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

St. Wulstan's Pastoral Area: the parishes in the Forest of Dean and Newent are part of the St. Wulstan's Pastoral Area.

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, Tuthill, 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:




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: 01594 833173 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

Reconciliation/Confession - Fr. Martin will be happy to hear individual confession after a weekday Mass.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

  • Saturday 12th July - Mass 6pm Cinderford
  • Sunday 13th July - Mass 9am Coleford; teas/coffees, bacon bap after
  • Sunday 13th July - Mass 11am Lydney - live-streamed; - teas/coffees after
  • Sunday 13th July - Mass 11am Newent; teas/coffees after

Mid-week Masses & Services

  • Tuesday 15th July - Mass 10am Coleford; followed by Adoration to 11am
  • Wednesday 16th July - Mass 10am Newent; preceded by Adoration at 9.30am; teas and coffees after
  • Thursday 17th July - Mass 10am Lydney
  • Friday 18th July - Mass 10am Cinderford; preceded by Rosary at 9.30am

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

  • Saturday 19th July - Mass 6pm Cinderford
  • Sunday 20th July - Mass 9am Coleford - live-streamed; teas/coffees, bacon bap after
  • Sunday 20th July - Mass 11am Lydney; teas/coffees after
  • Sunday 20th July - Mass 11am Newent; teas/coffees after

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 next live-streamed Sunday Mass will be the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time on 13th July at 11am from St. Joseph's. 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 Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 6th July can be found here

Fr. Martin's Induction Mass of Tuesday 6th May 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 - Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 13th July

Printer friendly version of Church News

This weekend Saturday 12th / Sunday 13th July there will be a second collection for Sea Sunday - we give thanks and pray for all Seafarers and fishers who play a vital role in all of our lives, who often work in difficult, hazardous conditions. For more information please use this link: Stella Maris

Parish Picnic - Saturday 12th July in Beechenhurst at 12 noon - will be going ahead as scheduled. No rain is forecast but please ensure you have adequate sun protection. There will be shade under the trees!

Monsignor Canon Liam Slattery VG and Father Gary Brassington STB - after almost 15 years at St Peter’s in Gloucester, Monsignor Liam Slattery will be moving at the end of August to become Dean and Parish Priest of the Cathedral Church of St Peter and Paul in Clifton. He is to be replaced at St Peter’s by Father Gary Brassington our Pastoral Area Dean, who has served as parish priest in Stroud, Stonehouse and Woodchester for 6 years.

The National Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope - Saturday 13th September - the Pilgrimage of Hope is a national walking pilgrimage with four main Ways converging at the Cathedral of St Barnabas, Nottingham, on Saturday 13th September 2025, for shared prayer and celebration. The Pilgrimage will culminate with Solemn Mass for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at 11.15am on 14th September 2025 at St Barnabas’ Cathedral. The Pilgrimage will embody the values of the Sisters of the Holy Cross of compassion, faith, prayer and community. The Pilgrimage of Hope promises to be a wonderful way of experiencing the Jubilee to the full. For more information and how you can register to join for the stages please go to: Pilgrimage of Hope.

The Clifton Diocese Annual Formation Day for all - 11th October at St Brendan’s College, Brislington - the keynote speaker will be Mgr John Armitage (Parish Priest, Former Rector of the National Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham and Master of the Guild of Our Lady of Ransom). He will be reflecting on the theme of ‘Being an Evangelist Today: the tools required to be a joyful witness of Jesus’. In addition, there will be several workshop options for people to attend. Save the date in your diary and more information will follow in the Autumn.

Pope Leo’s July prayer intention: ‘For formation in discernment’ - Pope Leo XIV releases his prayer intention for the month of July, and invites us to pray that we may know how to choose the right path for our life and reject anything that leads us away from Christ. Please use this link: Pope's July Intention.

The latest edition of the department of Adult Education and Evangelisation newsletter can be found at this link: Clifton Evangelist.

Please remember in your prayers the house-bound and sick of our parishes.

Frank Topping sadly passed away on Sunday 6th July. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. May he rest in eternal peace.

Helen Molyneux sadly passed away on Wednesday 2nd July. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this sad time. Helen served both the Parish and the community and also supported the Sacred Heart church Sedbury. She will be dearly missed. May she rest in eternal peace.

Forthcoming dates for your dairy:

  • Annual Pilgrimage to Glastonbury - Sunday 7th September 2025 - ‘Mary, Woman of Hope.
  • Forest Churches Fete to be held in St Jospeh’s, Lydney on Saturday 13th September 2025.

Feast Days this week:

  • Monday 14th July - Memorial of St. Camillus of Lellis, Priest
  • Tuesday 15th July - Memorial of St. Bonaventure, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
  • Wednesday 16th July - Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

God Bless us, one and all.

FOREST OF DEAN PARISH NEWS

Forthcoming dates for your dairy - Forest Churches Fete to be held at St Joseph’s, Lydney on Saturday 13th September 2025.

Volunteers are needed please for a Christmas Day Lunch - Thursday 25th December - supported by our Saint Vincent de Paul Conference - plans are being made to hold a Christmas Day Lunch in our Church Hall in Coleford. We are looking for volunteers to help with this initiative. Please if you are able to help in anyway contact Tony in Cinderford, Beverley in Coleford or Dorota in Lydney. Or email our Secretary Tony or phone 07513587332. Thank you.

Saint Vincent de Paul - Forest of Dean - Summer Raffle - the raffle tickets are now in all of the Forest churches. Tickets are £1 each or £5 per book. 1st prize £5,000, 2nd prize £1,000 and 15 additional prizes of £100. The proceeds are used to address poverty in all its forms including loneliness and isolation. Please return all ticket stubs and monies to our churches by Wednesday 20th August as they need to be sent to the SVP in England and Wales. The draw will take place on Wednesday 10th September. Thank you to everyone who is able to support this cause.

Minutes of PPC Meeting 12th May: May Minutes

NEWENT PARISH NEWS

Newent PPC meeting - the next PPC meeting for Our Lady of Lourdes, Newent will be held on Tuesday 15th July at 7.30pm at OLL. All parishioners are welcome to attend.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Newent - next prayer group is on Saturday 26th July at 10am. Everyone welcome.

Newent United Charity: Do you know someone who lives in Newent and needs help with Household Items, Utility Bills, Costs arising from any Exceptional circumstances? Let the Trustees of Newent United Charity know by writing to: The Clerk to the Trustees of Newent United Charity, 60 Lakeside, Newent GL18 1SZ or email: Newent United by 12th July 2025. Please include full name and address, a full description of circumstances and details of help required.

Beans on Toast Club - the Club meets on the first Tuesday of the month. The Club provides an important community outreach and attendance varies from 20 to 45 including adults. More donations of beans are needed. Lynne would appreciate your support.

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.

Readings for Mass - Readings for Mass can be found using the link, 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 Fifteeenth 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 - is held every last Friday of the Month. 3 Course meal followed by tea/coffee.
  • Faith Group - on most Wednesdays from 7-8pm with tea & coffee from 7pm.
  • Tai Chi - every Wednesday 10-11am and Friday 10-11am.

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.

All Site Content: © 2011 - - RCC in the Forest of Dean | Designed by Skyfire Designs


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)