Directory

Church Name:

St Joseph

Priest(s):

Rev William T P Watson

Address:

St Joseph’s Presbytery, Oldends Lane, Stonehouse, GL10 2DG

County:

Gloucestershire

Parish Date:

(1966; cons 1976)

Deanery of Parish:

Stroud

History of Parish:

The history of St. Joseph’s goes back a long way. In fact as far back as 1894 when an attempt was made to set up a Mass centre in Stonehouse. Mass was celebrated once a fortnight at this time in a rented room. Before the first world war the congregation numbered only about 12. Eventually the Mass centre moved to a converted outbuilding near Eastington and then to the Subscription rooms at Stonehouse. It was served from Stroud by the Dominicans, (until they left the parish in 1947), and then by Diocesan priests. The efforts of local fundraising enabled a site to be purchased and the foundation stone was laid in 1965. After their Church was built, Stonehouse continued to be served from Stroud until 1973 when it became a separate parish. The Fransalians were entrusted with the parish remaining until 1989 when the Parish had its first diocesan priest, Fr Peter Slocombe.

Our Church is a simple, beautiful building inspiring prayer. We have a thriving parish with about 130 parishioners regularly celebrating Mass each Sunday. Parishioners serve in a variety of ways as we have; a Children’s Liturgy team, Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, Choir, Readers, Welcomers, A Parish Magazine production team and a Pastoral Team. We also have groups of parishioners who save the parish a lot of money and these include those who look after our garden and grounds and those who look after our buildings. Our latest project is the revamping and renewing of our Parish Library with a special section for our toddlers and children. We have a wonderful Parish Priest who, talented in many ways, is famous for the speed with which he can climb a ladder on to the Church roof! Fr Bill can lead us to times of thinking deeply as well as to times of laughter and of community and he prays with us. He is an inspiration and encouragement to us (but don’t let the Bishop know this or we may loose him!)

Our Parish is made up of a number of surrounding villages e.g. the Stanleys, Standish, Eastington and Frampton as well as Stonehouse itself and as new housing developments spring up we are delighted to welcome new parishioners. One great joy and blessing these new developments have brought with them is the fact that we are now an international parish family. And that is what we are, a family, we worship, pray, work and have fun together. We try to encourage each of us individually to use our talents for the good of the parish but at the same time ensure that no one person holds a responsibility indefinitely in order to allow the growth of the individual and the parish. Each member of our parish family is a valued member who in their own way enriches the whole family.

We have strong links with the other Churches in Stonehouse and we both help with and join in ecumenical activities, worship and ventures. We also support Cafod, the APS and the training of native clergy through the Society of St. Peter for Native Clergy. To date we have supported a number of seminarists in both Africa and India.

We also value the links within our Deanery and our wider Church family and have joined with Stroud and Woodchester in running a successful RCIA group. We look forward to other inter deanery ventures in the future. Parishioners from Stroud often join us at Mass here and we also join them in their Church. Although we prepare our own parishioners for Confirmation we join with Stroud in their Church for the actual Confirmation Ceremony.

Why don’t you visit us sometime, we have a lovely Church Hall as well as a big car park and a good reputation for our refreshments! Perhaps you would enjoy our monthly quiz night on the first Friday of the month or share our quiet prayer time in front of the Blessed Sacrament after 10am Mass on Saturday mornings at which time there is also the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Maybe you would like to make some money at our car boot sales which are held on the first Saturday of the month in our car park.. We would love to see you and you would be very welcome.

Sunday Mass:

9.00 am

Holy Days:

Vigil 7.30 pm

10.00 am

Weekdays:

Monday to Thursday 10.00 am

Friday 7.30 pm

Confessions:

Saturday after morning Mass and on call

Devotions:

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Friday 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm

Schools:

The Rosary Primary School, Beeches Green, Stroud, GL5 4AB.

Tel 01453 762774

 

St Peter’s High School, Gloucester, GL4 0DE

Tel 01452 520594 / Fax 01452 509209

General:

Standish Hospital

Wisma Mulia

Frampton-upon-Severn

Eastington Park Nursing Home

Eastington Grange Nursing Home

High Borders

Leonard Stanley

Moreton Hill Farm Nursing Home

Standish

Telephone:

01453 822121