Our Lady of Good Counsel
& Guardian Angels Parish
54 Harvey Street,
Elton, Bury BL8 2RD
Tel: 0161 764 1630
Email: olgcga@b
[Link]
Parish website:
[Link]
Parish Twier: @olgcga
Diocesan website:
[Link]
Newsleer for the weekend - 28th February/1st March 2015
The Second Sunday of Lent (Year of St. MarkYear B)
PLEASE REMEMBER
IN PRAYER
THIS WEEKENDS
SCRIPTURES
OUR SICK:
Bro. Nicholas Hutchinson,
David Lindley, Dominic Gamble,
Eileen Cock, Margaret Reilly,
Elaine Hardman, Ray Fitzwalter,
James Scanlon, Jody Turon,
Austin Sweeney, Stefan Sikorski,
Michael Dewsnap, Kathleen
Warburton, Phyllis Daly, Maurice
Berry, Joan Grimshaw.
TODAYS READINGS
First Reading: Genesis 22: 1-2.
The sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham
Psalm 116: I will walk in the
presence of the Lord in the
land of the living.
Second
Reading:
R omans
8:31b-34 If God is for us, who
can be against us?
Gospel: M ark 9: 2-10 How
good it is for us to be here!
LATELY DECEASED
Dylan Moses
ANNIVERSARIES
Sean McManus
To include someone on the prayer list
please give their name to Fr. Paul, put
it through the letterbox of the Parish
Office, call the Office on: 0161 764
1630 or e-mail to
olgcga@[Link]
Please use the White Mass Intention
envelopes for Mass
intentions which you will
find in the porches. Thank
you.
When adding the
name of someone sick
please ensure that you
have their permission (or the
permission of their family). The list is
updated each week. and because of
space the names of the sick will be
removed from the list after four weeks.
You can ask for them to be added
again.
TUESDAY 3rd MARCH
Parish Memorial Mass for
Fr John Cribben
7.00 pm.
All are Welcome.
NEXT WEEKENDS
SCRIPTURES (Year B)
First Reading: Exodus 20: 1-17
Psalm 19
Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:22-25
Gospel: John 2: 13-25
'CIRCLE OF PRAYER'
St Theresa of Lisieux
Deanery
For the week beginning Sunday
1st March 2015 we pray for the
parish of St Bernadette & St
Michaels
Parish
for
the
parishioners and Fr Chris Lough
their Parish Priest.
SERVICES THIS WEEK
Saturday 28th February: The Second Sunday of Lent
7.00 pm: Mass
Sunday 1st March: The Second Sunday of Lent
8.45 am: Mass
10.30 am: Mass
Monday 2nd March: Lent Weekday
9.15am: Eucharistic Service
Tuesday 3rd March: Lent Weekday
7.00 pm: Parish Memorial Mass for Fr John Cribben
Wednesday 4th March: Lent Weekday
9.15 am: Mass
Thursday 5th March: Lent Weekday
9.15am: Mass
Friday 6th March: Lent Weekday
9.15 am: Eucharistic Service
Saturday 7th March: The Third Sunday of Lent
7.00 pm: Mass
Sunday 8th March: The Third Sunday of Lent
8.45 am: Mass
10.30 am: Mass
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday 28th FebruaryConfessions at 6.00pm
Saturday 7th MarchConfessions at 6.00pm
The Stations of the Cross (for the sick and peace)
7.00 pm in Church
Flowers on the Sanctuary.
If you would like to have the
flowers on the sanctuary in memory of
someone or something special just let Fr
Paul or Sharon know and they will
arrange it.
N.B. There are no flowers in Church during the Lenten
Season.
EASTER FLOWERS: If you would like to make a
donation to the Flowers in Church for Easter, please
place it in an envelope and clearly mark it Easter
Flowers and post it through the Parish Office letterbox. Thank you.
You are now able to
access the weekly parish
newsletter from our
twitter feed (@olgcga)
The Second Sunday of Lent
1st March 2015
If you wish to contribute to the View from the Pew,
please contact the Parish Office.
These are anonymous comments from
parishioners.
Even though God spared Abrahams son, Isaac, Gods own
Son, Jesus, was not spared, but rather was handed over for the
benefit of us all. Yet already todays gospel gives us a hint of the
resurrection to come. As we listen to these readings, let us take
time to ponder what rising from the dead means in our own
lives.
MINIBUS DRIVERS
If you cannot fulfil your rota duty, please arrange a swap with another
team. Thanks.
This weeks team: Pat and Sue Moriarty
Next weeks team: Mike Harrington and Barbara Ashton
Spaces on the Minibus: We cur r ently have some spaces on the minibus for the 10.30 am Mass minibus run. If you or someone you know
would benefit from this fantastic service please call the Office.
New Drivers to join the rota: A parish thrives as it strives to serve
people. To do this we need people to offer a little of their time to serve
other members of the community. One of the great blessings for many
people over the past few years has been the opportunity to attend Mass
by being collected on the minibus 10.30 am Mass run! Many people
wouldnt be able to get here for Mass without the minibusbut of
course we need drivers to drive the minibus. Our list of drivers is getting
very small which means the drivers are on the rota more often. The
more drivers we have the better, then people arent on the rota too often.
If this is something that you think you could help out with, it is a very
valuable contribution to the life of the parish, and especially in our outreach to those who wouldnt get to church otherwise. Please contact the
Parish Office if you would like to volunteer or for more information.
WEEKLY OFFERINGS
The Offertory Collection for:
For the weekend of 21st/22nd February was:
Envelopes: 783.99 Loose collection: 289.69
Total: 1073.68
Thank you for your generosity.
If you wish to join the Gift Aid scheme please see Fr Paul at the back of
Church after Mass. It only takes a couple of seconds!
Question for the week:
Where will my leaving the mountain with Jesus take me this week?
What form will my self-sacrificing service and unconditional love take.
Last weekend we had copies of a document from Bishop John which
was available for you to collect from the back of church. In the document Bishop John outlines some of the areas that we, as a diocese, will
have to face in the future. He is also informing us that there will be a
full consultation later in the year. There are still some copies available.
CornerstonesThe Big Sleep-Out
Sleep out for just one night and help those who are forced to sleep out
every night. This year Cornerstones will be hosting a sponsored Big
Sleep-out in support of the thousands who have to endure sleeping
rough on our streets.
This is your opportunity to raise funds to help Cornerstones support
homeless men and women in Manchester. The big sleep-out is taking
place on the night of April 24th at St Christophers Ashton. Further
details and enrolment forms available on-line [Link]
Having your child baptised at
Guardian Angels.
If you are planning on having your
child baptised, please pick up a leaflet from the Welcome
and Information Centre, which outlines our baptism preparation programme.
Please note that the first thing that parents have to do is
contact the Parish Office (telephone on 0161 764 1630
or call in) to book onto the First Meeting, held on the
first Sunday of each month. Please do not just turn up
for the meeting without first booking in through the
Parish Office. This means that our Baptism Preparation
Team have a workable number of people each month.
The Clusterers
Thursday 5th March
Jumbles and Affetside
Some steep parts
Leader Jeff Smith Tel: 0161 764 7269
10.00 am start from Guardian Angels Car Park.
Sunday 22nd March
Gawthorpe Hall & River Calder
Moderate. Leader Jeff Smith 0161 764 7269
9.30 am star t fr om Guar dian Angels Car Par k.
CAFOD Lenten Family Fast Day
Friday 27th February 2015
Last weekend we distributing the Lenten Family Fast Day
envelopes at all the Masses. Please return them in the Offertory collection this weekend or next weekend.
If you didnt get an envelope last weekend there are envelopes available on the tables as you enter church this weekend.
WOMENS WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
FRIDAY6th MARCH at Bury Baptist Church,
Manchester Road, at 2.00 pmAll are Welcome.
Full details are on the Poster in the Porches
OUR LADY OF LOURDES R C PRIMARY SCHOOL
CONGRATULATIONS to Mrs Joanne Davies, cur r ently our deputy Head Teacher, who was appointed by the
Governing Body as our new Head Teacher for the school on
Tuesday of this week.
Jo has been with us for the past eleven years, and so
knows the school and the pupils very well, and recently has
been the acting Head Teacher.
On behalf of the whole Parish Community we wish
her well in her new appointment and promise to keep her
and the whole school community in our prayers as the
school enters into a new era under her leadership.
CONGRATULATION: To Michael and Chr istina
Speakman who celebrated their Ruby Wedding with a renewal of Marriage Vows here at Guardian Angels last
Saturday.
Congratulations also to James and Carol Mansergh who are
celebrating their Ruby Wedding this weekend with a renewal of marriage vows here at Guardian Angels, the church
where they were married We wish them every blessing.
Let us know when other couples mark such milestones!
WELCOME
TO WITNESS
Becoming an
evangelising parish
Copies of the book are
available for purchase from the
Parish Office. Price 7.95 a copy
This weekend we have a supply of books for Lent and
Easter available to buy at the back of Church. Take a look
at them! If you ordered a copy of The Easter Bunnys
amazing day they are en-route from our suppliers
Another Story Must Begin
A Lenten Course based on
Les Miserables
We will meet each Tuesday evening (apart from the
3rd March and the Tuesday in Holy Week) after the 7.00
pm Mass. Last Tuesday (24th February) we watched Les
Miserables from beginning to end (not a dry eye in the
place!) This Tuesday (3rd March) we have our Parish Memorial Mass for Fr John Cribben at 7.00 pm (followed by
Tea and coffee in the Parish Centre) and so there will not
be a Lenten programme that evening.
About the film:
Based on the book by Victor Hugo, first published in
1862, Les Miserables has been running
as a musical on the London stage since
1985. Jean Valjean is a French convict of
19 years, newly released from prison. Life
is hard for an ex-convict, and he steals
from the first person who is kind to him, a
bishop. He is however rescued by the
bishop, and he gives him a new start in life. This experience of mercy redefines Valjean and he attempts to help the
destitute Fantine and her daughter Cosette.
During the weekly sessions we will be exploring
certain themes such as sacrifice, repentance, forgiveness,
and redemption, love and justice and explore some of the
characters in the story.
So, do come and join us on the Tuesday evenings of
Lent, in the Parish Centre, and through the sessions, take
the opportunity to deepen your faith.
Everyone is welcome to join us.
Lenten Deanery Station Masses.
There are three Deanery Lenten Station Masses remaining.
They are taking place in each of the four pastoral areas of our
deanery. Parishioners are welcome to attend any (or all of the
Masses)
St Marys, Littleborough
Thursday 5th March
Our Lady of Grace, Prestwich
Thursday 12th March
St Josephs, Heywood
Thursday 19th March
(Bishop John will be presiding at this Station Mass)
All Station Masses are on Thursdays at 7.30pm.
All are welcome.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to
Auschwitz-Birkenau, Krakow,
Czestochowa & Zakopane
Sunday 24th MaySunday 31st
May 2015
2015 is the year in which we commemorate the 70th
Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz Concentration
Camp (27th January 2015) and also the liberation of many
other camps. To commemorate this we have been asked to
organise this Pilgrimage once again this year. This year we
have been able to organise the Pilgrimage to take place
entirely during the May school half-term.
After the time spent in visiting and in reflection at
Auschwitz our focus then changes to spending time walking
in the footsteps of St John Paul II.
COST PER PERSON:
820 per person
(deposit payable 150 per person)
COST INCLUDES:
Return flights Liverpool - Krakow (EasyJet)
Airport duty & passenger taxes
1 suitcase per person for the aircraft hold (20kgs)
Coach transfers in Poland & to and from LiverpoolBury
4 nights in 4* Arena Hotel & Spa in Tychy (on half
board basis)
3 nights dinner, bed & breakfast 4* Qubus Hotel in
Krakow
English speaking tour guide whilst in Auschwitz,
Krakow, Wadowice, Czestochowa, & Zakopane
Local guide at the Salt Mines (English speaking)
Tips for Guide & Driver and Entrance fee for
Auschwitz & the Salt Mines
WHAT IS EXTRA:
Single room supplement 175.00
TRAVEL INSURANCE: (with Pilgrimage Options)
35 per person aged 18 65
47 per person aged 66 - 75
60 per person aged 76 - 79
70 per person aged 80+
For a full itinerary and booking form please contact
Sharon Beech on 0161 761 0536 or 0161 764 1630
or e-mail to: [Link]@[Link]
Places are limited, so early booking is recommended
PARISH DIARY
The Missionary Journeys of St Paul
Malta & Rome
8 days
Friday 25th September
Saturday 3rd October 2015
Following on from the very successful pilgrimages
in the footsteps of St Paul in Greece in 2009 and
subsequent pilgrimages to the Holy Land &
Turkey, the Department for Evangelisation is completing the journey in the footsteps of St. Paul with
his journey to Malta and his martyrdom in Rome.
During our 4 days in Malta we will
explore the sacred sites of Valletta, St.
Pauls Bay and St. Pauls Island. We will
visit Mdina, Mosta (the silent city), Rabat,
sail to Gozo and visit sites that relate to
the Order of the Knights of Malta. We will
take a short flight from Malta to Rome on the fifth day of
the pilgrimage.
Our final 4 days of the pilgrimage
will follow Pauls journey to Rome,
visiting various places associated with
St Paul. We will also attend the
Wednesday morning audience with Pope
Francis in St. Peters Square (dependent
on Pope Francis being in Rome). Whilst in Rome we will
also visit the Benedictine Monastery at Subacio, where
there is a fresco of St. Francis that is reputed to have been
painted whilst he was visiting the Monastery. We will
also visit the catacombs, and hope to visit SantEgidio, an
ecumenical community in Rome.
The itinerary is subject to minor change.
Price per person: 1225.00
Prices are based on two people sharing a twin
bedded room on a Half Board basis, and includes
flights and all entrance fees.
(A single room supplement of 199.00 is payable)
For a full itinerary and booking form please
contact Sharon Beech on 0161 761 0536
or e-mail to:
[Link]@[Link]
Tuesday 3rd March
2.00 pm Tuesday Club: Annual General Meeting
7.00 pm: Parish Memorial Mass for Fr John Cribben
8.30 pm Meeting with the Music Group re Easter Liturgies
Wednesday 4th March
PLEASE NOTE THAT FR DENIS MCBRIDES
TALK ON THIS DATE HAS BEEN RE-ARRANGED
TO THURSDAY 26TH MARCH DUE TO HIS COMMITMENTS
Saturday 7th March
10.00 am 12.00 noon Sacramental Programme Meeting
for Parents and children in the Parish Centre.
Tuesday 10th March
Tuesday club: lunch and bingo
Wednesday 11th March & Thursday 12th March
7.00 pm Sacramental Programme Reconciliation Services
(Parents choose which evening to attend)
Saturday 21st March & Sunday 22nd March
Cake Sale after all the Masses in aid of our young parishioners going to Lourdes with Salford Diocese Pilgrimage
Thursday 26th March
7.30 pm: Fr Denis McBride speaking about The Passion
Narratives in the Gospels. St Gabriels HS (organised by
the Salford Diocese Dept for Evangelisation) at St
Gabriels H.S. (Re-arranged from the 4th March.)
HOLY WEEK
Sunday 29th March: Palm Sunday
Tuesday 31st March: Cluster Reconciliation Service at
St Hildas Church, Tottington.
Thursday 2nd April: Holy Thursday
Friday 3rd April: Good Friday
Saturday 4th April: Holy Saturday
Sunday 5th April: Easter Sunday
Awakening Faith & Seeking Christ
Please note that there is no meeting this Thursday (5th
March). The next meeting will be Thursday 12th March
at 7.30 pm in the Parish Centre.
Last Sunday all eleven of our candidates and catechumens
from Guardian Angels attended the Rite of Election at
Salford Cathedral. They were individually presented to, and
welcomed by Bishop John.
Please pray for all of them in this time of final preparation
as they journey towards the Easter Vigil. Our candidates
and catechumens are: (back left right) Alison, Katie, Wilf,
Jane, Stephen, Sarah, Jerome. (Front leftright)) Kirsty,
Sarah, Kay, Alison.