The catholic churches within the Forest of Dean and Newent Parishes are all served temporarily by priests from the St. Wulstan Deanery of Gloucester. Our parishes lie within the Clifton Diocese, which is part of the Catholic Church in England & Wales.

Parish Priest: At this time we do not have a Parish Priest in the Forest of Dean and Newent.  Our parishes are served from the St. Wulstan Deanery in Gloucester.

Parish Deacon: Paul Dekkers

Lay Pastoral Assistant to the Forest of Dean Parish: Fiona Mills

Personal Assistant: Samantha Buchanan
Coleford: forestrcchurches@cliftondiocese.com
Newent: newent.ourladyoflourdes@cliftondiocese.com

Parish Office Details

Telephone: 01594 833173

Address: St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 4 High Nash, Coleford, Gloucestershire. GL16 8HN.

Parish Office open: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings between 9am and 11am. All Mail and Parcels to be sent to the Coleford Office.

Emails to the Parish are checked from Monday morning until Friday morning.

Funerals please contact Deacon Paul in the first instance.

Baptisms are celebrated by approaching Deacon Paul and then meeting with him.

Marriages require at least six months notice. Initially please speak to Deacon Paul.

Sacrament of the Sick - please let Sam in the church office know if someone needs a visit for Sacrament of the Sick.

Mass Intentions can be requested by seeing the celebrating priest or emailing the Parish Office.



Our Churches:

(All Mail and Parcels to be sent to Coleford)

St. Margaret Mary's

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

Pastoral Council Members: Peter Chisholm, Sarah Perkins.

Our Lady of Victories

Our Lady of Victories, Flaxley Street, Cinderford, GL14 2DJ. [ Map » ]

Pastoral Council Members: Noel Riossi, Philip King

St. Joseph's

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

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

Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady of Lourdes, Ross Road, Newent, Glos, GL18 1BG. [ Map » ]

Pastoral Council Members: Julian Dowle (Chairperson)




Safeguarding Message from Bishop Bosco

In Clifton Diocese we are deeply committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all those entrusted to our care, especially the most vulnerable among us. The Church’s mission is to bring the light of Christ to the world, and we must be vigilant in protecting those who are at risk of harm. The sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults is a grave sin that deeply offends our Lord and causes immense harm to victims.

As the shepherd of this diocese, I take this responsibility very seriously and I am determined to do everything in my power to prevent such abuses from occurring and to respond swiftly and compassionately when they do. 

To this end, we have implemented robust safeguarding policies and procedures throughout the diocese.  It is the responsibility of everyone within the Diocese of Clifton to ensure our parishes and institutions are safe places, especially for those who are vulnerable. We have a zero tolerance to abuse, harm and any behaviour that falls short of appropriate safeguarding practices as expressed in National Policies from the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency.

We are also committed to fostering a culture of transparency and accountability within the Church in all our activities. Responding to those who come forward to report having suffered harm is a vital part of our mission and the Diocese is committed to being a welcoming and safe Church that is truly a beacon of light and hope for all.

We strive to support survivors and those who have been harmed by the Church, and we wish to work with survivors to improve standards further.  We will listen and learn from every survivor/victim we work with.

May the grace of God strengthen us in this vital mission.

Bishop Bosco MacDonald, May 2024

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. Contact Fiona Mills email: Fiona or phone: 01594 833173 for the Forest of Dean.

The Diocesan safeguarding team supports the ministry of the Church by providing a professional and robust support around the protection of children, young people and adults at risk, to ensure that worshipping communities are safe places where all have a positive experience of the Church in which they feel loved, accepted and safe. 

All issues will be dealt with in a sensitive and caring manner, in the strictest of confidence. 

The dedicated safeguarding team work closely with other agencies including the Police, Probation, Social Services and comply with the standards that are set by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA).  The CSSA has been set up as a professional standards body with regulatory powers which exist to regulate all Catholic Churches.

The safeguarding office is located at Alexander House, 160 Pennywell Road, Bristol, BS5 0TX

Their website is: Clifton Diocese Safeguarding and has a great deal of information and contact details.

General enquiries: 0117 954 0993. 

Email: Clifton Diocese Safeguarding

Safeguarding Coordinator email: Janice Pearson 07887 990 385

Forest of Dean RC Churches

Mass Times

Mass Live Streaming

Our Masses and Services are live-streamed or recorded on YouTube. Please visit the Channel at Forest RC Church YouTube
Please ‘Subscribe’ to the channel so that you don’t miss any videos in the future.
‘Check’ the 'BELL' to be alerted to any new videos that have or will be taking place.
You will see a list of all videos that have previously taken place and uploaded here.
You can watch any of our videos. Please ‘LIKE' the video if you enjoyed it.

The next live-streamed Sunday Mass will be the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time in from St. Margaret Mary's on 21st July at 9am.
When a ‘Live’ event has finished it can be viewed later as a recorded video.
Thank you for your support.



Masses for the coming week

Bad Weather Alerts

If there is a likelihood of closing our churches due to bad weather, the information will be posted on this Church Website, on the Church Facebook Page and also 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!

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

  • Saturday 13th July - Vigil Mass - Cinderford 6pm - Fr. Michael Thomas
  • Sunday 14th July - Mass - Coleford 9am - Fr. Michael Thomas
  • Sunday 14th July - Mass - Lydney 11am - Fr. Michael Thomas - live-streamed
  • Sunday 14th July - Mass - Newent 11am - Mgr. Liam Slattery or Fr. Stephen Corrigan

​Mid-week Masses & Services

  • Tuesday 16th July - Adoration Service - Coleford 11am
  • Wednesday 17th July - Adoration and Morning Prayer - Newent 10.30am
  • Thursday 18th July - Adoration and Morning Prayer - Lydney 10am
  • Friday 19th July - Rosary Prayer - Cinderford 9am

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

  • Saturday 20th July - Vigil Mass - Cinderford 6pm - Canon Alan Finley
  • Sunday 21st July - Mass - Coleford 9am - Canon Alan Finley - live-streamed
  • Sunday 21st July - Mass - Lydney 11am - Canon Alan Finley
  • Sunday 21st July - Mass - Newent 11am - Mgr. Liam Slattery or Fr. Stephen Corrigan

​​​​

Masses & Services live-streamed links:
The next live-streamed Sunday Mass will be Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time on 21st July at 9am. This link will take you directly to the live-stream channel: Live Sunday Mass

Recent Masses, Services and Talks recently live-streamed or recorded:
Mass for Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 14th July can be found here

On-line Masses elsewhere:

Live Mass is available from Clifton Diocese with this link: Clifton Cathedral Mass Sunday Mass: 9.30 am (Family), 11.15 am (Solemn), 6.00 pm

Masses in our Neighbouring Parishes:

Chepstow: Saturday 6pm, Sunday 11am, Thursday 10am.

Caldicot: Sunday 9am, Friday 10am

Monmouth: Saturday 6pm, Sunday 9.15am, Monday 10am, Wednesday 10am, Friday 10am. Ross on Wye: Sunday 11am, Tuesday 11am, Thursday 11am.

Please check the following websites for occasional changes.
For times of Masses in St Frances of Rome, Ross on Wye, and St Mary’s, Monmouth please use this link: Monmouth & Ross RC Churches.

For times of Masses in St Mary’s, Chepstow and St Paul’s, Caldicot please use this link: St. Mary's Chepstow.

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.

Hospital Chaplain - Julian Dowle - if you or anyone you know is admitted to hospital and would like a visit from our Hospital Chaplain, please contact Julian Dowle on 01989 721215 or email Julian. Thank you!

News

Church News Update -  Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) - 14th July

Printer friendly version of Church News

Important - Until a new Parish Priest is appointed to our parishes, we will be served by priests from the St. Wulstan Deanery in Gloucester. In the event of the urgent need for a priest, please contact St Peter’s in Gloucester on 01452 523603.

This weekend is Sea Sunday there is a second collection for Stella Maris (formerly known as Apostleship of the Sea) - Stella Maris is the official maritime charity of the Catholic Church who support seafarers and fishers in the UK and around the world. Seafarers and fishers play a vital role in all of our lives, but they often work in difficult, hazardous conditions. Sea Sunday is Sunday 14th July it is when the Church prays for all those who live and work at sea. For more information please go to: Stella Maris https://stellamaris.org.uk

St Wulstan Pastoral Area Mass with Anointing of the Sick followed by Lunch - St Patrick's Catholic Church Brockworth GL3 4HL looks forward to welcoming priests and people from across our Pastoral Area for Mass during which the Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated on Saturday 27th July at 12 Noon. Our Dean Fr Gary Brassington will be the principal celebrant and other priests will concelebrate the Mass and administer the Sacrament of the Sick with him. The Mass will be followed by lunch in the Church Hall for the sick and their carers. Please sign up on the list in our Churches by Sunday 21st July if you wish to attend. If you know of Catholics who are sick please ask them if they would like to attend. This event is being supported by our Saint Vincent de Paul Conference, therefore if you would like to attend but need transport please indicate this on the list.

The Holy Father’s Prayer Intention for July: We pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick confer on those who receive it and their loved ones the power of the Lord and become ever more a visible sign of compassion and hope for all.

Diocesan Day: Hope Does Not Disappoint - on Saturday 6th July at St Bernadette’s Secondary School we held our Diocesan Day Hope Does Not Disappoint. Canon Chris Thomas, the General Secretary for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales, was our main speaker, focusing on Hope. Phil McCarthy, a member of our own diocesan family, spoke on pilgrimage – he has developed walking pilgrimages in most of the dioceses of England and Wales, including our own from Clifton Cathedral to Glastonbury: Pilgrim Ways. In the afternoon the attendees went into groups with other members of their Pastoral Area to plan a Jubilee Celebration in 2025 for their own communities and shared their specific plans during the plenary assembly. These plans are the first steps in celebrating the jubilee in Clifton diocese in our different pastoral area communities. Bishop Bosco concluded the day with a practical list of ten ways we can all prepare for the 2025 Jubilee Pilgrims of Hope. You can view all the video presentations and pictures on our Clifton Diocese website here: Hope Does Not Disappoint.

Evensong at Gloucester Cathedral at 5.30pm on Friday 19th July- a Thanksgiving Service for 30 years of TIC (Teens in Crisis) This local charity was started in 1994 as a Christian Charity dedicated to helping children and young people in crisis. Its aims are: to advance the Christian religion by practically demonstrating the Christian Faith; by relieving need, hardship and distress of the young; and by providing education, advice, support and counselling services.

The Latest copy of the Clifton Evangelist can be found at this link: Clifton Evangelist

Our congratulations to Jess and Pat - on the birth of their baby daughter Maude who was born on Wednesday, 10th July at 12.35am. Welcome to the world Maude, may your days be filled with God’s love and blessings.

Advance Notice - Dates for your diary

  • St. Wulstan Pastoral Area Mass - St Patrick's, Brockworth, 27th July 12 noon.
  • Advent Retreat Day - Brownshill Monastery Saturday 14th December.

God Bless us, one and all.

FOREST OF DEAN PARISH NEWS

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL - Forest of Dean Conference - our next meeting will be on Monday 15th July at 7.00pm 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, Tony with your ideas and suggestions. We continue to visit and support anyone in need bringing God’s love to all people. If you are aware of any friends or neighbours who might need outreach help, please let us know on our telephone number 07851390391.

Reminder to register for our 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.

Parish Fete - St Joseph, Lydney - is unable to proceed this year - unfortunately we have been unable to find a volunteer to co-ordinate this event in September. We are hoping that a volunteer can be found to resume our fete in 2025. Please consider whether you would be willing to help next year.

Minutes of PPC Meeting 1st July 2024: July Minutes

NEWENT PARISH NEWS

Please remember in your prayers the house bound and sick of the parish: Gail Ebsworth, Mags Oke, Val Young, Mo Blinman, Catherine Williams, Paddy Arnold and Aroon Spencer.

Bring and Share Lunch after Mass at OLL on Sunday 14th July. Come and enjoy the international dishes prepared by the parents of our First Holy Communion group, and bring your own contribution. In the Marquee if weather suitable!

Rosary, Adoration and Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament: every Wednesday in the church at 10.30am followed by coffee in the parish room.

Taizé chants: an opportunity to join in some gentle chants and prayers accompanied by Martin on the organ and other musicians. The next date will be 14th July at 6pm.

Beans on Toast Club - this After School club is run on the first Tuesday of each month by Lynne Heron, who appreciates the support of parishioners in looking after the various activities she provides.

Regular Group Meetings

  • Adoration and Prayer - every Wednesday in the church at 10.30am followed by coffee in the Parish room.
  • Bible Study Group - study of St. John's Gospel on every third Thursday at 10.30am. The next meeting is on 18th July. The group is led by Mary Francis and hosted by Chris Roy at 12 Aston Bank, Aston Ingham.

OTHER NEWS

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.

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 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

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:

Church Hall

Our Church Hall is located next to St. Margaret Mary Church in Coleford is now available for hire. Please contact the Parish Office in the first instance.

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


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.

  • Lunch Club - next lunch is on Friday 26th July and is held every last Friday of the Month. 3 Course meal followed by tea/coffee.
  • Faith Group - every Wednesday of the month from 4-5pm with tea & coffee from 4pm.

To download the hall booking form 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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