Our Lady of Good Counsel

Our Parish History

Catholic life in Eatonville dates back to 1912, when Father Vesta of St. Leo Parish in Tacoma celebrated the community's first Mass on August 12. Six years later the parishioners built their first church on Washington Street and the first Mass was offered there on December 18, 1918. Through several reassignments — mission of St. John of the Woods (1918–1957), mission of Our Lady Queen of Heaven in Spanaway (1957–1969), mission of St. John of the Woods again (1969–1995), and finally mission of Holy Disciples in Puyallup (1995–present) — the small community has endured and grown. In 1979 the parish moved to its present worship space on Antonie Avenue, and in 2014 it completed a major remodel that added accessible facilities and a new classroom/social hall.

Parish Family 39

Under the Archdiocese of Seattle's Partners in the Gospel pastoral planning, Our Lady of Good Counsel is grouped with three other worship communities into Parish Family 39, served by one pastor — Rev. Richard "Woody" McCallister — with two parochial vicars. Mass and confession times are coordinated across the family so parishioners can worship at whichever site is most convenient.

• Holy Disciples — Puyallup, WA
• Our Lady of Good Counsel — Eatonville, WA
• Our Lady Queen of Heaven — Tacoma, WA
• Sts. Cosmas & Damian — Orting, WA
• Pastor: Rev. Richard "Woody" McCallister
• Parochial Vicars: Rev. Vijaya Bhaskar Chappidi and Rev. Navy Kumar Thomas

Clergy and Staff

The mission is served by its Family 39 pastor and parochial vicars together with a deacon and a full parish staff. Pastoral Assistants coordinate Liturgy, Outreach, Adult Faith Formation, Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, and Administration, while the Administrative Assistant edits the weekly bulletin.

• Rev. Richard "Woody" McCallister — Pastor ([email protected], 253-875-6630 #127)
• Rev. Vijaya Bhaskar Chappidi — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
• Rev. Navy Kumar Thomas — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
• Deacon Gary Rose ([email protected])
• Mary Takaki — Pastoral Assistant for Administration ([email protected], ext. 126)
• John Mastalski — Pastoral Assistant for Liturgy, Outreach & Adult Faith Formation ([email protected], ext. 129)
• Marina Marinez — Administrative Assistant / Bulletin Editor ([email protected], ext. 120)
• Monica Rodrigues — Youth Ministry ([email protected], ext. 136)
• Rita Charles — Faith Formation Coordinator, K–5 ([email protected], ext. 137)
• Laurie Halte — Bookkeeper ([email protected], ext. 128)

Parish Leadership and Councils

Parish councils and ministry leaders support the mission's life and finances. The Parish-Finance Council includes the pastor and several lay trustees, while named coordinators head up the major ministries.

• Pastoral-Finance Council — Judy Trummert (chair), Rosemary Nordstrom, Roger Andrascik, Fr. Dominic Chikankheni, Rosemary O'Brien-Wilson
• St. Ann Altar Society — Judy Trummert
• Peace and Justice / Outreach — Rosemary Nordstrom
• Liturgical Ministry Scheduling — Dave Holder
• Altar Server Training — Susan Holder
• Sacristans — Pat Hague, Dorothy Heseltine, Dave Holder
• Knights of Columbus — Neil Kerr

Faith Formation and Education

The parish runs Faith Formation for children in grades K–5, a dedicated youth ministry, and an RCIA-style "Becoming Catholic" track for adults. Family 39 also coordinates adult confirmation and ongoing faith formation at the parish level.

• Faith Formation (K–5) — Rita Charles, [email protected]
• Youth Ministry — Monica Rodrigues
• Becoming Catholic / RCIA — coordinated through John Mastalski
• Adult Confirmation — coordinated through John Mastalski

Liturgical Ministries and Music

Mass at OLGC is supported by a committed group of liturgical ministers and a parish choir. Volunteers of every experience level are welcome — mentors are provided for those learning new roles.

• Parish Choir — rehearsals Tuesday evenings, 7 PM; sings at Sunday Mass
• Altar Servers (training provided by Susan Holder)
• Sacristans — Pat Hague, Dorothy Heseltine, Dave Holder
• Liturgical Ministry Scheduling — Dave Holder
• Rosary for the Sanctity of Life — meditative hymns and recitation of the Rosary

Prayer and Devotions

Beyond Sunday Mass, the community gathers midweek for prayer, Scripture reflection, and intercession. The Prayer Chain mobilizes parishioners to pray for personal needs, and the Vocation Cross rotates weekly to families praying for priestly and religious vocations.

• Prayer Chain — prayer warriors pray for loved ones in need
• Vocation Cross — weekly prayer for vocations, signed up after Mass each quarter
• Monday Evening Prayer — 7 PM in the Convent Chapel: Gospel reflection, Liturgy of the Hours, intercessory prayer, alternating Rosary or Divine Mercy

Outreach and Community Building

Our Lady of Good Counsel reaches beyond its own walls through the Peace and Justice outreach ministry and a hot-meal program for the homeless in the Eatonville area. The Knights of Columbus and St. Ann Altar Society round out the community-building ministries.

• Monthly hot meals for the homeless
• Knights of Columbus — Neil Kerr
• St. Ann Altar Society — Judy Trummert
• Peace and Justice / Outreach — Rosemary Nordstrom

Sacraments

Infant baptism, marriage, funerals, adult confirmation, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (Becoming Catholic), reconciliation, and ministry to the homebound are coordinated through the pastoral staff at Our Lady of Good Counsel.

• Infant Baptism — John Mastalski
• Weddings — John Mastalski
• Funerals — John Mastalski
• Adult Confirmation — John Mastalski
• Becoming Catholic (RCIA) — John Mastalski
• Homebound Ministry — John Mastalski
• Reconciliation — Saturday 2:30–3:30 PM and by appointment