The catholic churches within the Forest of Dean and Newent Parishes lie within the Clifton Diocese, which is part of the Catholic Church in England & Wales.

Parish Priest: Fr. Martin Queenan

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 Fr. Martin in the first instance.

Baptisms are celebrated by approaching Fr. Martin and then meeting with him.

Marriages require at least six months notice. Initially please speak to Fr. Martin.

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

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 and recorded on YouTube. Visit the Forest RC Church YouTube channel and subscribe so that you don't miss any future videos. Click the bell icon to get notified of new videos that have or will be taking place. You can browse and watch all our past live-streams and videos, and if you enjoy one, please give it a like. Thank you for your support.



Masses for the coming week

Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

  • Saturday, 16th November - Vigil Mass - Cinderford 6pm
  • Sunday, 17th November - Mass - Coleford 9am - live-streamed 
  • Sunday, 17th November - Mass - Lydney 11am
  • Sunday, 17th November - Mass - Newent 11am

Mid-week Masses & Services

  • Tuesday, 19th November - Adoration Service - Coleford 11am
  • Wednesday, 20th November - Adoration and Morning Prayer - Newent 10.30am
  • Thursday, 21st November - Adoration and Morning Prayer - Lydney 10am
  • Friday, 22nd November - Rosary Prayer - Cinderford 9am

Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

  • Saturday, 23rd November - Vigil Mass - Cinderford 6pm
  • Sunday, 24th November - Mass - Coleford 9am - live-streamed
  • Sunday, 24th November - Mass - Lydney 11am
  • Sunday, 24th November - Mass - Newent 11am​​​​

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!

Masses & Services live-streamed links:

The Requiem Mass for Valmay Joy Young will be live-streamed from Our Lady of Lourdes at 1pm on Thursday 21st November. The live-stream can be found here: Requiem Mass Val Young

The next live-streamed Sunday Mass will be the Solemnity of Christ the King on November 24th at 9am. This link will take you directly to the live-stream channel: Live Sunday Mass

Recently live-streamed or recorded Masses, Services and Talks:

Mass for Thirty Third Sunday 17th Nov 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 - Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) - 17th November

Printer friendly version of Church News

2025 Diocesan Liturgical Diaries and directories are now available from the Church Office. £6.50 please for diaries and £6.00 for directories, please contact Sam.

Clifton Diocese in partnership with ‘Light of Truth’ are offering 7 sessions to discover the virtues of faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. The sessions take place every second Friday of the Month at 7.30pm, and begin on the 13th December 2024. For more information on this course and other courses please use this link: Light of Truth

Free resources for use with children and families - these resources aim to help bring people closer to God and to each other through all sorts of creative activities. Please use this link: Celebrate Trust.

Meeting for the St Wulstan Pastoral Area Jubilee Event in 2025 - a meeting has been arranged on Saturday 23rd November at 2pm at the Immaculate Conception in Stroud, Beeches Green, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 4AA. This is to make arrangements to celebrate the Jubilee Year 2025. Please do come along if you would like to be involved in the planning.

Safeguarding Awareness for all: The Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency level 1 leaflet is available in each Parish (a copy is here). It is important that each parishioner reads this leaflet to help understand Safeguarding and the work that the Diocese does in relation to it. Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility so please do take the time to read the leaflet. If you would like to discuss any related issues to this notice please contact Fiona Mills (FoD Safeguarding rep) via the parish office 01594 833173.

A new edition of the Lectionary, the book which contains the readings which are proclaimed at Mass, will come into use in England and Wales in Advent 2024 - if you would like to be able to follow the Mass Readings you will need a new missal. You can order a new Missal price £19.95 from Sam in our church office by phoning 01594 833173 or email: Forest Office The new missals must be ordered from Sam before Monday 2nd December. Alternatively you can order them direct from Catholic Truth Society.

Reminder for our Advent Retreat Day at Brownshill - 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. At the moment there are three pick up points starting at 9.00am in Cinderford, then Coleford followed by Lydney. Please put your name and contact details on the list on your church notice board or email Beverley if you would like to attend. If any parishioners from Newent would like to attend please contact Beverley. For the use of the Monastery and grounds, a three-course cooked meal, and a talk by a Sister, a voluntary donation of £30 per person is kindly asked for. Information on the format of this day will be made available soon. An inability to pay does not preclude anyone from attending.

South Sudan Appeal - Second Collection this Weekend Sunday 17th November by the Saint Vincent De Paul Society.

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

Weekday Masses - Weekday masses will resume from the 2nd December:

  • Tuesday 10am – St Margaret Mary, Coleford
  • Wednesday 10am – Our Lady of Lourdes, Newent
  • Thursday 10am – St Joseph, Lydney
  • Friday 10am – Our Lady of Victories, Cinderford
  • ALL WEEKEND MASSES REMAIN UNCHANGED

Feast Days this week:

  • 18th November - Memorial of Dedication of the Basilicas of Ss. Peter and Paul, Apostles
  • 21st November - Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • 22nd November - Memorial of St. Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr
  • 23rd November - Memorial of St. Clement I, Pope, Martyr
  • 23rdh November - Memorial of St. Columban, Abbot

Advance Notice - Dates for your diary

  • Advent Retreat Day - Brownshill Monastery Saturday 14th December.
  • Diocesan Day - Saturday 19th July 2025.

God Bless us, one and all.

FOREST OF DEAN PARISH NEWS

Readers Day - there will be a meeting for all readers in the church hall in Coleford on Sat 30th November at 10.30am, to be preceded by a Mass at 10am for the Feast of St. Andrew.

Fun Bingo: Our Fun Monthly Bingo Evening supported by our Saint Vincent de Paul Conference will commence on Friday 6th December please save this date. It will be held monthly in our Church Hall at St Margaret Mary Church in Coleford from 7pm until 8.30pm on the first Friday in the month. Everyone will be welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult. Further details to follow.

Pilgrim lunch with insights and reflections on the Camino de Santiago - everyone is welcome to a pilgrim lunch on Saturday 16th November at 12 noon in the Church Hall at Coleford. There will be some pictures, insights and reflections on the Camino. Please if you are thinking of joining us let Beverley know to ensure that lunch numbers are catered for. Very many thanks.

Christmas Day Lunch - Wednesday 25th December supported by our Saint Vincent de Paul Conference - if you are alone this Christmas or in need of company please come along to our Christmas Day lunch in the Church Hall at Saint Margaret Mary, in Coleford at 12 noon. Please see Tony in Cinderford, Robert in Lydney or Bev in Coleford. Or email: Secretary.

Minutes of PPC Meeting 23rd September 2024: September Minutes

NEWENT PARISH NEWS

Taizé Evening prayer this Sunday at 6pm in Our Lady of Lourdes church followed by refreshments.

Pastoral Council Meeting on Tuesday 19th November at 7.30 pm when offices will be decided. On the agenda will also be the need for more and younger people to train as catechists and Liturgists and plans for a drive to attract volunteers.

There will be a Community Christmas Meal in Newent, which is open to everyone especially those people who are likely to be alone.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Wednesday at 10.30am with Rosary prayer from 10.15am.

Bible Study of St John's Gospel on 21st November at 10.30am in Aston Ingham.

Lectio Divina on Zoom with the Forest parishes at 11.00am every Friday.

Beans on Toast Club - held on the first Tuesday of every month in the afternoon.

Don't Forget the Holy Spirit - no meeting this week.

Ann Hay and Mary Francis, now joined by Ann Shaw, are working on a backdrop for the Christmas crib scene beside the altar.

Jenny Heseltine is putting out a request for knitters in the parish to knit or crochet more poppies for the Remembrance Day display, either white or red please. Patterns can be found on the internet and Jenny also has some. Jenny also asks that parishioners use her new numbers: 01989 610433 or 07749 478340

Fr. Mike Schmitz - Fr. Mike offers us a new programme, Face to Face, for Advent, with daily readings. His homilies are highly recommended. More information as we approach the season of Advent.

Donations to Missio - if you would like to donate to Missio you can do so by using your phone and the QR code. If you have a Red Box that needs emptying, please bring it to Jenny at Sunday mass.

OTHER NEWS

Zoom Prayer Opportunities why not join the Forest of Dean and Newent Rosary Group? We meet on Zoom every Friday at 4.30pm for approximately 20 minutes. Everybody is welcome, we have members from each of the churches, join every week or as and when you can. We pray for the needs of all our parishes. If you have personal prayer intentions you would like us to pray for or to join please contact Fiona via the parish office 01594 833173.

Lectio Divina every Friday at 11am we meet on Zoom for approximately one hour, our group is made up of members from every church in the Forest of Dean and Newent Parishes. We prayerfully read and reflect on the upcoming Sunday Gospel. As well as being an excellent preparation for Sunday Mass it is a wonderful way of praying with scripture together with other parishioners. Everyone is welcome - if you are not used to this way of praying why not give it a try? Please contact Fiona via the parish office 01594 833173.

Faith Group - this social group looks at various ways to grow and strengthen our faith. We reflect and share on different aspects of our religion and how God is present and at work in our lives. This group resumes on Wednesday 13th November at 7pm - 8pm in our Church Hall at St Margaret Mary, Coleford. Everyone is welcome to come and participate. At present these sessions consist of watching a short video clip relating to a book from the bible and reflecting on how scripture is relevant and active in our lives today.

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 Thirty Third 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 29th November and is held every last Friday of the Month. 3 Course meal followed by tea/coffee.
  • Faith Group - recommencing 13th November on every Wednesday of the month from 7-8pm with tea & coffee from 7pm.

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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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)