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 - 19th/20th December 2015

The Fourth Sunday of Advent (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.
LATELY DECEASED:
Margaret Hays, Joseph Brennan,
Carmel Mitchell, Fr Anthony
Sudlow, Hannah Buckley, Mary
OKeeffe, Peter Middleton.

First Reading: Micah 5: 1-4a

From Bethlehem shall come the
ruler of Israel.
Psalm: 80 God of hosts, bring us
back; let your face shine on us
and we shall be saved.
Second Reading: Hebr ews 10: 510 Behold, I come to do your will.
Gospel: Luke 1: 39-45 Mary visits
her kinswoman Elizabeth.

ANNIVERSARIES:
Maurice Quirk, Brian Walton,
Gerline McCrory, Mary & Kevin
Dowling, Joan Watson, Mary &
John Terry, Eileen &
Peter Oates, Bernard
Shivnan
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: 1 Samuel 1:20-22,
24-28
Psalm 84:
Second Reading: 1 J ohn 3:1-2,
21-24
Gospel: Luke 2: 41-52

'CIRCLE OF PRAYER'
St Theresa of Lisieux
Deanery
For the week beginning Sunday
20th December we pray for the
people of Our Lady of Grace
Parish and their priests Mgr
John Allen and Fr Anthony
Dearman.

SERVICES THIS WEEK

Saturday 19th December: The Fourth Sunday of
Advent
7.00 pm: Mass
Sunday 20th November: The Fourth Sunday of
Advent
8.45 am: Mass
10.30 am: Mass
Monday 21st December: Advent weekday
9.15 am: Eucharistic Service
Tuesday 22nd December: Advent weekday
10.00 am 10.00 am Funeral Mass for Joseph Brennan
7.00 pm: Parish Advent Reconciliation Service
Wednesday 23rd December: Advent weekday
9.15 am: Eucharistic Service
Thursday 24th December: Christmas Eve
7.00 pm Vigil Mass
11.30 pm Midnight Mass
Friday 25th December: Christmas Day
8.45 am Christmas Day Mass
10.30 am Christmas Day Mass
Saturday 26th December: Feast of the Holy Family
7.00 pm Mass
Sunday 27th December: Feast of the Holy Family
8.45 am Mass
10.30am Mass
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Tuesday 22nd December 7.00 pm Parish Advent
Reconciliation Service
Saturday 26th December No Confessions
The Rosary (for the sick and peace)
Please note that there will not be 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!

WEEKLY OFFERINGS

The Offertory Collection for:

For the weekend 12th/13th December was:
Envelopes: 1048.37 Loose collection: 302.18 Total: 1350.55
Thank you for your generosity.
We have been distributing the gift aid offertory envelopes for 2016, for
the past two Sundays. There are still a few boxes to be collected, please
see Fr Paul after Mass and he will get your box for you. Please take the
time to collect your envelopes, and therefore save us on postage costs of
sending them out to you.
Also if you wish to join the Gift Aid scheme please see a member of the
Parish Management and Resources Group at the back of Church after
Mass. Last weekend we have had 20 new Gift-aiders sing up this time,
thank you to them. 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.
MINIBUS DRIVERS
If you cannot fulfil your rota duty, please arrange a swap with another
team. Thanks.
This weeks team: Gareth Davies & Barbara Ashton
Next weeks team: Kevin Dilger & 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. We still
need a volunteer driver for Christmas Daycontact the Office if you
can do it.
Please contact the Parish Office if you would like to volunteer or for
more information.

Helping Hands Sunday

Last Weekend 3rd Sunday of
Advent)
I must say a very big thank you for your generous donations
of food and clothes last weekend. I am sure that it was one of the
biggest collections we have had in all the years we have been having helping hands Sundays. We had to commandeer some cars
also to help get everything away to the four centres we supplied
with items this time!
All the items were sorted, bagged up and on their way from
the Parish Centre by 11.10 am on Monday morning. Everyone who
received goods from us have either written or phoned us to say a
big thanks you to you all for your generosity. A big thank you to
everyone who came along on Monday morning to help sort out
everything.

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 (which hasnt been working for the past few
weeks, but hopefully is back up and running now!)

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

PARISH DIARY
Sunday 20th December4th Sunday of Advent
Tuesday 22nd December
12.00 noon: Altar Servers Christmas Masses Practice in
Church (followed by decorating the Tree in the Parish House)
7.00 pm Parish Advent Reconciliation Service
Wednesday 23rd December
7.00 pm: Rehearsal for Christmas Liturgies for Singers &
Musicians in church (new singers & musicians are very welcome)

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES

Thursday 24th December: 7.00 pm Vigil Mass
11.30 pm Midnight Mass
Friday 25th December: 8.45 am Christmas Day Mass
10.30 am Christmas Day Mass
Saturday 26th December: 7.00 pm Mass (The Holy Family)
Sunday 27th December: 8.45 am (The Holy Family)
10.30 am (The Holy Family)
Sunday 3rd January: The Epiphany of the Lord
Sunday 10th January: The Baptism of the Lord.
At the 10.30 am Mass on this day we welcome all those who
have been baptised and received into the Church during 2015.
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)
READERS AND EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
Please sign up on the sheets at the back of church indicating which Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses you
are available to minister at. Please do this by the end of
the 10.30 am Mss on Sunday. Many thanks.
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, 20. 35, 30 &
430 therefore the running total in the fund currently is:
10,537.
We are now actively looking at vehicles that will suit our
needs. As I mentioned previously we discovered recently that
a minibus is a commercial vehicle, therefore purchasing one
attracts VAT which means we will have to factor that into our
calculations and our discussions!
The good news about our current minibus this week is that
thanks to a very kind offer from one of our parishioners of the
use of their companys mechanic for free, after a lot of work,
the minibus passed its MOT on Friday afternoon (phew!!!)

THE TEN WEEK DRAW!!!!

Winners of the 9th Week are:
50.00 Ticket No: 114 Marion OShea
Agent: Margaret Walton
25.00 Ticket No: 161 Janet Gander
Agent: Andrew Lake
Come and join us for the draw during Tea and Coffee
after the 10.30 am Mass in the Parish Centre.
N.B. Its the big draw this weekend during tea & Coffee

AWAKENING FAITH AND SEEKING CHRIST

We have now had our final meeting before Christmaswatch this
space for details of the dates of meetings after Christmas.
We have had our final session before Christmas on Thursdaywe will resume after Christmas to look at the final
chapterswatch this space for details of the dates of the
remaining meeting.
APFMILL HILL November 2015
Would APR-Mill Hill Promoters please collect their books, calendars etc, from the library. The amount collected last quarter was
1114.09. Many thanks
If anyone has not had their Red box opened in the last12 months
and would like it opened, please phone 761 5195 and we will arrange to
empty it.

Family Crib Relay

The Crib relay is now underwayit starts from the 7.00 pm
Mass
this weekend and ends on Christmas Eve/Day when the Cribs are
brought back to Church and brought up at the Offertory.

Remembering in December.
Christmas can be a difficult time if you are
grieving the loss of a loved one. This season, more
than any other, means family time,. You may find
that you are more acutely aware of your loss and
the void it has
created. Perhaps some of these
suggestions will be helpful:

Acknowledge that the coming days may be

difficult. Although knowing this doesnt make
it easier, it at least may help you to understand and accept your feelings. Expect that
you may feel overwhelmed and plan to spend
a little time alone. Give yourself the space
you need.

Family get-togethers may trigger your grief.

Be honest with your family about your
feelings. Sit down with them and decide, early
in the season, what you want to do. Dont set
expectations too high for yourself on
Christmas Day. Things are not going to be
the same. Make a conscious decision to do
things a little differently. Undertake only what
you can comfortably handle.

Be careful of shoulds. Its better to do what

is most helpful for you and your family. If a
situation looks uncomfortable or difficult,
dont get involved if possible.

Set limitations. Realize this isnt going to be

easy. Do the things that are most important
to you; pick and choose. Once youve set
those limitations, let your friends and
relatives know.

Get plenty of rest. Take care of yourself

physically.

Remember your loved one in a particular

way. You may want to light a candle set out a
special picture, or set aside a few moments of
silence on a regular basis through the season.

Take care of yourself spiritually, as well.

Come to Mass with your family and friends.
Allow yourself prayer time to express your
feelings to God, and ask for comfort.

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 this week.

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 we will contact you directly.

A Prayer for those who are experiencing bereavement:

May the God of love be with us,
drawing us close.
May the God of strength be with us,
so that we may not lose hope.
May the God of patience be with us,
for grief needs time.
May the God of peace be with us,
quieting our doubts and confusion.
May the God of eternal life be with us,
guiding us to find the peace and joy that
comes to those who seek him
through their sorrow.
May the love of God and the peace of our
Lord Jesus Christ bless and console us, and
gently wipe away every tear from our eyes. Amen

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. Please note that during Advent we only
have greenery on the sanctuary, not flowers.
Flowers for the Sanctuary at Christmas
If anyone would like to make a donation towards the cost of the flowers in
the Church over Christmas (perhaps in memory of a loved one), please
contact the Parish Office, or put it in an envelope and pop it through the
letter box of the Parish Office. The full list will be on next weekends
newsletter.
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
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.

Blessing of the Nativity Scene in your Home.

A Reading from the Gospel of Luke 2:1-10.
Now at this time Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census
of the whole world to be taken. This census - the first - took
place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went
to his own town to be registered.
So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and
travelled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem,
since he was of David's House and line, in order to be registered
together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While
they were there the time came for her have her child, and she
birth to a son, her first born. She wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room
for them at the inn.
In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in
the fields and took it in turns to watch their flocks during the
night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of
the Lord shone round them. They were terrified, but the angel
said, 'Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a
joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of
David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in
swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.'
And suddenly with the angel there was a great throng of the
heavenly host, praising God and singing:
'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who
enjoy his favour'
All together: God of every nation and people,
from the very beginning of creation
you have made known your love:
when our need for a Saviour was great
you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary.
To our lives he brings joy and peace,
justice, mercy, and love.
Lord, bless all who look upon this manger;
may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus,
and raise up our thoughts to him,
who is God-with-us and Saviour of all,
and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. AMEN.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Lighting of your Advent Wreath at

home.
As the family gathers for their meal together, you
could use the following:
Leader:
As we light all four candles on our wreath.
Let us pray together:
Come, Lord Jesus, fill our lives
with love and grace and joy
as we wait to celebrate Christmas.
We are grateful for your many gifts.
Bless all the people in the world
who need your love and tender care.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Leader: Let us bless the Lor d.
All: (Making the sign of the cr oss) Thanks be to God.

Christmas Family Quiz 2015

Our resident quizmaster has been busy again!
The Quiz is now available1.00 a copy
from the back of church or from the Parish Office
All proceeds to the minibus fund
(Oh and yes, there are prizes also: 1st Prize 15.00, 2nd
Prize 10.00, 3rd Prize 5.00

Blessing of the Christmas Tree in your Home.

A Reading from the Letter of Paul to Titus 3:4-7.
But when the kindness and love of God our saviour for mankind
were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any
righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no
reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means
of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the
Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through
Jesus Christ our saviour. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting
eternal life.
All together: Lord our God,
we praise you for the light of creation:
the sun, the moon, and the stars of the night.
We praise you for the light of Israel:
the Law, and the prophets,
and the wisdom of the Scriptures.
We praise you for Jesus Christ, your Son:
he is Emmanuel, God-with-us, the Prince of Peace,
who fills us with the wonder of your love.
Lord God,
let your blessing come upon us
as we light this tree.
May the light and cheer it gives
be a sign of the joy that fills our hearts.
May all who delight in this tree
come to the knowledge and joy of salvation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.
[light the tree]