15 Years of The Good Counsel Network!

There will be an Old Rite Mass organised by the Latin Mass Society, on Friday 13th January at 6.30pm at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, London. This Mass is offered for the work of the Good Counsel Network. This will be the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Good Counsel Network.

Life-saving walk along the Thames

As you may have seen on this blog, in October David Aron walked 184 miles to raise funds for The Good Counsel Network. Here follows an article he wrote for Dowry the Magazine of the FSSP, which you can read it online here.

During the summer months I felt the need to practically support a pro-life charity. So, I decided to fundraise for The Good Counsel Network, a Catholic pro-life charity that helps women in the most difficult and desperate situations with financial, moral and spiritual support. I decided to walk The Thames Path Way (184 miles - 296kms) solo, averaging 23 miles per day, whilst carrying all my kit (tent, food and provisions), weighing approximately 32 lbs (14.5kgs), for eight days (Friday 7 October 2011 – Friday 14 October 2011).

On the morning of the pilgrimage (Friday 7 October 2011) I served at the Traditional Latin Mass at St Dominic‟s (Dursley, Gloucestershire), which was celebrated by Father Redman. It was a beautiful way to start this pilgrimage, especially on the Feast of the Holy Rosary.

The Thames Path Way was an incredibly scenic walk where I followed the river from the source in the rural Cotswolds going though tranquil meadows, past willows trees, with rowers and swans as fleeting companions. It was enjoyable to walk next to peaceful water meadows, through historic towns and cities (Oxford, Reading, Windsor and Hampton Court) before cutting through the heart of London and then finishing at the Thames Barrier. I was absolutely blessed with the weather because throughout the week it only rained once for a couple of hours and the rest of the time it was pleasant sunshine with a cooling breeze. There were periods that I didn‟t see anybody for hours, which was slightly surprising because I expected the route would be bustling with people. At times it was very exhausting walking for 12 – 15 hours a day and most days it involved a dark 5.30am start!

Being separated from the daily commotions of the modern life style was liberating. It was nice to enjoy the silence and therefore to be given the opportunity to focus on God. This enabled me to reflect, meditate and form a closer relationship with God and the Blessed Virgin Mary. During the eight days I had plenty of time to think about the aspects of suffering. In the times of intense physical hardship and exhaustion, this forced me to pray deeper than before and to draw on the intercession of Our Lady, the Saints and Angels. Each day I offered my sufferings for specific intentions. For example, for the end of abortion; for the women that carry the pain and sorrow of having an abortion and that Our Lady may comfort them; for the Holy Souls in Purgatory; and for other private intentions. Also, suffering is a powerful process of purification preparing us for Heaven and it reminded me that we live in a fallen world.

After each day I thanked God for the suffering I endured because it helped me develop a tender heart toward others who are in pain, reflect on my weaknesses and it has strengthened and deepened my love for God and for the beauty of the Catholic Faith. Each day I thanked God for watching over me with an incomparable love, every moment bestowing favours and for the benefits which I have received from him, particularly for that day.

On my last day of walking (Friday 14 October 2011) I prayed at the Good Counsel Vigil at the Whitfield Street Abortuary in the morning. Afterwards I then carried on my walk to my final destination – The Thames Barrier! Arriving at the Thames Barrier I took a moment to reflect on the journey that I had just accomplished and endured – it was an incredible feeling of achievement. Then I looked at the map and realised that I had another mile to walk to the nearest London Overground! To mark the end of this long pilgrimage I arrived at Covent Garden (Central London) where I assisted at the Traditional Latin Mass at Corpus Christi in the evening, which the Latin Mass Society organises for the work of the Good Counsel Network [http://www.goodcounselnet.co.uk/].

Everyone's prayers kept me strong and the thought of saving lives helped me to keep going through the long strenuous days. I would like to thank everyone for their prayers, messages of support and generous donations in saving lives.

Overall, it was a fantastic pilgrimage that hopefully will save the lives of babies and help the souls of their mothers. This walk has been an incredible experience at different levels for me that I will hopefully cherish in years to come and whilst on my journey I deepened my love for God and the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was a truly humbling experience.

(David has so far raised £1,466.00 for Good Counsel, see here to support his walk.)

David is on the right in the photo

Please come and pray for deceased Pro-Lifers

There will be a Sung Requiem Mass (Old Rite) for the deceased supporters of the Good Counsel Network on Friday 11th November at 6.30pm.

The Mass is the one organised by the

Latin Mass Society on the 2nd Friday of each month at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, Central London - the nearest tube station is Charing Cross Station.

(Photo of the Requiem Mass held at Good Counsel for Dr Bernard Nathanson.)

One Priest & his dog helping to end abortion

(URGENT UPDATE; There are rumors that pro-death/pro-abortion supporters will hold a counter demo on Wednesday 2nd November at 1pm, so please come then to support the vigil for life, if you can.)

While praying at Bedford Square abortuary (26-27 Bedford Sq, London, WC1B 3HP), as part of 40 Days for Life, I was very pleased to see Fr Sherbrooke, the local Parish Priest join us, while out walking his dog! By the time my phone was ready to take this photo, he was half way across the road to say hello. Father is always supportive of Pro-Life work in his Parish & in his old Parish which also had an abortuary around the corner!

Juventutem organise monthly Masses at St Patrick's in support of The Good Counsel Network, with the permission of Father. You still have time to come and pray at Bedford Sq abortuary, as 40 Days for Life continues until Sunday 6th November. Bishop Hopes will be there on Friday. After that you can join us there each Wednesday 11am until 1pm or Monday to Friday 9am-1.30pm at Whitfield St abortuary (108 Whitfield Street, London, W1T 5EA). For these and other vigils see here.

Juventutem Mass offered for Good Counsel

Juventutem London Solemn High Mass (Old Rite), Ember Friday in September
6.30pm Friday 23rd September, St Patrick's Church, Soho Square, London.
The Mass will be offered for The Good Counsel Network

Followed by a Social (for ages 18-35)

Sacred Ministers:
Celebrant: Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP
Deacon: Fr David Irwin
Subdeacon: Fr Stewart Foster

MC: Mr Gordon Dimon

Confessions
Confessions will be heard through Mass from 6pm by Fr Leon Pereira, OP. Absolution will be given using the traditional Latin form.

Music
Polyphony and chant provided by Cantus Magnus:

Orlande de Lassus Missa secundi toni (K, S, A)
Orlande de Lassus Benedic anima mea
Antonio Lotti Salve Regina

Servers
Men who are serving should be at the sacristy by 6pm with their own cassocks and cottas.

Social
Please assemble outside the Church after making your post-Mass thanksgiving. Please note that though the Mass is open (and welcomes) those of any age, the social is strictly for those aged 18-35 (clergy and religious excepted).

For more information see here and here.

Stuart McCullough

Mass for Good Counsel tonight

There will be an Old Rite Mass organised by the Latin Mass Society, on Friday 9th September at 6.30pm at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, London. This Mass is offered for the work of the Good Counsel Network.

(Photo of Benediction in the Good Counsel Network's chapel)

Stuart McCullough

Mass for Good Counsel, on the Old Rite Feast of St Clare

There will be an Old Rite Mass organised by the Latin Mass Society, on Friday 12th August at 6.30pm at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, London. This Mass is offered for the work of the Good Counsel Network.

Stuart McCullough

Louisa Staunton RIP, 7th anniversary Mass

This article was written a number of years ago, but is well worth reading again and has been added to at the end;

You gave me shelter….
….Louisa Staunton RIP

Miss Louisa Staunton, a deceased benefactor of The Good Counsel Network, saved a lot of time and money as well as saving a lot of lives by her generous response to an appeal for housing.

Louisa originally came to The Good Counsel Network, a Catholic Pro-Life organisation, to attend the Counsellor Training Course we run. One day when attending one of the sessions, she overheard one of us phoning around trying to find accommodation for a woman who was turned around outside an abortion clinic and who wanted to keep her baby, but could not go home as her boyfriend had threatened both her and her baby. Louisa immediately said, “she can stay with me!”.

Without regard for her own safety or comfort, Louisa took this lady home with her and there began her new work of looking after vulnerable expectant mums. Louisa turned her whole house over to us, having as many as 3 members of our staff/volunteers living with her at any time as well as up to 4 mothers-to-be. She hated to accept any money from the mothers who stayed with her and was regarded as a grandmotherly figure by them all. The last Friday before she died, I brought another girl to stay with Louisa. “Mary” had spent the previous night sleeping on various London buses, after being made homeless by her employer because of her pregnancy. We had tried to find her a place wherever we could and Louisa was the first to say yes, even though there were already 4 other women staying with her. When we arrived she made Mary very welcome and cheered her up no end by her friendliness. The last time I saw Louisa conscious she was blowing bubbles in the living room to entertain Mary. “Its Our Lady’s house” she told us as we thanked her for taking Mary in.

Louisa went to bed that night but could not be woken in the morning. She was taken to hospital where she remained unconscious until Monday. Doctors found she had had bleeding around the brain during Friday night. On Monday a Priest came to the hospital to say Mass in her room. The gospel that day was the cure of the woman with a hemorrhage. Louisa died immediately after the Mass, having never regained consciousness.

During her life Louisa worked as a nurse, later a psychiatric nurse and also an assistant to the blind. She was involved in many Catholic organisations, especially the Legion of Mary. Even at the age of 75, she did the shopping for many ill and housebound neighbours and was known well by all who lived near her. She gave away anything that was asked of her to others, including on one occasion where she gave her car to a family she had just met whose car had broken down!

Louisa was involved in the Justice and Peace movement throughout her life and regarded justice and peace for the unborn as a priority. She had supported various pro-life causes over the years and while working with us she housed over 20 mothers and many babies, who may not otherwise have come into he world.

She did not confine herself to providing a roof for these girls but really loved them and took and interest in their lives. From serving ice cream to them at midnight to helping them repair their relationships with their families, she was always there for them. The more difficult the girl, the more she loved.

She was a special friend to the lonely and depressed. She loved Our Lord and had a strong devotion to Our Lady, particularly Our Lady of Good Counsel and Our Lady of All Nations.

Louisa had spent a long period of her life wanting to become a religious sister. Speaking at her funeral, one of her brothers pointed out that although she had not been able to achieve this she made her world a kind of convent where she could serve God through prayer and through her actions to those around her.

Through a strange series of events she was buried wearing a Carmelite habit and was buried on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
May God rest your soul Louisa, our great pro-life friend and sister in Christ.

Please pray for the repose of her soul, and also ask her prayers for your intentions.

“Then the king will say to those at his right hand. ‘Come, O Blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me”. Matt 25 v34-36

Due to the generosity of Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, we have been allowed to continue housing pregnant women at Louisa’s house.

Last year Louisa's house was sold and a new one purchased. It was nice at the Mass today to have one of the Mums-to-be, in attendance who are still being housed by Louisa!

St John The Baptist Mass for Good Counsel

For the last six months or so a group of youngsters have been coming to the Good Counsel Mass on the 2nd Friday of each month at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane, at 6.30pm. After Mass they would go out for dinner. They are now starting to have Mass at St Patrick's details below. As well as this the Mass at Corpus Christi will still continue. (Photo)

Juventutem London have moved to St Patrick's, Soho. This will be our first Mass in the new location. The Mass at 6.30pm will be offered for the Good Counsel Network. (But the collection will be for Juventutem)

Celebrant: Fr Patrick Hayward
Deacon: Fr Seán Finnegan
Subdeacon: Fr Timothy Finigan
Preacher: Fr Aidan Nichols OP

In choir: Fr Ray Blake

Music provided by Schola Abelis, University of Oxford Gregorian Chant society.

After the Mass we shall move to the square for a picnic if conditions are favourable. Otherwise, we shall go to a restaurant as usual.

For more details about the Masses organised by Juventutem London click here. We're especially keen for people to realise that the Mass is not only for people between the ages of 18-35, but that the social afterwards is!

Stuart McCullough

Mass for the Feast of The Ascension at Good Counsel

Happy Feast day to one and all. As the Priest saying Mass at Good Counsel today, Fr Leworthy FSSP, says the Old Rite, we had the Mass of The Ascension.

Stuart McCullough

Friday night in the centre of London

Friday nights in Central London, often involves large crowds standing outside pubs drinking too much. How nice it was to see this crowd of youngsters spilling out onto the road in Maiden Lane last Friday, as they have just left Church after Mass for Good Counsel. There is an Old Rite Mass offered for Good Counsel on the 2nd Friday of each month, at 6.30pm at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane. Juventutem (a Catholic Youth Group) then go out for dinner together, 18-35 year olds welcome.

Pro Life Mass Friday 13th May

There will be an Old Rite Mass organised by the Latin Mass Society, on Friday 13th May at 6.30pm at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, London. This Mass is offered for the work of the Good Counsel Network.

Mass for Good Counsel

There will be an Old Rite Mass organised by the Latin Mass Society, on Friday 8th April at 6.30pm at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, London. This Mass is offered for the work of the Good Counsel Network.

Dr Bernard Nathanson RIP

Others have written and will write much more about this former abortionist turned Pro-Lifer, turned Catholic who died last week, than I will. But I was privileged to serve Mass for the repose of his soul in the chapel of the Good Counsel Network on Monday evening, the day he was buried. It was also nice to hear that he became Catholic in 1996, the year that I was Baptised.

If you have not seen his short Pro-Life film The Silent Screem click here.

Stuart McCullough

Old Rite, Sung Mass on The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

On the second Friday of each month The Latin Mass Society organise an Old Rite Mass for The Good Counsel Network at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, London, WC2E 7NB, at 6.30pm. Most months it is just a low Mass, but as the 2nd Friday of February happens to be the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the 11th, we will have a High Mass. Numbers for this Mass were up this month, with about 30 or so people in attendance, this is in part due to a number of young Catholics who now attend this Mass each month and then go out for dinner together. For details of the meal see Juventutem
Fr Hayward, our normal Celebrant is away, so Fr Armand de Malleray, FSSP will offer the Mass. Most of you will know of Father from his sermon which appeared on this blog Please attend this Mass if you can as it one of the few chances each month to go to a Mass offered for a Pro-Life group. Father has to travel to London from Reading to offer this Mass.
h/t to Fr Finigan for the picture.

Stuart McCullough

Good Counsel's Inspiration; Watch the Documentary on the Work of the Chicago Women's Centre On Monday

Learn about the Pro-Life work that inspired Eamonn Murphy to found The Good Counsel Network .good Counsel's work is based on that of the Chicago's Women Centre, surely the most effective pro-life counselling centre in the world. The 30 minute documentary, Women's Centre; Where Miracles Happen, will be shown on EWTN on Monday 17th January at 2am, 10.30am & 7.30pm. You can watch it online at http://ewtn.co.uk/ or on Sky 589.


There are quite a few good Pro-Life programmes on EWTN this month so do check their Schedule.

Stuart McCullough

Old Rite Good Counsel Mass for Deceased and Juventutem - Friday 12th November

There will be a Sung Requiem Mass (Old Rite) for the deceased supporters of the Good Cousnel Network on Friday 12th November at 6.30pm.
The Mass is the one organised by the Latin Mass Society on the 2nd Friday of each month at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden Lane, Central London - the nearest tube station is Charing Cross Station. After this Mass, a group of young Catholics, called Juventutem will be going out for dinner. See their facebook page if you want to attend the dinner. (No need to book if you are just attending the Mass!). Priests wishing to sit in choir should bring cassock and cotta.

Stuart McCullough

Father Finigan's Sung Mass at Good Counsel

Our beautiful little Chapel seats 12, and a few can sit in the library which the Chapel doors can open out into. The Sanctuary is quite full when we have a Priest and one server. Then on Friday 1st October at 5pm Fr Tim Finigan sang an Old Rite Votive Mass of The Sacred Heart!

Dr John Tennant, of the St Catherine's Trust , was the choir, Paul Smeaton was Master of Ceremonies, James Coulborn was thurifer, while Declan Carroll and myself were Acolytes.

That was quite a crowd for our chapel, and then about 15 of the faithful came to Mass instead of the 8 or so that I was expecting! It was splendid. Our Chapel has not seen that much incense since the time when Fr X forgot where he was, when exposing the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration one day after Mass and "shovelled" in enough to fill St Peter's.

Friday's Mass was followed by all-night Adoration which finished with Benediction & Mass at 6am on the Saturday morning.

The photo was taken at the start of the Gospel.

Stuart McCullough

That A People Yet Unborn May Praise the Lord!

At Mass in our small chapel recently, a Mass which was celebrated by a priest who was kind enough to spend 1 hour and a half travelling here, and will no doubt spend a similar amount of time travelling home, I was struck by one line in the responsorial psalm:

“Let this be written for ages to come that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord”. Psalm 101.

No doubt, as with most scripture this will have a number of meanings, but all that I could think about was the idea of the unborn children praising the Lord.

As was the case with St John the Baptist when he leapt in his Mother's womb to praise the Lord.

Stuart McCullough

'Old Rite' Latin Mass Friday 13th August, Corpus Christi Church, Central London.

As mentioned previously here the Latin Mass Society organises a monthly Mass to support the work of the Good Counsel Network at Corpus Christi Church, Maiden lane. The Mass is held at 6.30pm on the second Friday of each month using the 1962 Missal, it is usually not very well attended. However as the Mass fell on the feast of the Sacred Heart in June, there was quite a good congregation, with numbers falling slightly for the Mass on the Feast of St John Fisher and St Thomas More in July. This month the regular Mass for Pro-Life work falls on Friday the 13th August, the feast of St Oswald, King and Martyr, in the diocese of Westminster. If you are able to attend please do so.

Stuart McCullough