St Joseph and the English Martyrs, Bishop's Stortford

Sacraments and pastoral care

The choir hoped to sing with the congregation again by Easter. In the parish, all baptisms of adults take place at the Easter Vigil, barring emergencies or exceptional circumstances. The parish encourages reverts to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation, available by appointment with a priest. RCIA meetings are led by a priest and a group of experienced catechists.

The parish's catechetical coordinator is the first point of contact for those interested in the RCIA. Children aged 7 to 14 seeking baptism are prepared following the Rite of the Christian Initiation of Children, part of the RCIA. Baptisms in the parish usually take place on a Sunday, on a date agreed by either of two priests. There are no baptisms during Advent or Lent.

The parish provides a baptism candle, lit from the Paschal candle, and parents may bring their own. The parish is not running a marriage preparation course, but various courses are available around the Diocese. To marry at St Joseph's, Holy Cross or Most Holy Redeemer, couples must have a current family link with the respective church; permission is not considered for those who do not live in the parish.

The parish assists families in planning funerals, both after a death and in advance. The parish provides resources prepared with a cardinal for preparing a Catholic funeral. The parish offers a leaflet to help people arrange the funeral of a family member or friend, indicating the purpose and nature of a Catholic funeral.

Visiting

The church is fully accessible for people with disabilities, with no problem for wheelchairs and accessible toilet facilities. At the back of the church are the Old Monastery Gardens, which belong to Bishop's Stortford Town Council and can be booked for photographs. For the church, there is the option of having the bells from St Michael's rung, arranged directly with St Michael's Church. The Sunday morning Mass at the church is geared towards children and families, with the homily often directed at children.