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 - 30th/31st January 2016

The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year of St. LukeYear C)
PLEASE REMEMBER
IN PRAYER

THIS WEEKENDS
SCRIPTURES

OUR SICK:
Bro. Nicholas Hutchinson,
David Lindley, Elaine Hardman,
Joan Hearle, Bill McPhee, Joe
Barrett, Patsy Frazer, Steven
McGuiness, 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, Margaret Reilly, Terri
Hemmert. John Ingle, Mary James.
LATELY DECEASED:
Irene Mort, Margaret Whiston
ANNIVERSARIES:
Colin Caffrey, Josef Niewiedowski
Frank Warburton, Paddy Devlin,
John Heffernan, Joe Gradwell,
John Banks.

First Reading: J er emiah 1:4-5,17

-19 The word of the lord comes to
Jeremiah
Psalm 71 My lips will tell of
your help.
Second Reading: I Cor inthians
12:31-13:13 The greatest of these
is love.
Gospel Reading: Luke 4:21-30
The people rise up to drive Jesus
out of their town.

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 6: 1-2a, 3-8
Psalm: 138
Second Reading: Cor inthians
15: 1-11
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

'CIRCLE OF PRAYER'
St Theresa of Lisieux
Deanery
For the week beginning Sunday
31st January we pray for our
own Parish of Guardian Angels
and Fr Paul our Parish Priest.

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.

SERVICES THIS WEEK

Saturday 30th January: 4th Sunday in Ordinary
Time
7.00 pm: Mass
Sunday 31st January: 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
8.45 am: Mass
10.30 am: Mass
12.15 pm: Celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism
Monday 1st February: Ordinary time weekday
9.15 am: Eucharistic Service
Tuesday 2nd: The Presentation of the Lord
7.00 pm: Mass
Wednesday 3rd : St Blaise
9.15 am: Mass
Thursday 4th February: Ordinary time weekday
9.15 am: Mass
Friday 5th February: St Agatha
9.15 am: Eucharistic Service
Saturday 6th February: 5th Sunday in Ordinary
Time
7.00 pm: Mass
Sunday 7th February: 5th Sunday in Ordinary
Time
8.45 am: Mass
10.30am: Mass
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday 30th January: Confessions at
6.00 pm
Saturday 6th February: 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.

You are now able to access the weekly parish newsletter from our twitter feed @olgcga

WEEKLY OFFERINGS
For the weekend 23rd /24th January was:
Envelopes: 958.75 Loose collection: 308.98
Total: 1267.73
Thank you for your wonderful generosity.
If you wish to join the Gift Aid scheme please contact the Parish
Office 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

We are still looking for the owners of these envelopes: 124,

110, 94. There is money being paid in with these envelopes
but we cant claim the tax because we dont know who they
belong to. Many thanks.
Fr Paul.

Snow patrol . Well weve had the heavy rains and flooding,
However, its usually after Christmas that the snow comes along! And
we are now starting to experience some very cold wintry weather!
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 reasonsif we get
heavy snow I cant shift it all by myself to make the grounds accessible
and safe!, and that doesnt just apply to weekends, we have funerals
during the week etc. Also its the same when the temperature drops. 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.
(a few more volunteers have joined the patrolthank you)
Many thanks
Fr Paul.
ELDERLY/HOUSEBOUND PARISHIONERSIF YOU NEED
SOMEONE TO GET YOUR SHOPPING IN THE EVENT OF
SNOW ETC, PLEASE PHONE THE PARISH OFFICE 0161 764
1630 AND WE WILL GET IT ORGANISED FOR YOU.

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

PARISH DIARY
Tuesday 2nd February:
Tuesday Club: No lunchbingo at 2.00 pm
UCM: Annual General Meeting. All members are invited to
attend please.
7.45 pm: Seeking Christ: Parish House Meeting Room
Wednesday 3rd February:
7.30 pm: Jesus. A Pilgrimage(Ch 24 + 25 Tiberias &
Amen) Parish Centre
Saturday 6th February
9.30am3.30pm: Cluster Marriage Preparation Day. Parish
Centre.
Sunday 7th February
11.30 am: Baptism Preparation Meeting (1).
Tuesday 9th February:
Tuesday Club: Music and dance
7.00 pm: Shrove Tuesday Evening Mass & Preparation of the
Ashes followed by Pancakes and a raffle in the Centre after
Mass. All proceeds will go to Bury Young Carers and Sr Joan
at the Caritas Centre in Bury.
Wednesday 10th February
Ash WednesdayBeginning of Lent.
Thursday 11th February
9.15 am Mass: Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. (The whole
school from Our Lady of Lourdes will be joining us in Church
for the Feast Day Mass) All Welcome.
Sunday 14th February
Rite of ElectionSalford Cathedral2.00 pm
Tuesday 16th February
Lenten Programme Begins. Parish Centre (see page 4)
Saturday 20th February
10.00am1.00 pm Safeguarding meeting. Salford Diocese
Safeguarding Commission. Parish Centre
Thursday 3rd March
8.00pm Parish Management & Resources Group
Wednesday 9th March
7.30pmGA Full Governors Meeting
Thursday 10th March
7.30pmOLOL Full Governors Meeting
Thursday 17th March
5.00pm St. Gabriels Full Governing Body Meeting.
Sunday 20th MarchPalm Sunday the start of Holy
Week

CARITAS SUNDAY
This weekend, as you will hear in the Pastoral Letter
from Bishop John, we have a diocesan retiring collection to support the work of CARITAS in our diocese.
Caritas is already at work for refugees and asylum seekers. Caritas is also assisting with food banks, day centres, night-shelters and numerous specialised projects to
help those in many kinds of need.
I know that you will be as generous as you can be and
always are.
AWAKENING FAITH AND SEEKING CHRIST

We continue our meetings on TUESDAY 2nd February

at 7.45 pm in the Parish House Meeting Room.
The Parish Minibus Fund
Many people have been very generous over these past
few months with individual donationsthank you so much.
In the past week we received a donation of 20.00 and
5.00 therefore the running total in the fund currently is:
11,408. 05
We are now actively looking at vehicles that will suit
our needs.

Guardian Angels Parish Pilgrimage to the

Holy Land
Jesus: A Pilgrimage
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, Tabgh,
Nazareth, Cana, Magdala, plus some exciting
new sites we havent visited before.
(The itinerary is subject to minor changes)
We have now received the
final itinerary and costings from

our tour operator ITS. We

have been working with them
looking at costs and itinerary,
and we have made significant savings and put together a
very interesting itinerary.
General Information
COST PER PERSON:
due to airline costs fluctuating please
contact the Parish Office for the costs
COST INCLUDES:
Return flights Manchester to Tel Aviv on Monarch Airlines.
Airport duty & passenger taxes
1 suitcase per person for the aircraft hold
Return transfers from Airport & Return
3 nights x Half Board Dan Jerusalem
4 nights x Half Board Franciscan Hotel Mount of Beatitudes
(Lunch of St. Peters Fish, is included on Day 6)
English speaking tour guide whilst in Israel.
WHAT IS EXTRA:
Single room supplement 396.00
Travel Insurance (see ITS booking Form)
Tips to Guide & Driver

If you are interested in joining our parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land, or would like further information please contact the Parish Office (or see Fr
Paul after any of the weekend Masses for an information pack). Places will be limited (and the airline
costs can alter as time goes on) so our advice would be
not to delay in getting your booking forms and deposit
back as soon as possible!

Diary of Social Events.

2016
The Social Events group met recently to put together the Calendar of Events for the forthcoming year. These events help
fundraise for the Parish but are not just about raising money! They are more about bringing the Parish community
together and helping continue building community.
Saturday 9th April - Posh Race Night (Grand National
Day)
Saturday May 21st MayDay trip to Guys Hamlet,
Garstang. Great Family Day out (Details to follow)
17th JuneTottington Band, Beer & Brass
Sunday 3rd JulyFamily Olympics Sport Day and Hog
Roast.
Monday 29th August Cartmel Races.
Saturday 17th SeptemberWine Tasting Quiz
October- Date TBAQuiz Night.
Sunday 4th DecemberChristmas Extravaganza
2017Date to be confirmedParish Celebration of 60
years since the opening of our Church.
We hope as many people as possible will be able to support
them and of course if anyone is available to help organize
some of the events please let Fr. Paul or Sharon know.

Guardian Angels Parent and Toddler Group.

The group continue to meet on Monday afternoon in the Parish Centre. There has been a wonderful influx of new babiesand so we are asking if anyone has any Baby bouncers that they can donate to the group for all the new babies
to use when they come along on a Monday.
Please contact the Parish Office if you have one that you no
longer require, and we can tell you the best time to drop it
offalso any parents who want more information about the
group, please contact the Parish Office on 0161 764 1630.
Our sessions on Jesus a pilgrimage come to an
end this week with us looking at the final two
chapters on WEDNESDAY 3rd FEBRUARY at
7.30 pm in the Parish Centre looking at chapters
24 & 25 (Tiberias & Amen)

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 premarriage preparation daynext Saturday 6th Februarythose
who have booked in a wedding in 2016 should have received a
letter from Fr Paul.

Dont forget we have Tea and Coffee in the

Parish Centre after the 10.30 am Mass each
Sundaycome and join us!

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.
The flowers this weekend are in memory of Josef
Niewiedowski whose anniversary occurs around this time.

The Liturgy of the Word with Children.

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 had a very good meeting on Tuesday evening to move things
forward as regards starting the Liturgy of the word with Children
at the Saturday 7.00pm Mass.
We are starting it at the 7.00 pm Mass beginning on the first Saturday evening of Lent. (13th February). If you would like to be a
part of the team leading it at any of the Masses, please contact the
Parish Office for further information. We could do with a few
more volunteers for all the Masses. Many thanks.
READERS AND EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS ROTAScopies of
all the rotas can be found in the Welcome and Information Room.
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.
MINIBUS DRIVERS
If you cannot fulfil your rota duty, please arrange a swap with another
team. Thanks.
This weeks team: Kevin Dilger & Simon Carlon
Next weeks team: Michael Harrington & Barbara Ashton
We currently 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.
Baby changing facilitieswe have realised that not everyone knows
that we have baby changing facilities in the toilet for the disabled in the
foyer of the Parish Centre.

Tweet of the week:

Mercy is not something we receive as a private consolation
but makes us missionaries
Pope Francis

OUR LENTEN PROGRAMME

As usual, we will be having a special Lenten programme
each Tuesday evening in Lent (after the 7.00 pm Mass) in
the Parish Centre. The sessions will begin on Tuesday 16th
February.
This year we are using a little publication entitled Lift up
your hearts .
This booklet has been written and published by Dr Mark
Nash who works in the Archdiocese of Southwark, and is
someone myself and Sharon have worked very closely with
over the past few years. It is a booklet produced for the
Archdiocese of Westminster, but we have already seen a
copy of it, and the materials in it are excellent, and so
should lead to some good discussion and faith sharing.
It looks at certain scripture passages that are particularly
relevant for the Season of Lent and also for the Year of
Mercy.
We will have copies of the booklet available to buy next
weekend (2.00 a copy). So put the Tuesdays of Lent dates
in you diary now and come and join us.
Shrove Tuesday will soon be upon us! As usual we will
have Mass on Shrove Tuesday and then immediately following the Mass we gather to prepare the Ashes for Ash
Wednesday by burning last years Palms. After that we go
into the Parish Centre for Pancakes. Do join us.
Please remember to bring back to Church next weekend the
Palm Leaves you received last Palm Sunday so that we
have plenty for the burning of them to make the Ashes.

THE YEAR OF MERCY

MOMENTS OF MERCY

As Catholics we take up the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving every
year. These practices help us to remember
the merciful love and compassion that God
shows all people. Participating in these practices, we
journey toward repentance with our community and God
and toward the celebration of the Paschal Mystery of our
Lord. We do not make this journey alone. The whole
Church prepares for the celebration and together, along
with those who are preparing to enter the Church at the
Easter Vigil, we try to live more faithfully to God's call
to be merciful, loving, and compassionate to those
around us. Our acts of love through sacrifice and prayer
are a tangible witness of God's love to those around us.
1. Spend some time in reflection about why you choose
to participate in the prayer, fasting, and almsgiving of
the Church during the coming Lenten season. Next time
someone asks you why you have a dirty mark on your
forehead on Ash Wednesday, you'll be better prepared to
share your belief in God who is merciful and compassionate.
2. Share with someone what your Lenten practices will
be this year. This is not to brag about how good you are
at following Christ, rather, it allows us to each have
something of an "accountability partner" so that we can
strive to be a more credible witness to our faith.