About Our Lady of Good Counsel · Moorestown, New Jersey
Our Lady of Good Counsel is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Trenton located at 42 West Main Street in Moorestown Township, New Jersey. Its roots reach back to 1832, when Catholic farming families in nearby Fellowship founded a small mission chapel; the present stone church, built of Stockton stone in the Mid-Gothic Romanesque Revival style, was completed on July 14, 1895, and remains the oldest building in Moorestown's historic downtown. The parish community worships in English, draws from Moorestown and portions of Mount Laurel, and operates a parish school (PK3 through 8th grade) and a Religious Education program serving more than 1,500 public-school students, in addition to active liturgical, faith, and service ministries.
- Established
- 1832
- Patron
- Our Lady of Good Counsel
- Rector
- Rev. Christopher Picollo (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Trenton
Why belong here
Our Lady of Good Counsel welcomes Catholics and visitors into one of the oldest parish communities in Burlington County, with daily and weekend Mass, Saturday confessions, Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA for adults and children, and a parish school that earned the National Blue Ribbon Award in 2015. Members serve the parish and surrounding communities through a broad range of liturgical roles (lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ushers, sacristans, music ministers), faith formation (Religious Education, sacramental prep, Young Adult Ministry, Special Needs Ministry), and service and social outreach programs. The parish also offers Faith at Home resources, a Special Needs Program adapted for children with autism and learning differences, and live-streamed Masses for those who cannot attend in person.
Mass times at Our Lady of Good Counsel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM (in the chapel)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration — times published on parish Faith & Worship Ministries page
History of Our Lady of Good Counsel
The parish traces its origins to 1832, when Catholic farming families in Fellowship, NJ established 'The Chapel of Our Lady and St. Patrick.' Priests from Immaculate Conception in Camden rode in to celebrate Mass; in 1852 Bishop John Neumann authorized a monthly Mass. After the original chapel burned in 1866, the congregation acquired Main Street land through a straw purchase — necessary because of local anti-Catholic prejudice — and dedicated a brick church in 1867. Bishop Michael Corrigan raised the mission to a parish in 1879, and a 1890s windstorm prompted construction of the present Stockton-stone church, dedicated July 14, 1895, in the Mid-Gothic Romanesque Revival style.
- Mission chapel founded c. 1832 in Fellowship, NJ
- Bishop John Neumann authorizes monthly Mass, 1852
- 1866 fire destroys chapel; brick church dedicated 1867
- 1879: mission elevated to parish (Diocese of Newark)
- 1895: present stone church completed (Mid-Gothic Romanesque Revival)
- Parish school opens 1927, staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill
- 1962: school expanded to two classes per grade
- Downtown historic district listed on National Register, 1990
Visiting & Contact
Our Lady of Good Counsel is located at 42 West Main Street, Moorestown, NJ 08057. The Parish Office can be reached at (856) 235-0181 or by email at [email protected]; in a pastoral emergency, callers may dial (856) 425-0181. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (closed for lunch from 12:00–1:00 PM), with summer hours observed from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The upper church is wheelchair-accessible via a ramp at the Main Street entrance.
- Address: 42 W. Main Street, Moorestown, NJ 08057
- Parish phone: (856) 235-0181
- Emergency line: (856) 425-0181
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM (closed for lunch)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Office of Religious Education supports parish families in forming children in the Catholic faith through classroom instruction, sacramental preparation, prayer, and community involvement. Programs run from Grade 1 through Grade 8, with classes meeting on Mondays and Tuesdays and a Summer Intensive ('Plus') option. The Office is led by Parish Catechetical Leader Cynthia Robinson and is housed at Heritage House, 122 W. Main Street, Moorestown.
- Office of Religious Education — Heritage House, 122 W. Main Street
- Phone: 856-235-7136 ext. 310
- Cynthia Robinson, Parish Catechetical Leader
- Weekly sessions: Grades 1, 3 & 6; Grade 2; Grade 7; Grade 8
- Summer Intensive program available
- Special Needs Program for children with autism and learning differences
- Sacramental preparation for First Eucharist and Confirmation
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) is the parish's journey of faith for adults exploring the Catholic Church, seeking Baptism and full initiation, or wishing to complete the sacraments of Eucharist and/or Confirmation. Through study, reflection, and community support, participants prepare to join the Church in a meaningful and personal way. A parallel OCIA process is available for children. Inquiries can be directed to the parish office at 856-235-0181.
- OCIA for adults
- OCIA for Children
- Inquiry via the parish office (856-235-0181)
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministries support the prayer and worship life of the parish at Mass and other celebrations, with roles for lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ushers, sacristans, hospitality ministers, and music ministers. The parish also operates an Altar Linens ministry and an Arimathean Ministry that offers a compassionate presence at parish funerals.
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar Servers (open to boys and girls completing 4th grade)
- Ushers / Hospitality Ministers
- Sacristan Ministry
- Altar Linens Ministry
- Arimathean Ministry (funerals)
- OLGC Adult Choir
Faith & Worship Ministries
Beyond the liturgy itself, the parish offers additional opportunities for prayer, formation, and community. Eucharistic Adoration is offered as a sacred time of quiet prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, the Young Adult Ministry welcomes adults from college age through their 30s, and the Special Needs Ministry accompanies families and individuals with particular needs. Faith at Home provides family resources, including a weekly one-page theme for households.
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Young Adult Ministry (college age through 30s)
- Special Needs Ministry
- Faith at Home family resources
Service & Social Outreach
Service and social ministries extend the parish's mission beyond the church walls, offering parishioners concrete ways to serve neighbors in need throughout Moorestown, Mount Laurel, and the wider region. The parish maintains dedicated pages for these outreach efforts and welcomes new volunteers.
- Service & Social Ministries (parish outreach initiatives)
- Volunteer opportunities coordinated through the Parish Office
Parish School
The parish school, opened in 1927 and staffed for decades by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, today serves about 420 students from Pre-K3 through Eighth Grade. Enrollment is open to students beyond parish families, and the school was recognized with the National Blue Ribbon Award for excellence in 2015. The principal is Dr. Carla Chiarelli.
- Grades: PK3 through 8th Grade
- Enrollment approximately 420 students
- National Blue Ribbon Award (2015)
- Principal: Dr. Carla Chiarelli
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the seven sacraments in the ordinary life of the community. Infant baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, and OCIA for both adults and children are coordinated through the parish office and the Office of Religious Education; couples preparing for marriage should contact the parish to begin arrangements; Reconciliation is heard weekly on Saturday afternoons; and Anointing of the Sick and pastoral emergencies are handled through the parish emergency line.
- Baptism (infants and younger children)
- First Eucharist
- Confirmation
- Marriage preparation
- Reconciliation: Saturday 3:30 PM
- Anointing / pastoral emergency: (856) 425-0181