St. Thomas & St. John Catholic Parish

St. Thomas & St. John Catholic ParishSt. Thomas & St. John Catholic ParishSt. Thomas & St. John Catholic Parish
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    • Home
    • Church Services
    • About Us
    • Weekly Newsletter
    • Current Parish Activities
    • The Care of Creation
    • Justice & Peace (NJPN)
    • Ukraine
    • CAFOD
    • The Synodal Process
    • Life & the Family
    • The Church in Our Times
    • Prayer
    • Saints from our Tradition
    • National Cycle of Prayer
    • Covid-19 Church Info
    • Fr Luke's Faith Talks
    • Fr Luke's Lent Talks
    • Fr Luke's Advent Talks
    • Bishop's Letters & Info
    • Our Parish Community
    • Charitable Activities
    • Contact Us
    • Links

St. Thomas & St. John Catholic Parish

St. Thomas & St. John Catholic ParishSt. Thomas & St. John Catholic ParishSt. Thomas & St. John Catholic Parish
  • Home
  • Church Services
  • About Us
  • Weekly Newsletter
  • Current Parish Activities
  • The Care of Creation
  • Justice & Peace (NJPN)
  • Ukraine
  • CAFOD
  • The Synodal Process
  • Life & the Family
  • The Church in Our Times
  • Prayer
  • Saints from our Tradition
  • National Cycle of Prayer
  • Covid-19 Church Info
  • Fr Luke's Faith Talks
  • Fr Luke's Lent Talks
  • Fr Luke's Advent Talks
  • Bishop's Letters & Info
  • Our Parish Community
  • Charitable Activities
  • Contact Us
  • Links

Upcoming Activities & Offerings

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

PARISH DIARY – 4th Week of the Year, Psalter Week 4 , Year A


Sun. Jan 29th  --  4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

                               Mildenhall - 9:00 am Mass

                                Brandon  - 11:00 am Mass 

 

Tues.  Jan 31st   -  St John Bosco, Priest, Memorial

                                  Mildenhall - 10:00 am Mass

Wed.   Feb 1st   -    Brandon  -  10:00 am Mass

Thurs. Feb 2nd   -  The Presentation of the Lord,  Feast

                                  Candlemas Day

                                  Mildenhall - 10:00 am Mass

Fri.       Feb 3rd   -  Brandon - 9:00 am Adoration 

                                                   - 10:00 am Mass


Sun. Feb 5th  --  5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Racial Justice Day

                             Mildenhall - 9:00 am Mass

                             Brandon - 11:00 am Mass 


Upcoming Dates to Remember

8th Feb, Wednesday –Victims of Trafficking

11th Feb, Saturday – World Day for the Sick

19th Feb, Sunday – Day of Prayer for the Unemployed

22nd Feb, Wednesday - Ash Wednesday


Notes:


Could your New Year’s resolution be to help build a better world through volunteering?

CAFOD, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, are looking for people to give some time and join them in their mission. Could you help develop our work in parishes or Catholic schools? Or raise a voice and campaign for justice throughout the diocese? Training and support are provided. See cafod.org.uk/Volunteer for more information or get in touch with eastanglia@cafod.org.uk


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Fix the Food System

“Our global food system is broken. Over 800 million people go hungry, and the way we produce much of our food harms our planet, too. Meanwhile, huge corporations make enormous profits. Small-scale farmers around the world produce around one third of our food, and if they had more support, things could be so hugely different.


“In 2023, the second phase of our Fix the Food System campaign will focus on the issue of seeds. Seeds are at the very heart of the food system. They are part of nature and given by God for the benefit of all but increasingly farmers’ rights to choose their own seeds are under threat….”


With Permission, CAFOD.  See cafod.org.uk/food for more.


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CAFOD World Gifts: Give a gift of hope at any time of the year

Let’s share the promise of hope that has been made to us with our sisters and brothers around the world. You can buy CAFOD’s World Gifts for family and friends online at https://worldgifts.cafod.org.uk/ or pick up a catalogue in church. World Gifts such as “super soup kitchens”, “trees for life”, or “water for a family” will help transform lives in a world filled with challenges.


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Mass Intentions. Please let Fr Antony know of any Mass Intentions you would like him to announce during our Masses on Sunday or weekdays.  Place your name and your intention on a slip; add any special date or particular mass or location (Brandon or Mildenhall) you desire; put that in an envelope along with any offering (not required) you wish to include; give the envelope to Fr Antony or mail it to him.  Fr Antony will make his best effort to match your desires.  Mass intentions for the coming week are published at the end of our weekly newsletter and announced during the Mass.  Some dates are particularly popular, like Sundays, so let Fr Antony know in advance so he can sort out any competing desires from other parishioners.


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Catholic East Anglia - February 2023 issue is now available on line and in the back of the church.

https://www.rcdea.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/CEA-Feb-23-Web.pdf


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Monthly God who Speaks newsletter, created in partnership between the Catholic Bishops' Conference and Bible Society, as part of our God who Speaks campaign. https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/

Each month we offer you new resources for your Bible engagement - whether individually, as a family, an online community, parish or school, to share the scriptures wherever you are.


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Sunday Obligation  

The Bishops of England and Wales invite all Catholics who are able and haven’t already, to return to Sunday Mass. Consequently, they have restored the Sunday obligation (suspended during the Pandemic) The Sunday Eucharist is the heart of our faith and our hallmark as Catholics, so let’s keep this great gift alive in our hearts by making Sunday Mass a priority!


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Parking at Brandon: Please respect our neighbors and one another when parking. If you need to park on the road in Fengate Drove, please be mindful of pavements and private drives. How people perceive us as a community is important: remember we are adverts for the Catholic Faith!


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Take advantage of the many Catholic publications to enrich your faith.  See the link page on this website for information on a number of them.

Pre-Lent Winter Warmer Lunch at St John's...

Sunday, 19 Feb. 2023, 1:00 for 1:30pm at St John's, Mildenhall

Two courses, £8/person or £20/family.


Yes, another fund raiser - and more great food and friendship!


Sign up by 12 Feb. on sheets at back of each church (select your Main and dessert for each person);  please pay when your sign up -- see Chris, Mary, Yolande, Jo, Liz or Angie after Mass. 


Main course options:  Lasagne or Cottage Pie

Dessert Options:  Fruit crumble, Black Forest Gateau or Cheese cake


There will be a Number Squares raffle (£1 per square) for some great prizes - bottles of refreshment, jams, biscuits, and more. Squares can be bought after Mass in the coming weeks or at the lunch.


Come share a meal, a friendly chat, and have a fun time while you help raise funds for the parish


See also the flyer in the Special Notice Section of this website.

Retrouvaille: A Programme for Couples Struggling in their Marriages

Help Your Marriage – Do you feel alone? Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Do you argue … or have you just stopped talking to each other? Does talking about it only make it worse? 


Retrouvaille is a programme to support couples who have difficulties in their marriage. It brings a positive focus, new hope and helps nourish and grow your marriage. Tens of thousands of couples headed for divorce have successfully saved their marriages by attending and using the tools provided. The programme helps spouses uncover or re-awaken the love, trust and commitment that originally brought them together. It helps them through difficult times whether they are disillusioned or in deep misery. There is no group therapy or group work. 


For confidential information about ‘Retrouvaille’ or to register for the next programme commencing with a Face to Face weekend in Welwyn Garden City on 24 – 26 February 2023, or a Virtual weekend on 6 - 9 July 2023, call or text 07887 296983 or 07973 380443 or email retrouvailleukinfo@gmail.com - or visit www.retrouvaille.org.uk

“CAFOD launches Big Lent Walk to fight global poverty

“This Lent, CAFOD, the official aid agency of the Catholic Church, is setting an inspiring challenge to help raise money to fight global poverty.  The challenge is simple - walk 200km over 40 days, while raising money for families impacted by the climate crisis. How and when people walk the 5km a day is up to them, but it can be done alone, with friends, family or with a school….


“While the challenge starts on Ash Wednesday (22 February), people, parishes and schools are already fundraising.  Those taking part are encouraged to share on social media, using the #TheBigLentWalk hashtag….”


See the Big Lent Walk page: https://walk.cafod.org.uk/


With Permission, Independent Catholic News, 12 Jan 2023. For the full article, see https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/46299  

“Pope's Message for World Communications Day

“Pope Francis released his message for World Communications Day on … 24 January, the Feast of St Francis de Sales - patron saint of Catholic writers and journalists.


“The Holy Father stresses the need to listen before speaking truth with a pure heart to ‘see beyond appearances and overcome the vague din which, also in the field of information, does not help us discern in the complicated world in which we live.’


"’The call to speak with the heart,’ he says, ‘radically challenges the times in which we are living, which are so inclined towards indifference and indignation, at times even on the basis of disinformation which falsifies and exploits the truth.’…"


With Permission, Independent Catholic News, Source: Vatican News, 26 Jan 2023. For the full article, see https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/46405

“Pope issues Apostolic Letter on St Francis de Sales

"…’We are challenged to be a Church that is outward-looking and free of all worldliness, even as we live in this world, share people's lives and journey with them in attentive listening and acceptance. That is what Francis de Sales did when he discerned the events of his times with the help of God's grace. Today he bids us set aside undue concern for ourselves, for our structures and for what society thinks about us, and consider instead the real spiritual needs and expectations of our people.’…"


With permission, Independent Catholic News, 29 Dec 2022.  For the full article see  https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/46204  

St Francis de Sales, Bishop – Commemorated 24 Jan.

"Francis was destined by his father to be a lawyer so that the young man could eventually take his elder’s place as a senator from the province of Savoy in France. For this reason Francis was sent to Padua to study law. After receiving his doctorate, he returned home and, in due time, told his parents he wished to enter the priesthood. His father strongly opposed Francis in this, and only after much patient persuasiveness on the part of the gentle Francis did his father finally consent. Francis was ordained and elected provost of the Diocese of Geneva, then a center for the Calvinists. Francis set out to convert them, especially in the district of Chablais. By preaching and distributing the little pamphlets he wrote to explain true Catholic doctrine, he had remarkable success.


"At 35, he became bishop of Geneva. While administering his diocese he continued to preach, hear confessions, and catechize the children. His gentle character was a great asset in winning souls. He practiced his own axiom, 'A spoonful of honey attracts more flies than a barrelful of vinegar.'


"Besides his two well-known books, the Introduction to the Devout Life and A Treatise on the Love of God, he wrote many pamphlets and carried on a vast correspondence. For his writings, he has been named patron of the Catholic Press. His writings, filled with his characteristic gentle spirit, are addressed to lay people. He wants to make them understand that they too are called to be saints. As he wrote in The Introduction to the Devout Life: 'It is an error, or rather a heresy, to say devotion is incompatible with the life of a soldier, a tradesman, a prince, or a married woman…. It has happened that many have lost perfection in the desert who had preserved it in the world.'


"In spite of his busy and comparatively short life, he had time to collaborate with another saint, Jane Frances de Chantal, in the work of establishing the Sisters of the Visitation. These women were to practice the virtues exemplified in Mary’s visit to Elizabeth: humility, piety, and mutual charity. They at first engaged to a limited degree in works of mercy for the poor and the sick. Today, while some communities conduct schools, others live a strictly contemplative life.


"Reflection

"Francis de Sales took seriously the words of Christ, 'Learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart.' As he said himself, it took him 20 years to conquer his quick temper, but no one ever suspected he had such a problem, so overflowing with good nature and kindness was his usual manner of acting. His perennial meekness and sunny disposition won for him the title of 'Gentleman Saint.'


"Saint Francis de Sales is the Patron Saint of:

Authors
Deafness
Journalists
Writers"


This “Saint of the Day” material is reprinted with permission from Franciscan Media. Visit www.FranciscanMedia.org for more.

Conversion of St Paul, Apostle - commemorated on 25 Jan.

"Saint Paul’s entire life can be explained in terms of one experience—his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus. In an instant, he saw that all the zeal of his dynamic personality was being wasted, like the strength of a boxer swinging wildly. Perhaps he had never seen Jesus, who was only a few years older. But he had acquired a zealot’s hatred of all Jesus stood for, as he began to harass the Church: '…entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment' (Acts 8:3b). Now he himself was 'entered,' possessed, all his energy harnessed to one goal—being a slave of Christ in the ministry of reconciliation, an instrument to help others experience the one Savior.


"One sentence determined his theology: 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting' (Acts 9:5b). Jesus was mysteriously identified with people—the loving group of people Saul had been running down like criminals. Jesus, he saw, was the mysterious fulfillment of all he had been blindly pursuing.


"From then on, his only work was to 'present everyone perfect in Christ. For this I labor and struggle, in accord with the exercise of his power working within me' (Colossians 1:28b-29). 'For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and [with] much conviction' (1 Thessalonians 1:5a).


"Paul’s life became a tireless proclaiming and living out of the message of the cross: Christians die baptismally to sin and are buried with Christ; they are dead to all that is sinful and unredeemed in the world. They are made into a new creation, already sharing Christ’s victory and someday to rise from the dead like him. Through this risen Christ the Father pours out the Spirit on them, making them completely new.


"So Paul’s great message to the world was: You are saved entirely by God, not by anything you can do. Saving faith is the gift of total, free, personal and loving commitment to Christ, a commitment that then bears fruit in more 'works' than the Law could ever contemplate.


"Reflection

"Paul is undoubtedly hard to understand. His style often reflects the rabbinical style of argument of his day, and often his thought skips on mountaintops while we plod below. But perhaps our problems are accentuated by the fact that so many beautiful jewels have become part of the everyday coin in our Christian language."


This “Saint of the Day” material is reprinted with permission from Franciscan Media. Visit www.FranciscanMedia.org for more.

Saint Thomas Aquinas - commemorated 28 Jan.

"By universal consent, Thomas Aquinas is the preeminent spokesman of the Catholic tradition of reason and of divine revelation. He is one of the great teachers of the medieval Catholic Church, honored with the titles Doctor of the Church and Angelic Doctor.


"At five he was given to the Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino in his parents’ hopes that he would choose that way of life and eventually became abbot. In 1239, he was sent to Naples to complete his studies. It was here that he was first attracted to Aristotle’s philosophy.


"By 1243, Thomas abandoned his family’s plans for him and joined the Dominicans, much to his mother’s dismay. On her order, Thomas was captured by his brother and kept at home for over a year.


"Once free, he went to Paris and then to Cologne, where he finished his studies with Albert the Great. He held two professorships at Paris, lived at the court of Pope Urban IV, directed the Dominican schools at Rome and Viterbo, combated adversaries of the mendicants, as well as the Averroists, and argued with some Franciscans about Aristotelianism.


"His greatest contribution to the Catholic Church is his writings. The unity, harmony, and continuity of faith and reason, of revealed and natural human knowledge, pervades his writings. One might expect Thomas, as a man of the gospel, to be an ardent defender of revealed truth. But he was broad enough, deep enough, to see the whole natural order as coming from God the Creator, and to see reason as a divine gift to be highly cherished.


"The Summa Theologiae, his last and, unfortunately, uncompleted work, deals with the whole of Catholic theology. He stopped work on it after celebrating Mass on December 6, 1273. When asked why he stopped writing, he replied, 'I cannot go on…. All that I have written seems to me like so much straw compared to what I have seen and what has been revealed to me.' He died March 7, 1274.


"Reflection

"We can look to Thomas Aquinas as a towering example of Catholicism in the sense of broadness, universality, and inclusiveness. We should be determined anew to exercise the divine gift of reason in us, our power to know, learn, and understand. At the same time we should thank God for the gift of his revelation, especially in Jesus Christ.


"Saint Thomas Aquinas is a Patron Saint of:

Catholic Colleges and Universities
Educators/Teachers
Philosophers/Theologians
Students"


This “Saint of the Day” material is reprinted with permission from Franciscan Media. Visit www.FranciscanMedia.org for more.

50-50 Club Renewals 2023

2023 subscriptions are now due for most club members. £13 per number. Bank transfers - please reference '50-50 club'. Web payments - email me so I know. Cash or cheques can be passed on to me (Philip Kemp). If you are not sure how many numbers you have please get in touch. Contact details above. The 50-50 Club makes a significant contribution to Parish funds. Thank you for your continued support.

Parish Finances

Annual Summary of Parish Finances is displayed on our notice board at the back of both Churches. 


Thank you for your continued and generous financial support of our Parish.


Update on Offertory Donations


As you will be aware offertory collections during Sunday Mass have been in abeyance since the start of the pandemic. Nevertheless, total offertory donations have just about maintained their pre-pandemic levels. Enormous thanks is due to parishioners who have switched to alternative means of making regular donations by bank transfers, web payments and contactless card payments. Regular cheque payments and small amounts of cash have also been gratefully received.  


Sunday collections are now to be reintroduced, in particular for those who have no means of donating other than by cash contributions. You are urged to otherwise continue with non-cash payments where possible as this has enormous advantages for the Parish and reduces numbers needed to act as counters, banking arrangements and meeting accounting requirements.


A basket is available for cash and cheque offertory donations at the back of each church. Offertory collections will not be taking place during the Mass. 


A reminder of the options for making offertory and second collection donations: -

  1. Standing Order or bank transfers (see our bank details below).
  2. Web donations using the DONA button below or on the Home Page of this website
  3. Contactless card payments using the DONA Digital Collection Plate at the rear of Church.
  4. Cheques (payable to Brandon & Mildenhall Catholic Parish).
  5. We will of course continue to accept cash donations if you prefer.


Gift Aid. Those in the Gift Aid scheme who donate electronically or by cheque will have their donations readily credited to their Gift Aid account.  However, if you make cash donations, you will need to put it in an envelope with your name OR your Gift Aid number. (Contact Philip if you are not sure what it is).


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Message to Gift Aid Donors


The Parish is required to inform you of the following: The Parish will be making its annual Gift Aid rebate claim and is claiming tax on your behalf on the basis you are paying UK income or capital gains tax, unless you advise the contrary. Gift Aid donors are requested to advise if they are no longer paying UK tax or if you have changed address.   


Many thanks for your continued support of the Gift Aid Scheme which provides the Parish with significant additional income at no extra cost.   


 Philip Kemp, Parish Treasurer & Gift Aid Organiser, pjkemp1@gmail.com 

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Parish Bank Account details: 

Account Name: Brandon & Mildenhall Catholic Parish 

Lloyds Bank, Sort Code: 30-98-58 A/C No: 00489176


Contact: Philip Kemp, Parish Treasurer Tel 07514430468 Email pjkemp1@gmail.com

DONA

National Cycle of Prayer - Please pray for these intentions in the coming weeks.

Peace on Earth: especially on 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time and on Racial Justice Day

Prayer:  O God of peace, who are peace itself and whom a spirit of discord cannot grasp, nor a violent mind receive, grant that those who are one in heart may persevere in what is good and that those in conflict may forget evil and so be healed.  Roman Missal


Christian Unity: especially during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: 18–25 January.

Prayer:  May the divisions among Christians be overcome so that we may hasten to your eternal Kingdom in the perfect communion of the Church.   cf. Roman Missal


Openness to the Word of God: especially on 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Prayer:  Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: help us so to hear them, to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word, we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.   Book of Common Prayer


Victims of Trafficking: especially on feast of St Josephine Bakhita — 8 February.

Prayer:   O God, who led Saint Josephine Bakhita from abject slavery to the dignity of being your daughter and a bride of Christ, grant, we pray, that by her example we may show constant love for the Lord Jesus crucified, remaining steadfast in charity and prompt to show compassion.  Roman Missal


The Sick and Those Who Care for Them: especially on World Day of Prayer for the Sick — 11 February.

Prayer:   Accept the prayers we offer for our brothers and sisters who are ill, that, having been anxious for them in their danger, we may rejoice at their recovery of health.   cf. Roman Missal


The Unemployed: especially on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday.

Prayer:  O God, the source of human dignity, in your image every person is fashioned and by your Son all people are redeemed. 

Make us honour the work of your hands, that we may reverence you in those whom the world coaliders least and serve you in all whom society neglects.


The Needy and Hungry of the World: especially on Lenten Fast Day — Friday of the first week in Lent.

Prayer: O God, the source of human dignity, in your image every person is fashioned and by your Son all people are redeemed.  Make us honour the work of your hands, that we may reverence you in those whom the world considers least and serve you in all whom society neglects.


Source: Diocesan Calendar 2023, Diocese of East Anglia

A gentleman, a scholar, but above all, a man of God

“Cardinal Vincent Nichols has paid tribute to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who served as Supreme Pontiff from April 2005 to February 2013 and has died aged 95 ….


“’He was through and through a gentleman, … a scholar, … a pastor, … a man of God – close to the Lord and always his humble servant.’


“During a morning Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis prayed for Benedict.


“’Today we entrust to our Blessed Mother our beloved Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, so that she may accompany him in his passage from this world to God,’ he said.


“Calling the late pope a ‘great master of catechesis’, he said: ‘His acute and gentle thought was not self-referential, but ecclesial, because he always wanted to accompany us in the encounter with Jesus.’…”


With permission, Universe Catholic Weekly, Andy Drozdziak, 6 Jan 2023, pg 1,   For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link: https://universecatholicweekly.co.uk/universe-weekly-newsletters/january-2023/UNIVERSE-06-JAN-2023.pdf?mc_cid=eb18959b57&mc_eid=369907850c

Farewell to Benedict XVI: ‘Humble worker in vineyard of the Lord'

The 95-year-old Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away on Saturday at 9:34 AM in his residence at the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery.


Funeral and Requiem Mass: Pope Emeritus Benedict’s funeral will take place at 9:30am (8:30am UK time) on Thursday January 5, 2023, in St Peter’s Square presided over by Pope Francis. As of Monday morning, January 2, the body of the Pope Emeritus will be in St Peter’s Basilica so the faithful can pay their respects. 


There will be a Requiem Mass for the Pope Emeritus on Monday January 2 at 12 noon at St John’s Cathedral in Norwich. In advance of the funeral on Thursday, Solemn Vespers will be celebrated at the Cathedral on Wednesday January 4 at 6pm – ecumenical and civic representatives will be invited.

Saints Timothy and Titus - commemorated 26 Jan.

"What we know from the New Testament of Timothy’s life makes it sound like that of a modern harried bishop. He had the honor of being a fellow apostle with Paul, both sharing the privilege of preaching the gospel and suffering for it.


"Timothy had a Greek father and a Jewish mother named Eunice. Being the product of a 'mixed' marriage, he was considered illegitimate by the Jews. It was his grandmother, Lois, who first became Christian. Timothy was a convert of Paul around the year 47 and later joined him in his apostolic work. He was with Paul at the founding of the Church in Corinth. During the 15 years he worked with Paul, he became one of his most faithful and trusted friends. He was sent on difficult missions by Paul—often in the face of great disturbance in local churches which Paul had founded.


"Timothy was with Paul in Rome during the latter’s house arrest. At some period Timothy himself was in prison (Hebrews 13:23). Paul installed him as his representative at the Church of Ephesus.


"Timothy was comparatively young for the work he was doing. Several references seem to indicate that he was timid. And one of Paul’s most frequently quoted lines was addressed to him: 'Stop drinking only water, but have a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses' (1 Timothy 5:23).


"Titus has the distinction of being a close friend and disciple of Paul as well as a fellow missionary. He was Greek, apparently from Antioch. Even though Titus was a Gentile, Paul would not let him be forced to undergo circumcision at Jerusalem. Titus is seen as a peacemaker, administrator, great friend. Paul’s second letter to Corinth affords an insight into the depth of his friendship with Titus, and the great fellowship they had in preaching the gospel.


"When Paul was having trouble with the community at Corinth, Titus was the bearer of Paul’s severe letter and was successful in smoothing things out. Paul writes he was strengthened not only by the arrival of Titus but also 'by the encouragement with which he was encouraged in regard to you, as he told us of your yearning, your lament, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more…. And his heart goes out to you all the more, as he remembers the obedience of all of you, when you received him with fear and trembling' (2 Corinthians 7:7a, 15).


"The 'Letter to Titus' addresses him as the administrator of the Christian community on the island of Crete, charged with organizing it, correcting abuses, and appointing presbyter-bishops.


"Reflection

"In Titus we get another glimpse of life in the early Church: great zeal in the apostolate, great communion in Christ, great friendship. Yet always there is the problem of human nature and the unglamorous details of daily life: the need for charity and patience in 'quarrels with others, fears within myself,' as Paul says. Through it all, the love of Christ sustained them. At the end of the Letter to Titus, Paul says that when the temporary substitute comes, 'hurry to me.'


"Saints Timothy and Titus are the Patron Saints of:

"Relief from Stomach Disorders"


This “Saint of the Day” material is reprinted with permission from Franciscan Media. Visit www.FranciscanMedia.org for more.

National Justice & Peace Network (NJPN)

'Act justly, Love tenderly, walk humbly with your God'. Micah 6.8


Visit https://www.justice-and-peace.org.uk to find out more about this small but important charity.  If you are concerned about injustice in our world, you can join or make a welcome donation to help in their work on that homepage. 


The latest NJPN e-Bulletin is available at 

https://www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/NJPN-E-Bulletin-11th-December-2022.pdf


The next NJPN networking day is 25th Feb. 2023, 10:45am (for 11:00 am)-3:30pm via Zoom.  Book via Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/njpn-networking-day-tickets-466226314457

“Catholic Church leaders in the Holy Land express concern over region’s social & political situation

“In an advent message released this week, Catholic Church leaders in the Holy Land have warned of political and social challenges facing the region. Highlighting threats to coexistence between communities in Israel and increasing violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, they emphasised that ‘the absence of a real process of peace, based on International Law, will lead to more suffering.’


“Appealing for justice and peace, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries went on to state: ‘We raise our voice for the needs of the poorest and the weakest: to ensure that the Palestinian people are granted dignity and freedom in their land, that a stable solution and justice is given to the five million Palestinians living in the Occupied Territories, and that in the Holy Land all national communities have equal rights.’ 


“Turning to signs of hope, they highlighted the return of pilgrims following the pandemic, bringing ‘life and movement back to the streets and alleys’ of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, and other cities.  


“The Bishops of England and Wales have a close relationship with the Church in the Holy Land through the Holy Land Coordination and earlier this year issued new guidelines for Holy Land pilgrimages, to ensure that people encounter and support the local Christian communities.


Used with permission, The Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales, 16 Dec 2022. 


For a complete version of this article, see: https://www.cbcew.org.uk/catholic-church-leaders-in-the-holy-land-express-concern-over-social-and-political-situation-in-the-region/

“Pope: May Jews and Christians continue to grow in friendship

“Pope Francis met members of the Amitié Judéo-Chrétienne, a group of French Christians and Jews dedicated to Jewish-Christian dialogue,  In his address to the group, the Pope stressed the importance of mutual respect, and warned of the ‘resurgence’ of anti-Semitism.


“The Holy Father began by speaking about [the founder of] Amitié Judéo-Chrétienne, [who] ‘played a leading role in the rapprochement between Jews and Christians after the tragedy of the Second World War.’…


“Pope Francis then spoke about Amitié Judéo-Chrétienne, saying that it had ‘worked tirelessly’ for 70 years to ‘help Jews and Christians grow in mutual knowledge, understanding, respect and friendship.’


“This work, he said, ‘greatly contributed to helping Jews and Christians rediscover themselves as brothers, children of the same Father’, who ‘await the day, known to God alone, when all peoples will call upon the Lord with one voice.’


“Pope Francis stressed that this work is still of great importance today: ‘the task is not completed,’ he said. ‘I encourage you to persevere on this path of dialogue, fraternity and joint initiatives. This beautiful work, which consists of creating bonds, is fragile, and always needs to be continued and consolidated.’…"


Used with permission, Independent Catholic News, Source:  Vatican News, 13 Dec 2022


For a complete version of this article, see: https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/46110

“Peter Collins ordained as the fifth Bishop of East Anglia

“Canon Peter Collins was today ordained as the fifth Bishop of East Anglia at St John’s Cathedral in Norwich, before a congregation of up to 1,100 people including Cardinal Vincent Nichols, over 20 bishops, civic and ecumenical guests.


“The homily was preached by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster and leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, who said: ‘Dear Bishop-Elect Peter. In a few moments, all of us gathered here on this splendid occasion will act as witnesses as you solemnly promise to undertake the duties of a bishop until the end of your life. These promises, one by one, detail the tasks that lie ahead of you – preaching the Gospel, teaching the truth, sustaining the unity of the Church, serving others in charity and compassion, reaching out to those on the margins, and practising constant prayer. …


“’Now, as Peter takes up his crozier, Bishop Alan hands it over. So we take this opportunity to salute you, Bishop Alan, and to thank you most sincerely for your tireless leadership during these ten years or so at the helm of this diocese. You have fulfilled your ministry with dedication and care, never slacking in pace, even as age brought on its additional demands,’ said Cardinal Vincent….”


Used with permission, Diocese of East Anglia, Keith Morris, 14 Dec 2022.  


For a complete version of this article, see: https://www.rcdea.org.uk/peter-collins-ordained-as-the-fifth-bishop-of-east-anglia/

“Aid agencies urge PM to intervene as East Africa faces starvation …

“More that 28 million people are facing life threatening food insecurity across East Africa. In drought-stricken Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, it is estimated that one person is dying every 36 seconds from hunger and more than seven million children are acutely malnourished across the three countries…. 


"‘East Africa is facing a catastrophic hunger crisis caused by one of the worst droughts in living memory. It is looking increasingly likely that a fifth consecutive rainy season has failed in the region, leaving millions of families in a desperate situation and facing starvation ...


"’Although a full-scale famine is yet to be officially declared, what we are seeing on the ground is a famine in all but name. Despite the rapidly mounting death toll, the international response is woefully underfunded and the UK has failed to do its bit.’…"


Used with permission, Independent Catholic News, Source: Christian Aid, 8 Dec 2022


For a complete version of this article, see: https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/46078

“Pope Francis: We must all be pacifists

“…Lamenting the absurdity of war, [Pope Francis] noted that humanity has not learned the lessons of the previous two World Wars….The Pope said he has not given up hope on a lasting peace and reconciliation between Moscow and Kyiv, however, he stressed ‘everyone must commit themselves to demilitarize their hearts, starting from their own, and then to defuse and disarm violence’.


“He said: ‘We must all be pacifists, wanting peace, not just a truce that maybe only serves to rearm, but a true peace, which is the fruit of dialogue. Peace is not achieved with weapons, because they don't defeat hatred and the thirst for domination, which will re-emerge, perhaps in other ways.’


“Referring to the growing nationalism and populism around the world, Pope Francis warned again on the dangers of all ‘-isms’, because, he said, ‘they hypocritically sow social and political wickedness.’…"


Used with permission from Independent Catholic News, Source: Vatican News, La Stampa, 18 Nov 2022


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:   https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45940

“The Pope Video - December 2022: Volunteer Not-for-Profit Organizations

“We pray that volunteer non-profit organizations committed to human development find people dedicated to the common good and ceaselessly seek out new paths to international cooperation.


"’The world needs volunteers and organizations committed to seeking the common good.


"’This is a word that many today would like to erase: “commitment.” And the world needs volunteers who commit to the common good,’ [Pope Francis] said.


“The Pope called volunteers who work with not-for-profit organizations ‘artisans for mercy.’


"’Being a volunteer who helps others is a choice that makes us free; it opens us to other people's needs - to the demands of justice, to the defense of the poor, to the care of creation. It means being artisans of mercy: with our hands, with our eyes, with our attentive ears, with our closeness.’…"


Used with permission from Independent Catholic News, Source: Vatican News, 1 Dec 2022 For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link: https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/46033

The Universe Catholic Weekly

...is true to its mission of being “a light to guide the world, and a mirror to reflect it” Keeping Catholics informed about their faith, and bringing them ever closer to God. In order to keep our high standard going and maintain a strong weekly Catholic voice at a time when it is much needed in the world, please consider taking out a subscription.


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Please see link below for last week’s Universe Catholic Weekly.

https://universecatholicweekly.co.uk/universe-weekly-newsletters/november-2022/UNIVERSE-25-NOVEMBER-2022.pdf

DIOCESAN JOB VACANCIES.

Head of English – Notre Dame High School, Norwich

Teacher – Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Swaffham

Cambridge Choral Director – Diocese of East Anglia -  Location: Cambridge & surrounding area


Fore  more complete information, see  https://www.rcdea.org.uk/vacancies/

“CTE Presidents urge prayerful support for Ukraine this Christmas

“’…As Presidents of Churches Together in England, we call to mind the suffering of the people of Ukraine this terrible winter….We urge Christians everywhere to continue to stand in prayerful solidarity with the people and churches of Ukraine and to support them in their hour of need….’”


With permission, Independent Catholic News, Source: CTE, 25 Dec 2022.  For the full article see  https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/46190

“Pope's Christmas 2022 Urbi et Orbi Message 'The Lord's birth is the birth of peace'

"’Like the shepherds of Bethlehem, surrounded by light, may we set out to see the sign that God has given us. May we overcome our spiritual drowsiness and the shallow holiday glitter that makes us forget the One whose birth we are celebrating.’


“Quoting Saint Leo the Great, ‘the Lord's birth is the birth of peace’, the Pope said Jesus is truly our peace, one the world cannot give. Jesus Christ is also the way of peace. By his incarnation, passion, death and resurrection, he has opened the way that leads from a world closed in on itself and oppressed by the dark shadows of enmity and war, to a world that is open and free to live in fraternity and peace. Let us follow that road!...


“Looking at our world today, the Pope called on everyone to ‘see the faces of our Ukrainian brothers and sisters’ who are experiencing darkness and cold this year, many faraway from home due to ten months of war devastation.… The Pope decried today's grave ‘famine of peace’ in other parts of the world of what he termed this ’third world war.’ He recalled the people of Syria, still suffering from a years old conflict that has fallen into the background, and those living in the Holy Land where violence and casualties have increased in recent months….


“…Bethlehem ‘shows us the simplicity of God, who reveals himself not to the wise and the intelligent but to the little ones, to those with a pure and open heart’…."


With permission, Independent Catholic News, Source: Vatican News, 25 Dec 2022.  For the full article see  https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/46189

A Christmas message from Bishop Peter Collins

“…Here we behold the good news that enlightens the whole world, … Our world is ever threatened by darkness. As a global community, we recognise that the balance of our environment is being lost; the stability of the international order is undermined by the violence of warfare; the wellbeing of our brothers and sisters is jeopardised by widespread injustice, malicious intent and selfish indulgence.


“We are all facing the challenges of economic hardship. We are all experiencing uncertainty as we strive to chart our future course. … We are called to be ‘heralds of peace’. This Christmas, let us recognise how interconnected we are, how interconnected is our world….”


With permission, Diocese of East Anglia, Keith Morris, 22 Dec 2022.  See full article athttps://www.rcdea.org.uk/a-christmas-message-from-bishop-peter-collins/

“Archbishop Martin fears buffer zones 'will further silence voice of the innocent unborn'

“Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, has expressed concern that the UK Supreme Court judgement imposing buffer zones around [abortion] clinics in Northern Ireland, ‘will further silence the voice of the innocent unborn’….


“What next? How long before it is deemed unlawful to openly express the reasonable opinion that there are two lives in every pregnancy worth protecting - the life of a mother and the life of her unborn child?


“Will those who believe that the ending of unborn life is of the utmost moral significance, and who have sincerely held beliefs that every human life is sacred from the first moment of conception, be told that they are not free to express these beliefs anywhere in a public forum?...


“The right to life is not conferred by any human law; rather, it is God's most precious gift to us. The innocent life in the womb is not a ‘something’; it is a ‘someone.’ Science confirms that it is, in reality, a little girl or boy at a very early stage in her or his life. To hold this truth, and to express it openly, is not something to be ashamed of, or to be excluded from public discourse, censored from newspaper columns, shut down in debates, or kept out via 'protective buffer zones'! It is something we should be able to shout from the rooftops: All human life is sacred and precious! Choose life!"


Used with permission from Independent Catholic News, Source: Irish Catholic Media Office, 9 Dec 2022


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:   https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/46086  

“Live the Gospel by treating others as a brother or sister, pope says

“Treating everyone as a brother or sister is the clearest, most simple way to live the Gospel each day, Pope Francis said.‘It is an invitation without exclusion: brothers and sisters all in humanity and love,’ the pope wrote…


“[The president of] FOCSIV, a federation of mostly Italy-based Catholic volunteer organisations that work internationally…. told Pope Francis: ‘We seek to be a neighbour in the most abandoned peripheries, in the most remote villages, in the most inhumane prisons, along the cruellest migratory routes, in the most crowded refugee camps and in war-torn countries.’…


“’Think of how many young people today are forced to leave their land in search of a dignified existence; how many men, women and children face inhumane journeys and violence of all kinds in order to seek a better tomorrow; how many continue to die on the routes of despair, while their fate is discussed or we turn away,’ the pope wrote.


“’Forced migration-to escape war, hunger, persecution or climate change-is one of the great evils of this age,’ he wrote, and ‘we will only be able to address at its root by ensuring real development in every country.’


“Volunteering …’ is one of the most beautiful things’ because it involves making a free choice to go out and personally help someone in need….


“[H]e said, volunteering is ‘an ode to fraternity’ and to recognising that, no matter the differences of culture or opinion, all people are brothers and sisters.”


Used with permission from Universe Catholic Weekly, 28 Nov 2022


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link: https://universecatholicweekly.co.uk/brother-or-sister/

“Annual report shows positive picture for Diocese of East Anglia

“The Annual Report and Accounts of the Diocese of East Anglia have just been published online and show that with churches reopening, but Covid precautions still in place, church attendance and provision of the Sacraments recovered strongly in the course of 2021.


“The number of baptisms was up 81%, the number of marriages more than doubled and total in-person Mass attendance rose by over a third to 12,611….


“Key aims for the year [included] - Maintenance of parish life and communities … To assist parishes and school governing bodies in the financing and control of major building projects … - To expand the number of Catholic schools to reflect increased demand for Catholic education….


“Significant charitable activities included: The provision of sacramental and social outreach, including improving digital access to services and parish groups… provision of move-on housing for single homeless men and debt crisis support….The new Sacred Heart school, Swaffham, opened in 2021, with significant funding from the Diocese of £181,000 in 2021 and over £600,000 from DfE.…Continued recruitment, education and training of priests and deacons, with the addition of three priests to the Diocese and the ordination of one new priest during the year, while eight seminarians and three candidates for the permanent diaconate were in training….


“The total Catholic population in the area covered by the Diocese is estimated to be some 140,000.


“The significant contribution provided by volunteers is recognised with an estimated 1900 volunteers taking on roles such as catechists, stewards, parish treasurers, committee members, flower arrangers and lay ministers.


“At the start of 2021, there were 94 active priests, 28 active permanent deacons, eight seminarians in training and three students for the permanent diaconate….


“Future Plans [include] Priests: Efforts across the Diocese have resulted in an increase in the number of vocations to the priesthood, the permanent diaconate and the religious life and the number of priests available comfortably exceeds the number of parishes. Meeting the needs of the increasing numbers of priests reaching retirement age or retiring on the grounds of ill health is a significant challenge for the Diocese….”


Used with permission from Independent Catholic News, Keith Morris, Source: Diocese of East Anglia, 5 Dec 2022


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:  https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/46054

“Pope Francis: 'Priests must be close to the people'

“On Monday Pope Francis had a long dialogue with seminarians and priests studying in Rome. Throughout the meeting…the Pope was asked several questions.  In response to a question about mercy, Pope Francis said it is necessary to learn the language of gestures that express closeness and tenderness. This also applies when giving homilies, he said. ‘Let the expression be complete.’


“Describing three languages that reveal the maturity of a person, he said: ‘the language of the head, the language of the heart, and the language of the hands’ and urged them to learn to express themselves in these three languages, ‘that I think what I feel and do, feel what I think and do, do what I feel and think’.


“To those who asked him how to live the priesthood without losing that "smell of the sheep" that must be proper to the priestly ministry, Pope Francis replied that even if one is engaged in studies or in Curial work ‘it is important to maintain contact with the people, with God's faithful people, because there is the anointing of God's people: they are the sheep.’


“’By losing the smell of the sheep, by distancing yourself from them, you can be a theorist, a good theologian, a good philosopher, a very good curial official who does all the things’ but you will have lost ‘the ability to smell the sheep.’ The Pope then reiterated what he calls the principle of the four ‘proximities’ of priests: closeness with God through prayer, closeness with the bishop, closeness with other priests, and closeness to the people of God: ‘If there is no closeness to the people of God, you are not a good priest.’


“The Pope then spoke of priests who live the priesthood as if it were a job, with set hours; official priests, who like a quiet life.


"’The priesthood is a sacred service to God’, the Pope explained, ‘the service of which the Eucharist is the highest degree, it is a service to the community.’…


“Responding to another question, the Pope described life as ‘a continuous imbalance,’ because it means walking among many difficulties, falling down, and getting up.


“He encouraged his audience not to be afraid of it and to discern, instead, in such daily imbalance, because ‘in the imbalance, there are God's motions that invite you to something, to the desire to do good’. ‘Knowing how to live in imbalance’ leads to ‘a different equilibrium’, a "dynamic equilibrium’ governed by God….


“Responding to a Ukrainian priest, the Pope said that the Church, like a mother, suffers in the face of wars ‘because wars are the destruction of children.’ The Church ‘must suffer, weep, pray. It must assist people who have had bad consequences, who lose their homes, or war wounds, deaths ... The Church is a mother, and the role first of all is closeness to the people who suffer.’


“Then, addressing himself directly to the young priest who had asked him the question, the Pope concluded by saying, ‘You suffer so much, your people, I know, I am close. But pray for the aggressors, because they are more victims like you. You cannot see the wounds in their souls, but pray, pray that the Lord will convert them and that peace will come.’"


 Independent Catholic News, 26 Oct 2022, Source: Vatican News, https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45777

“Pope Francis: Persevere in goodness, prayer and service

“…Pope Francis reflected on the day's Gospel, which he said calls us to persevere in our daily prayer, good works, serving others, and keeping our focus on what really matters in life.


“He said that in the Gospel, … the Lord reminded them of the transitory nature of things on earth that are here today and gone tomorrow, saying: ‘there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down’….


“The Pope observed … that there is a way out from the precariousness and volatility of human life. We can find it in the Lord's words, when He says: ‘By your perseverance you will secure your lives.’ The key word is "perseverance", he said, which means being disciplined and persistent in what the Lord has at heart and matters most.


"’Jesus says to concentrate on what remains, to avoid devoting our life to building something that will then be destroyed, … and forgetting to build that which will not collapse, to build on his word, on love, on goodness.’…


“Striving for perseverance, he said, means: ‘building goodness every day...to remain constant in goodness, especially when the reality around us urges us to do otherwise.’


“In practical terms, this means praying even when we believe we are too busy, playing by the rules even if everyone else may not be, offering our time to our community, the poor, our parish.


“In conclusion, Pope Francis said it would be good if we asked ourselves about how well we are trying to persevere in remaining in the Lord's goodness: do we strive to live by faith, justice and charity in our daily lives, do we make sacrifices to dedicate time to prayer or helping others, are we able to keep our hearts steadfast in the Lord even when circumstances around us make it difficult?  ‘If we persevere - Jesus reminds us - we have nothing to fear, even in the sad and ugly events of life, not even in the evil we see around us, because we remain grounded in the good...May Our Lady, servant of the Lord, persevering in prayer fortify our perseverance.’…"


Used with permission from Independent Catholic News, Source: Vatican News, 13 Nov 2022.  


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:  https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45900

“Pope: Shared heritage of Jews and Christians an incentive to act together for peace

“…Pope Francis said the common religious heritage of Jews and Christians should be seen as an ‘incentive to act together’ for a more fraternal and peaceful world…. He noted that Jews and Christians, not only profess faith in the one Maker of heaven and earth, who created every human being in His own image and likeness, and has revealed Himself to humanity, but also ‘share a similar outlook on the final things, shaped by trust that on the journey of life we are not advancing towards nothingness, but towards an encounter with the Most High who cares for us’….”


Used with permission from Independent Catholic News, Source: Vatican News, 22 Nov 2022


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:   https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45965

World Food Crisis Appeal

“… This Harvest, up to 20 million people across Kenya, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia are fighting for survival in the face of the most devastating food crisis in decades….


“Local experts from our Church network are working hard to deliver emergency food and water to help people survive. But the sad truth is this crisis is the result of man-made climate change. It won’t be fixed overnight. We need every bit of support we can get to help families … build a future in which they can thrive.


“What is causing the food crisis in East Africa?

  • The climate crisis has made rain unreliable. Four years of failed rainy seasons have created an unprecedented drought.
  • Livestock have died in vast numbers, crops have failed and water is difficult to come by.
  • Food costs have risen at an alarming rate as a result of inflation caused by the war in Ukraine and the lasting effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic.


“You could help children get the future they deserve


“No-one should have to choose between education and water


“Your support … could help deliver nutritious food to schools struggling to feed their students, and in exchange those schools will allow children from some of the poorest families to study free of charge. You could help a child get the chance to learn, and ensure families … have more money to meet their essential needs.”


Please Donate to the World Food Crisis Appeal.  Follow the link at the end of this article.


With permission, CAFOD

https://cafod.org.uk/Give/Donate-to-Emergencies/World-Food-Crisis-Appeal?utm_source=staffemailfooter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Harvest-Appeal-Email-Footer-2022

“Renewing Church and Neighbourhood - the Synodal Way [new podcast]

“Synodality means ‘walking together’ and refers to both a new, and ancient, way of being church, based on listening to the Holy Spirit. It is intended to foster the vocations of the whole People of God, refresh mission and revitalise the relationship of the local church with the neighbourhood. Together for the Common Good have released a new podcast series, Renewing Church and Neighbourhood - the Synodal Way, to support and inspire those travelling on the synodal journey…. Jenny Sinclair, Founder Director at Together for the Common Good, commenting on the need for parishes to act now rather than wait for the national process in Rome, said: ‘The focus for us as parishioners should always be on our continuing synodal journey in our own parishes…. You can listen to the podcast on the Together for the Common Good website:  https://togetherforthecommongood.co.uk/resources/synod-podcast-series


Used with permission from Independent Catholic News, 4 Nov 2022.  


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:  https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45837

“We Are in the Hands of God

“We know that God is a pure and infinite spirit. But Scripture also attributes human characteristics to him. In his wisdom, God wanted to be real for his children. He wanted to be someone we could hold on to….


“We understand how our own hands are so important in expressing our love and care for one another—a touch, a caress, a protective hold….


“The image of us being held in the hands of God is such a help in understanding how close he is to us. We even think of God as picking us up after a fall….


…[W]e are all in the Almighty's hands. This should remind us that God is not distant from us. He is not just with us, but actually within us….


“Thus, when we pray for our loved ones, there is that beautiful way of telling God, 'Lord, I give my loved ones to you. Take them and hold them safely in your hands.' Even for ourselves, we can say, 'Lord, I give myself into your hands.'


“First-time mothers have told me that when they are home from the hospital with their newborns, they can’t keep their hands off them. They can only gaze at the miracle of new life in their arms. Now imagine how the Almighty looks upon us as sons and daughters. Imagine God speaking to us, “You are mine. I will do anything for you. I want you with me for all eternity.”…


  Used with permission from Franciscan Media (www.FranciscanMedia.org), Franciscan Spirt Blog, Jim Van Vurst, OFM, 4 Nov 2022  


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/we-are-in-the-hands-of-god?utm_campaign=Franciscan%20Spirit&utm_medium=email&utm_content=232549476&utm_source=hs_email

“Wealthy world leaders accused of fossil fuel use

“As COP27 begins, CAFOD says that poor communities are being ‘failed’ by world leaders as reports emerged that the UK is pursuing deals with the USA for more fossil fuels….


“Catholic UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres … hit out at the “rank deception” of fossil fuel firms with net zero pledges who are still expanding their operations….


“Cardinal Pietro Parolin also delivered a message on behalf of Pope Francis at COP27, stating that world leaders have ‘a moral obligation’ to act seriously and together to safeguard the planet and to offer concrete aid to people suffering the ‘more frequent and more serious humanitarian impacts caused by climate change.’


“The cardinal told world leaders that ‘the growing phenomenon of migrants being displaced’ by climate change is something they must act on because currently ‘they lack access to international protection’ recognising them as deserving special care.


“The news comes as a new poll shows that nearly 60% of Catholics believe the government has done too little to tackle climate change in the last year….


“Lead Bishop for the Environment and CAFOD chair Bishop John Arnold has challenged the UN climate summit attendees to develop solutions to the ‘defining challenge of our generation’….


“Bishop Arnold called for ‘those most in need’ to be prioritised.


“’We know that the world faces a financial crisis but we hope that governments can come to a solution where those most in need are put at the top of the agenda, with those who have caused the climate crisis providing their fair share,’ he said.


“’For too long, we have been reliant on fossil fuels which are causing devastation to communities around the world. I pray the government and world leaders will seize this opportunity and invest in renewable energy so we can protect our planet for future generations.’


“Campaigners are demanding rich countries commit at COP27 to set up and contribute towards a ‘loss and damage fund’, meaning the countries that have historically polluted the most provide financial support to countries that have contributed least to the climate crisis but are being hardest hit….”


 Used with permission, Universe Catholic Weekly, Andy Drozdziak, 10 Nov 2022 

 

For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:

 https://universecatholicweekly.co.uk/fossil-fuel-use/

“Pope advises religious: Don't give in to pessimism over lack of vocations

“Pope Francis has advised religious not to give in to pessimism over a lack of vocations and to pray with him to ‘deliver us from the presumption of self-sufficiency and the spirit of worldly criticism.’…


“Pope Francis said religious life would find hope through the Word of God and the history and creativity of its founders.


“’Religious life is understood only by what the Spirit does in each of the people called. There are those who focus too much on the external - the structures, the activities - and lose sight of the superabundance of grace in people and communities.’


"’Do not tire of going to the frontiers, even to the frontiers of thought; of opening paths, of accompanying, rooted in the Lord to be bold in mission,’ Pope Francis said.


"’The Gospel teaches that there is a poverty that humbles and kills and another poverty, that of Jesus, which liberates and makes happy. As consecrated people, you have received the immense gift of participating in Jesus' poverty. Do not forget, either in your lives or in your work at the university, those who live the other poverty.’"


Used with permission from Independent Catholic News, Source: Vatican News, 10 Nov 2022


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:

https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45881

“CSAN [Caritas Social Action Network] launches Cost of Living Campaign

“The political noise may have subsided recently from the fever pitch of a few weeks ago but the cost-of-living crisis has not gone away. In our country, more people are being dragged into poverty by steep increases in the costs of food, energy and mortgages….


“Pope Francis, in Evangelii Gaudium, reminds us that ‘each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor, and for enabling them to be fully a part of society’ ….


“In line with the Bishops' Conference and their Department for Social Justice's briefing paper, we are calling on the new government to make urgent changes to the welfare and tax system for the benefit of the most vulnerable in our society. We are also calling on them to work with the Catholic community and all other faith groups on a vision for a poverty-free country….


“Bishop Terry Drainey, Chair of Caritas Social Action Network, said: ‘We urge the Catholic community to support the vision of the bishops' Department for Social Justice in working to alleviate the impacts of poverty in our communities and promoting a vision for the common good where all can flourish and lead fulfilling lives.’…


www.csan.org.uk/cost-of-living-crisis/ "


Used with permission from Independent Catholic News, 7 Nov 2022


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:

https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45857

“8 things you didn’t know about the food system

“The global food system is broken. It doesn’t work for those who work the hardest – small farmers – and it’s a major driver of the climate emergency.


“But it doesn’t have to be this way. Communities who work with us are leading the way, growing food in ways that are good for people and the planet. We are urging the UK government to fix the food system.


“1. Our food system is bad for the planet, our common home

“The way we grow, process and transport food is responsible for around one third of all global greenhouse gas emissions. Huge quantities of pesticides and fertilisers are made using fossil fuels. Forests and rainforests are cut down or burned to make huge areas available for rearing cattle for meat and dairy or to grow soya to feed the animals that we want to eat. Since 1990, around 420 million hectares of forest have been destroyed. This is 17 times the size of the UK….


“2. Small-scale farmers have little choice over what they grow

“Five of every six farms in the world consist of less than two hectares, operate only around 12 percent of all agricultural land, and produce roughly 35 per cent of the world's food. So small-scale farmers are efficient at producing food. But the domination of huge companies known as agribusiness means that they often face little choice about what they grow or how they grow it.


“3. More than half of some crops are grown to feed animals reared for meat

“Four corporations control 60 per cent of global seed sales, and vast areas of the same crop are grown for export, because they are profitable. For example, as much as 80 per cent of all the soya grown across the world is fed to animals that are being reared to provide meat. The UK imported about 3.5 million tonnes of soya beans in 2019 and over half of that ended up in chicken feed. Community land is taken away by these giant businesses, leaving the small farmers with small plots, which reduces their options. Pesticides are used widely, harming people and depleting the soil.


“4. Millions of people who produce our food are living in poverty themselves

“Around 800 million people go hungry each day and the majority of them are those who grow the world’s food. Three-quarters of people facing hunger in the world are living in rural areas and most of them depend on agriculture for their livelihood. 25 per cent of people in Africa are affected by hunger – the continent with the highest proportion. Of course, hunger is an issue in the UK too, with 9 per cent of adults experiencing food insecurity in January 2022.


“5. One third of the food we produce is wasted

“Around one-third of all food produced globally is lost or wasted. That’s 1.3 billion tonnes of food every year being thrown away globally. The land it takes to provide just the food that we throw away is bigger than the size of India, and the water it takes is equivalent to 300 million Olympic swimming pools. One study found that, in the UK, 9 per cent of strawberries and 19 per cent of lettuces grown ended up as waste.


“6. But we produce enough food to feed everyone!

“To feed the current global population, we need to produce 3.7 billion tonnes of food per year. We are currently producing 4 billion tonnes per year….


“7. In the UK we are reliant on other countries for our food

“Around half of the food we eat in the UK comes from other countries, including 80 per cent of our fruit, 50 per cent of our vegetables, and all of our rice!


“8. Returning to traditional ways of farming can help

“In rural Bangladesh, small farmer Alpona is growing food in a different way. After her community received training from CAFOD in organic farming, things changed quite dramatically:


“’We had not realised just how big a mistake we had made by moving away from the traditional ways of farming of our forefathers. We had become disconnected from nature, but now we are going back to it again.


"’I get a great deal of vegetables and fruits from my organic farming, which is enough for the family to eat, and which I can sell at the market too. Our village has become a lot greener and healthier after so many of us shifted to organic farming, and the soil has greatly improved.’”   [Bold & Italics added]. 


“Pope Francis is calling for a change to our food system

"’Each of us has a role to play in transforming food systems for the benefit of people and the planet. If we do not want to jeopardise the health of our planet and our entire population, we must encourage active participation in change at all levels and reorganise food systems as a whole.’  Pope Francis on World Food Day 2021


“How you can play your part to fix the food system

“We need alternative food systems that help tackle the climate crisis rather than fueling it and that put people first. But rather than supporting these alternatives, the UK government is backing big businesses that are putting profit first and accelerating the climate crisis.


“For example, from 2013-2019 the UK spent at least £125.5m of aid money in Nigeria on fossil fuel-based fertiliser, which was five times as much as it spent supporting local farmers.


“Urge the UK Government to keep the promises it made at the COP26 climate talks last year and support agricultural systems that tackle the climate crisis as well putting local communities first.”


With Permission, CAFOD, 7 April 2022  https://cafod.org.uk/News/Campaigning-news/Food-8-things-you-didn-t-know

For Those Who Walked With Us

For those
who walked with us,
this is a prayer.


For those
who have gone ahead,
this is a blessing.


For those
who touched and tended us,
who lingered with us
while they lived,
this is a thanksgiving.


For those
who journey still with us
in the shadows of awareness,
in the crevices of memory,
in the landscape of our dreams,
this is a benediction.


© Jan L. Richardson. janrichardson.com.

The Painted Prayerbook

https://paintedprayerbook.com/2013/10/29/for-those-who-walked-with-us/

“Pope in Bahrain: Love always and love everyone

“…The Holy Father … asked those present to stop and reflect on the phrase ‘to love always and to love everyone’.


“Jesus' words today invite us to love always, said the Pope. ‘He knows that within our relationships there is a daily struggle between love and hatred’, and in this way, too, within our hearts ‘there is a daily clash between light and darkness’. With this in mind, the Pope noted that Jesus suffers when He sees, all around the world, ‘ways of exercising power that feed on oppression and violence, seeking to expand their own space by restricting that of others, imposing their own domination and restricting basic freedoms, and in this way oppressing the weak’.


“We must always strive for peace, said the Pope, adding that ‘peace cannot be restored if a harsh word is answered with an even harsher one, if one slap leads to another.’…”


Used with permission from Independent Catholic News, Source: Vatican News, 6 Nov 2022


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:

https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45857

“What to do when God says ‘no’ to your prayer

“In this month’s Voice of Hope series, Fr Alvan Ibeh asks what will you do, when God says ‘no’ to your prayer.


“From time to time, we find ourselves asking God for one thing or the other. Whenever we ask, the only that will make us happy is getting a positive response, a ‘Yes’ to our request.


“No matter your age, you will always want your request granted whenever you make it. Some of us do actually shy away from asking, because we don’t like getting a ‘No’ for an answer, so we will prefer dying in silence to asking and never getting what we asked for.


“This itself is still not the best thing to do. The scripture says ‘for everyone who asks receives, he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened’ (Matthew 7:8). This has come from Jesus Himself in the scripture…. In 1 John 5:14, the scripture says, ‘And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us’.


“So basically, we all feel great when our prayers for whatever reason, are answered. We rejoice and give praise to God for His goodness endures forever…. Now the question is, ‘What will you do, when God says ‘no’ to your prayer…. What will you do if you prayed so fervently and passionately for the healing of someone so dear to you, who has been on their sick bed for long…. But unfortunately, one day, the news came that your cherished has sadly passed away. This I know can be so heart-breaking and very painful to bear….


“When God says No, we should be aware that He is not trying to mean or to hurt us. There are lessons to be learned when He says ‘No’. ‘… His ‘no’ is always merciful, even when it hurts'(Mary Lynn Johnson). So what exactly do you or will you do when God says ‘No’!


 Diocese of East Anglia, Keith Morris, 25 Oct 2022


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:

https://www.rcdea.org.uk/what-to-do-when-god-says-no-to-your-prayer/

The Food Bank (Collection at St John’s Only)

The Food Bank collection will be held on the FIRST Sunday of each month. Days for upcoming collections are February 5th and March 5th.  In the meantime, donations can be delivered directly to King’s House, Market Street, Mildenhall, IP28 7EF, M-F, 10 am to noon ( office@kingsproject.org.uk ) or to the Brandon – Thetford Food Bank, Harvest Centre, Fengate Drove, Brandon, IP27 0PW, Tues., 11 am to 1 pm ( info@thetford.foodbank.org.uk ).


The following are items needed now by clients, but appear rarely in donations:

Peanut Butter,   Biscuits,  Cooking Oil,  Chocolate Spread,    Flour,    Hot Chocolate (drink),  Coffee,  Meat pies


Can you help?  Will you help, please?  Many in our community rely upon Food Banks for help in time of urgent need.


Please bring along your donations of food, hygiene other items in a box or carrier bag. This makes it easier to carry and deliver everything from church to the Food Bank. Please no already opened packages or bottles: no alcohol.

“Faith vs. Fear

“In defending his atheism, philosopher Bertrand Russell had some unkind things to say about the role of fear in religion: ‘Religion is based primarily upon fear. It is partly the terror of the unknown and partly as the wish to feel that you have a kind of elder brother who will stand by you in all your troubles and disputes. …’


“Unkind, but perhaps not untrue. Because I write about faith, I sometimes have people who bear a grudge against God, Christianity, or religion in general attack my beliefs. Their challenges often follow established ruts: faith is for the weak; religion is the opium of the masses; it’s all just a big racket….


“What I do think can be helpful is faith. I don’t mean to draw some sort of spiritual-but-not-religious distinction here, but I do think of religion as knowledge that we accept or inherit. Faith, on the other hand, is something we earn not by accepting what we’ve been taught to believe, but by doubting, asking, challenging….


“Fear is a universal—perhaps even essential—human condition. Denying it is no solution, but neither is frosting over that simmering lava cake with a veneer of religious fondant. We have to sit with our fears, carefully probe what scares us, and find out why. Our traditions might have wisdom to offer, but those need careful examination as well.


“Explored with care, religion might not be a crutch; it might just be training wheels.”


Used with permission from Franciscan Media (www.FranciscanMedia.org), Carol Luebering, 31 Oct 2022


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/franciscan-spirit-blog/faith-vs-fear?utm_campaign=Franciscan%20Spirit&utm_medium=email&utm_content=231884228&utm_source=hs_email

“Showing love, mercy are key to entering heaven, pope says on All Souls’ Day

“As Christians await their death and the final judgment of God, the Gospel tells them what they must do to be welcomed into heaven: love others because God is love, Pope Francis said.


“In life ‘we are in the waiting room of the world,’ hoping to hear Jesus say, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father,’… the pope said during a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on 2nd November, the feast of All Souls….


“The Gospel reading at the Mass was St. Matthew’s description of the last judgment when those who fed the hungry, welcomed the stranger and visited the prisoner are welcomed into God’s kingdom, and those who neglected to care for others are sent into ‘the eternal fire.’…


“’The best careers, the greatest achievements, the most prestigious titles and accolades, the accumulated riches and earthly gains-all will vanish in a moment,’ the pope said.


“But the Gospel of Matthew makes clear what will last, he said: love and care for others, especially the poor and those usually discarded by society….


“The Gospel teaches people how to live while awaiting death and God’s judgment-‘loving because he is love,’ Pope Francis said. God ‘waits for us among the poor and wounded of the world. And he is waiting to be caressed not with words but with deeds.’…”


 Used with permission Universe Catholic Weekly, 2 Nov 2022


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:

https://universecatholicweekly.co.uk/all-souls-day-2/

“The God who Speaks to us and sustains our mental health

“Ben Bano, Director of ‘Welcome Me as I Am’ that promotes mental health and dementia awareness in parish communities, reflects this month on what the Scriptures teach us about sustaining our mental health.


“Life can be bleak in these troubled times, ….  When so many uncertainties need to be faced, it is not surprising that our well-being and mental health suffer at the same time.


“The Bible is full of references which touch on the anguish we feel in times of trial. Psalm 88 reflects some of the deep feelings we can all experience in times of difficulty. But we don’t have to wait for an expression of hope in this psalm – it’s there at the beginning….


“In the midst of the challenges to our own mental health and those of our loved ones, someone we can turn to is often an anchor for sustaining our wellbeing. I find the story of the road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-35) particularly comforting at these times. Just as Jesus walks alongside bringing comfort and hope, so we can walk alongside those whose lives have been touched by the virus in the same way….”


 Used with permission, The God Who Speaks, The Bible and Catholics, 30 Oct 2020  


For a complete version of this article, visit the following web link:

https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/the-god-who-speaks-to-us-and-sustains-our-mental-health/

“Pope backs children's prayers for peace

“The Pope has thrown his weight behind an international campaign praying for peace in Ukraine and other war-torn regions of the world. … Pope Francis congratulated all the young people joining in today's rosary prayer campaign.


“He said: ‘This Tuesday, 18th October, the foundation Aid to the Church in Need is promoting the campaign “A Million Children Praying the Rosary”.  I thank all the children who are participating.’


“The pontiff asked those taking part to remember Ukraine and all countries experiencing conflict.


“He said: ‘Let us unite ourselves to them and entrust the suffering people of Ukraine, and other people who are suffering due to war and any form of violence and misery, to Our Lady's intercession.’…


“Now in its seventeenth year, 'A Million Children Praying the Rosary' began in Venezuela's capital Caracas in 2005, when a group of children came together to pray.


“It was inspired by the words of Padre Pio: ‘When a million children pray the Rosary, the world will change.’


“ACN started supporting the campaign in 2008 and began running it in 2018.”


 Independent Catholic News, John Newton, 18 Oct 2022, Source: CAN.   https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45718

“Scottish archbishop calls for boost to benefits

“Archbishop William Nolan of Glasgow has called on UK Government to increase benefits in line with inflation. ‘The poor must not be sacrificed in an attempt to shore up the Government's credibility with the markets,’ he said last week. ‘Making the poor poorer is not an act of fiscal prudence, it is an act of injustice.’ He felt it is a ‘fundamental injustice’ that ‘working people aren't getting a living wage,’ and said, ‘we then need to really look at how we reward people in our society.’ He drew attention to the applause for key [workers] during Covid lockdowns, ‘but they need more than a clap, they need decent pay,’ adding that ‘we've got a low-wage economy and people are struggling; poverty won't go away until we pay people a fair wage.’…"


Independent Catholic News, 17 Oct 2022, Ellen Teague, https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45712

“Christian Aid: Rishi Sunak must re-set government's approach

“Responding to the news that Rishi Sunak has become the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Chief Executive of Christian Aid Patrick Watt said: ‘In the face of the worst global cost of living crisis in a generation, the new Prime Minister must re-set the government's approach. We need a commitment that he will not balance the books on the back of the poorest people, either at home or abroad.’


"’With COP27 on the horizon, Rishi Sunak must show leadership on the climate crisis by supporting a swift just transition to net zero while also urgently helping the millions of people on the brink of famine in East Africa by restoring the aid budget.’


"’We would urge the prime minister to protect the diminishing aid budget from any further cuts.’”


 Independent Catholic News, 27 Oct 2022, Source: Christian Aid, https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45779

Could you be a Foundation Governor in one of our Catholic Schools

The Diocese of East Anglia is responsible for 26 schools across the diocese. They all need foundation governors to provide support and challenge and oversight of the work of the school. We need more practising Catholics to put themselves forward to serve as foundation governors. 


If this is something you feel you might be able to contribute to (and full training and support will be provided) we would love to hear from you. Please contact me, Andy Stone, Director of Schools’ Service by email andy.stone@rcdea.org.uk or by phone on 07500701977 if this could be something of interest to you.

“Message of Pope Francis for World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation

“For the first time, Pope Francis has published in advance his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which is celebrated every September 1. It marks the beginning of the Season of Creation, an ecumenical period that unites Christians to pray and take action for our common home.


“What does the message say? We summarize it in four key points:


“A time to cultivate our ecological conversion

“The Pope defines the Season of Creation as ‘an opportunity to cultivate our “ecological conversion”’, recalling this concept encouraged by St. John Paul II as a response to the 'ecological catastrophe' announced by St. Paul VI as early as 1970.


“In this way, he invites all Christians during this time to "pray once more in the great cathedral of creation, and revel in the ‘grandiose cosmic choir’ made up of countless creatures, all singing the praises of God"….


“Sweet song and bitter cry

“Listening to creation, Francis mentions that there is a ‘kind of dissonance’: ‘On the one hand, we can hear a sweet song in praise of our beloved Creator; on the other, an anguished plea, lamenting our mistreatment of this our common home’.


“In this regard, the Executive Director of Laudato Si' Movement, Tomás Insua, mentioned: ‘The sweet song of creation is mixed with its bitter cry, as evidenced by the intense heat wave that is experienced in much of the northern hemisphere and that has already killed, only in Spain and Portugal, more than 1000 people or has left 5 million people without water in Monterrey, Mexico’….


“A warning message ahead of the COPs

“Ahead COP 27 on climate (Egypt, November 2022) and COP 15 on biodiversity (Canada, December 2022) Francis recalls in his message the importance of ‘promoting the effective implementation of the Paris Agreement’, as recently ratified by the Holy See….


“Four key principles for biodiversity

“Pope Francis also uses his message to call on nations to halt the further collapse of the ‘web of life’ - biodiversity - pointing to four principles:

  • Building a clear ethical basis for the transformation we need in order to save biodiversity;
  • Fight biodiversity loss, support its conservation and recovery, and meet people's needs in a sustainable way;
  • Promote global solidarity, taking into account that biodiversity is a global common good that requires a shared commitment;
  • Put people in vulnerable situations at the centre, including those most affected by biodiversity loss, such as indigenous peoples, older people and youth.”


Independent Catholic News, Source: Laudato Si’ Movement, 21 July 2022,         https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45137

“Bishops of Europe statement on Season of Creation

“1 SEPTEMBER- 4 OCTOBER 2022: SEASON OF CREATION

“Pope Francis' Message for the celebration of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation - to be held on 1 September 2022 - was published on 16 July. It has been a unique time that has seen various parts of the world devastated by the fires that have destroyed much of the planet's green areas.


“… Europe has been faced with a genuine environmental catastrophe that, in 97% of cases, is attributable to the actions of man. In the 27 countries within the European Union, according to a recent estimate, fires have already devastated a total of 517,881 hectares since the beginning of the year, compared to 470,359 the previous year.


“It is worrying, moreover, that scholars are already hypothesising the transition from our era (Anthropocene) to the next one, to which they have already given the name "pyrocene", the effects of which are already visible ….


“To all this must be added the enormous… damage to the environment caused by the ongoing wars in Ukraine as well as in other areas of the planet. As early as the 1960s, the term "ecocide" was coined in the wake of the military campaign in Vietnam. Since then, attention to the effects of wars on the environment has grown. One should not forget the heavy air pollution caused by the burning of oil installations in Kuwait during the Gulf War (1990-1991), and the wars in Yemen and Syria with the contamination of soil and waterways. Ukrainian experts currently estimate that the long-term effects of this conflict may cause cancer, respiratory diseases and developmental delay in children.


“But, if the hand of man is the main cause of this current situation, it also bodes well that the same hand can find a resolution to all of this. And it is here that the Message of the Holy Father Francis takes on great importance: not a pious exhortation, but a real challenge launched to the powerful of the earth and to the leaders of the individual nations (be they rich or poor)…. This, added to his appeal to attitudes of conversion that are concrete on the part of all Christians, so that we may be that hand capable of putting a stop to a destruction that is foretold.


“Thus, the next World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, as well as the entire Season of Creation, which, from 1 Sep., will stretch until 4 Oct., can be a time of prayer, but also a time of serious conversion of attitudes and habits.


“We, European Bishops, join the appeal launched by Pope Francis, inviting all Christians to be spokesmen for these demands of the Planet, whose voice reveals "a kind of dissonance. On the one hand, we can hear a sweet song in praise of our beloved Creator; on the other, an anguished plea, lamenting our mistreatment of this our common home".


“May the Lord hear this cry and grant mankind a new heart, capable of showing compassion to the whole of creation, so that concrete gestures may be put in place to allow all creatures to return to praise the Creator and us to join in this ‘”grandiose cosmic choir” made up of countless creatures, all singing the praises of God’".


 Independent Catholic News, Source: Bishops of Europe, 21 Aug 2022,  https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45326

“Bishops demand action on energy cost crisis

“[Salford Bishop John Arnold from the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales said,] ‘This is no longer just a cost-of-living crisis but a threat to the human dignity of millions... as Christians, we cannot ignore the situation’ 


“As people face an ‘unprecedented crisis’ of sky-high energy bills and an impending recession, Catholic bishops and justice groups are calling on the Government to ‘examine their conscience’ and take urgent action….


“[The Bishop’s Conference and] The Big Issue magazine [have] joined former PM Gordon Brown and his Anti-Poverty Coalition in calling on the Government to take urgent action to prevent a ‘poverty time-bomb’ going off in October.


“Gordon Brown warned in the magazine that millions of people were standing on the edge of a financial precipice.


“Mr Brown said: ‘I estimate that one in every two children will lose out as October fuel and food bills eat up the lion’s share of a family budget.  The grim facts right now are that 27.7 million people in 14.5m households are staring at fuel poverty in October.  And, if nothing is done before another fuel price rise in January, the fuel poor could rise to 39.4m – 56 per cent of the country, with stark regional variations.’


“The Anti-Poverty Coalition is calling for an emergency budget ‘to plot a path to help the population’


“Bishop of Middlesborough Terry Drainey, chair of Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN)… [said to the Universe] ‘We know that rising prices disproportionately affect low-income families and individuals.  It looks likely that many more people will be dragged into poverty this autumn.  The cost-of-living crisis is deeply worrying.’…


“Catholic justice group the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) says the price increases have led to ‘unprecedented demand’ for its services.  ‘The agonising decision to heat or eat is a very real one for many families,’ the SVP told the Universe….


“Bishop Terry Drainey called on lay Catholics to play their part in alleviating the crisis….”


Universe Catholic Weekly, page 1-2, Andy Drozdiak, 12 August 2022

“Seven Catholic social teaching principles

“Catholic social teaching (CST) is rooted in Scripture, formed by the wisdom of Church leaders, and influenced by grassroots movements. It is our moral compass, guiding us on how to live out our faith in the world.  


“…some of the CST principles which inspire our work:

  • Dignity .    
  • Solidarity .    
  • The common good ,   
  • The option for the poor ,    
  • Peace ,   
  • Care for creation  
  • The dignity of work and participation   


“Our faith calls us to love God and to love our neighbours in every situation, especially our sisters and brothers living in poverty. Following in the footsteps of Christ, we hope to make present in our unjust and broken world, the justice, love and peace of God.     


“What are the principles of Catholic social teaching?  

“Modern Catholic social teaching is said to have originated in 1891 with the encyclical letter, Rerum Novarum. Since then, a wealth of teaching continues to give new life to the Scriptures and shape the Church’s response to our modern world. From these Catholic social teaching documents and encyclicals we derive core principles…. 


“Dignity  

“We believe very human person is made in the image and likeness of God. This is a gift that we all share as fellow human beings; we are all infinitely loved by our Creator.  


“God is present in every human person, regardless of religion, culture, nationality, orientation or economic standing. Each one of us is unique and beautiful. We are called to treat every person and every creature with loving respect….   


“Solidarity  

“Solidarity arises when we remember that we belong to each other. We reflect on this in a special way at Mass. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, ‘The Eucharist commits us to the poor. To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognise Christ in the poorest.’…   


"Common good  

“The common good means that the fruits of the earth belong to everyone. No one should be excluded from the gifts of creation. Pope Paul VI spoke about this 50 years ago in his encyclical Populorum Progressio….  


“Option for the poor  

“The option for the poor reminds us of God’s preferential love for the poorest and most vulnerable people. God’s love is universal; he does not side with oppressors, but loves the humble….”  


“This principle is believed to have originated from the Liberation Theology movement in Latin America. For the first time, people living in poverty in the slums were holding the Bible in their own hands and imagining a world free from injustice. This radical thinking shaped CAFOD’s early work in the 1960s. 


“More recently, some Catholic theologians have spoken about an ‘option for the earth’. Pope Francis writes, “the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor” Laudato Si’ #2….  


“Peace  

“Peace is a cornerstone of our faith. Christ, the Prince of Peace, sacrificed himself with love on the cross.  


“In 1963, Pope John XXIII published Pacem in Terris (Peace on earth). It was a dangerous time for humanity; with the rise of nuclear weapons, the frightening stand-off between the US and the Soviet Union over the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the building of the Berlin Wall. The Pope's letter urged the world to seek peace…. 


“Creation and environment  

“In the first pages of the Bible we read how God created the sun and the stars, the water and earth, and every creature. We believe Christ is the redeemer of all creation.  


“In 2015, Pope Francis brought together decades of Church teaching in the encyclical, Laudato Si’. In this deeply influential letter, Pope Francis invites everyone on the planet to consider how our actions are affecting the earth and the poorest people. Everything is interconnected, and all of creation praises God. It is our Christian vocation to care for creation….   


“The dignity of work and participation  

“The dignity of work has been a key principle of Catholic social teaching from the very beginning.  


“In 1891, Pope Leo XIII issued Rerum Novarum (On Capital and Labour). He shone a light on the injustice and exploitation of workers by the rich during the Industrial Revolution. He advocated for workers to join forces and fight against inhuman conditions.  


“Since then, Church teaching has upheld the dignity of work and participation. The human person should always come before the pursuit of profit. Workers have the right to join trade unions, to a just wage, to spend time with their families and to rest. Work is an essential part of our human dignity and everyone has the right to participate.   


“At CAFOD we know that earning a living is essential to living with dignity….”


                            With Permission, CAFOD,  https://cafod.org.uk/Pray/Catholic-social-teaching  

“What to do when you think all hope is lost

“In the latest in his Voice of Hope series, Fr Alvan Ibeh explores what to do when you think all hope is lost.


“Have you ever felt like all hope is lost, and all you want is to call it quits? Have you been waiting on God for an answer to a prayer request you made a long time ago, yet it feels like nothing is forthcoming, and now you feel like the whole situation is hopeless and God is no longer worth waiting for?


“Let us look at the story of a man in the gospel of John 5:1-14 and see the message God has for us.


“The gospel reports that there was a man who had an illness which has lasted for 38 years. Jesus met him lying close to the pool of Bethesda, which is believed to have healing powers. The belief is that whoever manages to enter the pool first, whenever the pool is stirred or troubled, will be healed. Well, we are unaware of how many people were healed. We are more interested in Jesus’ encounter with this man.


“Now, when Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed, his answer was not Yes or No, but ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me’ (verse 7).


“As we can see from his response, he has been coming here every time since he became ill, yet not even a single person has noticed him and offered to help him. Guess they were all busy with their problems, too busy to notice him. Sometimes we are also too busy with ourselves that we don’t see others around us who may need our help.


“We can imagine the frustration in the answer this man gave Jesus. But I think this man has something to teach us still. He had been coming to the pool for almost 38 years and yet had no one offering to help him into the pool like others.


“Remember, 38 years is a very long time. That he continued coming even when no one was noticing him means that he was not ready to give up even when things seemed hopeless for Him. Can you pause and ask yourself this critical and challenging question: As a Christian, can I wait on God that long? Can I still trust Him when it looks like the future is bleak? Do I think God is worth waiting for?...


“[Jesus] noticed him straight away, and the gospel says, when Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’ (verse 6). Isaiah 49:8 says, ‘ Thus says the Lord: At the time of my favour I have answered you, on the day of salvation I have helped you.’


“God has his appointed or favoured time (Galatians 4:4). No matter how long it takes, He is never late but arrives at the right time….


“He often comes when we are not expecting Him. When it feels like we are feeling hopeless, he comes and restores our hope. God can minister to your deepest needs, no matter how trapped you feel in your problems. Don’t let your situation cause you to lose hope. Don’t give up too soon because giving up is never an option. Stay faithful to God’s promises for you in his word, and He will come through for you. Remain blessed.”


The Diocese of East Anglia, Keith Morris, 29 August 2022.  https://www.rcdea.org.uk/what-to-do-when-you-think-all-hope-is-lost/

“A new PM must end the hostility towards migrants

“Britain is in flux and so is Europe: another new prime minister in the UK - the third in three years - an election 30 months away at most, the effects of Brexit still impacting politically and economically, a major war in Europe with more national boundaries threatened and millions of people already displaced.


“Times are changing faster than governments can handle and certainly faster than the prime ministerial hopefuls appear to have realised. There's rarely been greater need for tolerance, cohesion, stability and inclusive leadership. Yet the country continues to be saddled with a "hostile environment policy" on immigration with grievous effects on many of the estimated six million migrants who are contributing so richly to our social fabric and economy. Scrapping the policy should be one of the new prime minister's top priorities.


“The hostile environment reached a nadir with the so far wholly unsuccessful plan to send some of those seeking asylum to Rwanda. It has been described as ‘appalling’, ‘immoral’ and ‘barbaric’. …


“But trying to bribe our way out of our international obligations by paying one of the world's poorest countries to do our job of processing and looking after asylum seekers, and the callous and scandalous mistreatment of the Windrush generation as well as the subsequent and continuing failure to provide fair, swift compensation - are only two graphic examples of a raft of egregious results of the hostile environment.


“Hostility created by the policy runs deep and affects all key areas of life. The illegality of many Home Office decisions, driven by the policy, is weakening our most precious quality: the rule of law. Compensation for breaches of rights and laws is costing millions of pounds. Making landlords responsible for checking the status of tenants is fostering suspicion and intolerance, not only of migrants but of Britons perceived as looking or speaking ‘like a migrant’.


“The ever-rising cost of already extortionate visa fees for hundreds of thousands of people we have invited to work here causes resentment, poverty and ill-health and alienates a vital part of the nation. Regulations split families; people who have done no wrong except flee for their safety are held behind locked doors and further traumatised….


“The hostile environment policy is expensive, divisive, destructive and counter-productive. For example, the Home Office's now entrenched culture of distrust and obstruction is getting in the way of the government's own policy of admitting a number of refugees from Ukraine. … Hostility does not create confidence, at home or abroad. It makes a mockery of any notion of a 'Global Britain'.


“A new prime minister and a government trying to reset itself in the midst of an alarming cost-of-living crisis needs to set an example by dismantling the hostile environment and taking the right approach that unites everyone living, working and studying here. This will benefit the whole society in the long term, replacing an approach based on short-term political gain through pandering to the far right.”


 Independent Catholic News, Source:  Migrant Voice, 4 Aug 2022,  https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45225

Let Us Pray

For the happy repose of HM The Queen

Almighty God, You are the author and sustainer of all human life; grant that your servant, Elizabeth our Queen, whom you granted a long and happy reign as Monarch of these lands may be forgiven her sins and rewarded with that eternal life promised to all those born again in the water of baptism and power of your Spirit. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit God, forever and ever, Amen.


Prayer for the Royal Family

Almighty God, source of all consolation, we pray for the members of the Royal Family who mourn the loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Uphold them in your love and pour out on them the consolation of your healing Spirit. Let them find in your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ comfort in their sadness, certainty in their doubt and courage to live through this hour. We ask this through Christ our Lord Amen.


Prayer for the King

O God, to whom every human power is subject, Grant to your servant His Majesty the King wisdom in the exercise of his high office, so that, always revering to you and striving to please you, he may constantly secure and preserve for the people entrusted to his care the freedom that comes from unity and peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit God, forever and ever, Amen.

God Rest the Queen, God Save the King

Statement from Cardinal Vincent Nichols on the Death of HM Queen Elizabeth II


On 21 April 1947, on her twenty-first birthday, Princess Elizabeth said, ‘I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.’


Now, seventy-five years later, we are heartbroken in our loss at her death, and so full of admiration for the unfailing way in which she fulfilled that declaration.

Even in my sorrow, shared with so many around the world, I am filled with an immense sense of gratitude for the gift to the world that has been the life of Queen Elizabeth II.


At this time, we pray for the repose of the soul of Her Majesty. We do so with confidence, because the Christian faith marked every day of her life and activity.


In her Millennium Christmas message, she said, ‘To many of us, our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example.’


This faith, so often and so eloquently proclaimed in her public messages, has been an inspiration to me, and I am sure to many. The wisdom, stability and service which she consistently embodied, often in circumstances of extreme difficulty, are a shining legacy and testament to her faith.


Our prayer is that she is now received into the merciful presence of God, there to be reunited with her beloved Prince Philip. This is the promise of our faith, and our deep consolation.


Queen Elizabeth II will remain, always, a shining light in our history. May she now rest in peace. We pray for His Majesty the King, as he assumes his new office even as he mourns his mother. 


God save the King.

“Catholic Union questions future Prime Minister

“Ahead of its Summer Gathering, the Catholic Union, has written to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, the final Conservative Party leadership candidates.


“The letter emphasises the importance of the 4.5 million Catholics in England, Scotland and Wales and poses some questions to the candidates which will help inform Catholics who have a vote in the contest.


“Nigel Parker, Director of the Catholic Union, comments: ‘Although Catholics think and vote differently, there are certain political beliefs we share - including a strong belief in the common good and in the freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. The leadership contest is likely to be a topic of conversation at our Summer Gathering at St Mary's College, Oscott. The Catholic Union wants to work with the incoming Prime Minister to ensure that the interests and concerns of Catholics are properly understood.’


“The letter poses the following questions:


“The Catholic Union has campaigned to make the tax system fairer for families. Would you make reducing the tax burden on families a priority, including increasing the amount of personal allowance that can be transferred between couples?


“We believe that law makers should seek to protect human life in all its forms - recognising the value of each person. Will you commit to upholding the dignity of life by resisting calls to introduce assisted dying legislation in this Parliament and by looking at practical measures to support pregnant women?


“The Catholic Union welcomed the Government's manifesto commitment to implement in full the recommendations of the Bishop of Truro's report into the persecution of Christians. What practical measures will you take to ensure that championing freedom of religion or belief will be a greater priority for your Government?


“The Catholic Church has a proud history of educating young people. Around 10 per cent of children in this country attend Catholic schools. Do you recognise the value of Catholic and other faith schools in our education system and commit to removing the faith cap on new free schools?


“The Catholic Union has championed the importance of upholding fundamental human rights, including free speech and religious freedom. Will you ensure that expressing the teachings of the Catholic church never risks falling outside of the law in this country?”


With permission, Independent Catholic News, 22-23 July 2022, https://www.indcatholicnews.com/news/45140

Children are not the future of the Church – they are, with us, the Church of Today!

Fr Luke writes: 

“One of the many joyful and inspiring things I experience as a parish priest is seeing young families come to Mass together. There are so many pressures these days on family life and countless things that compete for the Sunday morning slot that I think it is both a heroic and beautiful thing when I see parents with their children at Mass….No member of the Body of Christ, (the Church) is more valuable or more special than any other. The eldest member, the youngest member, the fittest member, the sickest member are all equal before God and all have their place in the Church. Children and young people are not “the future of the Church” as many people enthusiastically say. Children and young people, along with every other member of the Church, are the present of the Church, the Church of today!  As such they must have a rightful place in the public worship of the Body of Christ….


As a Church, as a Christian community, we must always be compassionate. Being a parent is hard, and being a Christian parent is a real challenge in today’s world. Parents must feel welcome to attend Mass with their children, not least because they need to be nourished by the Mass as much as anyone does. Older members of our parish have so much to offer and can be a real support to younger families by acting as spiritual grandparents in the community. All of us, old and young, are members of the one family of Christ and it behooves us to have compassion on each other, especially those who are more vulnerable members of the flock and that can include young families.” 


Brief excerpt from: “Please stop saying children are the future of the Church! - Some thoughts on young families in Church.” by Fr Luke Goymour

https://www.frlukegoymour.com/search?updated-max=2019-10-31T21:53:00Z&max-results=7&start=7&by-date=falseHaving a big sale, on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.

Churches Together Mildenhall

Churches Together Prayer Meetings are held on the First Saturday of Month at 9am.  Location varies so please check. 

The Universe Catholic Weekly...

is thrilled to announce that we have launched our new online newspaper with the full support of our first subscriber none other than His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols. Order your Digital 4 weeks FREE trial copy by calling Michelle on 0743 661 7650 or email: michelle.jones@universecatholicweekly.co.uk 


You will find excellent articles at https://universecatholicweekly.co.uk .  Subscribe and support them.

Scam Emails: IMPORTANT

Fr Luke will never contact you (especially via email) asking you for money and or gift cards. Scammers regularly pose as Fr Luke and other priests asking for help or to purchase gifts cards from Amazon, typically for a niece or other relative. The scammers set up a false email accounts in the name of Fr Luke and other priests in the diocese. Please be vigilant and if you are unsure, call the presbytery and speak to Fr Luke directly.

The Food Bank

The Food Bank (Collection at St John’s Only)

The Food Bank collection will be held on the FIRST Sunday of each month. Days for upcoming collections will be October 2nd and November 6th.  In the meantime, donations can be delivered directly to King’s House, Market Street, Mildenhall, IP28 7EF, M-F, 10 am to noon ( office@kingsproject.org.uk ) or to the Brandon – Thetford Food Bank, Harvest Centre, Fengate Drove, Brandon, IP27 0PW, Tues., 11 am to 1 pm ( info@thetford.foodbank.org.uk ).


The following are items needed now by clients, but appear rarely in donations:

Peanut Butter,   Biscuits,  Cooking Oil,  Chocolate Spread,    Flour,    Hot Chocolate (drink),  Coffee,  Meat pies


Can you help?  Will you help, please?  Many in our community rely upon Food Banks for help in time of urgent need.


Please bring along your donations of food, hygiene other items in a box or carrier bag. This makes it easier to carry and deliver everything from church to the Food Bank. 


Please no already opened packages or bottles: no alcohol.


See also the notices on our church website and those of the local Food Banks.

Our local Food Bank

Needs our help!

How we can help ...

One of the casualties of the recent panic buying of foodstuffs is that Food Banks across the country are experiencing a severe drop in contributions from the public. This leaves those in most need with healththreatening problems for themselves and their children. We can show the UK that Mildenhall is not and will not follow this trend!  


Next time you shop – or have someone shopping for you – use two bags, one for you and one for those who cannot afford to find good food for themselves. 


We can’t collect your donations as usual at this time, but you can • Take your bag with you the next time you go shopping and drop it off at the Food Bank, or  • Ask a neighbour who is going shopping to deliver your contribution, or • Have your contribution put into the Coop’s or Sainsbury’s special basket for Food Bank donations.  


The Food Bank is open from 10am - 12 noon each Monday and Friday. It is located on the ground floor of the King’s Project on the corner of Market Street and King Street, Mildenhall.  


Useful items include:  Milk (UHT or powdered), Sugar, Long life Fruit Juice, Cereals, Tinned sponge pudding, Tinned Tomatoes, Tinned vegetables, Soup, Tinned rice pudding, Tea bags/instant coffee, Instant Mash, Rice, Tinned meat/fish, Tinned Fruit, Jam, Biscuits/snack bars 

Thanks to everyone

... who contributes to the Food Bank.  We thank God for this opportunity to comfort our brothers and sisters.

Holy Communion at Home?

If you are unable to come to Mass and would like Holy Communion or other sacraments Fr Luke is very willing to visit you at home. Please do get in contact and don’t just assume the parish has your details on file. The Parish database suffered immensely from the changes in GDPR guidelines a few years ago and many parishioners details are not held on file.

School Governors Needed

Develop your skills and help your community and its children at the same time. Volunteer to be a school governor at Forest Academy, Brandon, today.  Or become a Member of the Academy Trust.


For more information, contact Phil Richardson, par.uk@gmx.co.uk.

Speak up at Mass!

Mass is not something the “Priest does” alone, it is the action of the whole People of God. As such it is a prayer and act of supreme worship. Making the responses clearly and audibly is one simple but important way in which we pray the Mass.


“Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and activeparticipation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people, is their right and duty by reason of their baptism.”
                                                                                               Vatican II (SC 14)

Artisan Candles ...

... for Prayer, Special Occasions and more….


Anna Liwak who kindly makes our Paschal Candle each year makes and sells bespoke candles. If you would like one of her candles for you or a loved one please contact her on 07741209889 or check out her Facebook page:

 https://www.facebook.com/artisticheartanna  Examples of her work below:

Tom Caple’s book of poems Stations of the Cross

Tom Caple’s book of poems Stations of the Cross is available free. Each poem is a reflection for each Station. Contact Tom at dashwoodtales@gmail.com. Voluntary donations will go to the Parish.

Prayer in Time of Coronavirus

Lord Jesus, give us. the grace to hear your voice.
And the strength to continue working for your kingdom in this time of pandemic.
Do not allow us to be indifferent to those who today suffer the loss of a loved one, or who suffer because of the absence of work.
But give us the courage to accompany and side with those who suffer violence or injustice.
Amen.
                                                                                 CAFOD: Javier Edwardo Martinez Rueda

New CTS Sunday Missal

To offer support during the pandemic while many are unable to get to Mass and communal Mass books and missalettes are not permitted, CTS are offering The CTS New Sunday Missal 2021 for just £1.99 while stocks last.

This liturgical companion for Catholics is beautifully designed for every churchgoer and runs from the First Sunday of Advent 2020 to Christ the King 2021.

To order go to https://www.ctsbooks.org/product/cts-sunday-missal-2021/ or call 020 7640 0042

FACE COVERINGS

There are some circumstances where people may not be able to wear a face covering. Please be mindful and respectful of such circumstances, noting that some people are less able to wear face coverings, and that the reasons for this may not be visible to others. This includes (but is not limited to):  

  • Children under the age of 11 (Public Health England does not recommend face coverings for children under the age of 3 for health and safety reasons)
  • people who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability

Reception of Holy Communion at Mass

A reminder that at this current time Holy Communion can only be received on the hand. Please place your hands flat (do not try and take the host from the priest) so that the host can be placed on your hands without the priest touching your hand. Holy communion should be received in silence, understandably many of us go into ‘auto pilot’ and say “Amen” without thinking. However, where possible please try and remember to refrain from saying “Amen”. Please also, where possible, stretch out your hands over the barrier as to keep maximum physical distance from the priest at the moment of Communion.

A TIME FOR JUSTIFIABLE OPTIMISM

News of success in testing a new vaccine with which to fight the Covid-19 disease comes at the right time, when many are confused, frustrated or downcast as the coronavirus continues to spread and restrictions aimed at halting it seem more and more to turn houses into prisons and homes into cells of isolation.

We should therefore rejoice in the optimism that the New Year will hopefully bring the beginning of a nationwide vaccination programme and that we will see the threat posed by Covid-19 reduced to the same manageable level of Flu and other viruses. But the battle is not over yet! In the meantime, we must continue to observe government regulations and guidance, wear masks, keep our distance and cautiously safeguard and respect the safety and dignity of others and ourselves.

A daily prayer for this might help:

Lord: Help us to control our impulses and maintain discipline safeguarding the health and wellbeing of those around us and others we encounter today. Amen

Charity begins …

John Wyclif, in Of Prelates in 1382, wrote “Charite schuld bigyne at hem-self” and others, such as John Marston (1610) and Sir Thomas Browne (1642) have proved authors of its use as “Charity begins at home.” It is, in my view, used too frequently to discourage charitable giving to others, especially foreigners: that is, “charity should begin at home and end there.” That’s a pity, because it shows ignorance of the origin of the saying. The notion that family should be one’s foremost concern is in 1 Timothy 5:8:    “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”


This is not a recommendation to have compassion only for one’s nearest and dearest. It and the proverb itself are much deeper in meaning than an exhortation to meanness. For me, an Australian Baptist Minister, Melinda Cousins, summed it up in a blog, six years ago:
“… my understanding is that the saying as it was originally taken up …. was meant to refer to the fact that virtues are cultivated in the everyday – that is, we learn to be compassionate and charitable people at home; [and] that capacity within us as human beings begins to develop there, and then grows as we exercise it outside the home.” 


‘Can we please stop saying ‘Charity begins at home?’ Thinking Aloud 2014


The word ‘charity’ entered the English language to mean ‘Christian love for others’, especially the poor. It has often been linked to agapé, or unconditional love, the most Christ-like love there can be. That’s a far cry from restricting compassion to just your aunty.


As we learn to love God through experience of His love for us, so we learn how that kind of loving can be the route to helping those in need, wherever in the world they are, and thus demonstrating, with the humility and tenderness agapé requires, God’s love and His Son’s offer of salvation.                                                                                            

                                                                         TC


------------------
CHARITY AND THE POOR
Last week we saw that charity does begin at home, when “home” is your heart stirred by God’s love into having compassion for others, that is, the poor, whether poor in spirit or in material things. Let us look at the latter. 


Pope Francis has summed up the issue succinctly, as usual:  “Jesus tells us what the ‘protocol’ is, on which we will be judged. It is the one we read in chapter 25 of Matthew’s Gospel: I was hungry, I was thirsty, I was in prison, I was sick, I was naked and you helped me, clothed me, visited me, took care of me. Whenever we do this to one of our brothers, we do this to Jesus. Caring for our neighbour; for those who are poor, who suffer in body and in soul, for those who are in need. This is the touchstone.”  From Papa Francesco: Questa economia uccide (Pope Francis: This economy kills) by Andrea Tornielli &. Giacomo Galeazzivia  


This will be news to few of us. There are an estimated 1.2 billion Catholics in the world, every one of whom will have heard this extract from Matthew’s Gospel. One in twelve people in the UK are Catholic – that’s 5 million people in our country who have heard this bit of Good News.  There are 736 million in the world in extreme poverty, who have little or no access to fresh water or adequate health care and, if they are employed at all, earn less than £1.42 per day. What could you do with only £1.42 a day or the equivalent of £9.94 for a seven day working week?  


Here in England it has recently been revealed that some workers in the garment industry are working for less than £3 per hour. Again, how would you manage on £150 (gross) for a 50 hour week?  It is mystifying why these inequalities continue, when there are so many of us charged by Jesus to aid the poor. What to do? We’ll look at that next week.  [Statistics about global poverty are attached to this Newsletter.]                   TC
----------------------
CHARITY & THE POOR – HOW TO CREATE A TSUNAMI
In 2015, more than 700 million people, or 10 per cent of the world population, lived in extreme poverty, struggling to fulfil the most basic needs like health, education, and access to water and sanitation. Until 2019, That figure dropped dramatically to less than 5 per cent. 


However, the COVID-19 pandemic is reversing the trend of poverty reduction, with tens of millions of people in risk of being pushed back into extreme poverty - people living on less than $1.90/day - causing the first increase in global poverty in more than 20 years. Given the scale of the problem, it seems that ordinary people, like you and me, can do little to stop this trend. That is not true. There is much that we can do locally, and for the world 


There is much we can do:  

  • Supporting the Food Bank each month. This is crucial for the Food Bank’s survival and the sustenance of the poor among us;
  • Supporting missionaries who help the poor around the world by saving money through the Red Box campaign;
  • Buying fairly traded [Fairtrade] goods, which mean poor producers can get fair profits and trade their way out of poverty;
  • Living simply so that climate change can be slowed and the poor better protected from climate disasters;
  • Donating to CAFOD to support its campaigns for the poor;
  • Supporting the annual Shoebox campaign;
  • And many more initiatives that each of us get involved in.


These may be small acts of generosity, but small gestures build up to create tsunamis of love for our neighbours here and across the world.                                    TC

CHARITY UPDATE

FOOD BANK

Although  we still cannot use our churches as a collection centre for the Food  Bank, people’s needs remain. You don’t have to be unemployed to get help  from a Food Bank. Those in low paid jobs, including those still  furloughed, struggle to provide themselves and their families with the  basic essentials of daily living, from food to hygiene and health  products.


CAFOD


CORONAVIRUS INITIATIVE:  CAFOD  has joined with the UK Disasters Emergencies Committee to help millions  of people whose lives are at risk, as coronavirus spreads across  refugee camps and countries suffering conflict. 


COVID -19 has swept cross the world. Over 1,450,000 people have died and more than 43 million have survived it. Western nations have the highest  survival rates. Poor countries have the worst. 


Please remember and join  in CAFOD’S Coronavirus Campaign. Go to www.cafod.org.uk/coronavirus

You can donate at www.cafod.org.uk/coronavirus to help CAFOD scale up its coronavirus response through our Global  Church family. Or use CAFOD’s Summer of Hope fundraising ideas with your  family and friends to transform lockdown and raise money for the  appeal: for more information go to www.cafod.org.uk/summerofhope .


CAFOD Beirut Emergency Appeal

The explosions In Beirut have left hundreds of families with NOTHING.

Local organisations and volunteers are already on the frontlines, assisting hospitals and attending to the injured.

YOU CAN HELP: go to https://cafod.org.uk/donations/one-off?_Amounts=25&_Appeal=121949


CAFOD’S REACH.  Here’s a short list of their campaigns. Click on each to  get an up-to-date report.


• Syria crisis: Millions of refugees face new threat from coronavirus

• Rohingya Crisis: Reaching vulnerable families

• Yemen crisis explained

• Cyclone Amphan brings double crisis to Bangladesh and India

• Cyclone Idai: how your donations are helping people rebuild their lives

• The humanitarian challenges that lie ahead in 2020

• CAFOD launches urgent appeal for millions of families facing hunger in Zimbabwe and Zambia

• Over 200,000 evacuated as Typhoon Kammuri makes landfall in the Philippines

Your Red Box

If you have an APF Red Box, you can now leave or have it delivered at one of our churches. Sue Dean will arrange its collection and processing

TO BE A CHRISTIAN IS TO BE A MISSIONARY - YOU CAN HELP BY PRAYING FOR THE MILL HILL MISSIONARIES AND DONATING THROUGH USING A RED BOX.  


Thank you for helping their Missionary work. Please keep up this good work for 2022-23.  


Not got a Red Box? Some spare boxes are at the back of the church. Take one and tell Sue Dean or Fr Luke. 

Our Virtual Parish: Faith for Our Times

The first series of talks have finished for the time being, but the full catalogue is available below.


Missed a talk? The full series is available to ‘watch again’ both here on our Faith Talks page and on Facebook. 


Topics covered thus far: 

  • Faith for our Times: God's call on our lives - Fr Luke's Vocation Story
  • Faith and Reason (Science and Faith) 
  • Genesis, Evolution and the Big Bang!
  • The Resurrection in scripture and Tradition 
  • The Eucharist: Real Presence 
  • The Eucharist: Source and Summit
  • The Eucharist: Meal and Sacrifice
  • The Church
  • The Problem of Evil
  • Spiritual Warfare
  • There is something about Mary

The Parish needs your help!

(Please see the Church Services page for updates.)

Mass is now celebrated with a congregation in both of our churches and is also available to view and follow online live on this website and on Facebook.

With the return of public Masses, both churches need to be cleaned after every Mass. Stewards are also needed for both churches to help with seating and moving around the church for Holy Communion. Please do volunteer (we cannot do this without you) to help by cleaning or stewarding. Special disinfectant spray has been ordered so cleaning between Masses will only really entail spraying seats and surfaces and wiping door handles. (PPE can be provided.)

Altar Servers: whilst restrictions are in place no Altar servers are allowed at this time.

Reception of Holy Communion at Mass

A reminder that at this current time Holy Communion can only be received on the hand. Please place your hands flat (do not try and take the host from the priest) so that the host can be placed on your hands without the priest touching your hand. Holy communion should be received in silence, understandably many of us go into ‘auto pilot’ and say “Amen” without thinking. However, where possible please try and remember to refrain from saying “Amen”. Please also, where possible, stretch out your hands over the barrier as to keep maximum physical distance from the priest at the moment of Communion.

UNMASKED – A REASON FOR GOING MASKED

My newspaper informs me that we are now a divided nation, between those who comply with the government’s requirement to wear masks and those who don’t. I have never trusted implicitly what the papers or other news media say. They each have their own agendas and I have learned to step carefully between fact and fiction, propositions and prejudices, truth and lies.  


Even so, it is worth thinking about what a mask does that is acceptable to some people and intolerable for others.  


A mask, of the type we have to wear in close contact, hides the mouth and jaw and the more prominent part of the nose. As such, Masks make it difficult to recognise people and just as difficult for us to project the kind of person we are.  


One way of justifying not wearing a mask was summed up in something I overheard. “Well, Jesus never wore a mask, did he?!” True, as far as we know. However, Christ the Man was not facing an epidemic of the sort we face today.  


The Son of God was dealing with a much more virulent and deadly disease – sin, the loss of faith in salvation, hope of rescue, and love of our neighbour. His mission to restore and deepen faith, strengthen hope and keep love’s flames burning was rooted in the truth of the psalms that remind us we are “a little less than god” (Ps.8.6) and “sons of the most high” (Ps.81.6). As such we are servants of God (Ps.133 and servants to others.  


To be children of God, His servants and of service to one another, it seems to me at least, to justify a small act – wearing a face mask to protect those whom we meet and to avoid the plague so that we can continue to do His work.                                  TC

Use of our buildings

Please note that at this time, our buildings will only be used for public Mass; no other groups will meet in the Churches. Anyone accessing the building other than for Mass or to clean must clear this with Fr Luke first.  


Sacristy: Sacristies are strictly out of bounds to all people, without exception (Fr Luke will act as his own sacristan for the time being) (Mildenhall parishioners must not use back door to enter church.)  


Toilets: If necessary one toilet will be available for everyone to use in each of our churches.  


Time in buildings: Please arrive just before Mass and leave shortly after (unless you are cleaning).

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, window or back garden if there is a side entrance (keeping 6ft away) lead prayers with you 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/garden/front window with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, I will not come in, social distancing will be observed at all times.

Can’t find Mass on Facebook?

Don’t worry you can now just visit our website!

The Facebook live steam in now integrated with our parish website, this means you can simply go to the parish website and see the live stream. The video will appear in a screen below the main logo (active while services are being streamed live). If it doesn’t appear after a few minutes refresh the page.  If still having problems, click on the link in the box below the live stream place holder.

For those of you who are using Facebook and commenting, please continue to do so as you can only interact with the page through Facebook.

If you don’t have internet access: then listen to Mass on the Radio!

The Irish station Radio RTE, which is based in Dublin, is broadcasting to the UK on long wave 252kHz. Every other Sunday they broadcast Mass at 11am.

Radio Maria England, which is based in Cambridge, broadcasts on DAB+ in Greater London and on DAB (Band 11C 220.352 MHz) in Cambridgeshire and the surrounding areas.  You can also listen to it from across East Anglia online at https://radiomariaengland.uk  Broadcasts include Masses, the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, and morning and evening prayer.

EWTN, which has a base in Walsingham, Norfolk, produces a wide range of radio programmes and can be reached on https://www.ewtn.com/radio

Premier Christian Radio is on DAB, Internet and can be also accessed via TV Freeview 725.

Spiritual Communion

At this time, it will not be possible for people to receive Holy Communion. Everyone is invited, however, to join in the ancient practice of making regular spiritual communions, this can be particularly fruitful when following the daily Mass in your Missals on online via the live feed.

Prayer of St Alphonsus:  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.

Feeling Isolated?

Struggling with the coronavirus and social distancing measures? Scared? Need to talk? Struggling to get shopping or basic groceries?

Pick up the phone!  Your parish is your family and we are here for you, in the first instance feel free to call Fr Luke on 01842 812200 and he will do his best to help you, support you and put you in contact with others who may be able to help. If you don’t get an answer.  Leave a message and your number (Clearly) and he will get back to you. We may be socially isolating -but we are not on our own!

Other Resources ...

(especially if you are having trouble live-streaming Online)

Radio Stations: DAB (Digital) Radio: Radio Maria England, Premier Christian Radio (available on TV Radio as well and has Sunday Morning Worship) Radio 4 Has Sunday Worship on Sunday Morning at 8:10 am on FM and a Daily Service at 9:45 am on Long Wave (not FM).

TV: Sky TV 588 is ETWN (Catholic Channel) and has Daily Mass broadcast as well as other prayers and devotions.

Websites: https://pray-as-you-go.org/ https://shalem.org/programs/online/holy-interruptions/
https://stpaulcenter.com/hub/

Coloring prayer resources: If you would like adult-coloring sheets, to help with
prayer/mindfulness/meditation please contact Fr Luke and he will try and source them for you.

Mass intentions

Having a Mass offered for someone’s intention is a good and holy thing to do. It is important to remember, however, that Mass is always offered in the first instance for all people. (For For God’s Glory and our sanctification) No one buys or owns a Mass. A Mass is always ‘our Mass’ - even if offered for a particular individual. Please also remember that in our parish only one Sunday Mass can be offered for an intention that someone has asked for. 


There can be a bit of a back log with Mass intentions:

  • If you would like Mass offered for a particular intention on or near a specific day, (and at a specific location) please give as much notice as possible – some people book days a year in advance. 
  • If the date that you would like is unavailable. Mass will be offered at the requested location, on the next available free-day. However, this means that it could be as long as six weeks after the proposed date. 
  • If you are not too-concerned about where Mass will be offered (Brandon or Mildenhall) then it is often possible to fit a Mass in sooner than this. 

Interested in becoming a Catholic?

Want to know more about the Church?  Perhaps you are a Catholic but missed out on making your confirmation as a youngster.


If this is you, please consider joining our RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) programme. Please write to Fr Luke expressing your interest.

Son of God: The Daily Gospel Year A-2

Free e-book (with church imprimatur) for your computer/tablet/phone:


The new Liturgical Year begins on the First Sunday of Advent. This e-book may be downloaded free of charge to any computer/tablet/phone. It offers the Gospel for every day of the coming Liturgical Year A-2 (Sundays Year A, weekdays Year 2), together with a reflection of some 750 words on each daily Gospel. 


The e-book may be passed on for downloading to friends or acquaintances as desired, and may be accessed at the following URL address:  www.catholic-thoughts.info/ebook/

Fairly Traded

As a parish, we are dedicated to working for fair treatment of growers and suppliers in the Third World. 


Because of lack of support, we no longer have a Traidcraft stall at Mildenhall, but we are still obliged to use Fairly Traded tea and coffee. If these cannot be purchased from shops and supermarkets locally, Gillian Caple can order it from Traidcraft. Please ask her. 


Locally, Sainsbury’s have opted out of using the Fair Trade logo and, therefore, there is uncertainty about the status of their products. Non-fair trade brands such as Nescafe, Lavazza, etc. should not be used in St John’s. Please inspect purchases carefully for the Fairtrade logo. 

Note about 'IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS'

We have a number of ways of recording people for whom prayers are said, including, books at each church and this section of our weekly Newsletter. 


In the Newsletter we record the names of those whose anniversaries occur each month and sometimes those for whom special requests have been made. These names will, of course, re-appear the same time next year. Because of limited space, the anniversaries are for those who have died since 2010. 

Proclaim!

Do you want to share our faith in everyday life here in the parish?


This autumn we have started a Proclaim! Group focusing on evangelisation. We are reading Sherry Weddell’s Forming Intentional Disciples together over six weeks and then we support each other to proclaim God’s Good News.  


Following the first presentation on Wednesday 25th September at St Thomas’ Brandon, it was thought that it would be good to share our prayers with the whole parish.  So a prayer pamphlet was enclosed in your newsletter on 29th Sep.


Please add these prayers to your own prayers at home. 

Pray for yourself; and for the group who are estabilishing the programme on Wednesdays; and for the whole parish: that we will have the desire and confidence to share the beauty of God’s love with others.  

Talking in Church and Silence before Mass

Fr Luke writes:  Many thanks for all who have contributed to keeping a respectful silence before mass. This is a joyful practice and creates the appropriate atmosphere for the celebration. 


Please also respect others, who may be trying to pray before and after Mass, by keeping talking to a minimum in and around the main body of the Church. (This does not apply so much to Mildenhall after Mass as we have a Blessed Sacrament chapel for people to pray in whilst teas and coffee continue at the back of the Church.) Silent and prayerful preparation is something that Pope Francis asks us to take seriously.


The Pope says: “Mass is the highest form of prayer and not an appropriate moment for small talk. At church, Catholics should spend their time in silence before Mass, preparing to meet with Jesus instead of engaging in "chitchat,”. Silence is so important…we are not going to a show. Silence prepares us and accompanies us." –           

                                                General audience Nov 15th 2017 


       IF SILENCE IS GOLDEN, PLEASE GIVE JESUS A LITTLE OF YOUR GOLD 

Pray as You Go PAYG

A superb free App from the British Jesuits. Lots on the App including a daily 10-12 min prayer meditation, as well as Stations of the Cross, Rosary meditations and other prayer resources. If you have a smart phone download the App, it could help develop your prayer life and your friendship with Jesus. Why not try it out for Holy Week? Having a big sale, on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.

Interested in joining the Ignite Team?

Are you leaving school or university soon, in between jobs or would like to do something 'different'? The Diocesan Youth Service is looking for people age 18-30 to join the Ignite Team, sharing the Gospel Message with young people in a way they can relate to. These are full-time positions, with food, accommodation and a monthly allowance provided. Ideal as a ‘gap year’. For more information see www.rcdea.org.uk/youth .

CATHOLIC PEOPLE’S WEEKS (CPW) HOLIDAYS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE

CPW offers a chance to enrich and develop your faith, as well as warmly welcoming people from other faith traditions who are in sympathy with the catholic tradition. Events range from 1-day meetings to 7-day holidays, from retreats to conferences to walking holidays. They vary from activities for whole families (in school holidays) to 18+ events: and they are affordable holidays in comfortable accommodation. A limited number of leaflets are available. For details talk to Gill or Tom Caple. 

Parish Finances

Funding the Parish

We are a small parish, as everybody knows and, unusually, we have to maintain three buildings. Fortunately, we have a congregation which, time after time, provides funds, through offertory payments, stole fees and donations. So we are very grateful. One way in which you can help the parish in the long term is to consider a bequest in your will. Talk to Fr Luke or Philip Kemp for further information about this.

Keeping the Parish Going

Thank you all for helping to keep the parish going, your generosity means we are surviving as a parish. Although we have returned to public Masses, we are still not able to take a collection at Mass, so we still rely on your giving:


Please consider how you can donate at least equal to your normal giving.


Here’s how you can do this:


1. By Standing Order or Direct Debit. A form is included in the next section which you can use. Details of the parish’s bank account are

  • Bank Name: Lloyds Bank plc
  • Bank Address: Thetford (309858) Branch
  • Sort Code: 30-98-58
  • Account Number: 00489176
  • These details are already printed on the Standing Order form below. You can set this up online or post this to your bank, if you are unable to go there in person.

2. By making a transfer from your bank account to the parish’s, using the details above.

3. By sending a cheque to the parish made out to Brandon & Mildenhall RC Parish.

                      ***  Please do not send cash  ***


We suggest that you arrange these payments on a monthly basis, starting on the first Monday of each month.


Thank you to all those who have been making bank transfers or forwarded cheques as offertory donations to the Parish since the lockdown commenced. Bank transfers are preferred but if you do make cheque payments please note that the payee details for the Parish are "Brandon and Mildenhall Catholic Parish".


THANK YOU for helping in keeping the parish going.

                   Fr. Antony Arockiam, Parish Priest 

                   Philip Kemp, Parish Treasurer

Now Accepting Contactless Donations

You will find our new DIGITAL COLLECTION PLATE - a contactless terminal in the church.  Just use your contactless debit / credit card or smart phone / device to make a donation.


Simply choose the amount you wish to donate and hold your card onto the reader.


If you are a UK taxpayer, you can also opt-in for Gift Aid to increase your donation by 25%. (You only need to do this once and future donations will automatically be Gift-Aided.)


Contactless donations are simple to administer, secure and convenient.

A new way of giving

  • Simply clink on the DONA button below to donate to our church online.  This action takes you to our online donation portal. When you see the input page, simply enter the amount you want to donate, then click 'Donate'; on the next page, enter your credit card details and again click 'Donate'. That's all you need to do to help keep our parish financially viable.

DONA

Gift Aid

New Gift Aid envelopes have arrived but are not being distributed until Sunday Mass collections resume. Parishioners who are in the Gift Aid scheme are encouraged to make their offertory contributions preferably by bank transfer, or by cheque, as indeed many are doing so already. Your contributions are still being collated for Gift Aid claim purposes. Many thanks.


Thank you to those who have signed up to GA. If you missed this and would like to discuss your GA, please let me know. If you pay UK tax the Parish can claim back 25% of your Sunday offering from the tax office. The only details required are your name, address and signature confirming you pay UK tax. Philip Kemp Tel 07514430468 Email pjkemp1@gmail.com

Existing Gift Aid claimants

I am obliged to inform existing members of the Gift Aid Scheme that I will be claiming tax rebates for  tax year just past on your behalf unless informed of the contrary. You are also requested to advise me of any changes in address, post code or name in the last 12 months.


Thank you

Philip Kemp, Parish Treasurer & Gift Aid Organiser

Tel 07514430468; Email pjkemp1@gmail.com

Support Our Parish 50/50 Club

Around the end / beginning of the year is  the time when most 50-50 Club subscription renewals are due. This can be paid by cash, cheque, bank transfer or card payments through the Parish website. Please speak to Joanne Thomas at St Thomas's (Tel 07549 946444 email joannethomas@btopenworld.com ) or Philip Kemp at St John's (Tel 07514430468 email pjkemp1@gmail.com ). Do consider becoming a member if you are not already and help raise valuable funds for the Parish.  


Monthly winners are announced in the Parish Newsletters.


The 50:50 Club is a major source of income to help keep this parish running.   ---  FACT 

The proceeds go half to winners and half to the parish   --- FACT 

You can join now!  ---  FACT 

Speak to David Thomas (St Thomas’); Janet Murphy (St John’s)  ---  SIMPLE! 


50:50 Club Winnings

Winners can email me their bank details to facilitate a bank transfer.

PhilipKemp: pjkemp1@gmail.com

Reading: Tithing for Catholics

A new book by a local Catholic author Derek Williams is available at the back of the Church priced £7.99.


“Tithing for Catholics is an innovative piece of writing that cuts to the heart of Scripture and Church Teaching…. the author takes us on a journey of first-hand experiences that demonstrate how tithing is a real service of faith that won’t let you down because God cannot be outdone in generosity”

                                                                        - From the cover of ‘Tithing for Catholics’


Please place money in CTS box or give to Fr Antony directly.

WILL YOU?

The Parish - whole Church – depends on its members for finance to achieve its mission. That is why we have first and second collections at Mass and welcome people’s generosity in making donations. 


Have you considered continuing your contributions after you have departed? 


You can do this by making a gift in your will. You can specify what it is to be spent on and the charity that will benefit.  Talk to our treasurer for more information: 

Philip Kemp: Tel 07514430468; Email pjkemp1@gmail.com 

Why leave a legacy?

Whether you want to support a local cause such as your parish or diocese, provide for vulnerable families in the UK or help overseas communities and parishes, a legacy could be the most far-reaching gift you ever make.


Go to https://www.yourcatholiclegacy.org for more information.

Easter Offering

The Easter Mass Offering is normally an important contribution to annual income of the Parish Priest. If you are considering making a BACs (online transfer) for this purpose please reference it 'Fr Antony'.  


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Pax Christi - Nonviolence Works

Pax Christi

Pax Christi (The Peace of Christ) works for:

  • Peace – based on justice. A world where human rights are respected, basic needs are met and people feel safe and valued in their communities.
  • Reconciliation –a process which begins when people try to mend relationships –between individuals or whole countries after times of violence or dispute.
  • Nonviolence –a way of living and making choices that respects others, challenges what is not fair or unjust, and offers alternatives to violence and war.


To do this Pax Christi works to:

  • Support teachers, chaplains and youth workers in promoting a culture of peace in schools and amongst young people.
  • Develop solidarity between people who are working non-violently for justice and peace. Pax Christi does this through joint actions for peace in Israel-Palestine, through events to encourage international efforts to abolish nuclear weapons and by celebrating the life and witness of peacemakers.
  • Promote an understanding of sustainable security where human needs are met and the environment is protected, rather than seeking security through weapons and warfare. Pax Christi campaigns against military spending, the arms trade and nuclear weapons.

                                                                                                    TC

Nonviolence Works

Nonviolence Works is a network of Christian Peace Organisations, including Pax Christi, committed to furthering peace in communities. The network has evidence that there are ways other than violent intervention to resolve differences and bring an end to wars. It publishes cases that show how nonviolent approaches can and do work. We will publish examples from time to time. Here are three: 


Norway 1942 

Teachers refused to co-operate with the pro-Nazi Quisling regime and, although many endured prison, the obligation to teach Nazi doctrines had to be withdrawn. 


Mozambique 1989-92 

The Rome-based Community of Sant” Egidio brokered an agreement between RENAMO and FRELIMO forces, ending ten years of war. 


1996 -- The movement to oust Serbia dictator Slobodan Milosevic, which began in November 1996 with Serbs conducting daily parades and protests in Belgrade and other cities. At that time, however, Serb democrats lacked a strategy to press on the struggle and failed to launch a campaign to bring down the Milosovic dictatorship. In early October 2000, the Otpor (Resistance) movement and other democrats rose up again against Milosevic in a carefully planned nonviolent struggle.


1999 to Present -- Popular protests of corporate power & globalization begin with Seattle WTO protest in Seattle, 1999. This is what set the trend for the Occupy movement which is still alive.


2001 -- The “People Power Two” campaign, ousts Filipino President Estrada in early 2001.


Guatemala 2007 

Young stilt walkers used circus acts and carnival in the streets to transform the climate of violence spread by brutal youth gangs. 

I made a choice

War changed my life. For us ordinary people of Croatia, the violent disintegration of Yugoslavia came so suddenly we were confused. The war and the logic of war spread like a violent fire. From a culture of nationalism to the fear-ridden images of the enemy, to being surrounded by Serbian forces bombing us… I started to think like others, there was no other way. It is them or us… While we were thinking and praying in a small group we spoke about the meaning of love for our enemy in this very situation. …. I started to think, what would it mean to love my enemy in this time of war? I could not find the answer. But then I made a choice, from my will. So, I chose to love my enemy as Jesus would. This choice was my first move from the logic of violence, and I felt I could breathe again. 

My next step was to think how would I defend life? I would defend life but not by killing. But what if I needed to defend the life of my children? I don’t know what I would do in such a situation. But this transition from the logic of violence opened my heart and my mind to ask: what could I do for peace and the end of the war? I met someone who was an ethicist and then a conscientious objector. … And this was the beginning of the peace movement, the Centre for Nonviolence and Human Rights in Osijek, from the middle of the war. 

                               Katarina Kruhonja, former Board member, Pax Christi International 

Newsletter Teaching Supplements “What we believe”

Fr Luke writes: I have decided to produce regular (or semi-regular depending on commitments!) articles which I shall include with the newsletter from time to time as a supplement entitled ‘what we believe’. I hope to explore with you some aspects of our faith that perhaps, we haven’t always (or at least recently) thought about too deeply. It is not always possible and not really the right forum to explore these themes in depth in homilies so I have decided to explore them in written form with the hope that we can go a bit deeper and, if you wish, read at your own pace and re-read as necessary. I may also in time have these available online as well.   

The third reflection on the Creed: ‘Creator of Heaven and Earth’.  

The fourth reflection: ‘Of all things visible and invisible’. 

The fifth reflection:  ‘I believe in Jesus Christ, the Only Son, Our Lord.’ 

The sixth reflection: "He was conceived by the Holy spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. "

Adult Faith Formation (AFF)

This is a programme of weekly sessions exploring understanding of our faith and spiritual development, held at Our Lady Immaculate & St Etheldreda after 7 pm Mass each Thursday.  All are welcome. Tom & Gill Caple have details. 

For a full programme see the OLiSE website - www.olise.co.uk. 

Parish Mission Advisory Team (P-MAT)

Fr Luke writes: In order to help me run our parish I am looking to appoint a group of advisors from both the Mildenhall and Brandon Community. I am going to spend some time next week praying over the mission and ministry of our parish and planning the way forward. A constitutive part of this team will be a new safeguarding rep as our current rep, Andy Watts has decided to step down. I am grateful to Andy for the work he has done. If I approach you over the next few weeks, please be generous in giving of yourself in service of our parish community. If you have any ideas or suggestions about how things are done in our parish please feel free to email me or to talk to personally, I want to hear your views. 

“Let’s Go To Mass” A Booklet for Children and Their Parents

An anonymous donor has given the parish 10 copies of this Redemptorist booklet, which can be used by children (with or without their parents, depending on age) to follow and learn about the Mass. Users can colour in and wipe off again and again. 

Five of the copies will be available in each church. You may use it, but please clean and return it after Mass. If you want to take it home for study between masses, please do so, but return it the following week. Thank you. 

Discipleship Days

A new series of day-retreats entitled 'Discipleship Days' aimed at those aged 16 - 35, are now being launched around the Diocese of East Anglia. These days are for those who wish to grow in their faith through a day of fellowship, formation and prayer. The first one took place on the 23rd of February in Brandon. These events are free of charge. If you are under 18, please go to www.rcdea.org.uk/youth for a parental consent form. 

Paschal & Prayer Candles

Anna Liwak, the parishioner from Brandon who created our beautiful Paschal candles is now taking commissions for Candles.

Her candles are handcrafted and can be personalized for First Communion, Baptisms, Memorials, Anniversaries or any other important occasions. Individual prayer candles are also available.

For more information please contact Anna on 07741209889 or check out her facebook page: ‘Artistic Heart.’ 

Masses & Flowers

Having a mass said or paying for flowers in the church are practical ways supporting the work of the parish. Please give your donations to Fr Luke or Philip Kemp. 

House Blessing/Visit

Has your house been blessed? Would you like a home visit and a blessing for you home and family? 


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. 


Even if your home has been blessed in the past we can still pray together and ask for God’s blessing upon our lives. It’s also an excellent way for priest and parish to get to know each other! 

Traidcraft

Just Traid, the Fair Trade shop next to St John the Baptist Church, St John’s Street, Bury, has launched an exciting new menu in their café and a wide range of goods in their shop. Well worth a break to rest your legs and your pocket, when Christmas shopping! 

  • Just Traid are also looking for volunteers to help in the shop and the kitchen. For more talk to Gill Caple. 

What is the St Edmund Fund?

The Fund deals with emergency grant applications from families or individuals in need. It also considers support for young people wishing to explore a third world project in their gap years or long vacations. 


The fund is administered by Caritas East Anglia. All applications come from the parish or endorsements from professionals working with applicants. 


Over the past year, the Fund has supported families and individuals facing homelessness or job losses resulting in rent arrears. Others helped have been dealing with the sudden onset of terminal illness. 


For more details go to:  https://www.rcdea.org.uk/caritas-east-anglia/ 

Book of the Dead

November is a traditionally the month when we pray for the dead. In both of our Churches you will find a ‘Book of the Dead’. 


Please put the names of your loved ones who have died in the book and they will be prayed for throughout November. I will also offer Mass for the Holy Souls at various points in November and they shall be remembered in those Masses. 


To add a name, simply find the page which corresponds to the month that they died and write the name in. Any name of any deceased person can be added, they do not need to have died in this last year nor do they need to be a Catholic. All people alive and dead can benefit from our prayers! 

Two new pictures of The Divine Mercy ...

were donated to the parish and have come from the shrine at Krakow. To find out more about this devotion please take a leaflet from the rack at the back of Church. 

Takeaway Sunday Lunches at the Orient Express (Great Eastern Hotel) Brandon

If you are struggling to get a roast dinner ready after Mass at Brandon, consider taking one home with you from the Orient Express Carvery!  For £9:99 they give you a takeaway tin and you fill it with freshly cooked food and locally sourced meats. 

You too can help our community -- We Need YOU!

Children’s Liturgy

Children’s Liturgy

Children’s Liturgy

 If you would be willing to help run a children’s liturgy group at Mildenhall or Brandon please speak to Fr Luke. 

Alter Servers

Children’s Liturgy

Children’s Liturgy

If you have made your first Holy Communion and would like to serve at Mass at either Brandon or Mildenhall, speak to Fr Luke. We need you! 

Lectio Divina

A personal search for dialogue with God

Time set aside for Lectio Divina enables us to discover in our daily life an underlying spiritual rhythm. We discover an increasing ability to offer more of ourselves and our relationships to the Father, and to accept the embrace that God offers us in the person of his son, Jesus Christ. We can attend "with the ear of our hearts", listening for God's presence in our lives. 

How to Practice Lectio Divina as an individual

• Choose a text of the Scriptures that you wish to pray. This could be a reading for that day’s mass, or a particular book from the New Testament. The amount of text covered is in God's hands, not yours. 

• Place yourself in a comfortable position and allow yourself to become silent. This could be a few moments focused on your breathing, or a favourite prayer. Use whatever method is best for you and allow yourself to enjoy silence for a few moments. 

• Turn to the text and read it slowly, gently. Savour each portion of the reading, constantly listening for the "still, small voice" of a word or phrase that somehow says, "I am for you today." In Lectio Divina, God is teaching us to listen to him, to seek him in silence. 

• Take the word or phrase into yourself. Slowly repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your inner world of concerns, memories, and ideas. Memories or thoughts are simply parts of yourself that, when they rise up during Lectio Divina, are asking to be given to God along with the rest of your inner self. 

• Speak to God. Whether you use words, ideas, or images--or all three--is not important. Interact with God as you would with one you know loves and accepts you. Give to God what you have found within your heart. Experience God by using the word or phrase he has given you as a means of blessing and of transforming the ideas and memories that your reflection on his word has awakened. 

• Rest in God's embrace. And when he invites you to return to your contemplation of his word or to your inner dialogue with him, do so. Learn to use words when words are helpful, and to let go when they no longer are necessary. Rejoice in the knowledge that God is with you in both words and silence. 

How to Practice Lectio Divina as a group

 Many prayer groups find it a useful approach to collective study and prayer. 

This form of Lectio Divina works best in a group of between four and eight people. A group leader coordinates the process and facilitates sharing. The same text from the Scriptures is read out three times, followed each time by a period of silence and an opportunity for each member of the group to share the fruit of her or his Lectio. 

• The first reading is for the purpose of hearing a word or passage that touches the heart. When the word or phrase is found, the group's members take it in, gently recite it, and reflect on it during the silence that follows. After the silence, each person shares which word or phrase has touched his or her heart. 

• The second reading (by a member of the opposite sex from the first reader) is for the purpose of "hearing" or "seeing" Christ in the text. Each ponders the word that has touched the heart and asks where the word or phrase touches his or her life that day. Then, after the silence, each member of the group shares what he or she has "heard" or "seen." 

• The third and final reading is for the purpose of experiencing Christ "calling us forth" into doing or being. Members ask themselves what Christ in the text is calling them to do or to become today or this week. After the silence, each shares for the last time, and the exercise concludes with each person praying for the person on the right of him or her. 


Those who regularly practice this method of praying and sharing the Scriptures find it to be an excellent way of developing trust within a group. It also is an excellent way of consecrating projects and hopes to Christ before more-formal group meetings. 

 Based on “How to Practice Lectio Divina” Rev. Luke Dysinger OSB www.beliefnet.com 

Copyright 2009-2022, St. Thomas & St. John Catholic Parish.  

Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license M-401533. All rights reserved.
A registered Charity number 278742


The Roman Catholic Parish of Brandon and Mildenhall is part of the Diocese of East Anglia covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and the Unitary Authority of Peterborough within the Province of Westminster, part of the Catholic Church of England and Wales in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.