Welcome to St Edmund’s Catholic Church in Bury St Edmunds
We are a friendly Catholic community who welcome others to join us in our worship and service of God.
We hope that you will find this website useful and that it will help you encounter Jesus Christ who is our life.
Prisoners’ Sunday
13 October 2024
In Matthew 25, in the parable of the sheep and the goats, Jesus says: ‘Then the righteous will say: ‘When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ And the king will reply: ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
The practicalities of prison visiting mean that we can’t all go and visit someone in a prison. However, we can all make the effort to pray for prisoners and their families.
A Prayer for Prisoners’ Sunday
God of mercy, you offer freedom to all people. We pray for those in prison and for their children and families. Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist. May your love overcome struggle and heartache and bring new life.
Lord God, we commend to you all who work or volunteer in courts, prisons and communities. May they know your presence with them as they work and may their efforts inspire us to share your love ever more widely.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
News & Events
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First Holy Communion
Registration is now open for our First Holy Communion preparation course which will run in 2025. First Holy Communion Mass will be on Saturday 24 May 2025.
Registration must be made online. Please click on the 'Find out More' button below to complete the online form and download the list of session dates.
Children should be registered for this course by the end of November 2024 at the latest.
There will be an Information Session for the parents / guardians of registered children on Sunday 8 December 2024 at 14.00 in the crypt, when we also hope to distribute the course books.
Children must be baptised Catholics and be in Year 3 or above at primary school in order to attend this course.
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Modern Slavery
Friday 18 October is the UK's anti-slavery day and part of an annual awareness raising week to alert us all to the problem of modern day slavery within out country.
Back in February last year the Diocese set up a new initiative to tackle modern day slavery within East Anglia. Click on the button below to find out more.
You are welcome to join an online webinar entitled 'Modern Slavery on our Doorstep' organised by the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales on Tuesday 15 October at 13.00.
Go to https://www.cbcew.org.uk/webinar-modern-slavery-on-our-doorstep/ to register.
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Day of Renewal
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal team for East Anglia have organised a Day of Renewal at St Edmund's on Saturday 9 November from 10.00 - 16.30.
The day includes praise & worship, guest speaker Fr Paschal Uche from Brentwood Diocese, Mass at midday and an opportunity for confession in the afternooon.
The day is open to all. Refreshments will be available but please bring a packed lunch. There is no charge or need to register for this day, although a collection will be taken to cover costs.
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A Dementia Friendly Parish
A number of parishioners recently completed a Dementia Friends training course as our first step to ensuring that we are a dementia friendly parish.
The five key take aways from this training seem obvious, but they challenge how we often think about dementia: (1) that dementia is not a natural part of ageing; (2) that dementia is caused by diseases of the brain; (3) that dementia is not just about losing your memory - it can affect thinking, communicating, and doing everyday tasks; (4) that it is possible to live well with dementia; (5) and that there is more to a person than the dementia.
If you would like to find out more about being a Dementia Friend, or the support that the Alzheimer's Society can offer to those living with dementia and those who care for them, please click on the button below.
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Praying for Peace
Each Wednesday, after morning Mass, we pray together for peace in the world, remembering especially the conflicts in Ukraine and the Holy Land. You can also join us online using our live streaming service. Click on the button below to download the payers.
Information & Resources
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Mass Times
Saturday:
18.00: St Edmund’s (Vigil)
Sunday:
08.30: St Edmund’s
10.30: St Edmund’s (Live Streamed)
10.30: Lawshall
10.30: Montana
16.45: St Edmund’s (Polish Language)
Syro-Malabar Rite:
15.00: St Edmund’s (1st & 3rd Saturdays)
Confessions:
10.30: Wednesdays and Saturdays
For weekday Mass times see the newsletter
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Sunday's Gospel
Jesus was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, ‘Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You must not kill; You must not commit adultery; You must not steal; You must not bring false witness; You must not defraud; Honour your father and mother.’ And he said to him, ‘Master, I have kept all these from my earliest days.’ Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said, ‘There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.
Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!’ The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, ‘My children,’ he said to them ‘how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were more astonished than ever. ‘In that case’ they said to one another ‘who can be saved?’ Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he said ‘it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God.’
Mark 10:17-27
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Daily Prayer
God, Almighty Father, we are your pilgrim Church journeying towards the Kingdom of heaven. We live in our homeland, but as if we were foreigners. Every foreign place is our home, yet every native land is foreign to us. Though we live on earth,
our true citizenship is in heaven. Do not let us become possessive of the portion of the world you have given us as a temporary home.Help us to keep walking, together with our migrant brothers and sisters, toward the eternal dwelling you have prepared for us.
Open our eyes and our hearts so that every encounter with those in need
becomes an encounter with Jesus, your Son and our Lord. Amen.If you would like help for daily prayer and reflection, click on the button below to access a variety of resources.
