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 April 2015

Fih Sunday of Easter (Year of St. MarkYear B)
PLEASE REMEMBER
IN PRAYER
OUR SICK:
Bro. Nicholas Hutchinson,
David Lindley, Dominic Gamble,
Eileen Cock, Margaret Reilly,
Elaine Hardman, Ray Fitzwalter,
James Scanlon, Jody Turon,
Austin Sweeney, Michael
Dewsnap, Phyllis Daly, Maurice
Berry, Joan Grimshaw, Margaret
Reilly, Sean Reilly, John Cullen,
Hilda Wilcock, Joan Hearle,
Phillip Bailey, Alan Radcliffe,
Mary Hanson, Joyce Greenhalgh,
Maddie Clayton, Paddy Harrison,
Larry Hindes, Lilian Graves,
Maura Morley.
LATELY DECEASED
Angela Rogers
Doreen Caffrey
David Wilson
Colm Devlin
June Gosling
Lynn Smalley
ANNIVERSARIES
Bob OKeefe
Brendan Dowling
Raymond Booth
Margaret Chan
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 email 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.

THIS WEEKENDS
SCRIPTURES
TODAYS READINGS
First Reading: Acts 9: 26-31
Saul spoke out boldly in the name
of the Lord
Psalm 22: You, Lord, are my
praise in the great assembly
Second Reading: 1 John 3:18-24
We should believe in the name of
Jesus Christ and love one another
Gospel: J ohn 15: 1-8 I am the
vine, you are the branches

NEXT WEEKENDS
SCRIPTURES (Year B)
First Reading: Acts 10: 25-26,
34-35, 44-48
Psalm 98
Second Reading: 1 John 4:7-10
Gospel: John 15: 9-17

'CIRCLE OF PRAYER'
St Theresa of Lisieux
Deanery
For the week beginning Sunday
3rd May 2015 we pray for the
parish of St Thomas More for the
parishioners and Fr Peter
McGiveron their Parish Priest
and Bishop Terence who lives in
their Parish.

SERVICES THIS WEEK

Saturday 2nd May: Fourth Sunday of Easter
7.00 pm: Mass
Sunday 3rd May: Fourth Sunday of Easter
8.45 am: Mass
10.30 am: Mass
Monday 4th May: The English Martyrs
12.00 noon: Eucharistic Service (Bank Holiday)
Tuesday 5th May: Easter weekday
7.00 am: Mass
Wednesday 6th May: Easter weekday
9.15 am: Mass
Thursday 7th May: Easter weekday
9.15 am: Eucharistic Service
Friday 8th May: Easter weekday
9.15 am: Mass
Saturday 2nd May: Sixth Sunday of Easter
7.00 pm: Mass
Sunday 3rd May: Sixth Sunday of Easter
8.45 am: Mass
10.30 am: Mass
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday 2nd May: 6.00 pm
Saturday 9th May: No Confessions
The Rosary (for the sick and peace)
7.30 pm each Monday
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 in Church this weekend are in memory
of Stefan Sikorski whose birthday was on the 29th
April.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

3rd May 2015
If you wish to contribute to the View from the Pew,
please contact the Parish Office. These are anonymous
comments from parishioners.
In this weekend's Gospel, Jesus says, "I am the vine and
you are the branches; without me you cannot bear any fruit. But
if you stay close to me and carry my words in your heart, then
you will bear much fruit and as my disciples, bring glory to my
Father in Heaven.
Recently I was working in our garden (well, my wife
was!!) and I found a branch underneath a tree, which must have
been broken off by the wind. The leaves on it had already started
to wither and die. I also found another branch nearby, which had
no leaves at all; it was completely dead. In fact, I wouldn't even
call it a branch, it was a stick! Clearly, the branches cannot live
or grow or bear fruit without the tree. So if I were to take the
dead branch and plant it in the ground and water it, it won't come
back to life; it will just be an old stick in the mud.
That same thing is true about our life with Jesus. If
we follow Jesus' example of Love, Faith and Hope we will
grow. We will produce beautiful leaves and delicious fruit, and
we will have life, and live it to the full. But if we ignore Jesus
and become separated from him, we will not grow and our
lives will not be fruitful.
What will your life be? Will you be a beautiful branch on
the tree...or will you just be a stick?
MINIBUS DRIVERS
If you cannot fulfil your rota duty, please arrange a swap with another
team. Thanks.
This weeks team: George Ponka & Steve Sawley
Next weeks team: Mary & Steve Sawley
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.
ITEMS FOR THE NEWSLETTER
Please submit all items for inclusion in the newsletter to the Parish
Office no later than Wednesday evening.
Either pop them through the Office letter-box or e-mail them in. Anything received after Wednesday evening cant be guaranteed to make it
into the next weekends newsletter.
To receive our Parish Newsletter by e-mail each weekend, simply
e-mail 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.
Follow the Department for Evangelisation: @SalfordDFE
WEEKLY OFFERINGS
The Offertory Collection for:
For the weekend 25th /26th April was:
Envelopes: 792.45 Loose collection: 299.07
Total: 1091.52
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: How and for whom can I be a Bar nabas
this week, a Son or Daughter of Encouragement? What opportunities
will you have to show forth the fruits that Jesus expects us to bear: kindness, goodness and patience.

Weve had a great start to our Childrens Liturgy of

the Word at the 8.45 am Mass. A good number of children
taking part in it, and the feedback has been very positive.
Im grateful to our 10.30 am team who have shared their
experience with the new 8.45 am Team, and will be helping
the new team to settle into this new ministry.
We still have room for more leaders at both Masses,
so if you are interested please have a word with me, and we
can sort it out. Im delighted that we have now been able to
get it up and running at both of the Sunday Masses now
so please do support it and take advantage of us being able
to offer this. Fr Paul
The New Eucharistic Ministers & Readers Rotas
are now available to collect from the
Welcome & Information Centre.

PARISH DIARY
Sunday 3rd May
10.30 am Mass Presentation and Welcome for Baptism
Baptism Preparation Meeting (1) after 10.30 Mass
Tuesday 5th May
Tuesday Club: Bingo2.00 pm
UCM: Rosary
Wednesday 6th May
7.30 pm Mens GroupQuiz Nite (see page 4 for details)
Thursday 7th May
7.30 pm Seeking Christ Meeting
8.00 pm Meeting of Pilgrims on the Poland Pilgrimage
Friday 8th May
No Yoga meeting today (Parish Centre being used by St
Gabriels HS)
Saturday 9th May
10.00 am12.00 noon: Sacramental Programme Parents
and childrens meeting (Parish Centre)
Tuesday 12th May
Tuesday Club: Spring trip to Lancaster and Barton Grange
UCM: No meeting
Saturday 16th May
10.00 am 3.00 pm: A Day with David Wells (organised
by the Department for Evangelisation) at St Gabriels HS.
(Full details on page 3)
Sunday 17th May Solemnity of the Ascension of the
Lord
1.00 pm: Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation
3.00 pm: Celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation
Sunday 24th MaySunday 31st May
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Auschwitz and Krakow
Tuesday 2nd June
7.30 pm Our Lady of Lourdes Full Governing Body Meeting
Thursday 11th June
7.30 pm Guardian Angels Full Governing Body Meeting
Saturday 13th June
10.00 am 1.00 pm: Sacramental Programme Family Day
Sunday 21st June
8.45 am and 10.30 am Masses: First Communions

The Clusterers
Thursday 7th May
Musberry Valley (pub carvery)
Steep parts and rough under foot
Leader: Jeff Smith 764 7269

T WO NEW BOOKS
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Francis: Life and Revolution
Elisabetta Piqu
Since Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis in
2013, countless books have been written to help the
world understand this deeply complex yet simple servant of God. What sets Pope Francis: Life and Revolution apart from all other biographies of Pope F rancis is the careful
research and original investigation behind it, along with the fact that
it is written by an internationally respected journalist, Elisabetta
Piqu, who has remained close to the Pope since first meeting him
back in 2001.

10.95 a copy (paperback)

The Salford Diocese Department for
Evangelisation invites you to spend a day with
David Wells. David is the author of The Reluctant
Disciple, a book recently published by Redemptorist Publications. He works for Plymouth Roman
Catholic Diocese in the Department for Formation,
and is internationally renowned as a speaker and
facilitator in the field of evangelisation, catechesis
and education. He has a lively and entertaining
style that holds the attention of any audience.
During his day with us in our Diocese, David will
speak about:

Evangelii Gaudium and the vision of

Pope Francis for the Church.
Cost per person: 10.00
(including Tea & Coffee throughout the day, and
Soup & bread at lunchtimeyou can also bring
sandwiches with you if you wish)

Booking is essential for catering purposes.

Jesus: A Pilgrimage
James Martin SJ
James Martin, SJ brings the Gospels to life in Jesus: A
Pilgrimage, and invites believers and seekers alike to
experience Jesus through Scripture, prayer and travel.
Combining the fascinating insights of historical Jesus
studies with profound spiritual insights about the Christ of faith,
Father Martin recreates the world of first-century Galilee and Judea
to usher you into Jesus's life and times and show readers how Jesus
speaks to us today. He also brings together the most up-to-date
Scripture scholarship, wise spiritual reflections, and light-hearted
stories about travelling through the Holy Land with a fellow (and
funny) Jesuit, visiting important sites in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.
The person at the heart of the Gospels can seem impossibly distant.
Stories about his astonishing life and ministry, clever parables that
upended everyone's expectations, incredible healings that convinced
even sceptics, nature miracles that dazzled the dumbstruck disciples
can seem far removed from our own daily lives, hard to understand,
and at times irrelevant. But in Jesus you will come to know him as
Father Martin knows him: Messiah and Saviour, as well as friend
and brother.

18.99 a copy (hardback)

--------------------------------Please reserve me place(s) at the David

Wells day.

Please order for me:

.. Copy (copies) of Francis: Life & Revolution
.. Copy (copies) of Jesus: a pilgrimage

Name:

NAME: ...

Address: .
.

TEL NO:
Please either give the order form to Fr Paul or post it through
the Parish Office letter-box

Postcode: .. Tel No: .

Having your child baptised at Guardian
Angels.
Return to: Guar dian Angels Par ish Office
E-mail: shar on.beech@dioceseofsalfor d.or g.uk
or Tel: 0161 761 0536 to book on the day.

Please make cheques payable to:

The Department for Evangelisation.

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 Missionary Journeys of St Paul

Malta & Rome

8 days
Friday 25th September
Saturday 3rd October 2015

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:
sharon.beech@dioceseofsalford.org.uk

Wednesday 6th May

At the Railway Hotel,
Ramsbottom.
Pint of Beer on arrival (or any soft drink), Potato Pie
Supper, Quiz and Minibus (leaving G.A. at 7.30 pm)
All for only 7.00 per person.
Please sign up on the sheet at the back of church or email us at olgcga@btinternet.com (we need final
numbers by this Sunday3rd May)
Quiz master for the night: Anthony Ingham.

Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School, Bury

Required for 1st September 2015

CLASS TEACHER
Closing date for applications: Midday Monday 11th May
Shortlisting: Wednesday 13th May
Lesson observations: Week beginning Monday 18th May
Interviews: Thursday 21st May

Please see poster in the porch.

See the poster in the church porch for full details.

Its that time of the year again! We are starting to get ready for the next
session of the 10 Week Draw.
We have been running the ten week draw for several years now and it
has brought in a large amount of extra capital for the Parish. We are only
able to do the extras (decorating the church outside and inside, new
flooring etc) with the help of the extra capital generated by our social
events and the 10 week draw. Paying the fuel bills and diocesan levy etc
takes the majority of our weekly income.
The next ten week draw will begin on SUNDAY 17th MAY (and the
final draw will be on Sunday 19th July).
As most people know, its a very simple processwe have agents, and
there are 20 numbers on each agents book. We really could do with some
more agents (so please contact the Parish Office to become an agent),
and we really need more people to join the 10 week draw. Its ten
pound (a pound a week10 paid before the start of the draw), and the
prizes are very good.
Each week there are prizes of 50.00 and 25.00 (plus agents prizes of
5.00 if the winner is on your book). The big draw will hopefully once
more be 1000 and a few other prizes, but we have to keep within the
law and it all depends on the numbers who join the draw as to what the
final big prize would be.
If you dont know an agent, please see Fr Paul after Mass and he will
take your money and you will be put on an agents book.
Agents books are available to collect from the back of church this weekend, and they will need to be returned no later than Wed 13th May.
Please support the 10 week draw.
Many thanks.
Fr Paul.

Nepal earthquake.
As a result of the terrible earthquake in Nepal
thousands of people in this already impoverished country have been killed and many thousands more are now
in urgent need of food, water, shelter and emergency
supplies. The UN estimates that 8 million people (a
quarter of the population) are affected.
CAFOD is responding with CARITAS Nepal and
the Church and they have already deployed a team to
provide specialist support.
CAFOD has launched a 3.0 million emergency
appeal with 100,000 already having been committed.
Please pray for the people of Nepal.
If possible please donate to the CAFOD appeal. Your
gift will provide life-saving food, water, shelter and
emergency supplies.
Ways to donate : Online at Cafod.ord.uk/Nepal
By telephone: 0500 85 88 85
Or today via the donation baskets at the back of the
church this weekend.

Dont forget we have Tea and Coffee in the

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

You are now able to access the weekly parish newsletter

from our twitter feed (@olgcga