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.



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

Our Lady of Lourdes

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

Pastoral Council Members: Julian Dowle (Chairperson)




Parish Mission

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 isolated at home.

Vigil Masses are on Saturday at Our Lady of Victories, Cinderford at 6pm.

There are three Sunday Masses at 9am at St. Margaret Mary's, Coleford (live-streamed), and at St. Joseph's, Lydney and Our Lady of Lourdes, Newent both of which are at 11am.

Mid-week Masses are normally at:

Tuesday in Coleford at 11am followed by Adoration to 12 noon;

Wednesday in Newent at 11am with Adoration from 10.30am;

Thursday in Lydney at 10am;

and Friday in Cinderford at 9am.

If a priest is not available, there will be Liturgy of the Word/Adoration/Prayer.

But do check for any changes in the Mass Times Section of this website.

Sacrament of Reconciliation is available before Mass by request at the weekends.

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

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.
God Bless and protect you.

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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.

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

www.childline.org.uk – a helpline for children 0800 1111

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 0758 717 2279 or 01594 516175 for the Forest of Dean.

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Forest of Dean RC Churches

Mass Times

Live Streaming

Our Masses and Services are live-streamed 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  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.

Select ‘View Channel’. Here you will see our videos and some Tab categories: Home, Videos, Live, Playlists, Channel, About. The important ones for you are: Videos, Live and Playlists.
If you choose ‘Videos’ you will see a list of ALL our previous videos, live or recorded, Mass, Funeral, Service, Talk, etc.
If you choose ‘Live’ you will see a list of upcoming ‘Live’ events. To join us live, select the appropriate upcoming event ahead of or during the event to watch it. You can check an ‘alert message’ to be informed when the event takes place.
There is only one (1) Playlist at the moment: ‘Previously live-streamed Sunday Mass’ and if you choose this then you will see all the Sunday Masses we have previously live-streamed that you can select from.
When a ‘Live’ event has finished it can be viewed later as a recorded video. If it was a Sunday Mass, it will be added to the Playlist.
Thank you for your support.

The next live-streamed Sunday Mass will be on YouTube from St. Margaret Mary's church at 9am on Sunday 10th December.



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!

First Sunday of Advent

  • Saturday 2nd December - Vigil Mass - Cinderford 6pm - Canon Michael Fitzpatrick
  • Sunday 3rd December - Mass - Coleford 9am - live-streamed - Canon Michael Fitzpatrick
  • Sunday 3rd December - Mass - Lydney 11am - Canon Michael Fitzpatrick
  • Sunday 3rd Deecember - Mass - Newent 11am - Canon Michael Fitzpatrick

Mid-week Masses & Services

  • Tuesday 5th December - Adoration Service - Coleford 11am
  • Wednesday 6th December - Adoration & Morning Prayer - Newent 11am
  • Thursday 7th December - Adoration & Morning Prayer - Lydney 10am
  • Friday 8th December - Prayer - Cinderford 9am

Advance Notice of Christmas Masses

  • Christmas Eve - Sunday 24th December - Christmas Vigil Mass - Lydney 6pm - live-streamed - Priest from St. Peter's Gloucester - there will be a Carol Service starting at 5pm preceding the 6pm Vigil Mass - everybody welcome!
  • Christmas Day - Monday 25th December - Mass - Coleford 9am - live-streamed - Canon Michael Fitzpatrick
  • Christmas Day - Monday 25th December - Mass - Cinderford 10.30am - Canon Michael Fitzpatrick
  • Christmas Day - Monday 25th Deecember - Mass - Newent 11am - Fr. Pat O'Keeffe

Please note there will be NO 11am Sunday Mass at St. Joseph's, Lydney on 24th December as the Christmas Vigil Mass will be held that evening at 6pm.

Masses & Services live-streamed links:

The next live-streamed Sunday Mass will be Sunday 10th December 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:

Holy Mass for First Sunday of Advent can be found here
Requiem Mass for Christina Angela Finnegan "Tina" 1st December 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 10am, Thursday 10am.

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

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 Update -  First Sunday of Advent (Year B) - 3rd December  Printer friendly version of Church News

This Sunday ‘Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees’

Important News - With immediate effect, our parishes 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. Details will be published in the coming weeks about opportunities to avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and times for Masses for Christmas.

Sunday 3rd December is the First Sunday of Advent - the beginning of Year 2/Cycle B (St Mark). Pope Francis has announced that it will be the first day of the 2024 Year of Prayer. This is a year in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year Pilgrims of Hope. For more information please use this link: Jubilee Year

Advent Reflections with CAFOD - starting on 1st December CAFOD will be sharing daily Bible Reflections and Prayers to prepare for the coming of Christ. To find out more please go to their website on this link: Advent Reflections, select Advent prayers and then select Advent calendar where you can sign up for a daily email.

Holy Communion under both kinds - there have been a number of cases of Covid recently in our area. Holy Communion will continue to be offered under both kinds. We leave it to individuals personal choice regarding what they receive.

Clifton Diocese - New Pastoral Areas - the old Deaneries of the Clifton Diocese have been restructured and what was the Deanery of Gloucester (which included the Forest of Dean and Newent) is now part of a wider Pastoral Area named after St. Wulstan. Please see map: St. Wulstan Deanery.

Climate Change Conference, COP28 - the Climate Change Conference, COP28 will bring together world leaders in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 30th November to 12th December to find agreement on policies aimed at limiting the rise in global temperature and dealing with the impacts associated with climate change. The conference will also be attended by Pope Francis himself, who will deliver a speech on 2nd December. The message from the Pope, called Laudate Deum, also urges rich countries to agree how to provide financial support for countries that have suffered irreversible ‘loss and damage’ as a result of the climate crisis. To support this initiative and to email your MP please use this link: Campaign to Call for Action

2024 Diocesan Liturgical Diaries & Directories are available to purchase from the parish office £6.50 for a Liturgical Diary and £6 for a Directory. Please contact Sam if you would like a copy. Phone 01594 833173 or email Sam

The Universe - Catholic Weekly - the Weekly Catholic Universe is now available to order (£3.50) if you would like a regular weekly copy please let Sam know in the office phone 01594 833173 or email Sam

 Synod 2021-2024  - a plenary resolution on the Synod on Synodality focusing on ‘Steps towards renewal’ can be found with this link: Steps towards renewal

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.

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.

Feast Days this week: 

  • Monday 4th December - Memorial of St. Osmund, Bishop
  • Wednesday 6th December - Memorial of St. Nicholas, Bishop
  • Thursday 7th December - Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
  • Friday 8th December - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Saturday 9th December - Memorial of St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin

God Bless us, one and all.

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

Opportunities for Advent - online mini retreat - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star - Shafts of Light, Shafts of Hope in Advent. Advent is a time of light, of waiting and hope, of light and joy. Join us as we reflect on these great themes with music, art, and scripture and to give some focus to this busy time of present buying, food shopping, baking and wrapping of gifts. The mini retreat will run twice online, just click on your chosen session link: Thursday 14th December 7-8pm Repeated on: Tuesday 19th December 3-4pm

FOREST OF DEAN PARISH NEWS

Please remember in your prayers: Allan White, Jenny Linsell.

Minutes of PPC Meeting 8th November 2023: November Minutes

The Forest of Dean Conference of the SVP will be distributing 'Vinnie Packs' to all those in need this Christmas. These packs contain essential items, e.g. thermal gloves, thermal hats, thermal socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, recyclable cleaning wipes/soap. If you know of anyone who would benefit from receiving these items please contact our Forest of Dean Conference for the SVP on our new telephone number 07851390391 Thank you. Our next SVP meeting is in the Church Hall at St Margaret Mary, Coleford on Monday 8th January at 6.30pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and bring their suggestions.

NEWENT PARISH NEWS

Newent Raffle - Raffle tickets will be on sale for the three weeks of Advent and the winning tickets will be drawn after Mass on Christmas Eve. Tickets are £1 each - a strip of 5 is £5. This is an opportunity to support our parish finances. There will be a selection of prizes, including the inevitable bottles and chocolates, and also two M&S vouchers for £20. Thank you all for your unfailing support!

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.

OTHER NEWS

Job Opportunity for Clifton Diocese Safeguarding Officer - Part-time – 21 hours per week (Wednesday to Friday). For further information about this role please visit www.cliftondiocese.com/Diocese/working-for-us or contact Janice Pearson or Tracey Holford, Clifton Diocese on 0117 954 0993. The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 5th January 2024 with the intention of interviewing on Thursday 18th January 2024.

Advent Retreat at The Monastery of Our Lady and St. Bernard, Brownshill, Stroud, GL6 8AL. Tel +44 (0)1453 883084 Brownshill Programme  Starts at 4.30 pm on Friday 1st December 2023 and finishes at 2.30 pm on Sunday 3rd December 2023. You are invited to come to the Monastery, at the start of this beautiful season. You will have time for silence and prayer, spiritual input from one of the Sisters, and the opportunity to participate in the celebration of the Divine Office with the community. To book a place, or for more information please email: Brownshill Monastery

Goldilocks and the Three bears - a Festive Family Pantomime, Friday 8th December The Drill Hall, Chepstow, and Sunday 10th December Town Hall, Lydney.
For more information please use these links: TicketSource  LemonJellyPantos 
Box office: 07906854269

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 First Sunday of Advent.

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 24th November and is held every last Friday of the Month. 3 Course meal followed by tea/coffee.
  • Faith Group - every Wednesday of the month from 7.30 - 8.30pm 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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