St Edmund's Catholic Church

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.

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A Pastoral Letter from Bishop Peter concerning the current Bill in Parliament which, if passed, will legalise Assisted Suicide

On the 16th October 2024 the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was introduced to Parliament by the M.P. for Spen Valley. This Private Members Bill will receive its Second Reading in the House of Commons on the 29th November 2024. . . .

I ask you to write to your local M.P. urging them to vote against the proposals contained in the named Bill.

Click here for the Pastoral Letter in Full

Click here for a list of MPs in our diocese

News & Events

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.

Find out more
Widening our Welcome

All are invited to join a reflection day on how to create a more welcoming community at St Edmund’s on Saturday 30 November from 10.00 - 16.00 in the crypt. Led by Rebecca Bretherton from the Diocesan Evanglisation Commission, the day will consider topics such as welcoming in the Bible and the call to hospitality, to practical elements such as safeguarding, accessibility and how to make our parish friendly for all. This day is open to everyone in the parish. Stewards/Welcomers in particular are encouraged to attend. Please bring a plate of food to share for lunch.

Saturday 30 November 10.00 - 16.00
Altar Servers

Fr Anthony and our head altar server Iain Kemble will be leading a session for existing and new altar servers on Saturday 7 December from 10.30 and ending with social time together and pizza in the crypt. We especially invite new altar servers (those who have made their First Holy Communion can come along).

Saturday 7 December 10.00 - 13.00
Retrouvaille

Retrouvaille is the name of a programme designed to help heal and renew marriages. It all began in 1977 as a French language weekend for couples in Canada who were experiencing difficulties in their marriage.
The word "Retrouvaille" simply means "rediscovery". The programme offers the chance to rediscover yourself, your partner, and a loving relationship in your marriage.
Retrouvaille now offers support and a lifeline for married couples facing difficulties in the UK and elsewhere around the world.

Learn more
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.

Find out more
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.

Prayers for Peace

St Edmund’s Day

Our celebration this year, moved as it was to the Sunday nearest St Edmund’s Feast Day, tied in with the readings at Mass concerning standing ready for the end of time. St Edmund’s end was a grisly one back in the 9th century, but one which called upon great courage and conviction of faith.

A packed congregation included 12 Civic representatives led by the Lord Lieutenant Clare, Countess of Euston. Alongside Lady Clare was our town mayor, Diane Hind, the Chairs of West Suffolk District and Suffolk County Councils and our newly elected MP, Dr Peter Prinsley and his wife, Dr Marian Prinsley and other civic and ecumenical representatives.

A number of our guests commented on the beauty of the liturgy, the warmth of our welcome, and in particular upon the striking range of diversity among us and the way we clearly worked hard to be inclusive of all.

Congratulations and thanks to all in the parish who contributed to making our St Edmund’s Day celebration such a joyful occasion.

Information & Resources

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
Sunday's Gospel

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In those days, after the time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will come falling from heaven and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven.
‘Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that he is near, at the very gates. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all these things will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
‘But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.’
Mark 13:24-32

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The New Lectionary

From the first Sunday of Advent, Catholic Churches throughout England, Wales and Scotland will be using a new translation of the Lectionary for our readings at Mass. The texts will now be read from the English Standard Version (Catholic Edition) of the Bible, changing from the Jerusalem translation we currently use.
This does mean that if you use a Sunday or Weekday Missal to follow the Mass, the readings will still tally but you will notice they are now a slightly different translation. This new translation adopts a more accurate translation into English of the Biblical texts.
You can order a new Sunday Missal direct from the Catholic Tuth Society by clicking below and register your interest in a Weekday Missal too. Weekday Missals are likely to be published sometime in 2025.

Catholic Truth Society