About Our Lady of Good Counsel · Vienna, Virginia
Our Lady of Good Counsel (OLGC) is a Catholic parish in Vienna, Virginia, administered by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (OSFS) and part of the Diocese of Arlington. Founded in November 1955 with 750 families carved out of St. James Parish in Falls Church, OLGC has grown into a vibrant community serving the Vienna-Pimmit Hills area from its 23-acre campus on Wolftrap Road. The parish combines a parish school (PreK–8), a robust faith formation program for children and youth, Spanish-language Mass and ministries, weekly Confession, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and a strong outreach network including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Gabriel Project. The Salesian spirituality of the Oblate priests is described by the parish as one of the defining features of community life at OLGC.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- Our Lady of Good Counsel
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew J. Hillyard, OSFS (Pastor); the welcome page also notes Rev. Mathias Kumar, OSFS as Parochial Administrator
- Diocese
- Diocese of Arlington
Why belong here
OLGC offers a full sacramental and parish life: daily and Sunday Mass (including a 12 pm Mass in Spanish), Saturday Confession, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, a PreK–8 parish school, faith formation for children and youth, OCIA for adults becoming Catholic, and active youth ministry including middle- and high-school programs and summer Work Camps. Outreach runs through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Gabriel Project / Respect Life, the Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council, and Catholic Charities counseling. Registered parishioners can receive their sacraments at OLGC, enroll in the school or religious education programs, request sponsor letters, and tap tuition assistance when needed.
Mass times at Our Lady of Good Counsel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 – 9:30 am
- Monday–Friday by appointment (call 703.938.2828 or email a priest)
- During Lent: Wednesdays 6:30 – 7:30 pm
Adoration times
- First Fridays after the 8:30 am Mass until 12:00 pm (September – June)
- During Lent: Wednesdays 6:30 – 7:30 pm in the Chapel
Welcome & Mission
The pastor's welcome page frames OLGC as a community where 'welcome and hospitality are key virtues,' and invites visitors to join Sunday or weekday Mass and find a ministry, club, or service opportunity that fits them. The parish mission statement, published in the bulletin, commits OLGC members to witness the Good News of Jesus Christ by proclaiming their faith, educating themselves and their children, and sharing their persons, resources, and gifts in the care and service of one another — all in accordance with the Spirituality of St. Francis de Sales.
- Register as a parishioner to receive sacraments, sponsor letters, school enrollment, tuition assistance, and parish communications.
- Contact the Office of Faith Formation ([email protected]) if unbaptized or baptized in another faith and considering becoming Catholic.
- Pastoral Council contact: [email protected] (chair Russ Weaver).
Parish History
Founded in November 1955 from St. James Parish in Falls Church on 23 acres the Diocese of Richmond had already purchased, OLGC grew rapidly from 750 founding families. The first Masses were held in the Dunn Loring Firehouse, then in a makeshift chapel above Frank Gadell's Food Locker, before the school and chapel were dedicated on September 1, 1957. The Oblates of St. Francis de Sales took over administration in 1956 and have remained ever since. Under Father Edward Corcoran, OSFS, the present church was dedicated on March 10, 1973, with its distinctive three-bell tower. The parish celebrated major expansions in 1977 (new rectory and admin building), 2004 (Sacred Heart Chapel, DeSales Hall, gymnasium), and 2018 (preschool).
- Founding pastor: Rev. Albert P. Campbell (Nov 1955).
- First Oblate pastor: Rev. Joseph C. Toy, OSFS (Sep 1, 1956).
- Present church dedicated March 10, 1973.
- Rev. Matthew J. Hillyard, OSFS installed as pastor in September 2016 by Bishop Paul S. Loverde.
Clergy, Staff & Councils
OLGC's priests are Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. The current pastoral team includes the pastor, a parochial vicar, a retired Oblate, and a deacon, supported by a lay staff handling liturgy/music, faith formation, finance, communications, records/child protection, events, and reception. Two advisory councils — the Pastoral Council (Russ Weaver) and the Finance Council (Bill Arendt) — assist the pastor.
- Pastor: Rev. Matthew J. Hillyard, OSFS — [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. John Dolan, OSFS — [email protected]
- Retired: Rev. William Metzger, OSFS — [email protected]
- Parochial Administrator (per current welcome page): Rev. Mathias Kumar, OSFS
- Deacon: Christopher Moore — [email protected]
- Faith Formation: Amy W. de Bernardo — [email protected] (703.896.7414)
- Liturgy/Music/Ministry of Care/Funerals: Gerard Hall — [email protected] (703.896.7411)
- Director of Finance: Brian Patterson — [email protected] (703.896.7402)
- Communications/Bulletin: Irene Zaso — [email protected] (703.896.7412)
- Records / Child Protection Liaison: Christine Moan — [email protected] (703.896.7413)
- Events Manager: Cheryl Jones — [email protected] (703.896.7418)
- Reception / Mass Intentions / Spanish info: Maria Romero — [email protected] (703.896.7419)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Office of Faith Formation, located on the second floor of the St. Joseph Center, describes its mission as providing 'an apprenticeship to the Catholic Christian life from early childhood through the senior years of adulthood,' so that 'all generations learn to live their faith in the home, the workplace, and in the community.' Programs include K–6 religious education on Saturdays, middle-school and high-school youth ministry, Confirmation preparation (large-group sessions, rehearsals, and a Confirmation retreat), and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults discerning baptism or full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Faith Formation Coordinator: William Goedde — [email protected]
- Youth Ministry Coordinator: Tess Long — [email protected]
- OCIA Coordinator: Barbara Steele — [email protected]
- Records Manager: John League — [email protected]
- High School Nightlife: Sundays 6:00–8:00 pm
- Middle School Youth: twice monthly on Mondays 6:00–7:30 pm
- Annual High School Work Camp (June 20–26, 2026) and Middle School Work Camp (July 6–10, 2026)
- Confirmation retreat, large-group sessions, and rehearsal scheduled through the year
Our Lady of Good Counsel School
OLGC School shares the Wolftrap Road campus and serves preschool through eighth grade. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the school enrolls roughly 523 students (PK–8) with a student-teacher ratio of about 11.8:1. The school is affiliated with the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) and added a preschool for children ages 3–5 in August 2018.
- Address: 8601 Wolftrap Road, Vienna, VA 22182 (shared with the parish)
- Phone: 703.938.3600 | Fax: 703.938.2933 | Preschool: 703.938.2828 ext. 128
- Principal: Adrianne Jewett — [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Grade span: PK, K, 1–8
- Website: http://www.olgcschool.org
Parish Ministries & Outreach
OLGC maintains a wide range of parish groups, councils, and outreach programs. Faith-formation and liturgical ministries are led by staff, while service and community groups are largely volunteer-run and welcome new members. Outreach includes emergency assistance through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Respect Life / Gabriel Project, and Catholic Charities counseling services.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — helpline 703.938.3210 / [email protected]
- Women of OLGC — Jane Heishman, [email protected]
- Knights of Columbus Santa Maria Council #4654 — www.knightsvienna.org
- Respect Life / Gabriel Project — Betsy Argauer, [email protected], 703.255.3744
- Catholic Charities counseling — 703.425.0109
- Pastoral Council — Russ Weaver, [email protected]
- Finance Council — Bill Arendt, [email protected]
Sacraments
Registered parishioners can celebrate Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick at OLGC. The Office of Faith Formation coordinates the Sacraments of Initiation and OCIA, while the liturgy office (Gerard Hall) handles funerals and Ministry of Care visits. A 24-hour Sacramental Emergency line (703.975.2837) is staffed for Anointing of the Sick and last rites.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation — Office of Faith Formation, [email protected], 703.896.7414
- Marriage — contact the parish office to begin preparation
- Anointing of the Sick / sacramental emergencies — 703.975.2837
- Funerals — Gerard Hall, [email protected], 703.896.7411
- Sacramental certificates and sponsor / Good Standing letters — parish office
Getting Involved & New Parishioners
OLGC encourages all baptized Catholics living within parish boundaries to register, so that the parish can better serve their sacramental, educational, and pastoral needs. Registration unlocks access to school or religious education enrollment, tuition assistance, sponsor letters, and parish communications. Newcomers are invited to browse the calendar of events and find a ministry, club, or service opportunity that matches their gifts.
- Register online via www.olgcva.org/register (or stop by the office / Welcome Desk)
- Volunteer opportunities listed on the homepage
- Sign up for the parish bulletin and communications ([email protected])
- Request Mass intentions or Sanctuary Candle dedications online or at the Welcome Desk
Practical Information
OLGC's campus sits on 23 acres at 8601 Wolftrap Road in Vienna, Virginia. Parish office hours run Monday–Friday 9:00 am – 4:30 pm (closed 12:00–12:30 pm for lunch). The chapel is open for prayer Monday–Friday (8:00 am – 5:00 pm outside of holidays and funerals per the Mass Times page). When severe weather causes the Bishop of Arlington to dispense from the Sunday obligation, parishioners are encouraged to remain home and join the livestreamed 10 am Mass.
- Parish address: 8601 Wolftrap Road, Vienna, VA 22182-5026
- Church phone: 703.938.2828 | Fax: 703.938.2829
- School phone: 703.938.3600
- Sacramental Emergency: 703.975.2837
- Welcome Desk / Reception: Maria Romero, [email protected], 703.896.7419
- Website: http://www.olgcva.org | School website: http://www.olgcschool.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Albert P. CampbellNov 1955 – 1956
Founding pastor; diocesan priest; fell ill and was succeeded by the Oblates
- Rev. Joseph C. Toy, OSFSSep 1956 – Aug 1963
First Oblate pastor; oversaw dedication of chapel, school, and temporary rectory
- Rev. Raymond McKone, OSFSAug 1963 – Jun 1964
Succeeded Father Toy; served about ten months
- Rev. Edmond P. McCarthy, OSFS1964 – 1968
Led the parish through the 1965 carve-out that created St. Mark Parish; died in office in 1968
- Rev. Edward J. Corcoran, OSFSJan 1969 –
Built and dedicated the present church on March 10, 1973
- Rev. Matthew J. Hillyard, OSFSInstalled Sep 2016 –
Installed as pastor by Bishop Paul S. Loverde