The Catholic Church in Balsall Common (continued)

In December 1995 the Archbishop returned to celebrate mass with us on another memorable day in our Parish history. Some months later we heard that the church had received Solihull MBC’s Design Award for 1995. The plaque was subsequently presented to Godfrey Chesshire, Chairman of the Pastoral Church Council and of Balsall (civil) Parish Council by the Chairman of Solihull’s Planning Committee, Councillor Jim Ryan.

Fundraising continues to be a fundamental part of parish life. Funds are raised not only to pay off the church debt but also to support three external charities: the Millennium Project for Father Ed’s parish in Lima; the Handicapped Children’s Pilgrimage Trust; and Jesus Youth United Kingdom, Father Sebastian’s group of young Keralese people.

In August 2001 we bade farewell to Father Maguire after fourteen years during which he had ensured our dream of having a permanent church had become a reality. In saying farewell to him we welcomed the arrival of Monsignor Daniel McHugh, whose achievements in developing the work of the Maryvale Catechetical Centre in Kingstanding were the envy of other dioceses.

Subsequently in 2004, after a link with the Parish of St George and St Teresa lasting over sixty years Blessed Robert Grissold became part of the Parish of St Francis of Assisi in Baddesley Clinton with Father John Sharpe as Parish Priest and Father Sebastian Arikat as Priest in Charge. In addition to his parochial duties Father Arikat also looks after the needs of the Kerala community throughout the United Kingdom and is chaplain to St Peter’s School in Solihull.

We have been blessed over the years with the quality and experience of our priests. Canon Patrick Smith came to us having spent several years as Chaplain to both Dudley Road Hospital and Winson Green Prison. Father Maguire often recalled his work as a White Father in Africa. During nearly forty years the Columban Fathers have talked to us of their experiences with the church in Peru, the Philippines, Indonesia and China. Now Father Sebastian shares with us the work of the church in India.

There are many in our Parish who could recall their own special memories. Let us leave the last words with Maureen Carroll, who only missed the first mass at St Philomena’s because, unlike Bernard Hammond, she had to be in school that day.

“The first church in Balsall Common, St Philomena’s, was in use for over forty years. Monsignor Manion only intended it to last for ten! It holds many memories, both happy and sad. It certainly does for me. My father cut the first sod and my mother’s funeral was the last to be held there. They both gave much to St Philomena’s together with the priests and other parishioners who have now reached their eternal home. We all owe them a debt of gratitude. Please remember them in your prayers as I’m sure they remember you in theirs.”

Many thanks to Godfrey Chesshire & Maureen Carroll for this Church History February 2007