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
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and we leave behind the touching scene of the crib. Jesus has moved from the helpless infant of Bethlehem to a grown man who takes upon himself a tremendous burden and responsibility. The burden is the weight of the sins of humankind. The responsibility is to make reparation for those sins.
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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 |
27.01.2026
There will be no midweek mass at BRG on Tuesday 27th January. Fr. Frank will be taking his post-Christmas break at this time, apologies for any inconvenience.
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18.01.2026
A service for Christian Unity will be held on Sunday 18th January at 4pm at St John the Baptist Church Berkswell. All welcome, light refreshments will be served.
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18.01.2026
The week of prayer for Christian unity begins next Sunday 18th January with a theme of “One Body, One Spirit”.
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18.01.2026
If any young people in our Parish, from Year 6 upwards, are interested in preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation, please contact Teresa Green on 07583 540060 or speak to Fr. Frank. Preparation will commence at the end of January. There will be a brief meeting for parents/young people who are interested in preparation for Confirmation after Mass on Sunday 18th January.
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14.01.2026
The next Parish Coffee morning will be in the Narthex at 10.30am on Wednesday 14th January with coffee and tea, cakes, scones and good conversation available to all. If you haven’t been before, give it a try - you will be made very welcome!
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13.01.2026
There will be a meeting for members of the Planned Giving Steering Group and co-ordinators of volunteer rotas at 7.00pm on Tuesday 13th January in the Parish Room, to discuss the next phase of our Parish Planned Giving Campaign
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13.01.2026
The Tuesday Mass will start at 10am this Tuesday.
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11.01.2026
If any adults are interested in entering into full Communion with the Catholic Church, please contact Fr Frank ASAP as formation will begin shortly
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08.01.2026
Next meeting is on Thursday 8th January at 4pm. Everyone is most welcome
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04.01.2026
A sincere thank you to everyone who contributed towards the Christmas Mystery Prize Draw. The results were announced and three very satisfied winners took their bag of mystery prizes home! We raised £150 towards parish funds.
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04.01.2026
Are you a doctor, nurse or carer? Would you consider donating your time and expertise on next year’s Lourdes Pilgrimage? Every year sick pilgrims are able to make the journey to Lourdes thanks to the support of a dedicated Healthcare Team. Without their expertise many pilgrims would not be able to go. If you are a healthcare professional and would like to try something new, please consider joining us. You will make a real difference. For more information, and to access the Volunteer Pilgrimage Pack and an application form, please visit https://www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/lourdes-pilgrimage.
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04.01.2026
Thanks to all those who worked so hard to prepare for the Christmas celebrations. Thanks also for your cards, gifts, kindness and support. I am overwhelmed by your generosity. Also, I am grateful for your devotion to the Mass - for ensuring that there is in this place a faithful witness to the love, light and hope of Christ and his in-breaking Kingdom. That is the peculiar and incomparable gift we are called to offer to the world as the Church, but, in order for this to happen, we have to be faithful to the Mass, to worship and prayer and many have to give of their time and energy in raising funds and being responsible for day to day administration and maintenance. May the Lord bless you for all your hard work on behalf of Christ and his Kingdom. It is a privilege and a joy to share with you in this service. Fr. Frank
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24.12.2025
The collection at our Christmas masses will be the customary Christmas offering for your priest. Thank you for all your support and generosity throughout the year.
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21.12.2025
The masses at our church are on Wednesday 24th December (Christmas Eve) at 6.00 pm and Thursday 25th December (Christmas Day) at 09.30 am.
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21.12.2025
Thank you to everyone who helped to make our carol service last week such a joyful occasion – including the readers, musicians and singers, wardens, children’s liturgy, refreshments team, and all who helped to prepare the church and clear up afterwards
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21.12.2025
Thank you to everyone who donated gifts or cash to Fr. Hudsons this Advent. Our collection in Maureen’s memory raised £370.65, and the charity was delighted to receive the gifts at the beginning of this week, in time to be distributed at their Christmas events. Claire Keane
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21.12.2025
There are a few CAFOD World Gifts catalogues at the back of the church. If you would like to give a World Gift to someone who has everything, or to a child or grandchild (for example) to teach them the real meaning of Christmas, then please take one. The gifts start from £5 and there are a few different ideas for less than £10! You can also buy them from the CAFOD World Gifts website: https://worldgifts.cafod.org.uk/. Chris Lynn
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14.12.2025
Our quiz night in November raised £330 for parish funds – many thanks to Bob & Kathy for organising it and to all who helped to make it such a successful evening
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14.12.2025
Please pick a tag from the Christmas tree and buy a gift to donate to the charity Fr Hudsons Caritas, who support families in need. Please wrap the gifts, attach the tag (you can add comments about the gift in pencil) and place them under the tree by 14th December
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14.12.2025
The results of the draw on 10th December are as follows: 1st Prize (£300) – E. Power, 2nd prize (£200) – E. Selby, 3rd prize (£100) – B. Gibbs, 4th prize (£50) – C. Keane. The £100 Club raised £600 for parish funds, thanks to Ken and Stefan for running it!
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Parish Calendar
