About Our Lady of Good Counsel · Secretary, Maryland
Our Lady of Good Counsel is a small Catholic parish in the tiny Eastern Shore town of Secretary, Maryland, in Dorchester County. It belongs to the Diocese of Wilmington, which covers Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore. The parish has roots going back to 1891 and serves a close-knit rural Catholic community along the Choptank River, with weekend Mass on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, weekly religious education, a parish choir, RCIA, and a parish cemetery. The current pastor is Rev. Stephen C. Lonek, who has been assigned here since June 2009.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- Our Lady of Good Counsel
- Rector
- Rev. Stephen C. Lonek
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wilmington
Why belong here
Our Lady of Good Counsel is a small, personal Eastern Shore parish where the same families have worshipped for more than 130 years. Members gather for Saturday evening and Sunday morning Mass, weekly CCD religious education for grades 1-8, a parish choir that sings twice a month, RCIA for adults, Girl Scouts, and funeral luncheons served in the Biad Church Hall — a tight community built around the seasons of rural Catholic life.
Mass times at Our Lady of Good Counsel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 PM - 4:45 PM
Parish Identity & Diocese
Our Lady of Good Counsel is a Catholic parish of the Diocese of Wilmington — the diocese that covers Delaware and Maryland's Eastern Shore. It is one of the smaller parishes in the diocese, serving the rural river town of Secretary in Dorchester County, Maryland. The parish takes its name from the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Our Lady of Good Counsel (feast day April 26), at the request of its earliest benefactress.
- Diocese of Wilmington
- Patron: Our Lady of Good Counsel
- Feast day: April 26
- Located in Secretary, Dorchester County, MD
Church History
Founded in 1891 by a handful of Catholic families along the Choptank River, the parish grew from a modest frame church built with a $150 gift from Miss Abell of the Baltimore Sun Abell family. Early priests traveled by horse and buggy — and later motor boat — to celebrate Mass here. The current church was dedicated on September 8, 1940; the original 1891 church was moved back on the lot rather than torn down, and the historic bell 'Margaret' was carried over into the new building.
- First church dedicated December 5/6, 1891
- Present church dedicated September 8, 1940
- Historic bell 'Margaret' (blessed by Father Waldron) preserved in the current church
- Owned the 1664 'My Lady Sewall's Manor' as a community house from 1926
Early Pastorate
The earliest pastors — Fathers Ott, Mickle, and Heu, present at the 1891 dedication — traveled from Easton, Cambridge, and Baltimore. Father Dougherty was the first priest to make a permanent home in Cambridge, visiting Secretary twice a month. The parish was later served by Father Mooney (the first to own an automobile), Father Walsh (a 15-year tenure marked by growth), Father Waldron (who installed the bell 'Margaret'), and Father Temple, who introduced twice-monthly Masses and was a tireless mission-giver to surrounding non-Catholic towns.
- Father Walsh — 15 years, oversaw growth and 1927 land acquisition
- Father Waldron — about 6 years, installed the bell 'Margaret'
- Father William Temple — twice-monthly Mass, missions to non-Catholics
Modern Pastorate
Rev. Stephen C. Lonek was assigned to Our Lady of Good Counsel in June 2009 and serves as the current pastor. He was born and raised on Staten Island, ordained in 1976 for the Archdiocese of New York, and joined the Diocese of Wilmington in 2000, where he previously served at St. John-Holy Angels, St. Mary Magdalen, and St. Mary of the Assumption. He also served as a part-time chaplain at St. Joseph's Hill Academy and Moore Catholic High School on Staten Island.
- Rev. Stephen C. Lonek — Pastor since June 2009
- Ordained 1976 (Archdiocese of New York)
- Joined Diocese of Wilmington 2000
Religious Education (CCD)
Our Lady of Good Counsel's religious education program, often called CCD, was established to give children a firm foundation in Catholic moral teaching. Classes are held for students in Grades 1 through 8 every Sunday from 9:15 to 10:15 AM, beginning the second Sunday in September and running through April. Children preparing to receive First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion must attend classes in both first and second grade.
- Grades 1-8
- Sundays 9:15-10:15 AM
- Second Sunday of September through April
- Director: Denise Tomey — 410-943-6242
- First Reconciliation / First Communion prep in Grades 1 and 2
RCIA & Sacramental Preparation
The parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) for those seeking to become Catholic or complete their initiation into the Church. Families with children preparing for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion work through the CCD program in Grades 1 and 2. Confessions are heard each Saturday afternoon before the vigil Mass.
- RCIA for adult initiation
- First Reconciliation and First Communion for children in CCD
- Confession: Saturdays 4:15-4:45 PM
Parish Choir & Liturgical Music
The parish choir sings at the 11:00 AM Mass on the 2nd and 4th Sundays from September through May. Choir practice is held on the Thursday evening before each singing Sunday at 7:00 PM, drawing singers from across the small community.
- Sings at 11:00 AM Mass on 2nd and 4th Sundays (September-May)
- Rehearsals: Thursday before, 7:00 PM
Parish Life, Outreach & Facilities
Beyond Mass and faith formation, Our Lady of Good Counsel is a community where members care for one another through long-standing traditions. The parish hosts Girl Scouts for girls in Kindergarten through 12th grade, and parishioners provide funeral luncheons in the Biad Church Hall to support grieving families. The parish also maintains its own cemetery, which has served as the resting place of local Catholics since it was acquired around 1910 after the original churchyard ran out of room.
- Girl Scouts — K through 12th grade
- Funeral luncheons in the Biad Church Hall
- Parish cemetery
- Biad Church Hall available for parish use
Parish Staff & Contacts
The parish is led by pastor Rev. Stephen C. Lonek and supported by a small staff and lay volunteers. The rectory office is open on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM; the parish secretary Jackie Davis is available during those hours at 410-943-4300. Religious Education is directed by Denise Tomey.
- Pastor: Rev. Stephen C. Lonek
- Secretary: Jackie Davis — 410-943-4300
- Religious Education Director: Denise Tomey — 410-943-6242
- Rectory Office Hours: Tuesday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Mailing: P.O. Box 279, Secretary, MD 21664
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Ott
Present at the December 1891 dedication; described as a very large man whose cassock astonished local children.
- Father Mickle
Present at the 1891 dedication, from Baltimore.
- Father Heu
Present at the 1891 dedication, from Baltimore.
- Father Doughertyapprox. 4-5 years
Came about once the pastor cycle settled; first priest to make a permanent home in Cambridge. Oversaw an addition built across the back of the church in about 1907. Reached by horse-and-buggy or motor boat.
- Father Brennan
Succeeded Father Dougherty.
- Father Mooneyabout 1 year
First priest assigned here to own an automobile; fell ill and was replaced.
- Father Walsh15 years
Acquired two adjoining river-front acres in 1927; his tenure included refurbishment and growth.
- Father Tosick
Succeeded Father Walsh; repainted the church interior, added new altar, stations, railing, statues, and pews.
- Father Waldronabout 6 years
Obtained a new bell for the steeple, blessed it on a Sunday, and named it 'Margaret' after his sister; the Angelus rang from it for about ten years.
- Father McVeighabout 1 year
Succeeded Father Waldron.
- Father William Temple
Introduced twice-monthly Mass with assistant priests; tireless mission-giver to non-Catholic towns.
- Father Charles McGoldrick
Assistant to Father Temple.
- Father O'Neil
Assistant to Father Temple from the Thousand Islands area.
- Father Tuohy
Brief tenure; returned to Chicago.
- Msgr. Henry Dewson1989-1992
Pastor during 1989-1992 before being transferred to Holy Child, North Wilmington; later retired in 1996.
- Rev. Stephen C. Lonek2009-present
Born and raised on Staten Island; ordained 1976 for the Archdiocese of New York; joined the Diocese of Wilmington in 2000; assigned to OLGC in June 2009.