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
As we begin Advent our thoughts are guided, through the liturgy, to the coming of Christ - his first coming to us in humility and weakness and his second coming in majesty and power. The description of the Second Coming of Christ should not fill us with fear, rather we should look forward to it and prepare for it through prayer and right living
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The feast of Christ the King, which the holy Church throughout the world celebrates today, brings to a close the Church’s liturgical year. Our image of a monarch tends to be of one who lives a privileged life and lords it over others. Christ our King is not like that. He came to serve, not to be served and he wants us to imitate him in his loving service of others. That is why, as St. John of the Cross said: “In the evening of life we shall be examined on love.” If to love and to serve our neighbour is heavenly, hell is the suffering of one who can no longer love.
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Faith in the God of love can bring great happiness and confidence for “perfect love casts out all fear.” The warnings about the end times in the Scriptures are meant to be a source of hope for us, not fear, for “Christ, by his death and resurrection, has achieved our sanctification.” All we need to do is to place our trust in Christ and so be able to make the words of today’s psalm our own: “You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence.”
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Today in the Gospel we hear the story of the “Widow’s Mite.” The mite was the tiniest coin in circulation. In the Temple the rich were giving from their loose change, but the widow, out of her extreme poverty, gave everything she had: two small coins. Although poor and in need of the few coppers she had, she never hesitated, never counted the cost. She gave everything to God. The widow became famous, not because she gave so little but because, in her extraordinary generosity, she gave so much.
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Through liturgy and worship, formation, evangelisation and social outreach, the Diocesan Vision calls us to work for the renewal of the Church. The then Cardinal Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI, insisted that, “The true celebration of the Sacred Liturgy is the centre of any renewal of the Church whatever.” This is why the New Evangelisation must be founded on the faithful and fruitful celebration of the Sacred Liturgy as passed down and presented to us by the Church in her tradition. This is because it is in the Sacred Liturgy, especially in the Mass - the source and summit of the Church’s life, that we encounter the saving action of our Lord Jesus Christ in the most profound way. Liturgy for us in the Church is not just a series of actions or rituals but an encounter with the living Christ who alone offers perfect worship to God and who draws all people to himself through the Sacrifice of the Cross made present in the Eucharist.
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October is the month of the Rosary, and we have prayed a decade of the Rosary at each Mass during October as a gentle reminder, if it is needed, of the great riches that are to be had in this form of prayer. Padre Pio, the holy saint who received the stigmata, loved to pray the Rosary. He always kept his Rosary beads in his hand. Because he prayed it almost constantly, he was known as the ‘living Rosary.’ One day his superior asked him how many Rosaries he had prayed that day. Wanting to be respectful and honest with his superior he told him: “I have prayed thirty-four Rosaries today.” On another occasion a follower asked him to teach him a prayer that was most pleasing to our Blessed Lady. Without hesitation, he insisted that none is more beautiful or pleasing than the Rosary. And he further instructed him: “Always say the Rosary. The Rosary is a weapon in our hands.” Near the end of his life, he didn’t talk much and when people sought his advice or help, he would simply show them the Rosary. Let us follow St Pio’s example and always have our Rosary with us.
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October is the month of the Rosary, and the Rosary is Trinitarian and Christ-centred, but it is also a Marian prayer. In the Rosary, we are happy to praise the mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the words of the Archangel Gabriel and her cousin Elizabeth: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.” And in the Rosary, we meditate and reflect on the important events in Our Lord’s life through the eyes of Mary. Another prayer that makes the Rosary Marian is the concluding prayer - the “Hail Holy Queen.” But the two most important prayers of the Rosary are the Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary. As St. Louis de Montfort said: “How could there possibly be any more pleasing prayers to Almighty God and the Blessed Virgin, or any that are easier, more precious or more helpful than these two prayers?”
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October is the month of the Rosary, a rich and complete form of prayer. In the first place it is “Trinitarian”. We begin the Rosary with the sign of the Cross as we invoke the Three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity: “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” We then recite the Apostles Creed, which calls to mind each of the Divine Persons in turn: “I believe in God the Father Almighty…and in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son…I believe in the Holy Spirit”. And each decade of the Rosary concludes with the Trinitarian prayer: “Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit”. The Rosary is also Christ-centred, for the mysteries of the Rosary upon which we meditate are the mysteries of Christ’s life. And in every “Hail Mary” prayed, we honour Christ by saying: “Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus”.
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October is the month of the Rosary, a rich and complete form of prayer. In the first place it is “Trinitarian”. We begin the Rosary with the sign of the Cross as we invoke the Three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity: “In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” We then recite the Apostles Creed, which calls to mind each of the Divine Persons in turn: “I believe in God the Father Almighty…and in Jesus Christ his only-begotten Son…I believe in the Holy Spirit”. And each decade of the Rosary concludes with the Trinitarian prayer: “Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit”. The Rosary is also Christ-centred, for the mysteries of the Rosary upon which we meditate are the mysteries of Christ’s life. And in every “Hail Mary” prayed, we honour Christ by saying: “Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus”.
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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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The Gospel today presents us with a lesson in humility. Whilst the disciples were arguing amongst themselves about who was “the greatest”, Jesus was arguing for being “last of all” and “servant of all” and Jesus backs up his words with his actions, for that is exactly what he became. He washes his disciples’ feet, the work of a slave, and he dies the death of an outcast criminal. And he wants us to share in his way of humility because it is the way of the God who stoops low to gather us into his kingdom.
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“Who do people say I am?” - This is the question posed to his disciples by Jesus in today’s Gospel. But more important is the question he poses to Peter: “But you, who do you say I am?” for this is a question posed to all of us too. So who is Jesus for us? Is he just a fine example of what it means to be a thoroughly decent human being or is there more to him than that? Is he, in fact, divine, the Son of God, the Second Person of God, the Most Holy Trinity made flesh? How we answer this question will determine how we respond to him and his message. It will deeply affect the way we live our lives, for if we truly believe that he is the Messiah and Son of God then why wouldn’t we make every effort to get to know him and his will for us and strive to live accordingly?
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St. James reminds us in our second reading today that we should not have a higher regard for those who are well-dressed and well-heeled. For him such an attitude is incompatible with faith in the one who washed the feet of his own disciples and who said: “Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your slave.” Discrimination against the poor, or partiality towards the wealthy, is seriously at odds with the teaching of Christ who, though equal with God, made himself poor so that we might be rich.
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Whilst people are often caught up with appearances, God looks on the heart. That’s why when He began His preaching Jesus said: “Set your hearts first on the Kingdom of God.” Like the Prophets of old Jesus calls for conversion of the heart rather than mere conformity to external standards and laws. This is not to say that the external customs and tradition of the Church are unimportant – far from it – The Christian faith is Incarnational. The Gospel of Christ is an affair of the heart that must be fleshed out in our daily life.
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The Gospel reading today points up the vital significance of the Eucharist. The fundamental importance of the Eucharist for the life of the Church can be seen in the words of St Irenaeus: “Our teaching is in accordance with the Eucharist, and the Eucharist, in turn, confirms our teaching.” The Fathers of the Church perceived the Eucharist as the revelation and fulfilment of the entire mystery of the salvation of the world by Christ and therefore of the entire content of the Christian faith. No wonder, therefore, that the Catechism teaches that the Eucharist is the ‘source and summit of the Christian life.’
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In today’s Gospel Jesus is teaching us what he wants us to know concerning the Eucharist and he says things that his followers find hard to accept. Nevertheless, this is his teaching and he insists that he is the “bread of life,” that “comes down from heaven,” that “anyone who eats this bread will live for ever,” and the “bread” he gives is his “flesh” which he gives “for the life of the world.” And Christ’s “flesh,” his Body, is the “bread from heaven” we feed on in the Mass today.
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The journey to the God of life is not an easy task. We tend to get lost along the way and we are discouraged by the efforts we have to make. On their way to the promised land, the Jewish people turned against Moses - their difficulties made them yearn for a mediocre but familiar existence. Freedom frightened them, slavery being more familiar seemed more secure. This is the temptation of every believer and this is why Jesus says to his disciples: “Do not be afraid.”
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After receiving Holy Communion, Mother Teresa prayed that God would give her the grace to radiate Christ to the people she moved among after being sent out from the Mass. This was her prayer: “Dear Jesus, help me to spread your fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that my life may only be a radiance of yours. Shine through me, and be so in me, that every soul I come in contact with may feel your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me, but only Jesus!” In this prayer we can see what is at the heart of the Archbishop’s vision for the Diocese - the worship and prayer of the Eucharist, the source of our Christian life, forming us for mission, evangelisation and social outreach.
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In the Gospel today Jesus says to his Apostles that they should come away to some lonely place all by themselves and rest for a while for there was so much coming and going that the Apostles had no time even to eat. So Jesus takes them off to a lonely place where they could be with Him by themselves. Jesus still invites us to find quiet and rest in His presence especially through Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Our Lord Jesus Christ is present in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. He invites us, He is waiting, He is longing for us to spend time with Him. Coming to Him just as we are. Love lives with Jesus present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Through this Sacrament Jesus shares with us all that belongs to Him.
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The disciples had already responded to the Lord’s call to them to “Come” and follow him, now Christ commands them to “Go.” The kingdom of God is at hand and the call is urgent. They are instructed to travel light. They were not to rely on their own resources but on the bountiful providence of God. Their simplicity of life would help them to remain unencumbered by distractions and help them to stay focused wholly on their mission.
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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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| 07.08.2016 | Services this week | Please note that there is a Eucharistic Service at 10.00am on Tuesday and normal weekday Mass service is resumed on Wednesday 10th August with Mass at 7.00pm followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and meditations until 8.00pm. There will be a 10.00am Mass on Thursday. |
| 14.08.2016 | Please pray for | Adrian Stewart and Frank Clements, recently departed and for all those who mourn their passing. Their Requiem Masses will be held at Blessed Robert Grissold on Thursday and Friday of this week at 11.30 a.m. |
| 14.08.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is for Delia Murray and Diana Turner |
| 21.08.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is for Delia Murray and Diana Turner |
| 21.08.2016 | Finance Committee Meeting | There will be a meeting of the Finance Committee after Mass today |
| 21.08.2016 | 100 Club Winners | August's draw winners are: 1st: No. 56 (Rory Murtagh) - £75; 2nd: No. 11 (Kathy Jones) - £45; 3rd: No. 26 (Eileen Innes) - £30 |
| 28.08.2016 | Lourdes Visit | Ros Cawley, Chris Mitchell & Maureen Carroll are going to Lourdes next Friday. They will be staying at Hosanna House, a House owned by H.C.P.T. in Bartres near Lourdes. During their week's stay they will remember you all. Do remember them in your prayers. If you have a petition you wish them to take, please give it to either Ros or Chris. Thank you |
| 04.09.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is for Joanna Gibbs and Hosanna House Group 524 |
| 10.09.2016 | Deanery Readers' Day Saturday 10th September 10am – 4pm, Leamington Spa | For Readers and anyone interested in becoming a Reader. This is a chance to explore in more detail, the Ministry of Reader and your place in it. For more details, please see the notice board or contact Kate Tennyson on 01926 314077, or email kate.tennyson@googlemail.com. There is a letter of invitation for all readers, at the back of church. If you are not yet a reader but wish to attend, please contact Kate as above to obtain detail |
| 11.09.2016 | Children's Liturgy Rota (Help needed) | Please can parishioners (particularly parents of young children) give some thought to joining our children's liturgy rota? You are welcome to volunteer as a leader or a helper, or both! New child protection rules mean that we need to have two vetted people in every session we run, and without more volunteers we will have weeks when we are not able to run a session. The vetting procedure is very simple. Please speak to Louise Perry or Kathryn Driffield if you can help |
| 15.09.2016 | Parish Council Meeting | There is a meeting of the Parish Council at 7.30pm on Thursday 15th September in the church hall. |
| 18.09.2016 | Baptism today | The Baptism of Oliver Westwood will take place today at 11 am today |
| 18.09.2016 | Lourdes | Chris, Ros & Maureen returned back last Friday having had a very good week at Hoanna House in Lourdes. We did remember you all there. We thank you for your prayers. Maureen did light your candles that you asked her at Easter. Apologies for the delay! |
| 24.09.2016 | Balsall Common Festival Tombola Saturday | We urgently need more bottles for our stall. At the moment we only have 102 and have only two weeks to make up the number to 300. Can you please support us over the next two Sundays and bring whatever you can. Thank you |
| 25.09.2016 | Candle of Dedication | The dedication for this week is for Joe Sheen |
| 25.09.2016 | Quavers Children’s Choir | The children’s choir practice will restart this week after mass. All welcome |
| 25.09.2016 | Intinction | It has been brought to my attention that some are dipping the consecrated host into the precious blood of Christ at Holy Communion. This practice is forbidden. If you do not wish to drink from the chalice then just receive Communion in one kind. To receive Communion in one kind is to receive a full Communion. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Father Frank |
| 25.09.2016 | Family Ministry Project Worker | The Archdiocese wishes to appoint someone to this full-time post based at the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham. For further details contact 0121 360 8118 |
| 02.10.2016 | October and the Rosary | October is the month of the Rosary and it is a good time therefore to renew our devotion to this rich source of prayer. We will offer up a decade of the Rosary at every weekday Mass throughout the month of October. On Friday 7th October we celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary and we will pray 5 decades of the Rosary after Mass. All welcome |
| 05.10.2016 | Get-together | We are meeting this Wednesday, 5th October at 10.30am in the parish room for tea and coffee |
23.03.2025
The Piety Stall has been re-stocked, please take a look, help yourselves and put the money into the box in the wall. There are some new St Patrick Day cards and Easter cards.
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22.03.2025
Saturdays during Lent from 8:45-10am, with refreshments. Venue: Methodist Church, Station Road. This year’s subject is the Council of Nicaea. All welcome. Dates and organisers: 8th March (Methodist Church), 15th March (St Peters), 22nd March (St Marys Temple Balsall), 29th March (St John the Baptist Berkswell), Saturday 5th April (Blessed Robert Grissold). Donations welcome.
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22.03.2025
The Deanery Day Pilgrimage to Littlemore is on 22nd March 2025. For further information please contact Peter Rand at
peter.rand@btinternet.com by 17th March.
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16.03.2025
Throughout March prayers will be offered up for vocations during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and at the Holy Rosary, at St Francis after the 9am Masses on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
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14.03.2025
Lent Family Fast Day was on Fri 14th March and there will be a second collection
on Sunday 23rd march for this. Please support communities experiencing the impacts of war, poverty and climate change. You can also donate online at cafod.org.uk/envelope, by phone 0303 303 3030 or donate £10 by Text to 70085 ref: CAFODLENT.
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12.03.2025
The next parish coffee morning will take place at 10.30 am this Wed 12th March, in the Parish Room.
Join us for tea, coffee, scones, cakes and good conversation in abundance! All welcome.
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11.03.2025
Lent has begun. Let us make every effort to make a good start to the season and use this time to renew and deepen our life in Christ. To help us, after the 7pm Tuesday Mass during Lent there will be an opportunity to pray the Stations of the Cross. All welcome to join in these devotions.
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10.03.2025
Departing 10th March 2025. £799.00 pps – price includes flight, 10kg hold luggage, 4 nights in 4* Castlecourt Hotel, Westport with dinner, bed & breakfast. Lunch on three days. All entertainment, excursions and transport included. Visit Knock, Galway City, Kylemore Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Ballintubber Abbey, Quiet Man Museum. Single supplement on enquiry. Contact 01268 762 278 or 07740 175557 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com.
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10.03.2025
Chris Mitchell and Anne Stewart are going to Knock on 10th March. If you would like them to take a petition or light a candle for you please make contact with them. Suggested offering is £2 per candle
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09.03.2025
The Archdiocese is recruiting for the following four positions, which will all be closing for applications
shortly: Operations Director, IT Manager, Finance Manager and Gift Aid Officer. Full details and closing dates can be
found at www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/jobs.
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07.03.2025
This year’s theme is “I made you Wonderful”. This year’s Churches Together service will be held at St Peter’s at 7:30pm on Friday 7th March. The service has been written by women from the Cook Islands and is based on Psalm 139 and woven around the story of three Christian women who live in the islands. This tiny island nation is only two thirds the size of the Isle of Wight. 84% of the population identify with one of the major Christian denominations. Religion is important and Sundays are widely observed as days of worship and rest. Flowers and fruit are prolific and we are invited to wear flowers in our hair, behind our ears or on our clothing when we attend the service. (Please note this used to be the Women’s World Day of Prayer but this was changed a few years ago and it is now renamed World Day of Prayer). Churches Together take turns to host the service. If you require more information please ask John & Louise Perry jlgperry@btinternet.com . All are welcome to attend, and refreshments will
be served after the service.
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02.03.2025
Today the Solemnity of St Chad will be celebrated in the Cathedral. St Chad was born in the 7th century and was educated in Lindisfarne. As a bishop he established his See at Lichfield. His reputation spread quickly and favourably as a kind pastor who sought out the lost and cared for the sick. He died in 672 and his shrine is located in St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham. He is the patron saint of the Archdiocese.
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02.03.2025
We are looking for volunteers to help organise fund raising and social events in the coming year. If you are willing to help please give your name to Joe Martin after Mass.
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23.02.2025
Any parents with children aged 7 or above wishing to make their First Holy Communion should contact either Father Frank, Chris Mitchell or Eileen Selby.
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23.02.2025
Jubilee 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope: To find out more about how your parish, family or school can celebrate the Jubilee Year in our Archdiocese, and how you can participate in events nationally and internationally, visit our Diocesan website: www.birminghamdiocese.org.uk/jubilee-year
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16.02.2025
Jim Flynn (RIP), brother of Anne Stewart, passed away this week. Please remember Jim
and his family and friends in your prayers.
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16.02.2025
Congratulations to two of our younger parishioners, Emmy Chesshire-Ramon and Felicia Stinner, who have both recently received the Lions Young Leaders in Service Silver Award for work in our local community. Well done to both of you.
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12.02.2025
The next parish coffee morning will take place at 10.30 am this Wed 12th February, in the Parish Room. Join us for tea, coffee, scones, cakes and good conversation in abundance! All welcome.
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11.02.2025
There will be a Parish Pastoral Council meeting on Tuesday 11th February after the 7.00pm Mass. Please forward to Fr Frank
suggested items for the agenda.
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09.02.2025
The Baptism of Anya Grace Pointer will take place on Sunday 9th February at 1pm: Please pray for Anya, her parents, godparents,
family and friends.
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Parish Calendar
