The four catholic churches within the Forest of Dean area are all served by Fr. Barnabas Page, our Parish Priest.  Fr. Barnabas also serves the parish of Our Lady of Lourdes in Newent with St. Michael in Blaisdon. Our parishes lie within the Clifton Diocese, which is part of the Catholic Church in England & Wales.

Our Churches:

Our Lady of Victories

Our Lady of Victories, 70 Abbey Street, Cinderford, GL14 2NP. [ Map » ]

Pastoral Council Members: Teresa Hare (Secretary), Greg Moger

St. Margaret Mary's

St. Margaret Mary's, 4 High Nash, Coleford, Glos, GL16 8HN. [ Map » ]

Pastoral Council Members: Peter Chisholm, Sarah Perkins.

St. Joseph's

St. Joseph's, Tutshill, Lydney, Glos, GL15 5PA. [ Map » ]

Pastoral Council Members: Pip Deave (Chairperson), Dorota Dufort

Sacred Heart Chapel

Sacred Heart Chapel, Grahamstown Road, Sedbury, NP16 7AD. [ Map » ]

Pastoral Council Members: Helen Molyneux

Parish Office

A number of our parishioners are shielding and unable to attend Mass during this pandemic, so we will try and help and keep everyone in contact.
Our aim is trying to reach as many people as possible through this website, by phoning those who do not have computers, and by videoing the Mass for those that do have computers. You can be part of this effort by phoning those who are isolating. Saturday Vigil Masses alternate each Saturday at 6pm between St. Margaret Mary’s, Coleford, and St. Joseph's, Lydney. There are two Sunday Masses at Our Lady of Victories, Cinderford, and Our Lady of Lourdes,Newent. Mid-week Masses are normally on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. For those parishioners that are 'shielding' we have recorded on-line Mid-week Mass on Wednesday as well as Mass on Sunday. The Friday Talk will continue on-line.
You can watch these Services by clicking on the appropriate Vimeo link.
For those parishioners fortunate enough to be able to attend Mass, it is important that we do our bit to beat this pandemic and follow Government Guidelines and the instructions of the Stewards when attending any of the Masses or Services.
We pray for all who are sick or who have died and for our front line staff. If you give me the names, they will be included in the Mass. But as well as this, as a church we are listening to what God may be saying through this crisis.
God Bless and protect you.
Fr.Barnabas

Personal Assistant: Samantha Buchanan  forestrc@cliftondiocese.com

: 01594 833173

: 4 High Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire. GL16 8HN.

:

Forest of Dean RC Churches

Mass Times

 

Masses for the coming week

Bad Weather or COVID Alerts

If there is a likelihood of closing our churches due to bad weather or because of a COVID-19 incident, the information will be posted on this Church Website, on the Church FaceBook Page https://www.facebook.com/forestrcchurches and also by email to all those that have opted to receive the Newsletter by email. So please check the Church Website or FaceBook Page before travelling to church for Mass, Service or Private Prayer particularly if the weather is bad.  We don’t want you to arrive at a closed church!

Please note the different Mass times and Vimeo recordings to normal this week to include the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord.

Next week there will be NO Vimeo recordings of the Sunday Mass for Seventh Week of Easter and the following Wednesday Mid-Week Mass.  Normal service will be resumed from the Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday.

Mid-week Masses
Wednesday 12th May: NO Mass at Newent today, Mass tomorrow for Ascension

Wednesday 12th May: Vigil Mass for Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord - Holyday of Obligation - at Lydney 7pm - phone Dot&Brian 01594 560054

Thursday 13th May: Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord - Holyday of Obligation: Mass at Newent 12noon  - phone Mary 01531 822156; Mass at Cinderford 7.30pm - phone Fiona  01594 516175

Seventh Sunday of Easter
Saturday 15th May: Vigil Mass at Lydney 6pm - phone Dot&Brian 01594 560054
Sunday 16th May: Mass at Cinderford 9am - phone Fiona  01594 516175
Sunday 16th May: Mass at Newent 11am - phone Mary 01531 822156

Mid-week Masses
Tuesday 18th May: Mass at Coleford 10am - phone Fiona  01594 516175
NO Private Prayer after Mass.
Wednesday 19th May: Mass at Newent 11am - phone Mary 01531 822156

Thursday 20th May: Mass at Lydney 7pm - phone Dot&Brian 01594 560054

Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday
Saturday 22nd May: Vigil Mass at Coleford 6pm - phone Beverley 01594 861345
Sunday 23rd May: Mass at Cinderford 9am - phone Fiona  01594 516175
Sunday 23rd May: Mass at Newent 11am - phone Mary 01531 822156

 

 

Latest Recorded Masses & Services

Friday Talk 14th May can be found here
Mass for Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord can be found here

Gospel & Homily from Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord can be found here

Mass for the Sixth Sunday of Easter can be found here

Gospel & Homily for Sixth Sunday of Easter can be found here
Friday Talk 7th May can be found here

Masses & Services from Clifton Cathedral can be found here
For those of us who are unable to attend our own parish they can access all of our Parish services at Forest RC Church Vimeo

Phone contacts

To help those without internet, Mass by phone 01642 130120 (calls charged at local rate and free if included in your minutes)

Hospital; Gloucester and Cheltenham Chaplaincy Team will visit and Pray with patients on our behalf 0300 422 6200/4286.

Newsletter content - Please note: Beverley is away for next week’s Newsletter, 
please send any items to Sam in the office: Sam at Coleford or Sam at Newent

ROAD CLOSURE B4221 ROSS ROAD, NEWENT 
17th May - 4th June  - 24hr closure
To access Our Lady of Lourdes from the Kilcot direction you will need to use a marked diversion.  Our Lady of Lourdes can be accessed coming from Newent

News

 

We are a family of God, a community of disciples, striving to continually deepen our relationship with Christ and with each other. We recognise and value each member of our community, encouraging everyone to share in our life and worship. Together we celebrate the joy of the Gospel and witness in faith our hope of eternal life with our heavenly Father.

Church News

Printer Friendly Version of Church News

Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year B)
16th May 2021

On-line Vimeo Masses & Services:

Thursday Mass (Solemnity of the Ascension of Our Lord) available from 9am

Friday Talk available from 9am

Growth
We’ve had the rain, all we need now is a little warmth.  Already nature is starting to take off.  I saw my first confirmed swallow last Thursday.  Is it my imagination or are things much slower this year, firstly because of the lack of rain and now because of the cold?  In the Church we are in a time of growth.  People have had their jabs and are starting to come back to church.  This is the Easter season.  Ascension is this Thursday and Pentecost is nine days later.  Many people will start their Novena for Pentecost this Thursday.  
At the Chrism Mass in the Cathedral during Holy Week, Bishop Declan asked us a question: ‘As we welcome people back to mass again what kind of Church are we?  Are we a Church that celebrates good liturgy, is inclusive to the poor around us and is mindful of our responsibility to care for our planet?'  Once a year at the Chrism Mass, the Bishop blesses the Oils that will be used in the Sacraments during the coming year.  Hence the Chrism Mass, the Oil of Chrism, Baptism and Anointing the Sick.  The Oils are a sign of healing and that is what mankind needs at present.  I have been doing some minor repair jobs around the house during lockdown and, although I’m not good at DIY, some have worked, some I’ve had to hand over to others.  Do you know what you need healing for at present; do you know what you can attend to yourself and what you need help with?  
Bless us all and help us to bring healing to one another. 
Barnabas

Parish Magazine
Our Parishes are looking for creative parishioners to produce a parish magazine.  This could include articles on a variety of topics and even a children’s page.  If you enjoy writing or have any skills to enhance this initiative please contact Chris Roy on 01989 720190 or email Chris 

Summer Fete - Our Summer Fete will be held at St Joseph’s, Lydney on Saturday 11th of September from 11am to 2pm. Please put the date in your diary or calendar. 
There will be raffle tickets to buy and sell beforehand. Nearer the time we will be taking in donations of good quality bric-a-brac (no clothes), books, DVDs, toys, fresh produce, plants. This will also be a great opportunity for us to socialise again after a challenging year; the refreshments are always first class!

The Lord's Larder Food Bank - thank you to everyone who has been able to donate to The Lord's Larder Food Bank through the collection baskets in Our Lady of Lourdes in Newent.  Our first contribution of £116.70 has been given to the Food Bank.

Right to Life - why the UK should not legalise assisted suicide - Help stop the assisted suicide lobby. For more information go to: Right to Life

Novena to the Holy Spirit - the link to this Novena can be found here: Novena to the Holy Spirit

There are lots of resources for anyone who needs to contact someone in a safeguarding capacity on our diocesan website – Clifton Diocese Safeguarding

Child Line – a helpline for children 0800 111 www.childline.org.uk
Our safe guarding representatives are also available to help you with your needs at this time please contact Jenny Heseltine Tel: 01989 750665 or email Jenny for Newent and Fiona Mills 0758 717 2279 or 01594 516175 for the Forest.

Children’s Liturgy – Here is a link to the Sunday Gospel and reflection for children Children's Liturgy Playlist, although aimed at children, it can be enjoyed by all the family. Each new Sunday Gospel is posted on Saturday afternoons. This Sunday is the Seventh Sunday of Easter - Year B.  This week we are looking at number 25 in the series.

Twin my Vaccine - is an initiative which has been set up to raise money to help UNICEF in association with COVAX (A global health partnership of public and private sector organisations dedicated to immunisation for all)
To help all people in all countries at risk from Covid-19.  It is suggested that if you are one of the lucky ones who have already received a Covid-19 vaccination you might like to donate the cost for your vaccine to save another life.  For example the cost of two doses of vaccine, depending on which kind you had, could be between £4 - £30, plus the time and expertise needed to administer it.  The initiative being that if you could have afforded to buy the vaccine for yourself, or part of it, please donate this amount to UNICEF.
Please leave your donation in the UNICEF collection baskets which can be found in all churches.
Thank you!

Parishes Picnic at Beechenhurst - A date you may want to put in your diary. Our picnic will be on Saturday 3rd July at 12noon. With an alternative date of Saturday 10th July if it has to be postponed due to the weather! This is a community event and therefore we would like everyone where possible to bring a plate/bowl of food to share - provided Government guidelines allow this. There will be a fun boules competition for adults and children.  More details will follow nearer the time.

Clifton Diocese ‘Dare to Dream’ Eastertide Reflections 
The reflections are available on the Clifton website. This week we will be looking at the Seventh Sunday of Easter. You can use these reflections entirely on your own or we are offering the opportunity to share our reflections with each other by joining either a weekly Zoom meeting or an emailing discussion group.  
To join one of the groups please contact;
for Monday's 2pm Zoom group -  Fiona on 01594 516175 
or email Fiona (Next session Monday 17th May)
for Saturday's 10.30am Zoom group - Mary on 01531 822156 
or email Mary  (Next session Saturday 22nd May)
for the emailing group email Chris. 
Everybody is welcome, you can join at any time during Easter or as and when you can but please register your interest to receive the joining link.

The Month of May is dedicated to Our Blessed Lady - Thanks to everyone who has committed to saying at least a decade of the rosary a day for our priest Father Barnabas, our parishes and communities.  We continue to grow in numbers, and welcome anyone who wishes to join this commitment.  Beginners welcome, help and instructions available.  Please email Suzannah  or text/ring 07984 357751 
As May is Mary’s month, an online zoom Rosary meeting is being set up for Fridays in May at 5pm to anyone who wishes to pray the Rosary together.  Please email Fiona for the link to join.  We look forward to seeing you.

Pray as you go Rosary reflections 
These traditional prayers with traditional music can be listened to on this link: 
Pathways to God The meditations are based on passages from Scripture with two questions of reflection for each one.


Laudato Si’ (care for our common home) 
Special global event on May 16-24 for the anniversary year of Laudato Si'
“for we know that things can change” (LS 13)
From 16th May, Catholics will connect with each other and feel inspired about the steps taken on our ecological conversion journey, learning from global visionaries and community leaders who are bringing Laudato Si’ to life.  
For more information please go to Laudato Si'

Church Hall

Our Church Hall is located next to St. Margaret Mary Church in Coleford is currently not available for hire because of the Covid-19 situation.

Address: St. Margaret Mary's, 4 High Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire. GL16 8HN. Get Directions »

When the Covid-19 situation allows, our Church Hall is used for various groups. Below are some of the regular activities. To find out more about any of these activities, please contact our Office.

  • Hard of Hearing - Fourth Monday of the month - 10 - 12.
  • FoodBank - Every Monday 2 - 4pm & Every Thursday 9am - 11am.
  • Pilates - Tuesdays 1 - 2pm. Please contact the office for dates.
  • Tai Chi - Tuesday 2 - 3pm. Please contact the office for dates.
  • Busy Bees Parent & Toddler Group - Tuesdays during term time 9.30 - 11am. Snacks provided. Activities for the Children.
  • West Dean Wind Band - 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 7.00 - 9.00pm. www.westdeanwindband.uk
  • Faith Group - 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month from 7.30 - 8.30pm with tea & coffee from 7pm.
  • Young @ Heart Group - Thursdays 2 - 4pm.
  • Yoga - Thursday 7 - 8.30pm.
  • Gloucestershire Wildlife Group - Once a month on a Friday from 7-10pm. Contact the Parish Office for dates.
  • Lunch Club - Held every last Friday of the Month. 3 Course meal followed by tea/coffee.
  • Coffee Morning - Third Saturday of the month 10 - 12 noon. No Coffee Morning in Dec, Jan or Feb.

To download the hall booking form click here

To view regular bookings please click here

Links

Below are several links that we think might be of interest to you. Clicking on the logos will open the link in a new browser tab.

The Catholic Diocese covering the Counties of Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire, North Somerset and Bath, the City and County of Bristol and North East Somerset.

The Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination in the world. It has more than one billion members worldwide and around five million of these live in England. There are 22 dioceses in England and Wales seeking ways to help all the people of God grow closer to Christ.

The school's mission is to provide a rigorous and broad education within the context of a Christian environment. An understanding of the Roman Catholic faith, in line with the Gospel message, underpins the whole work of the school.

CAFOD is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. In more than 40 countries across the world, we bring hope, compassion and solidarity to poor communities, standing side by side with them to end poverty and injustice.

Celebrating Family: Blessed, Broken, Living Love, is the overarching theme of a range of pastoral initiatives developed by the Bishops following the Listening 2004 conversations.

The UK's premier campaigning and charitable organisation affirming and defending human dignity, and the right to life of every member of the human family, from conception to natural death.

SPUC represents a voice for the unborn. SPUC promotes awareness of the humanity of the unborn child to encourage more widespread recognition of the obligation to defend those with no means to defend themselves.

Marriage Care helps couples and individuals to build and sustain strong, fulfilling healthy relationships, as well as providing counselling support in times of relationship difficulty. Our vision is a society in which all adults can build and sustain strong, fulfilling, healthy relationships.

We exist to save lives and transform the futures of some of the most disadvantaged children and young people in the UK by supporting vulnerable pregnant mothers and young families through difficult times, offering them the help they need to turn their lives around.

We are a Christian organisation that seeks to put the hope of Christ at the heart of our nation. We aim to empower Christians to speak out with a strong voice in the media, in law and in government.

Gloucester Cathedral sits in the heart of the city of Gloucester, acting as the centre for the areas' Anglicans and the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Gloucester.

Mid-Wyedean Churches: the Church of England serving Coleford, Broadwell, Staunton, Clearwell, Newland, and Redbrook and surrounding areas.

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CLIFTON DIOCESE (a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales under number 10462076. A registered charity number 1170168. Registered Office: St Ambrose North Road Leigh Woods Bristol BS8 3PW)