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Liturgy
Ministries in the Liturgy
We welcome parishioners to be involved in the celebration of the Liturgy in many ways as the Church permits and encourages.
Ministry of Reader
Parishioners who are able and would like to become Ministers of the Word and read at Mass are welcome. We have readers of all ages and encourage people into this Ministry. The parish has a rota and people would usually read about every six weeks. A rota is given well in advance.
Readers are invited to be re-commissioned in their Ministry each year in October at the Sunday Mass at which they Minister. We also try to offer some training and some time of reflection on your Ministry.
Link: Liturgy Office website 'The gift of Scripture'
Ministry of the Eucharist
Special Ministers of Holy Communion are usually called forward by our community and invited to serve in this Ministry. Before they begin they undertake some training and the Bishop required them to attend a teaching session with him, after which he commissions them to serve their parish. They would usually serve at one particular Mass and a rota is given well in advance.
Some of the Ministers have time available to take Holy Communion to the sick in our parish. This is a very valuable Ministry for them and the people they visit. Ministers visiting the sick will generally be required to complete procedures for working with Vulnerable Adults including a CRB declaration. This done through the Parish Child Protection Officer.
Ministers of Holy Communion are re-commissioned in the parish each year in October at the Sunday Mass at which they Minister. We also offer a retreat day and further training if required.
Link: Liturgy Office - GIRM
Guild of St Stephen
Altar servers play a most important part in the Church's Liturgy. Good servers enable bishops, priests and laity to celebrate the Mass and other sacraments with a spirit of prayer. This means that altar servers, too, should be prayerful people and be aware of the wonderful gifts God gives us in the liturgy. For well over 150 years the Archconfraternity of St Stephen has worked for the highest standards in serving the liturgy and leads to a deeper understanding of what we are really doing when we come together to worship God.
Our parish is blessed with many young and not-so-young altar servers who serve on our altar week days as well as weekends. Boys and girls, having made their first holy communion, are welcome at any time to train as servers on our altar.
Any not-so-young ex-servers who would like to return to serving on our altar will be most welcome and a refresher course will be provided.
Link: www.guildofststephen.org
Ministry of Music
St Edmund's Choir
The choir has been singing at the Sunday morning Mass for over 25 years and they do an excellent job. The members regularly lead the music for the 10.00 Mass on the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month, and also for special Masses during the year.
Music Group>>
The Music Group leads the music at the 10.00 Mass on the second and fourth Sundays of the month. They rehearse on the preceding Friday evening from 18.00-19.00. This group comprises singers and musicians with a variety of instruments, of all ages and abilities. New members are always welcome. No experience necessary!
For further information about the Choir or Music Group view the website or contact the parish office.
Links: Society of St Gregory and NNPM
Children's Liturgy
Our Parish offers Children's Liturgy on Sundays during the 10.00 Mass. This is led by a team of volunteers whose mission is:- to develop the faith of children in our Parish
- to bring them into an ever deeper relationship with God
- to lead our children, gradually and ultimately, into full participation with the adults in our church.
The group offers Children's Liturgy to children of different ages on Sundays: toddlers (0-4 years) and children at school (5+ years)
At the end of their Liturgy the children return to their families in the church at the Preparation of the Gifts. All children of the parish are welcome to attend their relevant meeting.Volunteers are always welcome to join the Team. Before starting with the children you will be asked to complete the Diocesan Child Protection procedures and then undertake a probationary period of work.
Please contact the parish office for more information.
Links: ' Liturgy of the Word to children' leaflet (PDF)
Index
Choir visit to Ypres, Belgium,
Saturday and Sunday October 2001
The Choir visited this famous WW1 town to sing at the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate. This is a act of remembrance performed daily since 1928 as a tribute to the 54,896 soldiers who fought and died in and around Ypres, and have no known grave. The following day they sang at the 11.30 Mass in St Martins Basillica. Interspersed with all this was sampling the local cuisine and interesting wines and beers.
Contact us
St Edmunds Catholic Parish
Parish Office
21 Westgate Street
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 1QG
tel: 01284 754358
fax: 01284 700198
email: st.edmunds@btinternet.com