Night | Quiz Night in aid of the Charity Save the Children: Saturday, 17th October - 7.30pm start. Venue: St Peter’s Church Hall, Balsall Common, CV7 7EA. Teams of 6. Price of ticket is £15 pp - which includes a Baked Potato Supper. BYO drink and nibbles. If you would like to participate, please contact Julia Greensall by email: julia@greensall.com or on 07855 843914. |
| 14.10.2026 | Parish Coffee morning | Our gatherings return this month and will held in the hall at 10.30 on Wednesday 14th October with coffee and tea, cakes and good conversation. All welcome! |
| 11.10.2026 | Prisons Week | Begins on Sunday 11th October, please see the poster on the notice board for details. |
| 04.10.2026 | Revised times for weekday Masses | Please note that weekday Mass will begin at 9.30am on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday unless otherwise indicated in the Newsletter. Masses this week: Tuesday 6th October 9.30am Mass Becky Hulme (RIP), Wednesday 7th October 9.30am Mass Our Lady of The Rosary, Thursday 8th October 9.30am Mass, Friday 9th October 9.30am Mass Feast of St John Henry Newman, Priest |
| 04.10.2026 | CAFOD | Second collection this Sunday for CAFOD Family Fast Day which was on Friday 2nd Oct. Chris Lynn will be giving a short talk about CAFOD’s work after Mass today and will be giving out envelopes at the beginning of Mass, to be collected in at the end. All donations will make a difference, Thank You. |
| 01.10.2026 | Prayer Group | The Prayer Group will meet this Thursday, 1st October at 4-5pm in the narthex. Everyone is most welcome |
| 26.09.2026 | Quiet Morning | Quiet Morning at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Temple Balsall 9.30-12.00 on Saturday 26th September led by Mark Bratton (vicar at Berkswell). All welcome. |
| 23.09.2026 | St George and St Teresa Catholic Primary School Open Mornings | Families looking ahead to primary school are warmly invited to upcoming Open Mornings at St George and St Teresa Catholic Primary School in Dorridge. Come and meet staff, explore our school and discover how we help every child to learn, grow and flourish. Open Mornings will start at 9:15 am and are being held on Wednesday 23rd September, Thursday 22nd October and Thursday 19th November. |
| 19.09.2026 | CAFOD Event at St Chad's Cathedral | You are invited to join on Saturday 19th Sept from 10am in the Masterson Room, St Chad's Cathedral, to learn more about CAFOD's work. Prayer will be led by Archbishop Bernard. Guest speaker Teamrat Belai, Country Director for CST Ethiopia, will share insights into the challenges facing communities in Ethiopia and the impact of CAFOD's work. Email birmingham@cafod.org.uk for more information. All welcome. |
| 08.09.2026 | Change of Mass time this Tuesday | The Mass this Tuesday will begin at 9.30am to allow Fr Frank to attend the Deanery Meeting. |
| 05.09.2026 | Churches together Coffee Morning | As part of Churches Together Balsall & Berkswell (CTBB), we will be hosting the coffee morning on Sat 5th Sept from 10-12 am. If you are available to help, making cakes, setting up, serving tea, coffee, cakes and clearing up, please see Louise or John Perry. Everyone welcome. |
| 23.08.2026 | Fr Frank’s summer break | Father is on his summer break until Tuesday 25th August. There is cover for the Masses this weekend but there will be no Mass on Tuesday this week |
| 16.08.2026 | Notice from Fr Frank | As some of you will already know it was announced last weekend that I will be leaving St Francis on 15th September. I am pleased to say that I will be continuing my priestly ministry at Balsall Common. |
| 14.08.2026 | Funeral details for Vincent McArdle | Vincent’s funeral will be held on Friday 14th August at 12pm at Blessed Robert Grissold, then at 2pm at Woodlands Crematorium, Coleshill B46 1DP, and afterwards at Maxstoke Park Golf Club, Castle Lane, Coleshill, B46 2BU. As per Vincent's request, wearing bright colours is preferred. Family flowers only, any donations to The British Heart Foundation are gratefully received. |
| 12.08.2026 | Parish Coffee Morning | The next gathering will be in the Narthex at 10.30 this Wednesday 12th August with coffee and tea, scones, cakes and good conversation. If you haven’t been before, give it a try - you will be made very welcome! Please note we will be having a break in September so there is no planned Coffee Morning next month. |
| 09.08.2026 | CAFOD | For anyone still wishing to sign the CAFOD petition to Parliament about the global debt Crisis the petition sheet is still in the Nathex. CAFOD will present the petition to Parliament and Chris will also send a post card to our local MP telling him of our concerns and how many signatures we have amassed. |
| 09.08.2026 | Notice from Fr Frank | As some of you will already know it was announced last weekend that I will be leaving St Francis in September. I am pleased to say that I will be continuing my priestly ministry at Balsall Common. |
| 26.07.2026 | Diocese Legal Compliance | Many thanks to the team who completed the Compliance documentation for the Parish for this years return. Your hard work is noted and appreciated. |
| 28.06.2026 | Stay and Play | St George and St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School warmly invites babies and toddlers to our Stay and Play every Friday 2:00 to 3:15. Contact the school office for further details: 01564774906 or office@stgandt.solihull.sch.uk |
25.10.2026
Father Frank plans to run a course on one evening in the week at Blessed Robert Grissold starting around the end of September. If anyone is interested in exploring the Catholic faith especially with a view to being received into full communion, this course would be helpful. All welcome.
|
17.10.2026
Quiz Night in aid of the Charity Save the Children: Saturday, 17th October - 7.30pm start. Venue: St Peter’s Church Hall, Balsall Common, CV7 7EA. Teams of 6. Price of ticket is £15 pp - which includes a Baked Potato Supper. BYO drink and nibbles. If you would like to participate, please contact Julia Greensall by email: julia@greensall.com or on 07855 843914.
|
14.10.2026
Our gatherings return this month and will held in the hall at 10.30 on Wednesday 14th October with coffee and tea, cakes and good conversation. All welcome!
|
11.10.2026
Begins on Sunday 11th October, please see the poster on the notice board for details.
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04.10.2026
Please note that weekday Mass will begin at 9.30am on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday unless otherwise indicated in the Newsletter. Masses this week: Tuesday 6th October 9.30am Mass Becky Hulme (RIP), Wednesday 7th October 9.30am Mass Our Lady of The Rosary, Thursday 8th October 9.30am Mass, Friday 9th October 9.30am Mass Feast of St John Henry Newman, Priest
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04.10.2026
Second collection this Sunday for CAFOD Family Fast Day which was on Friday 2nd Oct. Chris Lynn will be giving a short talk about CAFOD’s work after Mass today and will be giving out envelopes at the beginning of Mass, to be collected in at the end. All donations will make a difference, Thank You.
|
01.10.2026
The Prayer Group will meet this Thursday, 1st October at 4-5pm in the narthex. Everyone is most welcome
|
26.09.2026
Quiet Morning at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Temple Balsall 9.30-12.00 on Saturday 26th September led by Mark Bratton (vicar at Berkswell). All welcome.
|
23.09.2026
Families looking ahead to primary school are warmly invited to upcoming Open Mornings at St George and St Teresa Catholic Primary School in Dorridge. Come and meet staff, explore our school and discover how we help every child to learn, grow and flourish. Open Mornings will start at 9:15 am and are being held on Wednesday 23rd September, Thursday 22nd October and Thursday 19th November.
|
19.09.2026
You are invited to join on Saturday 19th Sept from 10am in the Masterson Room, St Chad's Cathedral, to learn more about CAFOD's work. Prayer will be led by Archbishop Bernard. Guest speaker Teamrat Belai, Country Director for CST Ethiopia, will share insights into the challenges facing communities in Ethiopia and the impact of CAFOD's work. Email birmingham@cafod.org.uk for more information. All welcome.
|
08.09.2026
The Mass this Tuesday will begin at 9.30am to allow Fr Frank to attend the Deanery Meeting.
|
05.09.2026
As part of Churches Together Balsall & Berkswell (CTBB), we will be hosting the coffee morning on Sat 5th Sept from 10-12 am. If you are available to help, making cakes, setting up, serving tea, coffee, cakes and clearing up, please see Louise or John Perry. Everyone welcome.
|
23.08.2026
Father is on his summer break until Tuesday 25th August. There is cover for the Masses this weekend but there will be no Mass on Tuesday this week
|
16.08.2026
As some of you will already know it was announced last weekend that I will be leaving St Francis on 15th September. I am pleased to say that I will be continuing my priestly ministry at Balsall Common.
|
14.08.2026
Vincent’s funeral will be held on Friday 14th August at 12pm at Blessed Robert Grissold, then at 2pm at Woodlands Crematorium, Coleshill B46 1DP, and afterwards at Maxstoke Park Golf Club, Castle Lane, Coleshill, B46 2BU. As per Vincent's request, wearing bright colours is preferred. Family flowers only, any donations to The British Heart Foundation are gratefully received.
|
12.08.2026
The next gathering will be in the Narthex at 10.30 this Wednesday 12th August with coffee and tea, scones, cakes and good conversation. If you haven’t been before, give it a try - you will be made very welcome! Please note we will be having a break in September so there is no planned Coffee Morning next month.
|
09.08.2026
For anyone still wishing to sign the CAFOD petition to Parliament about the global debt Crisis the petition sheet is still in the Nathex. CAFOD will present the petition to Parliament and Chris will also send a post card to our local MP telling him of our concerns and how many signatures we have amassed.
|
09.08.2026
As some of you will already know it was announced last weekend that I will be leaving St Francis in September. I am pleased to say that I will be continuing my priestly ministry at Balsall Common.
|
26.07.2026
Many thanks to the team who completed the Compliance documentation for the Parish for this years return. Your hard work is noted and appreciated.
|
28.06.2026
St George and St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School warmly invites babies and toddlers to our Stay and Play every Friday 2:00 to 3:15. Contact the school office for further details: 01564774906 or office@stgandt.solihull.sch.uk
|
Parish Calendar
