Forest of Dean and Newent RC Churches

08/09/2026

Impart to your servants, we pray, O Lord,
the gift of heavenly grace,
that the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
may bring deeper peace
to those for whom the birth of her Son
was the dawning of salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

06/09/2026

Bishop Bosco’s Pastoral Letter read out at Mass today can be found with this link:

06/09/2026

This morning’s Mass can be found with this link:

This Mass will be live-streamed at 9am from St. Margaret Mary's chu...

04/09/2026

O God, who called your servant the Bishop Saint Cuthbert
from tending sheep
to serving Christ as a shepherd of your people,
grant in your kindness, we pray,
that your Church may imitate his example
by seeking out the lost
and bearing them home to your fold.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

03/09/2026

Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 6th September 2026
https://www.youtube.com/

TIMES OF MASSES AND SERVICES FOR THE COMING WEEKS
Friday 4th September - 5.30pm Confessions - St Margaret Mary
Friday 4th September - 6pm Mass - St. Margaret Mary

Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 5th September - Eve of Sunday 5pm Our Lady of Lourdes; teas/coffees after
Sunday 6th September - Mass 9am St. Margaret Mary; teas/coffees, bacon bap after
Sunday 6th September - Mass 11am St. Joseph - live-streamed; teas/coffees after

Midweek Services
Tuesday 8th September - 9.30am Mass; Adoration to 10.30am - St. Margaret Mary
Wednesday 9th September - 11am Mass; preceded by Adoration 10.20-10.50am - Our Lady of Lourdes
Thursday 10th September - 10am Mass - St. Joseph

Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saturday 12th September - Eve of Sunday 5pm Our Lady of Lourdes; teas/coffees after
Sunday 13th September - Mass 9am St. Margaret Mary - live-streamed; teas/coffees, bacon bap after
Sunday 13th September - Mass 11am St. Joseph; teas/coffees after

PARISH UPDATES
Season of Creation - 1st September - 4th October
The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. Celebrated annually and ends on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. This year the theme is “Living Water” which is based on the biblical text Ezekiel 47:9, 12.

Next Prayer Group Meeting - Saturday 5th September at 10am in Our Lady of Lourdes. All welcome.

Missio Red Boxes for Our Lady of Lourdes, Newent
If you have a red box please leave it in church in the next few weeks.

Parish Pastoral Council Meeting
The next meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council of Our Lady of Lourdes will be held on Saturday 5th September at 3pm at OLL. All parishioners are welcome to attend.

Tintern Sung Vespers- Sunday 13th September at 3pm
An Ecumenical Service to mark the Feast of The Holy Cross, amongst the monastic ruins of this famous Cistercian monastery. The speaker is the Rt Rev Brendan Thomas OSB, Abbot of Belmont, singers are the Monks of Belmont Abbey and Newport Cathedral Choir. Please bring a folding chair and umbrella. Entrance and parking free for those attending.

Summer Fete at St. Joseph's Lydney - This a community event between St Joseph, Lydney and St Margaret Mary, Coleford. The proceeds of the day are donated between local charities and our church. Helping hands are needed please, whether you can spare a little time or a lot, your support will be very gratefully received. Help is needed before the event and also on the day when there will be stalls to set up and run, refreshments to serve etc. If you would like to become involved in this event please let Sam know in the Parish Office. St Joseph, Lydney will be open to receive your donations of books, toys, and good quality items as well as bottles and prizes for the tombola and raffle on Thursday and Friday 17th & 18th September. Fresh produce and cakes may be donated on the day.

World Apostolate of Fatima: Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September 2026. Clifton Cathedral will be hosting a Visitation of the National Pilgrim Virgin Statue (NPVS) of Our Lady of Fatima and the Relics of Saints Jacinta & Francisco. Full details of the programme will be available soon.

Creativity Event - Church Hall St. Margaret Mary, Coleford
On Saturday 24th October from 10am - 12noon everyone is welcome to come and make a card of your choice for any occasion.

Confessions will now be available before every monthly 6pm Mass on the first Fridays of the month.

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

Roman Catholic Church in the Forest of Dean and Newent. This channel provides live-streamed and recorded Masses, Liturgies and Services from our churches. Sunday Mass is live-streamed at either 9am from St. Margaret Mary's church, Coleford or at 11am from St. Joseph's church, Lydney depending on ava...

03/09/2026

Caritas Clifton Administration Support:
We have had a Caritas initiative in the Diocese as part of the
Catholic Social Action Network for many years. (www.csan.org.uk). The bishop is now keen that this is developed into a practical resource for parishes. We are looking for volunteers to assist in the setting up, and administration, of the initiative. This could be for a few hours per week or days. For more information, please contact Deacon Robert von Hawrylak on: [email protected].

03/09/2026

Magnifica Humanitas Day
Magnifica Humanitas is the first encyclical letter of Pope Leo. There will be a day exploring Magnifica Humanitas on 24th October at St Brendan's College, Brislington. Speakers will be Bishop Bosco, Dr Austen Ivereigh and Professor Carmody Grey (tbc). The day starts at 10am (refreshments from 9.30am) and finishes at 4pm - please bring a packed lunch. You can register for the day on this link: https://magnificahumanitas.eventbrite.co.uk

03/09/2026

Vocation Retreat Day - Saturday 26th September
What is God calling you to? Whether discerning your own path or simply curious about how others live out their faith, this day retreat is a chance to pause, explore, learn and reflect together as a community. Open to both men and women, the day brings together speakers from across different vocations, including married life, religious life and the diaconate, each sharing their story of how they found their calling. The day includes Mass and time for confession, with lunch and refreshments included in the ticket price. From 10am to 4.30pm at St Mary on the Quay, Bristol. For more information and to book tickets from £10 please use this link:

What is God calling you to? Whether discerning your own path or simply curious about how others live out their faith, this day retreat is a chance to pause, explore, learn and reflect together as a community. Open to both men and women, the day brings together speakers from across different vocation...

03/09/2026

O God, who care for your people with gentleness
and rule them in love,
through the intercession of Pope Saint Gregory,
endow, we pray, with a spirit of wisdom
those to whom you have given authority to govern,
that the flourishing of a holy flock
may become the eternal joy of the shepherds.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.