Holy Mass and Other Services

(You now do not need to book for Mass.)

The Government in England has moved to Step 4 of its roadmap out of the lockdown restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 Pandemic. Significantly, all social distancing restrictions are removed in nearly all circumstances and Churches are allowed to enjoy unrestricted worship. Although infections rates are high and continue to rise the vaccination programme has severely weakened the link between infection rate – hospitalization and death. The pandemic is, however, far from over and although legal restrictions have been removed the emphasis is now on organizations and individuals to make judgments about what is the safest and best way forward given local circumstance. After careful consideration, and in line with the recommendations from the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales, the following procedures will be adopted for the Catholic Parish of Brandon and Mildenhall: 

1.  Seating will be returned to both Churches so that a greater capacity can be accommodated. The Churches of St Thomas’ and St Johns are relatively small buildings and so even at a fuller capacity would not be considered a ‘vast crowd’ of people.

2.  Both buildings will continue to have doors and windows open to allow for good ventilation during Mass

3.  Social distancing in both our churches is no longer required. There will no longer be the need to book-in for Sunday Mass and People can sit where they wish. 

4.  People will be invited to line-up for communion in a way that is similar to pre-pandemic Mass

5.  Hand Sanitation stations will remain in place and people will be encouraged to use them regularly. 

6.  Whilst not mandatory, it is strongly encouraged that when the Church is full (i.e., Sundays and big celebrations) masks are still worn whilst in Church, acknowledging that there are people, who for variety of reasons, cannot wear masks. It may not be necessary to wear a mask for a weekday celebration.

7.  Both Churches will continue to be cleaned and chairs disinfected after every Mass  

8.  The sign of peace will not be re-introduced at this time. 

9.  Holy Water stoups will remain dry. 

10.  Holy Communion will still only be given under one kind.

11.  A physical collection basket will not be introduced at this point. You are encouraged to give online, by bank transfer of by sending in a cheque. 

12.  Given the limited space and close proximity of people, we will not re-introduce the offertory procession at this time. 

13.  Teas and coffees will be reintroduced after Mass at St John’s Mildenhall.  Given the small room at 

St Thomas, however, we will hold on reintroducing Teas and Coffees at Brandon for the time being. 

14. Singing will be reintroduced at Brandon from 15 August 2021.

In the coming weeks we will look to:

•  Reintroduce singing 

•  Reintroduce full schedule of readers and servers 

•  Reintroduce sacristy teams 

These new regulations are subject to constant review and will change if local circumstances deem it necessary. 

                                                    Fr Luke Goymour, in effect from Monday 19/7/21 

See the handout below of this guidance that you can download.

“My Jesus, 

I believe that you are present in this Holy Sacrament of the altar. I love you above all things and I passionately desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my soul so that I may unite myself wholly to you now and forever. Amen.”

It seems that the government is willing to allow places of worship to open for “private prayer”. it also seems reluctant to indicate when this may be extended to allow services, such as Mass, to be celebrated. The opportunity to be back in church, even for ‘private’ prayer, will be welcomed by many, especially Catholics. However, prayer can be made in almost any context you can think of, not just in a church. One wonders if the government understands that churches, by definition, are places for people to congregate, to come together in friendship to celebrate their faith as a community, not just as random individuals who happen to share the same space. As a place, a church comes to life when a congregation has gathered there and shares in worship.

‘Private’ prayer is somewhat different. It is individuals talking with God, whether in praise, supplication or thanksgiving, or even, as a friend of mine used to say “having a bit of a craic with Jesus.”

There are some things to remember when you are saying a private prayer.

Privacy is about being somewhere where you can relax and concentrate. You need not be alone, but you must be assured you’ll not be distracted by others. You also need to be somewhere where you can be comfortable.

Prayer is not a competition. You don’t have to say it in a given time. It is more like floating on water than paddling stridently to get somewhere. Prayer is more “Letting Go’ than “Holding On”. It is important to pray at a pace that helps you focus on the meaning of what you are saying. There is a risk with certain repetitive prayers, such as litanies or the Rosary, that you get to a stage when the repetition speeds up and what you offer to God is an unthinking gabble, rather than a thoughtful word. It is better to take fifteen minutes to say the Lord’s Prayer thoughtfully, than to rush through it in three minutes.

Do try not to say too many prayers. That too can lead to loss of concentration. Finally, very often you will find that the best prayer is silence. Give God a chance to talk to you. Even if you don’t hear anything there and then, the message will come through eventually. And the sound of silence can be a most spiritually uplifting experience when you pray.    
                                                                                                               TC

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. 

During our transition back to normal service, please contact Fr Luke directly at 01842 812200.

 is streamed via the Internet on Sunday at 11:00 am, and Tues.- Fri. at 10:00 am.

Go to www.facebook.com/bmrcparish/live

Send in your intentions by phone, email or post!  

Public Masses resumed on 2nd Dec.  See the weekly diary.

Read Fr Luke’s blog at https://www.frlukegoymour.com/  Latest post: “Advent: waiting in joyful hope”.

"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."

The first series of talks have finished for the time being, but the full catalogue is available here on our parish website.

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

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 Podcast platforms. 

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

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! 

 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