Our Lady Immaculate & St Joseph

Introduction

In 1870, the church was remodelled and extended as a Roman Catholic mission church and presbytery by Sir Edward Rokewode Gage.

History

The work was undertaken by Mr Pate of Lawshall. The church has a date stone inscribed '1870' at the apex of the gable. Since 2002, the church has been served from St Edmund King and Martyr in Bury St Edmunds, with no resident priest. The church was formed by incorporating the northern bay of the cottage, which had held a kitchen and bedroom, after the floor and north gable wall were removed.

Architecture and furnishings

The church is single-storey with a gabled porch with curved bargeboards projecting from the second bay. The interior is a single, aisleless volume with plastered walls scored to imitate ashlar. There is a small brass memorial tablet to Sir Edward Rokewode Gage, died 1872. The nave seating consists of plain benches which possibly came from the school that formerly stood to the north.

The pew frontals, incorporating hexagonal patterns, appear to be the former communion rails. There are two war memorials; one commemorating local people who fought, and another at the west end which remembers those who died.

Music and liturgy

Children are invited to have their own age-appropriate Liturgy of the Word and then rejoin the Mass. Readers are commissioned each year. Stewards help ensure that parishioners and visitors at Mass can find seats, have access to hymnbooks and orders of service, alerting the clergy to those who might need holy communion to be brought to them. The parish runs a bereavement support programme described as 'a journey from heartbreak to hope.'

The Bethany Bereavement Support Service offers support for anyone (all faiths and none) who is over the age of 18 years old and living in the Bury St Edmunds area. The team offers individual and group sessions to support someone through the stages of grief and bereavement and will suggest other services as needed. During each year the parish has a variety of opportunities for bible study, from courses which stretch over a number of weeks to days of recollection to one off study days and online resources. Bible study is part of the Adult Faith Formation initiative which aims to give parishioners and those interesting in learning about the Catholic faith a wide range of opportunities to explore, discuss, and learn together.

The Cambodia Group coordinates the parish's support for the twinned parish of St John in Siem Reap in Cambodia. Begun in 2005, the twinning of the two parishes has brought blessings to both communities, with cultural exchanges helping to form friendships. In addition to serving at Masses over the weekends and for special occasions, the Guild socialises together and has outings and events to build up friendship. The Helping Hands group offer a helping hand to anyone in need, ranging from helping with transport to the doctor's surgery or the optician, or for hospital appointments where hospital transport is unavailable. The Ladies Club is a long-standing group within the parish which aims to foster friendship and build community.

Parish life

Bury Teens is the parish youth group open to all teenagers in Years 9, 10 and 11. The parish has a team of catechists covering the full age range of faith formation, from children's liturgy to adult faith formation. The Catenian Association is a network of practising Catholic laymen who meet together as friends to enhance family life, strengthen faith and sustain each other. Altar Servers join the Guild of St Stephen, a national association of servers.

A number of parishioners completed a dementia awareness course as a first step in ensuring the parish is dementia friendly. The parish has a number of prayer groups which reflect the different spiritual traditions of the Church. We usually celebrate a Mass with the Anointing of the Sick in the Easter season and in the week before Christmas.

Sacraments and pastoral care

A minimum of six months notice is required for all weddings. For children aged 7 or over or for adults, the parish office is contacted to discuss the best pathway to baptism. Confirmation is administered to baptised Catholics who are in Year 9 or above.