About Our Lady of Good Counsel · Verona, New York
The Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Syracuse located in Verona, New York, in Oneida County. The parish community's stated aim is to glorify God the Most Holy Trinity in all things, offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with great reverence, beauty, dignity, and love. It is a traditional parish that offers both the Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo) and the Traditional Latin Mass each Sunday, celebrates Mass ad orientem, and distributes Holy Communion only on the tongue to the faithful kneeling at the altar rail. Founded in 1913, the parish is served today by Father Edmund A. Castronovo and maintains an active devotional life centered on the Blessed Virgin Mary, frequent Confession, and Eucharistic worship.
- Established
- 1913
- Patron
- Our Lady of Good Counsel (Blessed Virgin Mary, invoked as the Most Holy Mother of God)
- Rector
- Father Edmund A. Castronovo
- Diocese
- Diocese of Syracuse
Why belong here
Our Lady of Good Counsel is a small, traditional village parish that offers Catholics something increasingly rare: the Traditional Latin Mass every Sunday alongside the Ordinary Form, Mass celebrated ad orientem, kneeling altar-rail Communion on the tongue, and a robust schedule of Confession (six hours on Saturdays alone). The parish is anchored in Marian devotion — Our Lady is the parish's patroness — and Father Castronovo's preaching emphasizes fidelity to the Magisterium, the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, and the sanctity of marriage. With an active choir (the 10:00 AM Mass is live-streamed each week), a Ladies' Rosary Society, a Young Ladies' Sodality, a Men's St. Joseph's Society, altar servers, and lectors, it is a place where families can worship deeply and pass on the Faith.
Mass times at Our Lady of Good Counsel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:30–7:00 PM
- Saturday 7:30–8:00 AM
- Saturday 2:30–3:30 PM
- Saturday 6:30–7:30 PM
About Our Lady of Good Counsel
The Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Syracuse located in the village of Verona, Oneida County, New York. The parish community's stated aim is to glorify God the Most Holy Trinity in all things, offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with great reverence, beauty, dignity, and love. Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is described by the parish as 'the living heart of our parish,' from Whom they derive the grace and strength to lead lives of fidelity, holiness, and charity. Parishioners strive to live in the state of sanctifying grace by frequent reception of the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Communion. The parish aims to be completely faithful to the Magisterium and the will of the Supreme Pontiff, and takes seriously the obligation to defend the unborn, the dying, and the sanctity of marriage.
- Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Syracuse
- Located in Verona, Oneida County, New York
- Founded in 1913
- Our Lady (the Most Holy Mother of God) is the patroness
- Annual participation in pro-life and pro-marriage events
Our Pastor — Father Edmund A. Castronovo
Father Edmund A. Castronovo is the pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel. He is the son of the late Edmund M. Castronovo and Lauretta E. Melfe Castronovo, and has two sisters: Lynda J. Castronovo, Principal of Scotia-Glenville High School in Scotia, NY, and Mary Deidre Pignatiello, a beauty salon manager in Fairfax, VA. He graduated from Hamilton Central High School in 1968. Father attended Wadhams Hall Seminary in Ogdensburg, NY, and received his Master's Degree in Sacred Theology from the Catholic University of America. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in 1976 by the Most Reverend David F. Cunningham, Bishop of Syracuse. Before coming to Our Lady of Good Counsel, he served two years as a priest of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, teaching at St. Gregory's Academy in Elmhurst and assisting at the Fraternity's parish of St. Michael's in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
- Ordained 1976 by Bishop David F. Cunningham of Syracuse
- Associate pastor: St. Paul's, Norwich (1976–81); St. Daniel's, Syracuse (1981–87); Holy Trinity, Utica (1987–88)
- Pastor of St. Malachy's, Sherburne (1988–2000)
- Pastor of St. Thomas, New Hartford (2000–2002)
- Administrator of St. Joseph's, Oneida (2002–2008)
- Two years with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (teaching at St. Gregory's Academy, Elmhurst; assisting at St. Michael's, Scranton, PA)
- Shares the rectory with Peppe, a Bichon-Cocker Spaniel
The Traditional Latin Mass
The Traditional Latin Mass is offered every Sunday at 8:00 AM and on some weekdays and Holy Days of Obligation. Latin-English missals are provided to help the faithful follow along, and visitors are invited to allow the altar servers to respond on their behalf. All are welcome.
- Sunday 8:00 AM (weekly)
- Some weekdays and Holy Days of Obligation (check the calendar)
- Latin-English missals available
- Fulfills Pope Benedict XVI's desire that the Church be seen in continuity with her Tradition
Liturgical Practices — Ad Orientem and Kneeling Communion
All Masses at Our Lady of Good Counsel are celebrated ad orientem — the priest faces 'Liturgical East' along with the congregation. Holy Communion is distributed on the tongue only, to the faithful kneeling at the altar rail (if physically able). The right side of the church receives Communion first, followed by the left side. Parishioners or visitors with physical limitations are invited to sit in a front pew and inform Father before Mass so that he can bring the Eucharist to their seat.
- All Masses celebrated ad orientem
- Communion on the tongue, kneeling at the altar rail
- Right side of the church receives Communion first, then the left
- Eucharist brought to those unable to approach the rail
Parish Groups & Ministries
Our Lady of Good Counsel has an active parish life organized around several longstanding societies and lay ministries. The parish supports the sanctification of its members through both devotional and service-oriented groups, and through participation in public witness such as the March for Life, Corpus Christi procession, and Rosary Rally.
- Altar Servers (Young Men)
- Lectors
- Choir
- Rosary Society (Ladies) — meets 2nd Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM
- Sodality (Young Ladies)
- Saint Joseph's Society (Men) — meets 1st Thursday of every month at 7:30 PM
- Annual March for Life participation
- Corpus Christi procession
- Rosary Rally
Information for Visitors
Visitors to Our Lady of Good Counsel will find a welcoming, traditional Catholic worship environment. An accessible ramp is available at the front entrance of the church. A restroom and crying room are available to the right of the altar. Communion is distributed on the tongue while kneeling at the altar rail (or at the pew for those with physical limitations). The Traditional Latin Mass is offered every Sunday at 8:00 AM with Latin-English missals provided.
- Accessible ramp at the front entrance
- Restroom and crying room to the right of the altar
- Communion on the tongue, kneeling at the altar rail
- Traditional Latin Mass Sundays at 8:00 AM with Latin-English missals
Sanctuary Renovation (2015)
In February 2015 the parish completed an elegant, traditional-styled redecoration of the sanctuary. The new altar arrangement was specifically planned to facilitate the celebration of Holy Mass both ad orientem and facing the people, with the tabernacle enshrined in the center of the sanctuary. The project was widely noted in traditional Catholic circles as a model of reverent renovation.
- Sanctuary redecoration completed February 2015
- Traditional-styled renovation
- Altar arrangement designed for both ad orientem and versus populum celebration
- Tabernacle enshrined in the center of the sanctuary
Contact & Location
The parish church is located on East Main Street in the village of Verona, with the rectory nearby on Beacon Light Road. Inquiries can be directed to the pastor by email or to the rectory by phone. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin online.
- Church address: 5652 East Main Street, Verona, NY 13478
- Rectory address: 5259 Beacon Light Road, Verona, NY 13478
- Rectory phone: (315) 363-7696
- Pastor's email: [email protected]
- Website contact: [email protected]
- Weekly bulletin posted at olgcc.org/bulletin/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Edmund A. Castronovopresent (came to Our Lady of Good Counsel after 2008)
Previously a priest of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter teaching at St. Gregory's Academy in Elmhurst and assisting at St. Michael's in Scranton, PA. Ordained 1976 by Bishop David F. Cunningham of Syracuse.