- The tabernacle moves to the Sanctuary in front of a new reredos wall.
- New Mary & Joseph statues flank the altar, while a St. Francis de Sales statue is installed in the former tabernacle location.
- Altar rebuilt with stone flooring; LVP installed throughout the Church.
- New pews will be installed to increase handicap accessibility.
- New tiered choir area installed.
- Fresh paint, new lighting, and new fixtures.

- Feasibility and longevity studies have been conducted on pews, large structures, and fixtures.

- Pews impacted by COVID cleaning chemicals, joints are not hardwood & are failing, many pews are damaged, and would not survive being moved.
- Choir Area will be tiered and reside at the front/side of the Nave due to electrical run-ways required underneath the flooring structures and proximity to the organ & recording station.
- Flooring given extreme consideration, focused on the Sacred Host, durability, longevity, appearance, and acoustical integrity.
- Sound System will be re-tuned following construction.
- Display Screens will not be a part of this renovation.

- All work is led by a Diocesan-appointed architect and in accordance with Diocesan liturgical standards.
- A General Contractor with significant Diocesan experience will begin work the week following Easter.
- A timeline & expected construction schedule will be shared.
- Accommodations for daily and weekly Masses and sacraments will be communicated and supported through the summer.
- Fall delivery expected.

THE CORNERSTONE PRAYER

Heavenly Father,
we thank you for
the abundant love
and grace you bestow
on our community.
We offer all that we are
and all that we do for
your great glory and honor.
Fill us with your
goodness and generosity
as we engage in this effort
to address the needs of
our parish. Fortify this visible
cornerstone of our faith
so that our legacy
and the commitment
of many generations
of believers can become
the firm foundation
for our future at
Our Lady of Good Counsel
Catholic Community.
Amen.

We have heard your feedback and are pleased to offer the following update:

• The sample was for wood color & kneeler leather color.
• The hymnal rack has been moved down to a lower position for added comfort when kneeling.
• The kneeler position has been adjusted outward. The kneeler itself is wider than the current kneeler and now comes farther back into the aisle for your comfort.
• The pitch of the seat (where it meets the back of the pew) will be adjusted and will match the existing dimensions & ergonomics of the current pews. This will bring the height of the pew down.

The Diocese has formally approved our new baptismal font.  We are in the process of selecting the scripture that will be etched into the basin.  The base of the baptismal font will include etched crosses, as well as an etched Alpha and Omega and  V+J.  Adjacent to the baptismal font will be a permanent Ambry, which will hold the holy oils for our parish community.

We are committed to making Mass attendance easier and more welcoming for all. To support this during the weekend, the OLGC Preschool parking lot nearest DeSales Hall will be reserved for seniors and individuals with disabilities. This lot offers the most convenient access to Mass.
The front section of the bell tower will now serve as a one-way drop-off area.

From Niblick Rd.: Please drive straight through the lower bell tower lot, take the first left around the bell tower to your preferred drop-off point.

From Wolftrap Rd.: Please drive to the bell tower circle to your preferred drop-off point.

After drop off, drivers should exit the area and park in the main lots. Parking directly in front of the bell tower is not permitted, but parking in the lower lot of the bell tower is allowed. This process will help ensure a smooth and safe arrival for everyone. Extra volunteers and clear signage will guide you through the new drop-off process. Please ask for help if you have questions. Please follow the posted signage.

Demolition is almost complete! The ceilings are open, the carpets removed, and the old sanctuary and tabernacle wood steps are gone. Trades have begun, and progress is exciting. We uncovered a handwritten inscription on the altar and the original blue coloring of the metal cage structure. We also discovered the original altar stone and embedded relic used during the first Mass at OLGC by Fr. Joseph Toy in 1957.

-> View the progress! 

Under the Crown of Stars

The stained glass window which will frame the new statue of Our Lady of Good Counsel alludes to this verse in the Book of Revelation: “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (12:1).

Throughout the centuries, Christians have seen in the “woman” a symbol of both the Church and of Mary.  Clothed in the brightness of the sun, the “woman” brings forth her Son.  The crown of twelve stars represents both the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve Apostles of Jesus, that is, the People of God of both the Old and the New Testaments.  

Against this heavenly background of sun and stars, stands the simple but lovely figure of a mother who tenderly holds her infant son in her arms.  Years later, at the wedding feast of Cana, that same mother will utter wise counsel to all, like you and me, who believe in Jesus: “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5).  

In that short verse, above all, we honor the patroness of our parish community, Our Lady of Good Counsel.
 - Fr. Lewis Fiorelli, OSFS