SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Wednesday after 10.00 Mass; Saturday 10.30—11.00 & by appointment

MASSES & SERVICES THIS WEEK

Saturday 27th January (first Mass of Sunday)

18.00 St Edmund’s Jeff Prescott †

Sunday 28th January 4th Sunday of the Year (p714)

08.30 St Edmund’s For the Parish

10.30 St Edmund’s Fr Bill Mason †

10.30 Our Lady’s, Lawshall Michael Dove †

15.00 - 16.00 Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament7 Benediction

18.00 St Edmund’s Canon Richard Norburn †

Monday 29th January Feria

07.30 St Edmund’s Rose & Bob Dougan’s Intention

Tuesday 30th January Feria

08.50 - 09.20 Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

09.30 St Edmund’s Bea Edgar’s Intention

09.30 Our Lady’s, Lawshall Frederick Norman †

Wednesday 31st January St John Bosco

10.00 St Edmund’s Alan Doswell †

10.30 - 12.00 Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

Thursday 1st February Feria

19.30 St Edmund’s Katie Gedge †

Friday 2nd February Presentation of the Lord

10.15 Our Lady’s, Lawshall Frances Penfold † Saturday 3rd February Our Lady on Saturday

10.00 St Edmund’s Fr Bill Mason †

18.00 St Edmund’s For the Parish

MASSES AT ‘MONTANA’ GREAT BARTON

Sunday 10.30; Monday - Saturday 08.15;

FORTHCOMING SPECIAL LANGUAGE MASSES

Saturday 17th February Polish Mass at 16.00 at St Edmund’s.

Sunday 18th February Malayalam Mass at 16.00 at St Edmund’s.

St Edmund’s Newsletter 21 Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1QG

Tel: 01284 754358/07511 852161 (In emergencies only: Tel 07659 101653 giving name and telephone

number)

email: st.edmunds@btinternet.com

Registered Charity No. 278742 www.stedmundkm.org.uk Twinned with St John’s Parish, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Sunday 28th January 2018 - 4th Sunday of the Year - Year B WORD OF THE LORD MARK 1:21-28 Mark 1:21-28 21 Jesus and his followers went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. 22 And his teach-ing made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority. 23 In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit, and it shouted, 24 'What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.' 25 But Jesus said sharply, 'Be quiet! Come out of him!' 26 And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. 27 The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. 'Here is a teaching that is new,' they said, 'and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.' 28 And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside

REFLECTION

After the call of the first disciples, the evangelist tells us of a healing worked by Jesus, the first miracle in this gospel. He reaches Capernaum, a busy town by the Sea of Galilee, which he made the centre for his ministry. His teaching impressed the people, for it was given with authority, with conviction. Jesus spoke the truth without fear. The people are even more astonished by the healing of the man who was 'possessed by an unclean spirit'. The initial part of the gospel is dominated by the words and the actions of Jesus. The healing actions show the power of God, while the teaching proclaims the coming of the kingdom. Jesus' powerful deeds confirm the message of the coming of the kingdom of God. The sick man was probably suffering from some kind of mental illness, and considered to be 'possessed'. All sickness was considered evil and in some way the work of Satan. The sick man was somehow a victim of evil. By healing him Jesus challenges and conquers the power of Satan. He demonstrates that the kingdom is near. The reading from the book of Deuteronomy includes the words of Moses that God would one day raise up a great prophet, a prophet like Moses. This reading prepares us for the gospel reading and the fulfilment of that promise. Jesus, who is greater than Moses, speaks powerful words, words of truth,

HELPING HANDS’ GROUP if you are, or know of anyone who is housebound, lonely or in need of practical help, shopping, changing a light bulb etc, or just a visit, or a lift to the doctors etc., contact Sue Fullman 488147 or Mike Sinnott 764236.

THE REPOSITORY is open after Wednesday 10.00 Mass, 10.30 & 18.00 Sunday Masses for cards, statues, gifts, Sunday Missals, gifts etc.

PRAYERS FOR OUR PARISH FOR OUR SICK: Sue & Tony Aldous, Imelda Brown, Ann Campbell, Gerald Curry, Pat Dowson, Bea Edgar, Helen Edrupt, Nicolette Finch, Malcolm & Janis Fincham Jacques, Sr Flora, Marion Fitzgibbons, Teresa Gleeson, Rita Grimer, David Higgins, Patti Hickson, Donald Hunt, Priscilla Lupton, Mae Malloy, Francis Nisbett, Dee Peters, Richard Reid, Bernard Reynolds, Claire Robinson, Mary de Roeper, David Smeeth-Cardy, Evelyn Stirling, Yohanan Suraj, Jason Stronza, Shelagh Szulc, Robin Taylor, Susan Toole, John Triggs, Tim Udall, Pauline Wells, Romayne Wright, Jim Whyte. May the Lord bring them comfort and healing.

FOR EVELYN RIORDAN & MONICA GITTINGS who died recently. May they rest in peace and the Lord bring comfort to their families and friends. Requiem Mass for Monica Gittings will be on Thursday 8th February at 11.00.

FOR THOSE WHOSE ANNIVERSARIES ARE AT THIS TIME. Bernard Buck, Eileen Palmer, Alan Percy, John Doherty, John Styles, Alan Doswell, Miriam Hubbard, Katie Gedge, Patrick Hopkins, Jan Franke, Franco Mazzoucchia, Derek Baker, Marga Wieck, William Dixon, Bridget Lawlor.

GOING INTO HOSPITAL? If you are, PLEASE let us know other-wise the Chaplain will not know you are there; the only way we can find you is if you tell us, so please let us know if you would like a visit. If you or one of your relatives needs a priest in emergency, i.e. imminent danger death, please ask a member of staff to ring the switchboard & bleep the Catholic Chaplain. We have the pager with us at all times.

THANK YOU for your generosity last week. You gave £1201.61 in the collection and £655 in standing orders and £236.05 from Lawshall. Collection for St Vincent de Paul came to £402.20. There will be a retiring collection for Catholic Association for Racial Justice.

words which heal. The good news Jesus brings can change our lives as it changed the life of the sick man in the gospel.

What does this gospel say to us today?

What does the gospel tell us about sickness?

Let pray for all those who care for the sick and work for their healing.

Let us pray for those who preach the gospel that they may do so with courage and love.

Reflections on the Sunday Gospels, written by Fr. Adrian Graffy

pace. After the first 100 metres and remaining the second, I found out that my energy was almost gone. Not just only that, I was also losing my breath. I was struggling now, but then with the cheers from my house members, “Go Alvan, Go Alvan”, I kept moving, but then I was now well back, while others have all passed me. At a point I felt like I actually wanted to pass out, but because I don’t want people to laugh at me, I kept running. At last I told myself that if I continue with this, I may end up fainting and then that will be the worst, so I went down on my own and lay on the field. I was there resting when I heard a voice, “Alvan, you can’t remain there, Arise and finish up at least”. Immediately, I heard that voice, which I believe is our house master’s, my strength returned a bit, and I jumped up and started running again and never stopped till I got to the end. But then I was able to pass few people at least. I didn’t emerge as the first, second or third person, but the most important thing was, I did finished the race. I didn’t give up even when I fell down. I arose and continued. My target was to finish the race and I did. It didn’t matter the position I got, what mattered was that I finished.

In life, we see ourselves falling in different ways and at different times. We may have fallen in our academic studies, in our business, in our job, in our love life, in our spiritual life, in our family life, etc. But listen to this, "that you have fallen does not make you a failure". You become a failure only when you have accepted that you are one. So even when you fall, you can still rise up and continue. With determination, you can always finish the race. Remember, the downfall of a man/woman is not the end of his/her life. Even if you have fallen, it doesn’t matter how many times, you can always stand again. Don’t mind, even if people are laughing and making caricature of you, your destiny belongs not to man but to God who lifts up the fallen. Here is what the prophet Micah has to say, “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light” (Micah 7:8). My beloved, have you fallen? Then you must not remain on the ground. You must stand up and continue. Remember God says He is going to bring you to your expected end. But then you must stand up and keep moving in order to reach the end. It doesn’t matter how long it may take, with determination, resoluteness and absolute trust in God for strength, you will certainly reach your destination at the appointed time. I pray that God will help us and grant us the strength to stand when we fall and the courage to continue without giving up. Remain blessed and have a lovely week ahead.

Fr Alvan (fralvanibe@yahoo.com)

To all parents and grandparents, the consultation period to put your views in concerning the new sex education act (The Children & So-cial Work Act 2017) ends on 12th February. SPUC have brought out some briefing notes to help any parent or grandparent to respond . Please pick up one copy per family from the back of Church. If none available contact John Neal on 810272.

WEEKLY FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR YOUTHS Theme: Arise! Don’t remain there.

With joy I welcome you dear friends to the fourth Sunday in the Ordinary Time of the Church’s year.

I recall an incident that took place in my secondary school days. That year we did what we call “inter-house sports”. Students are divided into groups or houses and then they compete among themselves. So each house will have a representative or representatives in different sport competitions. In the 200 metres race, there was no one to represent my house and at the last minute, I decided to take it up. Others have actually practiced and knew what was involved in this type of race. When the whistle is blown, you have to set off slowly because this race entails you have to run round the football field twice to finish. So if you don’t take it easy, you will get tired and may end up not finishing the race. But because I had not practiced and been ignorant of the tactics involved in the race, I zoomed off in high speed immediately I heard the whistle and was running ahead of others. I was wondering why they were not running as fast as I was, but then I kept on the same

Your recent gifts have enabled us to continue to ensure the salary and in-service training for Teacher Mapp. The training is showing fruit in the appearance of the classroom and in the active participation of the children.

THIS WEEK SUNDAY 28th JANUARY - RACIAL JUSTICE DAY

MARIST MISSION APPEAL. Br John McAllister sm will make this year’s Appeal, for Marist Missions in Oceania, South Asia, Africa, and South America, working in education including with street children, and for seminarians preparing for that work.

16.30 - 17.45 CONFIRMATION CLASSES continue in the Crypt.

20.00 - 23.00 ST EDMUND’S SOCIAL CLUB in the Crypt. Bar open.

WEDNESDAY 31st JANUARY

16.30 CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP meet in the Presbytery.

THURSDAY 1st FEBRUARY

19.30 'CHOCOLATE CHURCH DOES PIZZA CHURCH!' for years 7 & 8 in the Crypt, £3, come along make pizza and share faith and friendship. Limited places available. To book a place contact Anita Fildes anitaildes@gmail.com or 07530 658943 (Let us know if you are gluten, nut, soya or dairy free)

FRIDAY 2ND FEBRUARY

20.00 - 23.00 ST EDMUND’S SOCIAL CLUB in the Crypt. Bar open. Darts 20.00

SATURDAY 3rd FEBRUARY

19.30 POLISH EVENING in the Crypt. Admission by ticket.

SUNDAY 4th FEBRUARY

13.00 SHARED LUNCH for those who would otherwise be on their own, after coffee after 10.30 Mass. Please sign the list in the porch. Contact Priscilla on 728987 or Avery on 704104.

20.00 - 23.00 ST EDMUND’S SOCIAL CLUB in the Crypt. Bar open. Bingo 20.00

LENT COURSE beginning on Wednesday 21st February in the Crypt each

Wednesday throughout Lent until 16th May.

‘Opening St Luke’s Gospel’ with Paul Ryan. All welcome.

ST EDMUND’S LADIES CLUB next meet on Tuesday 6th February

at 19.30 for AGM. Subs due (£10), new members welcome. Followed

by a talk about the work of Suffolk Wildlife Trust given by Michael

Strand. All welcome. Contact Pat on 762252

GREETINGS FROM SIEM REAP

The gifts we brought on your behalf last year have allowed the payment of a decent salary and in-service training for Teacher Mapp who works at the village of Peak Snaeng alongside Teacher Thida. Their training has helped their work and is clearly visible in the classrooms which are colourful and inspiring. The children's work is displayed alongside bright and cheerful posters. The children themselves are engaged and they enjoyed showing us on a map just where they lived and where we had come from.

The Egg a Day Programme has developed into a Meal a Day and the children seem to thrive on it, mindful always of family at home as they take away the left overs to share. Your gifts this Christmas and through the year will allow this de-velopment to continue.

The students (both High School and University) for whom the St Joseph Student Centre in Siem Reap is home, are grateful too for the gift of a desk top computer which will allow not only Internet access for their studies but allow development of skills in word-processing and spreadsheets.

Tomorrow, Friday, we move on to Battambang. Please keep us in your prayers as you are very much in ours.

With every blessing, Fr Mark

Gathered around our Twinning Tree which was planted by Fr Totet and Fr Mark in 2015

The children receiving gifts sent from our children in Bury St Edmund's. Late Christmas gifts joyfully received

Your recent monetary gifts have helped provide a much-needed computer for use in St Joseph's Student Centre. The students have needed one for their studies for over a year.