Those Helped By Good Counsel Share Their Stories

Some mothers who really were in difficult situations have kept their babies because of the pro-life vigils. 

One story I remember from a few years ago, is of a brave mother who changed her mind during 40 Days. She was living in a tiny one bed flat with her husband and two children and she had a lot of health problems. She also had financial problems because her husband had had to leave work because of her health. As a Christian she was not feeling good about her abortion appointment that day but she got our Good Counsel leaflet from someone outside the abortion centre and came to our centre to get the help she needed instead of going in for the abortion. The lady and her husband are always very grateful for the help received and we are continuing to help them today. The same lady stood up for us against the lies that were told about us to bring in buffer zones. She was a witness with other mothers and told the council how she was glad that we were there for her and for other mothers in difficult situations. 

A few months later her husband happened to be walking passed our vigil one day when someone shouted abuse at us. He politely told them the truth about the help we had given them so they stopped harassing us. 

That reminds me of another time we were at a 40 Days for Life vigil outside the abortion centre and one of the mothers we had helped was praying at the vigil with her child in the pushchair. A couple of young ladies stopped and were shouting at us and seemed very angry that we pro-lifers were there, and they were not in a hurry to go away. The mother who was with me, who had changed her mind about having an abortion years before, came over with her son and started explaining to these women about the help our centre had given her and her child, including help with accommodation, financial help and support and she pointed to her son in the pushchair. They were speechless and dumbfounded and walked away silently. But to my surprise half an hour later they came back and apologised to us and told us that they had changed their minds about us being there altogether!

Lorraine

The 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil in Brixton, where we reach out to expectant Mums, will run for 12 hours a day, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week from Ash Wednesday until Palm Sunday. If you could spare an hour or more to come and pray with us, it would be of great help. The vigil takes place at the corner of Brixton Water Lane, London, SW2 5BJ. For more details or to book to attend please contact Gabriella on 07745711064 or 02077231740

For details about 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigils in Reading, Ealing, Southend, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Bournemouth and Sheffield see here and for the rest of the World see here

Christ is with you at the Pro-life Vigil

Good Counsel has been plodding along helping Mothers for 29 years now, and we have learned in that time, the importance of the outreach to Mothers and of the prayers for them that happen at pro-life vigils. Despite the rising number of abortions, the ease with which abortions can be obtained now and the ever worsening legal situation around abortion in the UK, vigils remain a place where we can reach many passers by with a witness to life and an offer of help and support. Lighting a candle in a very dark world.

This Lent, the 2 London 40 Days for Life Campaigns have been blessed by the visit of many priests, a Bishop, an Archbishop and a Cardinal. What difference does that make to anything? Well, firstly, each bishop brings with him the authority of the Church, and the ability to bless us and our work and prayer in the name of the Church.  And secondly, when the clergy come to pray and witness with us, Christ comes in them in a particular way. Listen to Cardinal Michael Fitzgerald explain this from the writings of Cardinal Newman. 

Most of all, when the clergy come with us, they say with their actions "The Church is with you. Christ is with you. We support you as you preach the Gospel of Life from the Rooftops."

Clare

The 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil in Brixton, where we reach out to expectant Mums, will run for 12 hours a day, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week from Ash Wednesday until Palm Sunday. If you could spare an hour or more to come and pray with us, it would be of great help. The vigil takes place at the corner of Brixton Water Lane, London, SW2 5BJ. For more details or to book to attend please contact Gabriella on 07745711064 or 02077231740

For details about 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigils in Reading, Ealing, Southend, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Bournemouth and Sheffield see here and for the rest of the World see here

These Pro-Life Vigils Do Work!

I've witnessed many women change their minds and not have an abortion during 40 Days for Life over the years since it began in 2010, especially before the buffer zones came in. Due to my working with the Good Counsel Network and taking part in the vigils, I can remember some amazing turnarounds that were definitely God's intervention. But even now with the buffer zones in place we are still receiving wonderful news from time to time such as recently a friend came to tell us that a woman she knew did not show up for her abortion that morning. We have also had people come up to us in the street now and again and introduce us to their child, the ones whose mothers or fathers saw us praying and decided not to go ahead with their abortions. We had not known they had kept their babies but they had witnessed the people praying at the vigils as a sign from God that they should do the right thing and continue their pregnancy. 

Lorraine

The 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil in Brixton, where we reach out to expectant Mums, will run for 12 hours a day, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week from Ash Wednesday until Palm Sunday. If you could spare an hour or more to come and pray with us, it would be of great help. The vigil takes place at the corner of Brixton Water Lane, London, SW2 5BJ. For more details or to book to attend please contact Gabriella on 07745711064 or 02077231740

For details about 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigils in Reading, Ealing, Southend, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Bournemouth and Sheffield see here and for the rest of the World see here

Come And Join 40 Days For Life If You Dare

We’re two weeks into 40 Days for Life, almost half way. Our Lord is under the cross and we’re trying to be there with Him. People are mocking and cursing Him, He’s exhausted, the whole world is against Him but He keeps on going. Why? Because He loves us, and life is worth it.

Our Lady is there and she’s the only one that sees Him. For those that don’t make it, at the very least we were there, and we saw them.

‘I was in prison and you came to me’ (Matthew 25:36).

Lord, when were You in prison and when did we visit You?

I was a little unborn baby in the womb. My mother was taking me to the abortion centre because everyone told her I wasn’t a life yet. You stood outside and offered her help. You prayed for her and for me.

Good Counsel Network has its vigils going all year round, but for 40 days the ante goes up. I’m thinking back to the first day. It’s dark and pouring with rain, I’m trying to sort out the display and my umbrella’s blowing inside out. I’m having to think on my feet. I’ve been wondering when it’s going to get real, and this is really it I’m thinking. I’m looking across at my friend. He’s white with the cold and he’s saying God bless you to a man who’s just told us to keep freezing. This is really it I’m thinking.

 

If you’re not in the fight for life what are you doing? If you’re not fighting for life are you really living?

 

Clocks ticking, now I don’t think I’m blogging anymore I’m rhyming.

 

These days in the UK, your chances of making it out of the womb and into the world are slim, just over two in three to be exact. Life doesn’t make its way into this world without a fight. Does that sound like the kind of fight you want to miss out on?

 

How much does it take to bring a baby into this world? The Hand of God, the prayers of Our Lady, a man and a woman plus two frozen vigilantes. One of them wasn’t meant to be there this long, someone is late and he’s saying the Hail Mary like he no longer knows what it means.

I'm approaching the vigil. From a distance it doesn’t look like much, two little people and a couple of signs by the side of the road. It seems to me these things don’t look so small to God because you get there and it's war.

 

I’m standing there, and I feel like I’ve found the place I came from. Who would have thought, this pavement in Ealing. I know why it is, it’s because my Mother is there, and I’m there, suffering my little splinter of what she suffered for me to be here.

 

Come and join us for 40 days if you dare. You might just find out who you really are. You don’t want to miss this for the world.

 Anna Maria

The 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil in Brixton, where we reach out to expectant Mums, will run for 12 hours a day, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week from Ash Wednesday until Palm Sunday. If you could spare an hour or more to come and pray with us, it would be of great help. The vigil takes place at the corner of Brixton Water Lane, London, SW2 5BJ. For more details or to book to attend please contact Gabriella on 07745711064 or 02077231740

For details about 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigils in Reading, Ealing, Southend, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Bournemouth and Sheffield see here and for the rest of the World see here

Prayers And Sacrifices Touch Hearts

40 Days for Life really does have an effect and can save many lives. I remember being in the reception of Good Counsel Network Centre during 40 Days for Life years ago when the reception area was full. There were three couples waiting to be counselled, one particular story I remember was a couple had been in the abortion centre and were talking to another couple showing them our leaflet so both couples decided to come to our centre for help together in a taxi. We've had mothers telling other abortion minded women about our centre after they have kept their babies. It's  great to witness how some of the mothers we help show their love for other mothers in need. There was one morning I will not forget in a hurry. It was a freezing morning outside the abortion centre. A beautiful young lady came out of the clinic with her boyfriend and she turned around and smiled at us. She said “Thank you, because you are here today in this freezing weather we have decided to keep our baby.” Its not often we hear how our prayers and sacrifices have touched the hearts of those who were about to have abortions but when we do hear we have these beautiful memories to cherish forever. Praise God for His intervention and all the babies that have been saved.

Lorraine

The 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil in Brixton, where we reach out to expectant Mums, will run for 12 hours a day, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week from Ash Wednesday until Palm Sunday. If you could spare an hour or more to come and pray with us, it would be of great help. The vigil takes place at the corner of Brixton Water Lane, London, SW2 5BJ. For more details or to book to attend please contact Gabriella on 07745711064 or 02077231740

For details about 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigils in Reading, Ealing, Southend, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Bournemouth and Sheffield see here and for the rest of the World see here

Serving Mothers & Offering Real Help!

Every day of work at the Good Counsel Network brings something different.  Our assistance doesn’t end with the birth of the child.  Some clients continue to need our help on an ongoing basis whilst others may contact us months or even years after originally being helped in order to get advice or assistance with something troubling. 

A single, working mother of two (living in very overcrowded conditions) contacted us in distress when she found she was unexpectedly pregnant with a 3^rd child.  We initially provided her with advice on housing and how to access help from her local authority.  I also helped her search for more appropriate local housing.  In addition, we provided her with many practical goods for the baby, some financial support and information on grants and benefits for pregnant/new mothers.  It was because of this help that she decided to choose life for her child. 

Later in the pregnancy, when she suffered discrimination in the workplace due to the pregnancy, we helped her to get expert advice regarding her rights.  She again contacted us for advice on enrolling her older children in college. Then, after the baby’s birth, she contacted us to say her family was facing eviction, she was looking for help in her communication with the local housing authority.  When she was then moved into bed-bug infested temporary accommodation, we continued to advocate on her behalf and provide emotional support until the family was removed somewhere more suitable.

When I last spoke with her almost 1 ½ years after she first contacted us, she was happy to say that her older daughters were attending college (and doing well), her baby was thriving, and she had a new job and had just signed a rental contract for a property that very day.  She was so very thankful for all the support we provided to her and said she wouldn’t have been able to get through everything without the help and support of the Good Counsel Network.

Michelle

The 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil in Brixton, where we reach out to expectant Mums, will run for 12 hours a day, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week from Ash Wednesday until Palm Sunday. If you could spare an hour or more to come and pray with us, it would be of great help. The vigil takes place at the corner of Brixton Water Lane, London, SW2 5BJ. For more details or to book to attend please contact Gabriella on 07745711064 or 02077231740

For details about 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigils in Reading, Ealing, Southend, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Bournemouth and Sheffield see here and for the rest of the World see here

Fear and Pressure in an Unexpected Pregnancy

Most of the women going for an abortion are doing so out of fear. Fear of how their life will change, fear of how they will manage financially, fear that they are not ready for a child. Many mothers face not only their internal fears but pressure from outside. Family, partners and culture can often add to the pressure a mother feels.

At the Annunciation the Angel Gabriel said to Our Lady, "Do not be afraid Mary", she was afraid when she was asked to be the Mother of God. God did not dismiss Mary's fear, He reassured her. Let us be Christ-like and meet these mothers on the street, reassure them and offer them the help and support they need to be able to keep and love their babies. Fear is real but it is not final, love pulls these mothers towards hope. That is why we are here in Brixton!

The Prayer Vigil in Brixton will run for 12 hours a day, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week from Ash Wednesday until Palm Sunday. If you could spare an hour or more to come and pray with us, it would be of great help. The vigil takes place at the corner of Brixton Water Lane, London, SW2 5BJ. For more details or to book to attend please contact Gabriella on 07745711064 or 02077231740

For details about 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigils in Reading, Ealing, Southend, Liverpool, Nottingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Bournemouth and Sheffield see here and for the rest of the World see here