Urgent, Pro-Life Novena to St Philomena

If you can help us financially please see the options for donating here. We are finding it harder and harder to meet all of our financial commitments, as more and more women choose life for their children, and need our help. Please say the following prayer for the next nine days.

NOVENA PRAYER TO SAINT PHILOMENA

We beseech Thee, O Lord,

to grant us the pardon of our sins by the intercession of Saint Philomena , virgin
and martyr, who was always pleasing in Thy sight by her eminent chastity and by
the profession of every virtue. Amen.

Illustrious virgin and martyr, Saint Philomena, behold me prostrate before the
throne whereupon it has pleased the Most Holy Trinity to place thee. Full of
confidence in thy protection, I entreat thee to intercede for me with God, from
the heights of Heaven deign to cast a glance upon thy humble client! Spouse of
Christ, sustain me in suffering, fortify me in temptation, protect me in the
dangers surrounding me, obtain for me the graces necessary to me,

and in particular
That the Good Counsel Network will receive the funds needed to continue
their work and to assist all the Mothers, especially those considering
abortion, who approach them for help. (...and add your own intentions)
Above all, assist me at the hour of my death. Saint
Philomena, powerful with God, pray for us. Amen.

O God, Most Holy Trinity, we thank Thee for the graces Thou didst bestow upon
the Blessed Virgin Mary, and upon Thy handmaid Philomena, through whose
intercession we implore Thy Mercy. Amen.

BBC Live from an abortuary & the women they don't want to speak to

One that got away - A Baby Whose Mum Chose Life after Visiting an Abortuary
You will probably have heard by now about this programme at 10am today on BBC Radio 5 Live;

"Victoria [Derbyshire] speaks to doctors, nurses and patients live from an abortion clinic [sic].

It is hard to believe that this will be anything other than a bit of pro-death propaganda. No doubt some of the tragedy of abortion may come through, but it will be presented as a necessary evil, and a better option than raising a child in difficult circumstances - ultimately a good thing for society, but hard. That's our bet anyway. If you are listening-in, please don't hesitate to give some feedback to provide balance. The details are:

Call 0500 909693 [free from most landlines; other networks may vary]. Text:
85058 [standard message rate]. Email: Victoria@bbc.co.uk. Twitter: @vicderbyshire.

If you would like to hear the other side of the story, the real help that women need, and what it is like for a woman who changes her mind at the abortuary doorstep, or what it is like for those who go through the abortion because they have no other choice, or if you want to hear from someone who spends her life providing real help to women in crisis pregnancies, read on. Robert Colquhoun of 40 Days for Life, has interviewed 4 such women at the Good Counsel Centre.

Here are interviews with two women who turned around on the doorsteps of the abortuary, because Catholics were there to offer them help, when both felt had that they had no choice. http://www.divshare.com/download/17571772-a3d (10 minutes) & http://www.divshare.com/download/17571864-4dc (20 minutes)

This third women has had an abortion and needs her vioce to be heard. Please send this link to everyone you know; http://www.divshare.com/download/17571931-cd3 (20 minutes)
Finally here is Ronni a volunteer with Good Counsel; http://www.divshare.com/download/17571913-6ce (11 minutes)

To give Mums-to-be a real chioce involves a lot of time, money and prayer, - we don't have enough of any of these to help all the turnarounds currently needing our help - if we all do our bit to help, even more lives will be saved. Please spread the word.

Clare and Stuart McCullough

Mass this Friday will be offered for Good Counsel

"Everyday, Jesus humbles himself just as He did when He came from His heavenly throne into the Virgin’s womb; everyday He comes to us and lets us see Him in abjection, when He descends from the bosom of the Father into the hands of the priest at the altar."~ Saint Francis of Assisi

Join Juventutem London for Mass this Friday, 18th May, the feast of Saint Peter Cansius. Friday, 18th May, 6.45pm

Saint Mary Moorfields Catholic Church, 4-5 Eldon Street, London, EC2M 7LS

Music will be provided by Cantus Magnus and the Juventutem London Schola.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mass for Three Voices Byrd
Communion motet: Panis angelicus Casciolini
Marian antiphon: Regina Caeli Cavalli
Gregorian chant propers
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After Mass there will be a social downstairs for those aged 18-35 with an exception for Priests and Religious.

The Mass is, of course, open to anyone of any age. It is only the social events that are designed for 18-35 year olds.

This Mass and all our monthly Masses are offered for the work of The Good Counsel Network, a pro-life pregnancy centre that reaches out to mothers in desperate need of support, who would otherwise feel they have no other option than to have an abortion. Their work is founded on prayer and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

If you plan on coming to the social please RSVP by clicking 'Attending' on our Facebook event page.

Please let others know about this Mass.

ASA Help the Campaign to Protect Marriage

Special thanks to the ASA for promoting this advert like nothing else could.

And if you haven't read about their bigotry, read on.

And most of all, if you haven't already, sign the petition.

Chen Guancheng, Sold Down the River??? Prayers Please

Chen Guancheng in the past and currently in hospital.
Image from Fr Finegan's blog.

Chen Guancheng the blind human rights activist who witnessed publicly to the policy of forced abortions and sterilisations in China, has been "released" into hospital by the USA, Mr Guancheng escaped from being under house arrest for a year or so and fled to the US embassy last week. Speculation is rife that Mr Guancheng's wife was tied to a chair and beaten by guards to force him to agree to return home. He had previously been prepared to stay in China, but now the family wish to leave the country. Prayers are urgently needed for their well-being.

It is worth remembering his courage and endurance: A friend who helped him to escape said "He injured his leg when he landed and it took him 20 hours to make his way around eight roadblocks. He told me he fell over at least 200 times, before he got picked up on Monday and driven to Beijing."

Please Say One Million Rosaries 4 The Unborn This Weekend

The Saint Michael the Archangel Organisation, based in Memphis, Tennessee, has launched a drive for one million rosaries for unborn babies between this Friday 4th May and this Sunday 6th May, from people all around the world. We urge all Catholics to join this wonderful pro-life campaign and spread the word among their contacts. For more details visit http://www.saintmichaelthearchangelorganization.org/

HT John Smeaton

Old Rite Mass on the 44th Anniversary of 'legal' abortion in England & Wales

"Renew your faith by attending Holy Mass. Keep your mind focused on the mystery that is unfolding before your eyes. In your mind's eye transport yourself to Calvary and meditate on the Victim who offers Himself to Divine Justice, paying the price of your redemption."
~ Saint Padre Pio

Join Juventutem London for Sung Mass this Friday, 27th April, the feast of Saint Peter Cansius.

Friday, 27th April, 6.30pm

Saint Mary Moorfields Catholic Church, 4-5 Eldon Street, London, EC2M 7LS

Music will be provided by Cantus Magnus and the Juventutem London Schola.

After Mass there will be a social downstairs for those aged 18-35 with an exception for priests and religious.

The Mass is, of course, open to anyone of any age. It is only the social events that are designed for 18-35 year olds.

This Mass and all our monthly Masses are offered for the work of The Good Counsel Network, a pro-life pregnancy centre that reaches out to Mothers in desperate need of support, who would otherwise feel they have no other option than to have an abortion. Their work is founded on prayer and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Please let others know about this Mass by forwarding on this email, by inviting your friends on Facebook or by word of mouth.

"For the sake of obtaining that eternal life no works of piety ought to seem too hard to a true believer, no toil too heavy, no pain too bitter, no time spent in labor and suffering too long or too wearisome. For if nothing is sweeter or more desirable than this present life which is so full of calamities, how much more desirable must that other life be deemed which is so far removed from all sense of evil or fear of it, which will in every conceivable way always abound in the unspeakable and unending joys, delight and happiness of heaven."
~ Saint Peter Cansius


What is Juventutem London?

Juventutem London is a very exciting initiative taking place in London. It is a part of the International Juventutem Federation, which is dedicated to the sanctification of the youth using the traditional forms of the sacraments - most obviously, the Traditional Latin Mass (also known as the 'Extraordinary Form' or the usus antiquior). There are no charges and no registration procedures for 'members' ('members' being anyone who comes along). We are in good standing with the archdiocese of Westminster, and are on good terms with Bishop Alan Hopes. More info; http://juventutemlondon.blogspot.co.uk/

National Day of Prayer & Fasting for Life

Please join our National Day of Prayer and Fasting for the end of abortion tomorrow, Friday 27th April - the 44th Anniversary of "legal" abortions being performed in England and Wales. See our website for more details, http://www.goodcounselnet.co.uk/Days-of-Prayer-and-Fasting.html

Is that what he will be remembered for? Bishop Henderson

Six years ago today Bishop Charles Henderson died, please say a pray for the repose of his soul. You can read his full obituary here, it starts, Bishop Charles Henderson will be remembered as a dedicated and tireless pastor and also as someone who led the way in putting into practice the Second Vatican Council’s documents on Christian unity and inter-faith dialogue.

To be honest with you this may be the case, but I'm sure that is not how he was introduced to God upon his death. Trumpets sounded and the Choirs of Angels burst forth in song, "Here stands the first Bishop to pray outside an abortuary in England."

There will be Mass for His Lordship today, in the Good Counsel Chapel.

[Bishop John Hine, Catholic auxiliary bishop of Southwark is joining the vigil at Marie Stopes abortion facility (where Bishop Henderson prayed), Brewer Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1RV, on Friday, 27th April 2012, the 44th aniversary of the Abortion Act. Bishop Hine is celebrating the 12.30 Mass at St. Francis's Church, Week Street, Maidstone. He is then joining in the vigil which begins with a prayerful and peaceful procession with an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe to the Marie Stopes abortuary and concludes with a return procession at 2.30 p.m.]

Pro-lifers Misleading Women?

Lovely to hear from some of our Mothers from recent years.
Hearing about the criticism BPAS made about pro-lifers, one posted a reply on facebook saying:

Maybe they should speak to women like me to see what a difference you make. Its been 7 years since i had my daughter....and i cant imagine life without her. So if there is a chance a lady somewhere out there gets your ...help today.....then whatever anyone says won't matter because 7years from now, she too will be sat in her garden watching her children play with a tear in her eye, eternally grateful that you guys never gave up!!!

Another texted me to say:

Hope u r all OK. It breaks my heart to hear that people are tarnishing the name of the only organisation that actually suffers together with the helpless Mothers who are not expected to make it through. Without people like you, people like my son wouldn't be in existence. I really wish I could come and participate in letting the world know what true saints you truly are.

Real Support Outside An Abortuary

I went to the 40 Days for Life vigil in Bedford Square, on the day Good Counsel covered the Vigil. I joined the other people who were there in praying the Rosary. About 2 decades into the Sorrowful Mysteries, a young girl walked past us, to the corner of the square and stood opposite the BPAS abortuary. She didn’t seem upset, and we didn’t know if she was going to BPAS, as she was on her phone. Also none of us really knew what to do!! I went and gave her a blue leaflet, which she took and smiled.

A couple of minutes later one of the gentlemen noticed that she was crying. After getting advice from Good Counsel about how to approach her, I went up to her and asked if she was alright. She told me that her name was 'Amelia', and she really didn’t want to go ahead with the abortion, but her family didn’t want her to have the baby. She carried on talking in a rush, like she wanted to get it off her chest, telling me that only her Grandmother who lives abroad supported her. She also told me that she is in her late teens, and has had 3 previous pregnancies; resulting in 1 miscarriage, 1 abortion and 1 Baby, and that the people in the BPAS centre weren’t very nice to her the last time she was there, ‘they just didn’t care’ she said.

I asked her if she would like to come and talk to someone, to look at all her options, to get the support she needs, and to get a free scan. She asked me if she could see the scan, telling me that in the abortuary they never showed her the screen, and I said that of course we would show her the baby. All the while the prayer volunteers were continuously praying for her and her unborn child. Amelia decided to come to Good Counsel, to have the scan and advice.

I made an appointment with her for Saturday which she seemed very happy with, and she said she wants to bring her partner to show him and to help him to understand her views.

Gaelle

Christians V Barbarians in Bedford Square

Nice to see the proponents of "choice" were out last night to deny us our right to free speech. It was a powerful vigil, especially as lent moves on towards Holy Week, as so many of the prayers and meditations referred to the ridiculing of Christ and of the rejection of Him. It was all very relevant to our society's rejection of the unborn.

It was a blessing to have the Bishop there. One that BPAS and their supporters had been deeply disturbed by. Even now we should write and thank Bishop Hopes who will certainly have got a lot of flack for coming, both from outside and probably from inside the Church, sadly.

There was something beautiful about standing and kneeling together in a dignified and peaceful, prayerful presence, while something sounding like the fighting Uruk-hai bawled and banged away next to us.

Oops sorry I meant...

If aliens landed in Bedford Square last night they would have instinctively stood with the pro-lifers, the other side looked like they would probably eat them.

I was proud to be standing with the Bishop and my fellow pro-lifers last night.

Oh and one last thing, if the pro-abortionists outnumbered us 2 to 1 last night, most of them must have been pregnant!

Clare McCullough

Our Lady of Sorrows and Bedford Square

On the Old Rite Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, let us pray for every single soul that sets foot in Bedford Square tonight, that after our conversions we may all merrily meet in heaven.

Clare McCullough

Good Counsel Launches Intern Programme

Happy Feast of the Annunciation. The Good Counsel Network chose today to launch it's new Intern Programme.

The Programme allows those wishing to get hands on experience in frontline pro-life work, such as pavement counselling and working in a Catholic Pregnancy Centre, to do so. All interns will receive expert training.

Interns receive free accommodation and living costs and will live together in a community, praying and working together. Our first female intern starts work next week when the Women's Intern House opens. The men's house will follow shortly.

Intern placements are available for periods of 2 and 3 months. please email us if you are interested info@goodcounselnetwork.freeserve.co.uk

Clare McCullough

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

Happy Down Syndrome Day

BPAS Campaign of Intimidation Against Bishop Hopes - or Theology 101 by BPAS

NO BISHOPS WANTED. BY ORDER OF BPAS.

The following comment appeared in The Evening Standard on 14th March. My comments are in bold.

"A major protest is now planned for March 30 at the clinic and campaigners claim it will be led by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Westminster, Alan Hopes.
BPAS said there was “no moral justification” for bishops to get involved in such a campaign."
BPAS talking about moral justification? The mind boggles.
"Abigail Fitzgibbon, policy manager for the 'charity' [my inverted comma's], warned that “vocal” anti-abortion MPs were also stirring up protesters.
She told the Standard:
“I can quite understand that people want a debate on abortion but it’s another matter when they’re haranguing and intimidating women and staff.“If bishops are getting behind this then I can’t see how it’s morally justified especially when women have already made up their minds.”
While it's nice of Abigail to be so understanding. I don't want a debate on abortion personally. I want every woman considering abortion to be given really good other options. I also want abortion to be made completely illegal.
Regarding her belief that there is no moral justification for a Bishop to support his flock in rescuing those who are being dragged to death, try Proverbs 24:11-12 Alison, it may clear this up for you somewhat.
Since January 2011, over 40 women who "had already made up their minds" according to BPAS were given leaflets outside abortuaries and came to Good Counsel to talk about keeping their babies and to obtain the help and support necessary to do so. Many of them complained about having the help leaflets taken from them by abortuary staff if they went into the abortuary and had to ask pro-lifers for new copies when they came out. Groups like The Helpers of God's Precious Infants and 40 Days for Life would be there if 1 woman had turned around, or indeed if none had.

Does anyone get the feeling that BPAS and their hoards are still reeling from the shock of about 200 people - yes that's 200 people - turning up to pray at the new Stratford abortuary a week ago with over 10 priests and religious joining them? No wonder they are desperate to stop Bishop Hopes attending.

The Guardian and it's pro-abortion cronies as well as the Standard were raging at 40 Days last week when someone turned up at the Vigil and filmed parts of it. The pro-death lobby were concerned that any woman may have been filmed. Yet a few days before this a group turned up to film Good Counsel's peaceful prayer vigil at Marie Stopes abortuary in Whitfield St. Volunteer, Justina was actually filmed while speaking to one of the expectant mums approaching the abortuary. Those doing the filming went in and out of Marie Stopes abortuary and chatted with the staff. Strange that the abortionists think that was ok.

Please pray for Bishop Hopes and please support the 40 Days vigil especially on 30 March when the Bishop attends. Please pray for Good Counsel's Whitfield St Vigil too and attend any day if you can Mon-Fri 9-1.30 and Wed 1.30-5.30 also.

Clare McCullough

A Father Who Taught Me How to Protect the Weak and the Innocent

My Father is the reason why I am pro-life.

His total fidelity to the Church's teaching wasn't a blind obedience. But it was a complete and a totally free obedience.

He often said that "abortion" was just a word to him when he first came to England in the 50's. Though he and his friends thought abortion was something degrading and scandalous, he never connected the word with a death of a baby. Much later on, when abortion was legalised, during the years when he had his own children, the real understanding of what abortion was dawned upon him. As an avid reader he followed news and politics and wrote and spoke out against abortion at every opportunity.

He was always a defender of the weak. The sort of man who stays there when someone is being threatened by some well-built thug. Who stands up for the person being ridiculed, at whatever cost to themselves. When he was 90, he wrestled with an intruder in our home to protect his family. So it makes sense that once he realised what abortion really meant he would fight it tooth and nail.

Being Catholic for me as a child was an uplifting experience. Both my parents had a very strong faith and loved devotions honouring the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady.

My Mother has a very serene and gentle character, always full of goodness towards everyone, which lends itself to doing good. But my Father gave goodness very definite avenues, directing us all towards not just good works in general, but particularly those that defended the innocent and the weak - those that the Popes of his later years stressed as being the most urgent.

Abortion, euthanasia as well as the attacks on the Church and on morality.

I thank God for the grace to be born into a pro-life family.

And I thank God especially for the gift of my Father, Stanley McCarrick.

Today, on the 2nd anniversary of his death St Patrick's Day 2010, please pray for the repose of his soul.

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.

Our Lady's Maternity Ward - A Birth At the Good Counsel's Mother and Baby Home

OUR LADY OF THE GOOD COUNSEL IS REALLY THE MEDIATRIX OF ALL GRACES!

Paraphrasing the sayings of St. Paul in one his letters to the Romans that for all those who love and trust in God, all things work for their good (see Rom.8:28), I begin this narrative about the miraculous birth of baby Moses inside the living room of Our Lady of Good Counsel Home for Mothers; another great sign of the powerfulness of the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary-Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Baby Moses' Mother went into labour about 3am on Sunday 19th and was sent to the hospital by ambulance by 6.30am. When the Nuns rang to know how she was progressing, they were told that this mother had been sent back home as the Labour was not very far along. By about 2.30pm, she was back at the house still in birth travail. She, with help of the Nuns and other mothers in the house went on strolling to help quicken the labour. Immediately after the supper, the labour seemed to advance as her waters broke about 7.40pm and hospital attention was called. The medic who answered the phone gave a conditional response saying that the woman could be sent in but would still be sent back if not found advanced in labour. And they said that the baby may not come in the next 24 hours. As the poor mother kept on screaming uncontrollably, we rang 999 for ambulance services. About twenty minutes after that came the ambulance with some paramedics. After examining Moses' Mother, they decided that she would not make it to the hospital and as they didn’t want him to be delivered inside the ambulance, they decided to deliver him in the Mother's House living room. What a miracle!
At about 11.50pm, there was a little bit of panicking as Moses' mother who is naturally a strong girl has started getting her strength exhausted. While the Pentecostal girls in the house continued praying in their Pentecostal manner outside the living room, the Nuns went before the Blessed Sacrament prostrating before the Lord, one of the Nuns said this prayer:
‘Beloved Mother Mary, God may not hear me instantly now as I want because of my sinfulness; but you our dearest Mother is sinless and therefore could be heard by God without delay. Please plead with your Son as you did in the wedding at Cana to loose whatever that is holding this baby, to let him come out so that we may hear this baby’s cry now.’
The Nun just had time to say Amen, and the next thing heard was "Waa! Waa! Waa!" Thus baby Moses’ cry that weighed 3.64kg at birth was heard at exactly 12.15am on a Monday in February. Moses became the first recorded baby born inside Our Lady of Good Counsel Home for Mothers. To God be the greatest Glory and Honour.
People may question why the Hospital exposed baby Moses Mother and her carers to such a big risk. It is only God who would give an appropriate response to the why. As for we the children of the Blessed Virgin Mary-the Mother of the Good Counsel and the Holy Family, the reason for all this is for all those who doubt the powerfulness of the intercession of the Mother of God to know that they are missing a lot by their failure to recourse to her.
Oh Mary conceived without original sin continue to pray for those who have recourse to Thee. Amen.

Donate to support this Catholic Pro-Life Home.

Mary Joseph J Ogbuokiri, HFSN.