Our Lady of Good Counsel

& Guardian Angels Parish

54 Harvey Street,
Elton, Bury BL8 2RD
Tel: 0161 764 1630

Email: olgcga@b nternet.com

Parish website:
www.guardianangels-parish.org
Parish Twier: @olgcga
Diocesan website:
www.salforddiocese.org.uk

Newsleer for the weekend - 2nd/3rd January 2016

The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord (Year of St. MahewYear C)
PLEASE REMEMBER
IN PRAYER

THIS WEEKENDS
SCRIPTURES

OUR SICK:
Bro. Nicholas Hutchinson,
David Lindley, Elaine Hardman,
Joan Hearle, Alex Riley, Bill
McPhee, Joe Barrett, Patsy Frazer,
Steven McGuiness, Barbara
Kendal, John Durcan, Caroline
OKeefe, Rebecca Russell,
Maureen McNicoll, Steven
Rogers, Lana Nuttall, Patricia
Gough, Val Heywood, Phil
Williams, John Dutton, Val
Herbert, Ann Corrigan, Fred
Allen, Denis Haydock, Joan
Grimshaw, Mavis Walsh, Colette
Stabler, Sean OKeefe, Michael
Dewsnap, Joyce Greenhalgh,
Laurence Hayes, Cecilia & John
Hickie, Bill Brewer, Ruby
Thompson, John Dalecki, Jane
Dalecki, Mike Naughton.

First Reading: Isaiah 60: 1-6

Arise, shine!
Psalm 72 A ll nations shall fall
prostrate before you, O Lord.
Second Reading: Ephesians 3:
2-3, 5-6 Gods secret plan is revealed
Gospel: Matthew 2: 1-12 They
presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

LATELY DECEASED:
Fr Peter Birmingham, Helen
Goldsbrough.
ANNIVERSARIES:
Fr Francis Fitzpatrick, Martha
Berthold, Jane Goodall, Frances
Woods, Brian Gorton, Mary Ann
ODowd, Michael ODowd.
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@btinternet.com
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.

NEXT WEEKENDS
SCRIPTURES (Year C)
First Reading: Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9
-11
Psalm 104
Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14;
3: 4-7
Gospel: Luke 3: 15-16, 21-22

'CIRCLE OF PRAYER'
St Theresa of Lisieux
Deanery
For the week beginning Sunday
3rd January we pray for the
people and priests in Nazareth
House, Prestwich and all the
retired priests in our deanery.

SERVICES THIS WEEK

Saturday 2nd January: The Feast of the Epiphany
7.00 pm: Mass
Sunday 3rd January: The Feast of the Epiphany
8.45 am: Mass
10.30 am: Mass
Monday 4th January: Christmas Weekday
9.15 am: Eucharistic Service
Tuesday 5th January: Christmas Weekday
7.00 pm: Mass
Wednesday 6th January: Christmas Weekday
9.15 am: Eucharistic Service
Thursday 7th January: Christmas Weekday
9.15 am: Mass
Friday 8th January: Christmas Weekday
9.15 am: Mass
Saturday 9th January Feast of the Baptism of the
Lord
7.00 pm: Mass
Sunday 10th January: Feast of the Baptism of the
Lord
8.45 am: Mass
10.30am: MassAnnual Mass with all those baptised
and received into the Church in 2015
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday 2nd January: No Confessions
Saturday 9th January: Confessions at 6.00 pm
The Rosary (for the sick and peace)
Please note that there will be no Rosary now until 15th
February 2016.

Are you coeliac? We have special hosts for those

who are coeliac. If you need a special host, please come
to the sacristy before Mass and ask the sacristan to put a
coeliac host out for you. Please also let Fr Paul know
that you will be coming up for a coeliac host.
Dont forget we have Tea and Coffee in the
Parish Centre after the 10.30 am Mass each
Sundaycome and join us!

We saw his star and have come to

pay homage to the King.

WEEKLY OFFERINGS
The Offertory Collection for:
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day was:
Envelopes: 1240.00 Loose collection: 1031.82
Total: 2271.82
For the weekend 26th/27th December was:
Envelopes: 654.56 Loose collection: 211.36
Total: 865.92
Christmas Crib offerings (to help pay for Collins secondary
Education in Kenya) to date: 666.86
Thank you for your generosity.
We have now posted out the boxes of envelopes that hadnt been
collected from the back of Church. If you havent received your
envelopes in the post, please contact the Parish Office.
Also if you wish to join the Gift Aid scheme please contact the
Parish Office after Christmas and we will be able to organise it for you.
It only takes a couple of seconds but it brings in extra revenue to the
Parish! For every 1.00 a gift-aider gives to the Parish, it is worth 1.25
to the Parish.
Important Note for all Gift-aiders:
Please notify the Parish Office if you:

Want to cancel your gift-aid declaration

Change your name or home address

No longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains

Many thanks. Fr Paul.

Snow patrol . Well weve had the heavy rains and flooding,
(our parish centre and minibus were both on offer to the Council this
week in case they were needed to provide refuge and move people or
goods around). However, its usually after Christmas that the snow
comes along! A few years ago we had a snow patrol on stand-by in
case we got snow or very icy weather. It was in place for two reasons
if we get heavy snow I cant shift it all by myself to make the grounds
accessible!, and that doesnt just apply to weekends, we have funerals
during the week etc. Also its the same when the temperature drops, and
I think everyone knows how icy and dangerous our car park becomes,
so it takes a lot of gritting to make it (and the paths around church) safe.
There was another purpose also and that was for when we get
heavy snow, many of our older parishioners cant and shouldnt go out
in those kind of conditions, so we had a team of people who would
either walk to the shops and get the shopping for them, or use their 4x4s
to get the shopping. If we have in place a list of people willing to help
out, then the parishioners who need this, if it happens, can phone the
Parish Office and we can mobilise people from here. It worked very
well a few years ago, simply because we had the systems in place.
So if you would be willing to be part of the snow patrol, please
fill in the form and hand it to Fr Paul or pop it through the letter-box, or
email the office on: paul.cannon@dioceseofsalford.org.uk and we can
begin compiling our lists. Let us know which aspect you can help out
with, snow clearing and gritting and/or shopping for housebound.
Many thanks
Fr Paul.

----------------------------------------------SNOW PATROL
I will help with:
 Clearing snow and gritting around the Church site
 Shopping for the elderly in the case of snow and ice
Name: .
Tel Number: ...

PARISH DIARY
Tuesday 5th January:
2.00 pm Tuesday Club: Bingo
Sunday 10th January: The Baptism of the Lord.
At the 10.30 am Mass on this day we especially welcome all
those who have been baptised and received into the Church
during 2015.
Tuesday 12th January:
Tuesday Club: Music and Dance.
Wednesday 13th January:
9.15 am: New Year Mass for Guardian Angels School (in
Church)
Friday 15th January:
9.15 am: New Year Mass for Our Lady of Lourdes School (at
Our Lady of Lourdes School)

A very big Thank You for all the Chr istmas car ds and
presents that we have received over these past few dayswe
really appreciate your kindness. It is impossible to thank everyone individuallyso we hope you dont mind this general
word of thanks.
Happy Christmas, and every best wish for the New Year.
Fr Paul & Sharon.
The Parish Minibus Fund
Many people have been very generous over these past few
weeks with individual donationsthank you so much. In the
past week we received donations of 100, 144 (from the sale
of the Christmas Quiz) therefore the running total in the
fund currently is: 11,334.
We are now actively looking at vehicles that will suit our
needs.
2015 ANNUAL STATISTICS
At the beginning of each year every parish submits its annual
pastoral statistics to the Diocese. They always make interesting reading, as they show the number of other services in
addition to our regular Sunday and weekday Masses that take
place in the year.

Baptisms: 65 (including 3 adult baptism s)

Reception into full communion with the Church: 11
(including 2 children)
Confirmations: 54
First Communions: 54
Weddings: 6
Funerals: 37

A celebration of Baptism - next Sunday

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
In 2015 we had . baptisms as we do each year, we have
invited the families of the children baptised last year to come
and join us at the 10.30 am Mass next Sunday, so that we can
celebrate with them as a Parish Community
the new life of baptism that their children
have received. We have also invited the
adults were baptised or received into full
communion with the Catholic Church to join
us also. Please join them in the Parish Centre
after Mass for tea and coffee.

Mobile Number: .
E-mail: ...
Please return asap. Thank you

You are now able to access the weekly parish newsletter

from our twitter feed @olgcga

AWAKENING FAITH AND SEEKING CHRIST

We will resume our meetings on TUESDAY 12th JANUARY at
7.45 pm in the Parish House Meeting Room.
We will resume our sessions on Jesus: A pilgrimage on
WEDNESDAY 13th JANUARY at 7.30 pm in the Parish
Centre. Further dates will be in next weekend newsletter.

Planning on getting married in 2016 or even

2017 at Guardian Angels?
Please remember that all couples are required
to give at least 6 months notice (by Diocesan Law) in order
to marry in the Church. So, if you are planning on getting
married in 2016 and have not yet made contact with us and booked in
your wedding, please do so as soon as possible.
Please telephone the office (0161 764 1630) to make an appointment for an initial meeting with Fr Paul, so that the availability of the
Church can be checked and details can be put in the Parish Diary. We
have now set the date for our pre-marriage preparation daythose who
have booked in a wedding in 2016 should have received a letter from Fr
Paul recently.

Guardian Angels
Parish Pilgrimage
to the Holy Land
Saturday 28th May Saturday 4th June 2016
(Half-term week)
A pilgrimage to the Holy Land in the footsteps of
Jesus brings the scriptures alive!
We will be visiting the important sites in:
Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Bethany, Jericho,
Emmaus, the Jordan River, the Galilee region,
Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Caesarea
Phillipi, Tabgh, Nazareth, and Cana.
(The itinerary is subject to minor changes)
At the moment we are awaiting confirmation on the
full itinerary and also awaiting the final cost from our
tour operator ITS (who we have used for many pilgrimages, including all the pilgrimages to the Holy Land) but
we wanted to get the dates out to you.
If you would be interested in joining our parish
pilgrimage to the Holy Land, or would like further
information please contact the Parish Office and then
as soon as we have the final costings (early in the New
Year) we will contact you directly.

During our Advent Reconciliation Service, we used

the following Examination of Christian Living. It is
meant as an aid to help us all find whatever questions
we need to ask ourselves about how faithfully or unfaithfully we have lived our baptismal call in Christ. It
was very well received and people said that it helped
them to reflect on where they were in their living out
of the Christian life. So, I have reprinted it here for a
wider audience, and it could be worth using it on a
regular basis during this Year of Mercy.
Do I respect Gods gi of life by showing kindness and
love to young and old?
Do I behave and speak and live in a way that brings
about respect and dignity for all Gods people?
Do I respect my body as a temple where Gods Holy
Spirit dwells?
Do I take care of my own health?
Do I tend to follow the worlds standards instead of
standing up for the truth of the Gospel?
Am I le!ng the light of Christ shine through me in the
way I live?
Am I closer to God, or more distant than I was at this
$me last year?
Am I generous in seeking to help other people and to
show merciful love?
Does the Word of God have a place in my life?
Do I pray every day?
Do I respect the gi of crea$on that God has given us?
How much of the worlds resources do I waste?
Do I show respect and concern for the poor and marginalized?
Do I try to see Jesus in all people?
Do I respect and love those who are closest to me?
Am I honest in all my dealings with God, with myself
and with others?
Do I obey the civil laws that govern our society?
Do I do my part to keep Gods church and Gods Word
alive and ac$ve in the world?
Do I live moderately in all things, and
resist the tempta$on to par$cipate in
excessive behaviour of any kind?
Do I use power to demean or diminish
others?

Pope Francis on forgiveness this week: T he Churchs

forgiveness must be as broad as that offered by Jesus on the
cross, Mary at his feet. There is no other way.
MINIBUS DRIVERS
If you cannot fulfil your rota duty, please arrange a swap
with another team. Thanks.
This weeks team: Pat & Sue Moriarty
Next weeks team: George Ponka & Simon Carlon
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.
Please contact the Parish Office if you would like to volunteer or for more information.

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.
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,
or you can simply put all the details on an envelope, and
put the donation in the envelope and pop it through the
office letterbox.

Flowers for the Sanctuary at Christmas were donated in

memory of:
The Christmas Tree: in memor y of Edith Roger s.
Flowers: John Mer cer , Mar gar et Adams, Alan Mer cer , Ian Fee,
Tony McGrail, Mike Turner, Kevin Moakler, Kathryn Bannister, Celia
Marsh, Bernard Marsh, George Dewsnap, Frank Warburton, deceased
members of the UCM, Raymond Booth, Katherine Ainley, Catherine
McDermott, Timothy McDermott, Sheelagh Byrne, Daniel Hickey,
Grace Igoe, Kieran Flemming, Pat and Peg McGuiness, Tony
Whitehead, Alan Tattersall, The Crompton Family, The Patterson
Family, Ethel & Joe Gradwell.
Thank you to everyone who made donations for flowers at Christmas. If
I have omitted anyone (due to the large number of envelopes coming into
the Office these last couple of weeks, please let me know and I will add
them to the list)

THIS YEARS CRIB OFFERINGS

Once again we have chosen a
specific project to benefit from the
Crib Offerings this year. Secondary
Education is something we, here in
the UK take for granted, however, in
Kenya the young people have to pay if they wish to
further their education, the outcome of which is that most
young people finish their education, if they have been one
of the lucky ones to have any education, at age 15 and
their prospects are not great. At the Good Life
Orphanage, 300 children have a great opportunity to learn
at St. Bernadette Marys School for free, up to the age of
15 which is a great start for all of them.
The following is the story of one such young man
who with our help will be able to fulfil his dream of
furthering his education:
Collins & Rachael were rescued from
a terrible orphanage on 23rd
December 2008. The staff there were
starting to abuse Rachael and Collins
informed a volunteer who was staying
there at the time. Mary and Kevin
went that evening to bring them out of
the place, it was a journey they will
never forget. You can see from the
photo of the two of them on Christmas Day 2008 just
how sad they looked. Mary says that she always looked at
Rachael's eyes, they just seem dead in that photo.
Collins always spoke about his younger brother
Derick but it took over two years to trace him and he was
admitted to the GLO in 2011. To say that Collins has had
a traumatic childhood is an understatement but he is a
well balanced young man who looks out for his siblings.

Childrens Liturgy of the Word.

Just a reminder that we have the Childrens Liturgy of the Word at the
8.45 and 10.30 am Masses each week now.
We are also hoping to start it at the 7.00 pm Mass on Saturday evening
early in the new year.
If you would like to be a part of the team leading the Childrens Liturgy
of the Word at any of the Masses, please contact the Parish Office for
further information.

Christmas Family Quiz 2015

Dont forget the closing date for completed entries to be submitted is
midnight on Sunday 3rd January 2016 (please put them through the
letterbox of the Parish Office door)
READERS ROTAa new rota begins this weekendcopies of the
new rota are available for collection from the Welcome and Information
Room

2016 Salford Diocesan Almanacs are available

to purchase in The Welcome & Information Room.
Price 3.00 a copy, (please leave the money in the
box next to the books.)

To receive our Parish Newsletter by e-mail each weekend, simply email the Parish Office on: olgcga@btinternet.com with the tag line
newsletter and we will add you to the list. Follow us on Twitter also
@olgcga for reminders and updates on parish events, & a link to the
newsletter each weekend.

We now have 10 pupils from St Bernadette Marys

School going to secondary school but Collins is our first
child from The GLO to go to secondary school so he has
a very special place in our hearts. It costs 1,000 to send
him to school each year,
this includes school fees,
uniforms, books, boarding, transportation and
personal items such as
toothpaste, soap etc. It
will be a massive wrench
for Collins to leave his
sister & younger brother
but he is very focused
and knows this will be a wonderful opportunity for him to
make a change to their lives as well. Collins was baptised
on Christmas Day, so he is making some very big decisions on his own behalf and becoming a Catholic is one
of them.
The Crib remains in place throughout the whole of
the Christmas Season (until the Feast of the Baptism of
the Lord) and the Crib offerings can be made up until that
Feast Day (10th January).
I know that you will be as generous as you can be
and as generous as you always are. Thank you.
Fr Paul.
Crib offerings received to date: 666.86