Our Lady of Good Counsel

Parish Identity & Mission

Our Lady of Good Counsel sits at 701 W. Main St. in the Village of Endicott and is a parish of the Diocese of Syracuse. Its mission, drawn from Matthew 28:19, is to 'go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.' The parish vision statement describes OLGC as 'a Catholic community called by our baptism to be Christ-like by being a light to the world, to celebrate and become the Body of Christ for ourselves and others, and to proclaim the Kingdom of God,' with core focus areas of Spirituality, Collaboration, Evangelization, and Stewardship/Accountability.

85th Anniversary (2026)

Throughout 2026, OLGC is celebrating its 85th anniversary, looking back on the parish's history and posting anniversary-related events and content on the parish website. The church was founded in 1940 and dedicated in February 1941; its patron feast is celebrated in late April each year.

• Anniversary year content posted on the official parish website
• Parish feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel — April 26
• Dinner with the bishop planned at the 75th milestone in 2016 (model for ongoing anniversary events)

Liturgy & Schedule

OLGC offers a weekly Mass schedule that includes a Friday morning Mass with the Miraculous Medal Novena, a Saturday morning Mass preceded by the Rosary, and two Sunday Masses. Confessions are heard Saturday mornings, and many Masses are livestreamed through the parish website for those at home.

• Friday 8:00 AM — Mass with Miraculous Medal Novena
• Saturday 8:30 AM Rosary / 9:00 AM Mass
• Sunday 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM Mass
• Holy Day Masses at 12:00 PM with Vigil at 5:30 PM
• Confessions Saturday 8:00 AM
• Livestreamed Masses via parish website

Parish Staff

OLGC is led by a Pastor who also serves neighboring Our Lady of Sorrows in Vestal, supported by two parochial vicars, four deacons (one retired), a pastoral associate, and a lay staff team handling faith formation, youth ministry, music, outreach, food pantry, parish administration, and facilities.

• Rev. Richard P. Prior Jr. — Pastor (OLGC & OLS); after-hours emergency line 607-523-9967
• Rev. Cornelius Deep — Parochial Vicar
• Rev. Joseph Ahukanna, OP — Parochial Vicar
• Dc. Paul Heiland — Deacon
• Dc. Michael Carroll — Deacon
• Dc. William Matts — Deacon (St. Anthony of Padua, Endicott)
• Dc. Thomas M. Harley — Retired Deacon
• Sr. Anisia Muthoni — Pastoral Associate
• Margie Fetsko — Parish Secretary
• Kathy Hamilton — Director of Faith Formation & Jr. High Youth Minister (OLGC & OLS)
• Tori Reynolds — Sr. High Youth Minister (OLGC & OLS)
• Drew Deskur — Music Ministry
• Diane Rigotti — OCIA Coordinator
• Rich Devine — Facilities Manager
• Aidan Weston — Web Master

Faith Formation & Youth Ministry

OLGC's Faith Formation program is 'dedicated to providing the knowledge, experiences, and skills necessary to bring our community into a living relationship with Christ.' In communion with the Bishop and in partnership with parents, it works to form faithful, fruitful disciples and vital parish members able to proclaim, celebrate, and serve. Separate ministers lead Jr. High and Sr. High youth, and Diane Rigotti coordinates OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, formerly RCIA) for OLGC and OLS.

• Faith Formation for children, led by Kathy Hamilton
• Junior High Youth Ministry
• Senior High Youth Ministry (Tori Reynolds, shared with OLS)
• OCIA / RCIA — Diane Rigotti, [email protected], 607-748-8287

Music Ministry

OLGC's Music Ministry is led by Drew Deskur ([email protected], 607-748-7417). Music supports the parish's Sunday liturgies, holy day celebrations, weddings, funerals, and other prayer events.

• Director: Drew Deskur
• Supports Sunday and weekday Masses, livestreamed liturgies, holy days, and funerals

Parish Organizations & Fellowship

The parish sponsors several lay organizations that mix devotion, service, and fellowship. The Altar/Rosary Society cares for the sanctuary and altar linens and hosts seasonal events; Hospitality Ministry runs a monthly coffee hour; the Southern Tier Men's Breakfast meets monthly with the Knights of Columbus; the Over-50 Luncheon gathers seniors monthly; and the Parish Book Club has been meeting for several years.

• Altar/Rosary Society — meets 2nd Wed (Sept, Nov, Feb, Apr)
• Hospitality Ministry — Coffee Hour 1st Sunday after Mass; open gym for kids
• Southern Tier Men's Breakfast — 3rd Saturday
• Over 50 Luncheon — 1st Friday (except summer)
• OLGC Parish Book Club — 2nd Wednesday, 10:30 AM

Outreach & Social Justice

Outreach is one of OLGC's hallmarks. The parish operates Dorothy's Dinner soup kitchen on Friday evenings, a twice-weekly food pantry, a community garden, and a Holiday Baskets program serving roughly 140 families at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Tutoring volunteers support reading and math at Union-Endicott schools, and the Fresh Air Fund and Parish Health ministries extend the parish's reach into the wider community.

• Dorothy's Dinner Soup Kitchen — Friday 5:00–6:30 PM
• Food Pantry — Tuesday & Thursday, Noon–3:00 PM
• God's Garden (community garden) — April through September
• Holiday Baskets — Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter (~140 families)
• Educational Tutoring — reading/math at Union-Endicott schools
• Fresh Air Fund
• Parish Health Ministry — flu shots, mammogram screenings, health education
• Craft Ministry and Yarn Ministry

Pastoral Care

The Pastoral Care office coordinates the parish's ministry to the sick, homebound, bereaved, and others in need, including the Visitation Ministry, Prayer Network, funeral planning, and emergency home help. The Prayer Network operates like a telephone tree: an intention called into the rectory is shared with team leaders, who in turn contact parishioners committed to praying for that intention.

• Visitation Ministry (homebound, hospitals, nursing homes)
• Funeral Planning
• Transportation assistance
• Prayer Network (telephone-tree prayer support)
• Emergency Home Help

Contact & Location

Parish office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM and Friday 9:30–11:30 AM (closed Saturday & Sunday). The rectory is at 701 W. Main St., Endicott, NY 13760, with phone (607) 748-7417 and fax (607) 785-6454. The general parish email is [email protected] and bulletins are posted online for the week.

• Address: 701 W. Main St., Endicott, NY 13760
• Phone: (607) 748-7417 | Fax: (607) 785-6454
• Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9–3; Fri 9:30–11:30 (closed Sat/Sun)
• Online bulletins via parish website