Good Counsel, a victim of our own success!

As you may well know, over the last 15 years the Good Counsel Network has counselled many thousands of abortion bound Women. In 2011 we more than doubled the number of women that we saw compared to the previous year and this year we look set to increase the number yet again, although we have less counselling staff and volunteers than in previous years. All of this is quite stressful for all of our staff and volunteers so we would ask you at this time to please keep us all in your prayers.

With the increased number of babies being saved from abortion we have seen a drastic increase in the types and amount of support that we need to offer to women in order for them to be able to choose life for their children.

"Annabel" came to us after meeting a volunteer during the 40 days for life prayer vigil outside Bedford Square abortuary this Lent. It was clear to our counsellor that Annabel was set upon abortion due to a total lack of support from her ex-boyfriend and that under pressure from him she may well have returned to the abortuary and had the abortion. It was clear that she needed to be moved from her current accommodation to avoid the daily harassment from her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. This could have all been done at no cost to ourselves if we had had sufficient time for advising landlords of the move, dealing with deposits etc. but it was clear that her baby did not have this time as her living circumstances were intolerable. We therefore paid her first month’s rent so that she could move quickly. Although we have not insisted on Annabel paying all of this money back to us she has insisted on taking out a small standing order to repay this money to us over a long period of time.

Today we have a number of lifesaving financial commitments that we cannot meet. To ensure that no lives are lost due to our current financial situation I would ask you to kindly donate anything that you can at this time via a bank transfer (The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel Account Number: 00287036 Sort Code: 23 83 95 Bank: Allied Irish Bank) or send a cheque addressed to “The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel” to P.O. Box 46679, London, NW9 8ZT. Or you can donate here.

We are trying to increase the number of regular donations that we receive through standing orders to avoid urgent appeals of this nature but at this time our monthly outgoings are larger than our income. If you think you could help with a monthly or quarterly donation by standing order please print off this form.

Lastly and most importantly I would say, whether or not you can support us financially at this time please say this novena to St Philomena for our intentions.

A Good Counsel Speaker at a Catholic Conference

Self-publicists really make me cross! Therefore, let me just say that there will be a great one day Catholic Conference in London, on Saturday 9th June organised by The Latin Mass Society and one of the speakers is from Good Counsel.

VENUE: Regent Hall, 275 Oxford Street, London W1C 2DJ (opposite BHS, less than 5 minutes’ walk from Oxford Circus)

Conference Theme: 'The Traditional Liturgy and the Catholic Life'

This is the first time the LMS has organised a one-day conference, and we have some excellent speakers lined up for you. The conference is aimed principally at ordinary LMS members, although non-members are very welcome to join us. The Conference timetable is as follows:

9am Low Mass at St James's, Spanish Place.

10am Doors open.

10am -11am Registration. Stalls in the Conference Hall will be available to browse

11am - 11.50am 1st talk: Dr John Rao (Roman Forum): ‘From Darkness Into Light: Contemporary Barbarism, the Traditional Liturgy, and the Construction of a Civilized Society’

12 noon - 12.50pm 2nd talk: Stuart McCullough (Good Counsel Network): ‘Spiritual Warfare and the End of Abortion’ followed by Lunch.

2pm - 2.50pm 3rd talk: Fr John Zuhlsdorf (Fr Z): (Title of talk to be confirmed)

3pm - 3.50pm 4th talk: Fr Tim Finigan (columnist and blogger): 'Traditional Liturgy in the Modern Parish’

4pm - 4.50pm 5th talk: Rev John Hunwicke (of the Ordinariate): ‘Education without Religion a pure Evil?’

5pm - 6pm Panel discussion

6pm Close

BOOKING INFORMATION: Admission is by ticket only. Ticket prices: LMS Members £15 Non-LMS Members £20 (includes morning and afternoon refreshments) Optional: Buffet lunch including drinks £9 supplement.

You can buy your ticket by phoning the LMS office on 020 7404 7284, sending a cheque (payable to 'LMS') to LMS, 11-13 Macklin Street, London WC2B 5NH or online here.

Photo, Father Finigan giving Benediction in the small Good Counsel Network's chapel and the Server seems to be doing a good job.

Saving lives from abortion costs

Have you ever thought what it would feel like to know you’ve saved someone’s life? How many people can say that if it weren’t for their action or sacrifice, another human being would have died a premature death? Now there’s a way the average person can save one or perhaps more lives each year.

The Good Counsel Network has saved hundreds of babies from abortion at a cost of about £350 for each child saved.

Without generous individuals providing the funds to save these babies, the Good Counsel Network would be unable to save them.

Hence, all donors participate in our lifesaving efforts and are themselves truly lifesavers.
To recognise the people who help us save babies and to provide stable funding for our baby-saving work, the Good Counsel Network has established the Lifesavers’ Circle.

You are invited to belong to the Circle, which requires a £350 per year commitment, payable in one lump sum or in monthly instalments of £30. You will be the spiritual parent of the baby you help us save from abortion.

Click here to join the Lifesaver Circle (Print off form and post completed to the address at the bottom)

A counsellor from the Good Counsel Network was able to help this little baby thanks to the prayeful and financial support of people like you.

If you have a desire for even greater heroism, you might consider joining our St Margaret Clitherow Society, named after the heroic sacrifice of St Margaret Clitherow, martyr for the Faith who was martyred in York on 25 March 1586. St Margaret lived a life of total self-giving to God. As well as sheltering Priests from those who would arrest and kill them Margaret lived a holy married life. Her martyrdom was carried out by pressing her to death with a sharp stone under her back and a door on top of her on which heavy weights were laid. Margaret was pregnant when she was killed, but even this did not cause her to flinch from giving her life when called to, rather than betray the Catholic Faith.

St Margaret Clitherow Society members sacrifice at least £1,000 per year, either in a lump sum or in monthly or quarterly instalments.

Click here to join the St Margaret Clitherow Society (Print off form and post completed to the address at the bottom)

Many members struggle to give £84 per month. The value of their sacrifice, often disproportionate to their means, is laden with grace, not only for themselves but also for our apostolate.Note that pledges are not legally or morally binding. If circumstances require that you terminate or change your commitment, we understand completely. All we ask is a good faith effort.

If you would like to make a one off donation or set up a standing order online Via Justgiving Click Here and choose One-off Donation or monthly donation.