Holy Mass and Other Services
Sunday Mass Times
Every Sunday we celebrate the Eucharist, Our Lord Jesus Christ’s own sacrifice on Calvary for the salvation of the World and the forgiveness of sins:
In Mildenhall at Saint John’s at 9.00am. This is a sung Mass.
In Brandon at Saint Thomas’ at 11.00am. This is also a sung Mass.
Also in Brandon at 9.00am there is Holy Mass in Polish.
Masses this week
Fr Luke has been away representing the Diocese at World Youth Day in Panama City 21st -29th January,
Please note that there will be at Mass on Wednesday but there will not be Mass on Thursday this week. However, Mass will be said at Mildenhall on Friday and at Brandon, for the Feast of Candlemas, on Saturday Morning.
Weekday masses are also available in Newmarket on Monday (10.00), Tuesday (Noon), Wednesday (Kirtling: 9:15), Thursday (7pm), Friday (Noon) and Saturday (10.00am).
Masses during the week:
Usually we celebrate Mass during the week
on Wednesday at Saint Thomas’, Brandon, at 9.30am, and
on Thursday at Saint John’s, Mildenhall, at 9.30am.
There is no Mass scheduled for the other weekdays due to other parish commitments.
You are very welcome to come to any of these celebrations and we encourage you, even if not a Roman Catholic, to attend and join us in prayer.
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
