Holy Mass and Other Services

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Access to our Churches

Visiting Church at this time would go against the four specific reasons for a person leaving home and undermines the desire of the Government for people to remain at home. Therefore, in line with the Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Alan asks that we close our churches until we are told that they might be opened again.  This is right – for it is for the benefit of others and will help to stop infection. 

Jesus to your Door!

Fr Luke writes: Would you like a personal visit from the Risen Lord? Although restrictions prevent people receiving Holy Communion and gathering in Church. As a ‘religious worker’ I am key worker and so can come to you and assist you. I can bring the Blessed Sacrament to your home, expose the Host in small monstrance at your door or window (keeping 6ft away) lead prayers with you (and any members of your household) and then give you Benediction. So how about it? Are you missing Jesus? Want to pray together in person? Contact me now and we’ll book in time for a visit from the Risen Lord! I will remain at your door/front window with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, I will not come in, social distancing will be observed at all times. 

Holy Mass -- Public Services Suspended

Other Church Services

All public services were suspended from the night of 20 March 2020 until further notice.  Updates for our parish will be published on our website and via Fr Luke's social media links as they are known.

Our Virtual Parish Services

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Mass for our Parish ...

 is broadcast daily at 10:00 am and on Sunday at 11:00 am

Go to www.facebook.com/bmrcparish/live

Send in your intentions by phone, email or post!  

Our Virtual Parish: Faith for Our Times

Wednesdays at 7:30 pm 


Each Wednesday Fr Luke will be giving talks on aspects of our faith. These talks will be streamed live via www.facebook.com/bmrcparish/live 


There will also be a time of Q & A where Questions can be submitted during the live feed via the comment sections.


The full series is linked on this web site.  Simply click here or on the Faith Talks tab at the top of the page.

More about attending a ‘Virtual’ Mass: Top Ten Tips from Fr Luke

"Taking part in a virtual Mass can help us to keep the Eucharist, and thus Christ at the center of our lives. Like anything, however, the extent to which it will be fruitful in our own lives depends in no small part on us, so here are my top ten tips to help you participate in Virtual Masses!


1. Read the Sunday readings beforehand and pray with them during the week. Many people do this already and this is good to do anyway if you were coming to Mass physically on a Sunday or joining us through the internet.


2. Make a Spiritual Communion – Jesus can’t be received sacramentally via the internet but he can always be received in spirit (I lead this prayer at Communion at the Masses I stream and invite participants to say the prayer along with me at home)


3. Keep the Eucharistic Fast: The Church asks that we prepare for Holy Communion by not eating or drinking anything (except water) for a minimum of one hour before Holy Communion. Although you will be making a spiritual Communion and so technically this fast is not needed, it might be a fruitful way of preparing yourself, ahead of time, for spiritual participation at Mass.


4. Set up an altar/focus for prayer in your house. If possible, prepare a space where you can drape a cloth over a table, light some candles - if you are streaming to a portable device (laptop, phone/tablet) you could put this near or behind the altar


5. If you have space in your house (corner of a room/spare bedroom) set up a prayer space and ‘go to Mass’ in this room


6. If you have young children, consider doing your own children’s liturgy with them during the liturgy of the word.


7. Turn off phones (that you are not using to stream!) set notifications to silent turn off radios and TV’s on other parts of the house


8. Make sure you participate: i.e. don’t just watch but say the responses at the correct points


9. Send in Mass Intentions and ask for prayers to be included in the Mass


10. Invite friends (virtually) to stream along with you and participate in the Mass at the same time. Knowing that your friends and family in their own houses are participating in the same Eucharist and watching the same live feed can be enormously encouraging, especially in this time of social isolation."

Fr Luke's Homilies -- Online and as a Podcast

Listen to Homilies online and  as a podcast! Homilies will be loaded up shortly after the Sunday they are preached: visit:  https://anchor.fm/fr-luke-goymour/ or search on Spotify, Google, Apple, and other major platforms. 

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Liturgy Matters

Your House Blessing

Your House Blessing

A reminder that from the beginning of last Advent, in compliance with the General Instruction of the Roman Missal Fr Luke will purify all vessels during or after the Mass, not the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion as was previously the case. 

Your House Blessing

Your House Blessing

Your House Blessing

If you would like Fr Luke to visit you in your home and invoke God’s blessing upon your home and family, please speak to him after Mass or call the presbytery. 

It’s also an excellent way for priest and parish to get to know each other! 

Thanksgiving after Holy Communion

Clarification over bowing/genuflecting

Clarification over bowing/genuflecting

The Church has long recommended the faithful to make a proper thanksgiving after Holy communion. Although this may take place in the celebration itself: with a period of silence, with a hymn, psalm or other song of praise, it is also recommended that after the celebration, if possible, the faithful stay to pray for a suitable time. The reason is that Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, is present under the form of the Eucharistic Species (appearance of bread and wine) and for as long as the Eucharistic Species last, He is there Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in all the tabernacles of the world and especially in the living tabernacle of those who have received him in Holy Communion. Please consider either staying in the Church (Brandon) or using the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (at Mildenhall) for a few moments after Mass to sit with Jesus and thank Him for being with you. If you see people sitting and praying, please respect the silence and don’t try and talk to them until they get up from their prayers. 

Clarification over bowing/genuflecting

Clarification over bowing/genuflecting

Clarification over bowing/genuflecting

A reminder that during the celebration of the Eucharist the appropriate act of reverence for any minister approaching the altar (reader/cantor/etc) is to bow to the altar and not, as has previously been the practice here, the celebrant. Genuflection is reserved almost exclusively for the Blessed Sacrament (not the altar) on entering and leaving the main body of the Church and on reception of Holy Communion should you so wish. 

Sacrament of Reconciliation

During periods when public services are suspended

Fr Luke will hold confessions by appointment only until further notice.

Confessions - Temporarily Suspended

Confession are now held at regular slots on Sunday before Mass at Mildenhall and after Mass at Brandon. If this is inconvenient for you please contact me to arrange an appointment – I will come to your house if that is easier for you or you can come to me! 


Mildenhall: From 8:30 – 8:55 

- Confessions are held in the confessional in the right- hand corner of our church.


Brandon: 12:10 

- After Mass I will great people as they leave at the door of the church, if you require confession sit and que in the front rows by the sacristy and confessional (at the front of our Church on the left-hand side.) I will return to the sacristy at 12:10 to begin hearing confessions.   If no one is queuing and you would like confession, please come and find me and ask! 

Sacraments of Initiation

Baptism

Confirmation

Communion

Through Baptism we enter the mystery of God’s life. Please contact us about having your child baptised.

Communion

Confirmation

Communion

For first Communion and Reconciliation we normally have a parish preparation course to lead your child deeper into the life of the Church.  Please ask for details.  This normally takes place in school year 3 or above.

Confirmation

Confirmation

Confirmation

Confirmation, the completion of our initiation, lets us, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, witness to Christ in our lives. Normally in school year 10 or above we have a course of preparation. Again, just ask for details.

Confirmation

If you are an adult and are seeking to be initiated in to the life of Christ, then we will arrange a preparation course to help and instruct you.

Also, if you are an adult and missed your first communion or Confirmation, then please speak to us and we shall help you in this matter.

Sometimes people of other denominations desire to become Christians within the Roman Catholic Church.  We can help guide you and lead you on this path to your reception within the Church.

Growing A Faith

Baptism

 Baptism opens the door to the Faith and to the Church’s community perhaps the most important event in a Christian’s life. The next ‘key stage’ in developing one’s faith is, of course, First Communion. 

But what happens between these two sacraments? 

In these early years, a baby, growing into infancy, will be learning rules, routines and how to do things for themselves. Part of this complex programme should be learning about and learning to be a follower of Christ. 

So regular attendance at mass and regular explanation of what is happening become a central part of the child’s life. 

It is of equal importance that the child’s learning occurs at home as well. Here are some ways this can be done: 

  • Use baptism photos/videos, candle (and gown if used) to talk through what happened on the day and who was there; 
  • Create a card with the scripture used at the baptism on it and date. Display the card each anniversary; 
  • Explain what their Baptism name means, why it was chosen and the names of the child’s parents and what they mean; 
  • Keep the child in touch with their god-parents regularly. If possible invite the god-parents to join you at mass on the baptism’s anniversary; 
  • As the child learns to read, use simple books on Christian faith as primers; 
  • Learning to pray can also be accompanied by using colouring books. That are readily available in shops and online. 


Baptismal Grace 


Many of us were little babies when we were baptised, and perhaps the significance of this sacrament has not been fully explored. We know, of course that baptism has cleansed us of original sin and that we are now new people - a ‘priesthood’ - in Christ. However it takes time - even a lifetime -to appreciate that baptismal grace has made us temples of God. The Trinity now dwells in us in a real and glorious way that is impossible to express fully in words or pictures. 


Our baptism into Christ incorporates us into the bosom of the Trinity. It makes us participators in the divine life. Every time we make the sign of the Cross, every time we say ‘Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit”, we celebrate their presence within us. To think that we, humble though we are, have been made spiritual temples of God is awesome: to be graced with the Trinity’s presence in us is awesome; to be so loved by God is awesome; to have responsibility for maintaining the temple is awesome. 


May we nourish and safeguard our faith, the light that is our temple’s sanctuary lamp. 

        TC 

The Other Sacraments

Marriage

Anointing of the Sick

Anointing of the Sick

Marriage is a wonderful sign of the fidelity and Love of God as well as the blessings of Our Lord on the union of the joyous couple.  Please contact us in the first instance, allow at least six months to arrange your marriage within the Church.

Anointing of the Sick

Anointing of the Sick

Anointing of the Sick

Anointing of the Sick is a wonderful way to allow Jesus to come and heal and sooth our illnesses through his presence.  If you or perhaps a relative or friend would like to receive this sacrament, just ask.  You may also like to consider receiving this sacrament if you are troubled, about to undergo serious surgery, or even a minor operation.

Ordination

Anointing of the Sick

Ordination

Ordination into the Hierarchy of the Priesthood is a wonderful way in which men are called to serve God and his people.  It is a duty of all Christians to pray for vocations and if you feel you are being called do come to discuss it with Father Luke.   See also the Diocesan Website for details about the Vocations Team.

Other Services

Home Communion at Home

Home Communion at Home

Home Communion at Home

If you are sick, housebound or infirm and unable to come to Church on Sunday, then we are able to bring you the comfort and support of Holy Communion in your home.  Don’t hesitate to ask.

Sick Visits

Home Communion at Home

Home Communion at Home

If you are unwell or know someone who is unwell and would like Fr Luke to visit please do contact him, either by phone or email. If you do not let anyone know then it hard to visit you. Please do not assume that Fr Luke knows that someone is sick or wants a visit. 

Funerals

Home Communion at Home

Funerals

When a loved one dies it is our duty to honour their body and memory.  We do all we can in our parish to ensure that your funeral service is a dignified, prayerful,  and precious occasion.

Funerals

As a parish we also undertake Pilgrimages to holy places, courses of prayer or study in Lent and Advent and from time to time parish retreats to help deepen our spiritual lives.

There are many members of our Parish who have attended Cursillo courses and this movement of spiritual renewal and sacramental life has proven to have a great effect within the lives of many.  You may want to use our Links page to find a website on this.