Sunday 21st February 2010 was the date for a delayed "Christmas" afternoon for many of our 'senior' parishioners, organised by th SVdP Conference of the parish. Originally scheduled tor the New Year period, the bad weather at that time meant it had to be postponed. However, this did nothing to dampen the enjoyment and the atmosphere of the afternoon. Many thanks to Liz Coll and her team of helpers who organised the catering, and to Theresa and the 'Mullens' for the entertainment.
The weekend of 24th and 25th October 2009 witnessed an unusual kind of charity collection here at OLGC, as bags of old clothes and textiles were collected in support of Mary's Meals. This organisation provide a meal at school each day for over 300,000 children worldwide. Last year their 'Rags to Riches' clothing collection netted £112,000 in funds to support their efforts. Parishioners here managed to collect over 200 bin-bags of clothes, a real, practical help to a worthy cause!
Archbishop Conti came to Our Lady of Good Counsel on Thursday 15th October 2009 to formally commission 14 Parish Catechists, the first in the Archdiocese, having completed a two-year course in catechetics and theology.
Two of our parishioners here are among the group. Once again, OLGC is at the forefront of new developments in the Archdiocese!
STOP PRESS!! In October 2010, a second group of 10 Parish Catechists was commissioned for ministry in the Archdiocese, representing 9 parishes in total. A third group began in September 2010 (again including two from OLGC!) and a fourth in September 2011 (including one more from OLGC).
Easter celebrations 2010 were enriched through the celebration of Baptism at both the Easter Vigil and 12 noon Masses. As in parish churches and Cathedrals throughout the Catholic world, we celebrated the climax of the RCIA journey at the Vigil as Latoya Gerry-Ovbiolokun was baptised, confirmed and shared Holy Communion with us. On Easter Sunday, we then welcomed little Shay Wynne into our parish family as his parents, Kevin and Karen, brought him for baptism. On both occasions, the whole congregation renewed their own Baptism through the Promises and sprinkling with Easter Water.
All in all, a sharing in joy as we embrace both Latoya and Shay as members of our parish family and as part of Christ's Body in the Church.
A "Buffet Night" was held in
our Parish Hall in September 2010, in the weekend of the Papal Visit, organised and supplied by generous parishioners. Food, music, fun and a Raffle, as well as the uplifting events of the Papal Visit underway at the time, ensured a great night was had by all. Together with a Special Collection at Mass, over £5000 was raised for SCIAF's appeal for help with the relief effort in Pakistan following the devastating floods in that country in August.
The rigours of the current economic climate did not dampen the generosity of OLGC parishioners, who, over the Christmas period 2010, continued to support people in need in various ways. The customary "tins and things" appeal brought in box upon box of dry foods and tins to help with the work of the Wayside Club in the city, providing hot meals and support to Glasgow's homeless. In addition, the Advent Appeal and Advent Boxes many took away brought in almost £1000 for the St Nicholas Trust, supporting small projects and community groups around the Archdiocese. Finally, almost £400 was collected for the St Margaret's Family and Children Care Society from donations at the Christmas Crib.
Gathering over a generous buffet prepared by members of our SVdP Conference, over 90 people filled our wee hall to celebrate what we are as a parish, and look to the future. Food, chat and a lot of laughter together, as we reflected on how we might mark the visit of Pope Benedict XVI in the autumn, and look beyond that to the parish’s 50th Anniversary in 2012 (now just over 18 months away!). A final series of questions invited people to look around the parish more generally and see what priorities we might have for the near future.
In response to an urgent appeal by SCIAF, a collection held on Sunday 17th January 2010, gathered over £4000, a wonderful sum considering the appeal was not planned or expected when people arrived for Mass.
On February 27th, a Curry Night' organised by some of the parishioners raised over £1000. A great turn-out of people enjoyed wonderful food - all prepared and donated by parishioners - good chat, music, and a raffle.
Almost £6000 has now been raised for Haiti - real testament to the generosity of people, even at a time when everyone's finances are tight!
Five of the children of our parish received the Sacrament of Confirmation and Holy Communion. With Fr. Tom taken ill unexpectedly in November 2009, Mgr Peter Smith, Parish Priest of
neighbouring St Mary's parish, and Dean of the City-East
parishes, generously came to say Mass and confer the
Sacrament of Confirmation. Then, in May 2010, they came to
share the Sacrament of Holy Communion for the first time.
Our congratulations to them, and our thanks to their parents
and Sponsors, and to their teachers at school, and our parish
catechists who prepared them for the Sacrament.
Siobhan Courtney
Lewis O'Neill
Ethan Walker
Talia Webb
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