St Edmund King and Martyr

Introduction

St Edmund King and Martyr in Bury St Edmunds belongs to the Diocese of East Anglia, and the Catholic Faith has always been practised in the area despite the Reformation and the destruction of St Edmund's Abbey.

History

St Edmund's Church, Coldham Hall, Coldham Cottage, the Church of Our Lady Immaculate and St Joseph at Lawshall, and Hengrave Hall have histories from penal times to the late 18th and early nineteenth centuries when Catholics gained freedom. The History Group produced St Edmund’s Parish Chronicle, a comprehensive account of the church's history.

Parish life

The Music Group leads singing at Mass on the second and fourth Sundays of each month at St Edmund's. The parish is twinned with St John's Parish in Siem Reap, Cambodia. St Edmund's has supported St John's projects including the Rice Bank, Cow Bank, and a rice soup programme. The parish runs a bereavement support programme described as 'a journey from heartbreak to hope'.

The Bethany Bereavement Support Service offers support for anyone over 18 living in the Bury St Edmunds area. Bury Teens is the parish youth group for teenagers in Years 9, 10 and 11. The parish supports CAFOD with collections at Mass in Lent and October, and is working towards the Live Simply Award. The parish has a team of catechists covering faith formation from children's liturgy to adult programmes.

The Guild of St Martha cleans the church and looks after the brassware. Altar servers join the Guild of St Stephen, a national association. The Helping Hands group offers practical help such as transport, gardening, and visits to the lonely and elderly. The Ladies Club is a long-standing group fostering friendship and community.

The Men of St Edmund's meet monthly for prayer, discussion and fellowship. The parish has a number of prayer groups exploring different traditions of prayer. Stewards provide a ministry of welcome at Mass.

Parishioners completed a dementia awareness course as a step towards being a dementia friendly parish. The Catenian Association meets monthly to pray together, support each other and enjoy a meal.

Sacraments and pastoral care

For children aged 7 or over or for adults, the parish office is contacted to discuss the best pathway to baptism. A minimum of six months notice is required for all weddings.

The parish promotes Retrouvaille, a programme designed to help heal and renew marriages. Priests are available to hear Confessions at St Edmund's on most Wednesdays and Saturdays after morning Mass. Parishioners are asked to inform the parish if they or a relative enter hospital, a care home, or St Nicholas' Hospice so a clergy visit can be arranged.

Visiting

A green box in the church porch collects used drink can ring pulls for the Purple Community Fund. Visitors can find an Order of Mass card or similar on the way into the church to help follow the Mass.