The Help And Support Of Professionals

Although we at the Good Counsel Network do all we possibly can to provide help and support to our clients, it sometimes happens that the client needs the specialist advice of a solicitor or of an immigration, employment or family law professional - as happened recently with a client who needed immediate family law and mediation advice.

In the last few years I have noticed that there are fewer free advice agencies offering the kind of expert advice our clients may need and I’ve been told by some groups that they have lost funding, do not have the staff and/or can no longer offer the services they once did.  Whilst this can be quite challenging when I need to get the best specialist advice I can for a woman, some wonderful professionals who support the work of the Good Counsel Network have occasionally stepped into the breach in order to offer their services free of charge.

This help might consist of a brief text, email or conversation, ongoing advice or even in some cases the professional working directly with a mother to help her navigate a difficult situation. The professional may not understand just how impactful their help was or will be on our client, but I see lives improved and fear lessened by this generous giving of time and specialist knowledge.  Plus, it gives a mother more confidence in navigating through her particular situation.  This confidence and support can mean a woman who is contemplating abortion decides to choose life for her baby.

In the recent case I mentioned above, our client’s fear was alleviated just knowing that she was better prepared for the difficulties she faced and she was happy to see that her informed preparation had a positive impact on her situation.

                                                                                                                                     Michelle

The 40 Days for Life 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

To sign up for hours at the 40 Days for Life vigil in Ealing, West London contact Sarah on 07776256838, or email her at london40daysforlife@hotmail.com

For details about 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigils in Reading, 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

Why pray outside an abortion centre?

What disturbs me at the vigil is how diverse reactions are to the gesture of praying outside an abortion centre. Some bless us some curse us, but no one is exactly the same. ´That they all may be one, as thou, Father, in me, and I in thee’ (John 17:21). Perhaps this is what disturbs me, the human race is far from being one. 

Is there a right way to see it and a wrong way to see it? Yes, because there is the Truth. If society views praying outside an abortion centre as a violent action, a criminal offence, then no doubt our society is far from the Truth. 

My experience with the Good Counsel Network has been one of clawing my way out of my own spiritual blindness. The first time I made my way to a vigil I was bracing myself, anticipating conflict, that it would simply be a matter of suffering and offering it up. I was pleasantly surprised by the peace that was there, the greatest peace I had ever felt, I was closer to Heaven than I had ever felt, I felt like I was at Mass. 

Going to the vigil is like going to Mass because you are going to the Foot of the Cross. It is to go to where the greatest of all evils is happening, to stand with the innocent victims of our sins, to offer oneself for them.

Not just once have I been standing there when the countenance of someone who is looking at us changes, as though they have seen the Truth or something beautiful. Praying there, we are creating a milieu of grace that hearts are changed by, a wall of light defending the unborn. 

But how to see the Truth? To see through the eyes of Our Lady. At the Foot of the Cross, she was the only one who could see the Truth in all it's fullness, that this man on the cross, her son, was not a criminal. He was innocent, He was God Incarnate. 

Why pray outside an abortion centre? The first time I went I didn’t understand. Sometimes I still don’t understand. Why not just pray at home? And how to be there? Give out leaflets? That didn’t feel right to me, but to other people it did. So it would appear, the vigilants are not ´one´ either. 

´It’s really hard to know how to be here’ I said.

‘All you’ve got to do is show up’ said Trish (another volunteer). 

I found myself asking, would Our Lady really do this? More and more I realise that she would. It is exactly where she is, it’s where to find her. Our Lady went to the Foot of the Cross, she didn’t stay at home and pray. She was just one person, she couldn’t stop what was happening, but she knew that He was in control.                              Anna Maria

With your continued prayers and financial support – however dark things get - we can ensure that women are able to turn away from abortion because we can offer them real alternatives.

Donate To Support Our Work

Bank Details

Name: The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel

Sort Code: 40-06-30

Account Number: 13994678

By Credit Card over the phone:

Call 0207-723-1740 Monday to Friday, 10.30-6pm

Paypal.me/SaveLivesGCN

Mercy’s Pregnancy Choice

Mercy is a young African mum who approached us for help last year.

She came to the UK to live with family members and help in their house, as well as to study. When her aunt became terminally ill, she was left alone in the UK. Mercy is a quiet and inexperienced young woman and was easily taken in by a man she met online who then started to date her.

He encouraged her to think he wanted to marry her and settle down.

She became pregnant after a few months and he suddenly told her he did not want her to have the baby. He started pushing abortion all the time and tried to blackmail her into having it done.

Finally, he told her he was already married with children and he would not support her if she had this child.

He changed his phone number, closed all his online accounts and disappeared.

Alone in a country she doesn’t know too well, and abandoned by the baby’s father, Mercy could have easily gone for an abortion, but she decided that she wanted to do the right thing for her baby and respect his or her life.

Luckily, she found Good Counsel, and we have been able to give little bits of support, helping her to keep her accommodation and also providing baby clothes and goods.

Mercy’s daughter was born this spring and has brought her great joy.

Please pray for her as she breaks the news to her family.                                                                  Clare

Even in these difficult times we have been blessed to keep assisting Mothers who would have an abortion without support.

There are many Mothers who we are currently helping with rent, with food and with basic living costs. During the summer holidays donations usually drop considerably but Mums and babies still need help with the necessities of life.

Donate To Support Our Work

 

Bank Details

Name: The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel

Sort Code: 40-06-30

Account Number: 13994678

 

By Credit Card over the phone:

Call 0207-723-1740 Monday to Friday, 10.30-6pm

 

Paypal.me/SaveLivesGCN

Supporting Mothers and babies in these dark times

These days are becoming very dark times. When I heard about the vote to decriminalise abortion, which will result in more, later term abortions, as well as vulnerable women being coerced into abortion after the current six-month time limit and then I heard that Parliament voted to legalize euthanasia, I had to acknowledge things are very dark indeed.

To try and paint any of these decisions, as anything other than evil would be dishonest. Euthanasia which initially will be presented as being available just to help those who really want to end their own lives, will of course be broadened instantly. Looking at any of the countries around the world where euthanasia has been legalized, we can see that most or all ‘safeguards’ are quickly removed and it is the extremely vulnerable who are put to death against their wishes.

Over the years we've seen many women who managed to hide their pregnancy until they were six months pregnant and had thus passed the legal limit for abortion. These were women who feared being pushed into an abortion by those around them. By 6 months of pregnancy, it was too late for anyone to pressure them to abort. Parliament has just voted to ensure that these women no longer have even that much protection in law.

But in the midst of all this darkness there is still light. At our legal, prayerful pro-life vigils near abortion centres around London, and at others around the country, women still reach out to us for the support they need. We even have women approach our vigils with a certain amount of trepidation, after hearing the lies and fantasies spread by our enemies to distort the work we really do. In spite of the buffer zones that keep us away from helping some of the women approaching the abortion centres, we are still today reaching and helping many expectant Mothers.

We are also privileged to have Mothers that we have helped in the past send their friends  -who are strongly thinking of abortion - to us for help to keep their babies. These women  are often set on abortion because they do not believe that the help they need to continue their pregnancy is really available to them. The reason that our old “clients” send their friends to us is because they know from experience that we can and will help them. Just a couple of weeks ago, a twenty-week pregnant woman, who was still considering abortion, was sent into our Centre by one of her friends. We had helped this friend six or seven years ago during her own pregnancy, and we had met her going into the abortion centre in Ealing. Ironically, the abortion centre in Ealing still has a plaque of Saint Michael on its wall, as it once was a Christian house of healing.

With your continued prayers and financial support – however dark things get - we can ensure that women like these are able to turn away from abortion because we can offer them real alternatives.

Please Donate To Support Our Work

Bank Details

Name: The Guild of Our Lady of Good Counsel

Sort Code: 40-06-30

Account Number: 13994678

By Credit Card over the phone:

Call 0207-723-1740 Monday to Friday, 10.30-6pm

Paypal.me/SaveLivesGCN

Making Good Decisions

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”
As a Christian and Catholic, I believe that every human life is precious, from conception to natural death. Not one is more or less important than another, no matter what age, gender,
religion, race or ability. In this secular world that we live in, the dignity of every person isn’t respected and I want to protect those whose dignity has been forgotten.

In many situations when a woman falls pregnant, in today’s society, it is seen either as a “problem” or a blessing, depending on whether a baby is “unwanted” or loved. Facts are, not
one baby is a problem, and every single one is loved and is wanted by someone. Scientifically, in each and every conception, there is a completely unique set of DNA, every baby being unique. When someone has a problem, it is natural to look for solutions. Not every problem is black and white. It’s easiest to look for a physical state in a person to try to change. Most times, the problems are further below the surface. By “changing” physical state, you only risk increasing emotional, psychological and very often mental issues. I believe if someone is going to make a decision, they should look at all their options, at every angle.

We all have fallen from God’s grace but we all have the same opportunity to make choices to try and choose the best path. Sometimes bad choices are made with good intentions. Bad choices
are made because not every choice is presented, and not every possible consequence of each of these choices is revealed. Women and often their partners are led towards the closest, quickest and therefore easiest solution without thinking of how it will affect them negatively.

Many times a mother has not seen the alternate options before having an abortion. Many times also, needless-to-say, a father who has been involved in an abortion has not seen the alternate options. We must not push aside the harm of these abortions, no matter how long ago they were, just because the “product” of the abortion is not physically present. It is extremely important for this mother or father to talk about it. The healing they can get from knowing of God’s forgiveness is crucial. The healing they can get from properly grieving, like they would for the loss of
any other loved one, is also crucial.

As a person of pro-life beliefs I want to show women that there are other options, that give every person involved a chance at life and that there are people who won’t judge, but want to help them in a long term way. Every choice you make has long term effects, whether you choose life or not, but in a pregnancy, choosing life is the choice that continues to keep good options open.

Rachael McEvoy

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.

Pro-Lifers Give DOUBLE During 40 Days

The Unborn: Help us to keep them safe and their Mothers supported!

A supporter of BPAS has set up a fundraising page called Boycott 40 Days for Life where pro-abortionists donate for each hour or day that 40 Days witnesses outside BPAS Central London abortuary. They are now approaching their fundraising target of £4,000 by 1st April, they have
raised over £3,000 so far. The intention is to deter 40 Days Vigillers by making them feel that their presence is raising money for the abortuary.

We are asking you to show women in need that pro-lifers care more for their Crisis Pregnancy Centres by donating double the total BPAS raise to Good Counsel.

As we blogged about last March, we have had a FIVE-FOLD increase in women coming to
us and receiving support instead of aborting. But we haven't had as great an increase in support in that time, we have had a drop in income, with the recession and higher living costs. We cannot survive this, and financially we are on the brink of disaster, so please support our
appeal, 'Pro-Lifers Give Double' today and help us raise £8,000 by 1st April.

Find all the options for donating here on our website including online donations. Direct transfers, the quickest way of donating can be made to:

THE GUILD OF OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL,

Sort code: 23 – 83 – 95 Account no: 00287036

and cheques made payable to THE GUILD OF OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL can be posted to GCN, PO Box 46679, LONDON, NW9 8ZT

You can also support us via http://www.justgiving.com/Pro-LifersGiveDouble page. This is not the fastest way to give. But we will be logging all the donations received there, so check in to see how generous pro-lifers really are!

Lastly, you can give by text message. Just text the code MQYD73 followed by £ and the amount you wish to donate (eg MQYD73 £1 if you want to donate £1) and send it to 70070.

As well as supporting our work financially, your donation will show your moral support for the peaceful, prayerful 40 Days Vigil. And will allow us to financially support 3 of the 4 turnarounds (the 4th did not need financial help when she chose life) they have had during this campaign so far. It will also prove the truth of the Title of this blog! So please help if you can and please spread the word.

Please attend the 40 Days Vigil if you can. Why not attend on Friday 30th March to support Bishop Hopes who will be there from 7pm - 8.30pm. The BPAS abortuary is at 26-27
Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3HP. Nearest tubes are Tottenham Court Rd or Goodge St.

Many thanks, Clare McCullough

Lenten Almsgiving: Don't Make A Mother and Baby Fast Everyday!

Choosing what to give alms to this Lent?

Why not give what you can each Friday in Lent to help Good Counsel feed destitute Mothers and Babies?

We spend £40,000 per year on feeding Mothers. And we give this help when a Mother has no wage, no right to benefits and no other means of support.

Some of our Mothers were sleeping on buses or on the street as late as 7 months into their pregnancies.

Many others considered abortion because of their devastating poverty when their baby's father chose not to support them in having their baby.

Those readers who have been pregnant and who know the awful hunger pangs you can endure in pregnancy even when you have plenty to eat will understand how terrible real hunger in pregnancy can be!

We always deliver the help that we promise an expectant Mother. We don't provide luxuries, but we do provide the basics. But at the moment funds are at an all time low.That's why we need your support especially during Lent.These women that we support witness to other women who are considering abortion - showing that there is real hope and real help for those in poverty who continue their pregnancies.

What does it cost?

It costs us £35 to feed an new Mother for 1 week.

It costs us £25 to feed an expectant Mother for 1 week.

It costs £15 to pay for baby milk each week when a Mother cannot breastfeed.

It costs us £7 a week to buy nappies for a baby.

It costs about £3.60 a day to feed an expectant Mother.

Can you donate any of these amounts weekly through Lent as part of your Lenten almsgiving?

Click here to donate online or to find out about other ways to donate.

Can You Put Your Money Where Our Mouth Is to Save 7 Lives?

This amazing and blessed week we have had SEVEN turnarounds from four different London abortuaries.

Anyone standing outside an abortuary will know that you can stand there for years without necessarily witnessing a turnaround (though many women change their minds that we may never know about).

To get a turnaround at all is a blessing, but 7 in one week is pretty amazing by any standards!

It has been a real blessing to us to be involved in talking to these women on the doorsteps of the abortuaries and being able to offer real tangible help and support.

Congratulations to Eddie, Kay, Josie and all the other faithful supporters of London abortuary vigils.

Now we have to deliver the goods - or rather provide the help we have offered. Can you help?

If you love life and support the Church's teaching on it, this is what we URGENTLY need to provide for these women and their children:

A low-rent 2 bed flat in North West London, for a couple being evicted because they refused to abort.

A 3 bed flat/house in Brent that will accept a DSS tenant.

Your financial support

Lots of prayers.

With your support we can really live the Church's teachings on building a civilization of love

Please spread the word.

Clare McCullough