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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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 |
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| 09.07.2016 | Church Consecration | This is a very special year in the life of our parish, as our church will be consecrated on 9th July by Archbishop Bernard Longley. Preparations are already underway, both for the consecration service itself, and for various fund-raising activities. Updates on our progress so far are published in our Easter newsletter available online (along with our weekly Sunday bulletin) on this website For more details of how you can be involved, please speak to Joe Martin or Ian Clarke, or email enquiries@brgparish.org.uk. |
| 10.07.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is Francis Clements |
| 10.07.2016 | Prayer Life | The meditations and instruction on prayer in the Christian spiritual life continue on Wednesday during exposition of the Blessed Sacrament |
| 10.07.2016 | Ethiopia Appeal and Collection | There is a serious food crisis in Ethiopia. Extreme weather shifts, part of the El Nino effect, mean severe drought has left millions of people in need of emergency food aid. 400,000 children are already suffering from malnutrition and we need to act now to prevent a far more terrible crisis. Please give to the collection today for CAFOD's emergency humanitarian response. And please pray for those who are suffering. |
| 10.07.2016 | Consecration | A huge thank you to all those who worked to make the Consecration of our church such a blessed occasion yesterday. There will be a more in depth write up of the mass and celebrations soon! |
| 10.07.2016 | Consecration Pictures | Pictures of the consecration celebration are now available by clinking on the link or accessing the Parish Archive via the menu. |
| 12.07.2016 | Mass time change for this week | Please note that this week's Tuesday Mass is earlier than usual and will be at 9.30 am to allow Fr Frank to attend the monthly Deanery Meeting of clergy |
| 17.07.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is Richard Brennan |
| 17.07.2016 | Car Park | Thank you to Paul Ryan for his generous donation of time and materials in repairing the gulley in the car park. If anyone would like to talk to Paul about driveways, paving or landscaping please call him on 07831 386621 |
| 24.07.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is for Jo Nijst |
| 24.07.2016 | Consecration candles | We would like to thank those who donated the four consecration candles put up in the church. These are in memory of the following. Bridge and Perry family, Cotterill family, McLean family, Daniel Mark Lester and Amy Pullen |
| 24.07.2016 | Fr Frank on holiday | Father Frank is on holiday this week. There will be a Eucharistic Service at 10.00am on Tuesdays while he is away. There will be no Mass with the Anointing of the Sick in July and no First Friday Mass in August. |
| 24.07.2016 | Baptism of Eve Elizabeth Ryder | We pray for Eve and for her family, godparents and friends as they gather, after Mass today, for her Baptism.CAFOD Collection |
| 24.07.2016 | CAFOD Collection | Thank you so much for the generous CAFOD donations collected in the last two weeks. An exceptional total of £382 was raised and that is without the Gift Aid extra reimbursement which will make the final total well in excess of £400. Thank you especially to all who took the time to fill in their details |
| 31.07.2016 | Fr Martin Newell CP | We look forward to welcoming Fr Martin who will celebrate Mass here next Sunday. |
| 31.07.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is for Jo Nijst |
| 31.07.2016 | Fr Frank on holiday Please Note | Whilst Fr. Frank is away the only celebration through the week will be a Eucharistic Service at 10.00am on Tuesday. Normal service will be resumed on Wednesday 10th August with Mass, followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and meditations until 8.00pm. There will be no First Friday Mass in August |
| 03.08.2016 | Get-together | This Wednesday 3 August. We are off to Harvington Hall on a coach trip. Leaving BRG at 10 o'clock sharp! |
| 07.08.2016 | Father Ed | A warm welcome to Father Ed O'Connell, a Columban Father, who will be presiding at the Mass today. Father Ed will also talk to us about the work he is doing with the poor in Lima, Peru. Our Parish have been helping Fr. Ed for 16 years with our Breakfasts and money from our Bottle. |
| 07.08.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is for Jo Nijst |
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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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01.10.2026
The Prayer Group will meet this Thursday, 1st October at 4-5pm in the narthex. Everyone is most welcome
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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.
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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.
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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.
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08.09.2026
The Mass this Tuesday will begin at 9.30am to allow Fr Frank to attend the Deanery Meeting.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Parish Calendar
