Church News Update - Fifth Sunday of Lent - 17th March
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Important - Until a new Parish Priest is appointed to our parishes, we will be served by priests from the St. Wulstan Deanery in Gloucester. We keep Fr Frank in our prayers. In the event of the urgent need for a priest, please contact St Peter’s in Gloucester on 01452 523603. Please see details below regarding Services of Reconciliation and times for Masses for Lent and Easter.
Resignation of the Bishop of Clifton and appointment of a New Bishop - today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis, has accepted the resignation of the Right Reverend Declan Lang as Bishopof Clifton. Bishop Declan was ordained the ninth Bishop of Clifton on 28th March 2001 and has served the Diocese for 23 years as its bishop. Please remember Bishop Declan Lang in your prayers with thanks for his dedicated service to our Diocese. The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Canon Bosco MacDonald, a priest of the Diocese of Clifton, until now Dean of the Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul, Bristol, as the tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Clifton. The Episcopal Ordination of Bishop-Elect MacDonald will take place in the Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Clifton, Bristol. The date will be announced in due course. Please remember Canon Bosco MacDonald in your prayers as he prepares for this new ministry.
Reconciliation service at Our Lady of Victories in Cinderford on Wednesday 20th March at 7pm. Monsignor Liam Slattery and Fr Gerry Walsh will be available to hear confessions.
Chrism Mass - Clifton Cathedral Wednesday 27th March at 11am - Bishop Declan will be the main Celebrant and will bless the three oils — the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick and holy chrism. Everyone is welcome to attend.
“Teach Us To Pray” - A guide for the Year of Prayer is now available using this link: Living the Year of Prayer in Preparation for Jubilee 2025. In this Year of Prayer 2024, we are called to prepare for the Jubilee of 2025. The booklet, inspired by the teachings of Pope Francis, is written as an invitation for us to intensify prayer as a personal dialogue with God. It offers reflections, ideas, and advice to help people to live their dialogue with the Lord more fully in their relationships with others.
Clifton Diocese in partnership with ‘Light of Truth’ are offering a Lenten retreat: ‘Transformed by Love’ in online sessions, contemplating God’s grace at work in the lives of six persons, through scripture and artworks. The sessions begin at 7.30 pm on a Tuesday evening: 5 March, 12 March, 19 March, 26 March. For more information please use this link: Lenten Retreat To sign up for the series, click on this Zoom link: Meeting Registration
Lourdes Pilgrimage 2024 - 23rd August to 30th August - the Clifton Diocese Pilgrimage to Lourdes is taking place this year in late August with pilgrims coming from all over the Diocese to embark on this journey. Details can be found on the Diocese website: Diocese at Lourdes or by emailing: Clifton Lourdes or phone 0117 902 5590, for an information pack. Please be aware the deadline for deposits is 31st March 2024, with payment in full by 31st May 2024. A flyer can be viewed here: Lourdes 2024
‘Invited’ - Formation Course - there is a new formation course in Stroud on a Wednesday evening called 'Invited'. These formation sessions are for anyone who is interested in learning more about their faith and passing it onto others. The course will take place April to July this year at The Immaculate Conception parish hall in Stroud. For more information please visit: 'Invited'.
The Latest copy of the Clifton Evangelist can be found at this link: Clifton Evangelist
Going into Hospital - if you are going in to hospital, it is important to say that you are a Catholic when a member of staff fills out the initial forms with you. There is a system for Holy Communion via the chaplaincy. Emergency anointings are done via the chaplaincy who know which Catholic Priest to call. If you know that you are going into hospital it is a good idea to ask your local priest for anointing before being admitted.
Lectio Divina Group - the parishes of Newent and the Forest of Dean Lectio Divina Group would like to welcome new members. We meet on Zoom every Friday at 11am. For further information please email Fiona or telephone 01594 516175.
Rosary Group - we have an online Rosary via zoom every Friday at 4.30 pm for approximately 20 minutes. All are welcome to join. If this is your first time you will be very welcome and guidance will be provided. We join Our Holy Mother in prayer for the Parishes of Newent and the Forest of Dean as well as individual prayer intentions. If you would like to join please email Fiona for the zoom link. If you are unable to join and have an intention you would like us to pray for please email Fiona in confidence.
Advance Notice - Dates for your diary
- Chrism Mass - Clifton Cathedral 27th March at 11am
- Marriage Celebration - Clifton Cathedral 25th May at 12 noon
- Diocesan Day - St Bernadette's Catholic School, Bristol, 6th July
- Advent Retreat Day - Brownshill Monastery Saturday 14th December
Feast Days this Week:
- 18th March - Commemoration of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
- 19th March - Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- 23rd March - Commemoration of St. Turibus of Mongrovejo.
Items for the Newsletter - please email anything for the newsletter to Samantha Buchanan at the office in Coleford by Thursday mornings. Sam will then forward items to Bev.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS - for five weeks during Lent
- CINDERFORD - Our Lady of Victories Tuesdays 7pm
- COLEFORD - St Margaret Mary Fridays 3.00pm
- LYDNEY - St Joseph Thursdays after 10am morning prayer. For those who wish/or are able to stay
- NEWENT - Our Lady of Lourdes Wednesdays 11.15am and Sundays 10.15am - 10.45 am. Please come early to Mass to join in.
GOOD FRIDAY WALK OF WITNESS - everyone is invited to come and join in the ‘Good Friday Walk of Witness’ on Friday 29th March, where all Christians join together to witness their faith.
- CINDERFORD - 12 noon service at the Triangle in Cinderford.
- COLEFORD - 10.00 am meeting at St Margaret Mary, High Nash, walking to the Clock Tower for a short open-air service. Followed by Hot Cross Buns in the Old White Hart Inn.
- NEWENT -10.30am starting with refreshments at St Mary’s Church, Church Street, walking to Our Lady of Lourdes, Ross Road. The walk commences at 11.00am stopping at several ‘stations’ on route. The walk includes churches from Newent and Gorsley.
God Bless us, one and all.
FOREST OF DEAN PARISH NEWS
CAFOD Collections - our CAFOD collections have raised a total of £396.50 in the Forest. Thank you to everyone whowas able to donate to this cause. To find out more about the work of CAFOD please use this link: CAFOD
Lent Reflections - continue this Saturday 16th March at 12 noon. We will continue to meet in the Church Hall in Coleford at 12 noon for the next three Saturdays: 9th, 16th and 23rd March. There will be a lunch of hot soup and a bread roll followed by a time of reflection and prayer. The focus for this Lent is ‘The Lord’s Prayer’, free booklets will be available. Each session is a stand alone session, therefore you can choose to attend one or more. Everyone is very welcome. All sessions are now available on line using this link: We Dare to Say. There are also spare booklets available, please speak with Deacon Paul Dekkers to obtain a copy.
Save the date - Advent Retreat Day at Brownshill 2024 - due to the success of last year's retreat at Brownshill another Advent retreat day has been booked for this year on Saturday 14th December 2024. There will be three pick up points starting at 9.00am in Cinderford, then Coleford followed by Lydney. Please register your interest by putting your name and contact details on the list on your church notice board or email Beverley at beverleychisholm@yahoo.co.uk. The Parish has agreed to cover the cost of the coach. For the use of the Monastery and grounds, a cooked meal, and a talk by a Sister a voluntary donation of £30 per person is kindly asked for. Thank you. An inability to pay does not preclude anyone from attending.
St. Vincent de Paul - Forest of Dean Conference - the next meeting will now be on Monday 18th March at 6.30pm in the Church Hall, Coleford. This conference continues to look at ideas that will benefit our community. We are always open to suggestions which everyone is welcome to bring to this meeting or email our Secretary Helen with your ideas and suggestions. We continue to visit and support anyone in need bringing God’s love to all people.
St Joseph’s requires an additional representative to join the Churches Together in Lydney group. This is an opportunity to pray and work together with members of the other Christian churches in and around Lydney. Current annual activities of the CTiL include Christmas Carol Service at Bathurst Park, Praise in the Park in summer, Easter witness or Passion play, World Day of Prayer service. How much you become involved is up to you. If you would like to know more please speak to Fiona or leave a message with Sam 01594 833173.
Minutes of PPC Meeting 6th March 2024: January Minutes
NEWENT PARISH NEWS
Christian Unity - Praying Together - every quarter, the churches of Newent and Gorsley meet together to pray for Christian Unity and for our area. The next prayer time will be at Our Lady of Lourdes on 17th April at 7.30pm. Please come and pray with and meet other Christians – it’s a great opportunity for us.
Please remember in your prayers the house bound and sick of the parish: Gail and Steve Ebsworth, Mags Oke, Val Young, Mo Blinman, Catherine Williams, Paddy Arnold and Aroon Spencer.
Forthcoming Events at Our Lady of Lourdes, Newent
- There will be Mass every Wednesday at 12 noon during Lent - Preceded by Stations of the Cross at 11.30am. Our traditional Lent Lunch will be an outreach event this year. We will meet for soup at The Ark Cafe at 1pm after Mass. Kylie and Angharad have made us very welcome, it is great that we become a visible Catholic presence in our community. Cost: £4:85. If you have a friend who is housebound, why not collect them and bring them along?
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Stations of the cross will be lead every Sunday during Lent, starting at 10.15am and finishing around 10.45am, please come early to Mass and join in.
- Wednesdays evenings in Lent at St. Mary's, Newent - 7.30pm Lent Course: “The Jesus Lifestyle” – based on the book by Nicky Gumbel.
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Holy Week - during Holy Week there will NOT be a Mass on Wednesday but there will be exposition and Stations of the Cross at 11.30am. There is a table at the back of the church where there are books, talks (on CD) films (on DVD) and music. Please help yourself, donations welcome.
“Living Waters” Pentecost Retreat: Saturday May 11th 10:30 - 3:30pm - come and be refreshed and renewed at Brownshill Monastery, Stroud. 10:30am - 3pm. Cost: £25 Lunch Included. Brownshill Monastery. Reserve a place with £5 deposit to Sue Felton.
BBC Songs of Praise is to be aired from St Beuno in Wales on Sunday 7th April.
The Big Questions - these are being asked and answered at Gorsley! Once a month Baptists have been asking "What's the Point of Life?" and " Is the Bible still relevant?" Their third question "Shouldn't the World be a better place?" will be discussed on Sunday 24th March at 6.30. Palm Sunday. It's hard to get me out of a warm house into the dark and chilly night, but the Gorsley Baptists have achieved this and I've been really moved by their enthusiasm and by the eager participation of a large group of young people. I'm also impressed by their breadth of knowledge of our shared Faith and by their friendliness. If these are not incentives enough, the cakes are unbelievably luscious! One warning: come early to be sure of a table - it's proved VERY popular. Chris Roy.
Spring Clean! - volunteers urgently needed to assist the Cleaning Team on Saturday 23rd March at 10:30am to do a deep clean, readying the church for Easter. Sign up, bring your mop and hoover, and let’s see if we can get the job done in two hours! Mary Francis.
Living Word Bible Study: Thursday March 21st at 10:30am Our Lady of Lourdes.
Next Reluctant Disciples Prayer Meeting: 8th April 11am Our Lady of Lourdes.
OTHER NEWS
Readings for Mass - Readings for Mass can be found using the link below, there is also an app available on this link to use on your phone, laptop or other device.
Mass Readings on-line
Children's Liturgy - here is a link Children's Liturgy to the Sunday Gospels and reflection aimed at children - although it can be enjoyed by all the family. Each new Sunday Gospel is posted on Saturday afternoons. This Sunday is the Fifth Sunday of Lent.
Resource for Children - here is a link for a resource for children who would like to have some fun while learning about the readings from the Sunday Mass: The Kid's Bulletin
Readings at Mass - to access Readings at Mass in different languages: