-
Welcome to Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish!
-
Our Lady of Good Counsel is a vibrant and diverse Roman Catholic community serving the West Boylston, Massachusetts area. In the name of Christ, we welcome all who gather with us in worship and prayer. Though imperfect, we strive to be a community of open hearts, enlivened by the gospel, growing in faith, hope, and love. Whether you are a visitor, traveler, new to the parish, or in search of a spiritual home, you are most welcome here. Your presence is a blessing to us.
If you should have a question or seek more information about the parish, please feel free to introduce yourself to Fr. Steven, Deacon "Mick" or another member of the pastoral staff after Mass. You may also contact Terri King, our parish Office Administrator, at 508.835.3606. She will be happy to assist you.
-
-
February 28, 2021 - Second Sunday of Lent
-
We Join in Prayer
+We join our hearts in prayer to all those overwhelmed by anxiety and fear.
+We pray for healing, respectful dialogue, and unity in our nation.
+We pray for physicians, nurses, health care providers, researchers, hospital chaplains, medical researchers, and all who are on the front lines in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
+We pray for those who assure essential services, especially police officers, firefighters, and emergency help providers.
+We pray for those facing economic and financial hardships.
+We keep Pope Francis’ personal prayer intention for the month of March: That the Sacrament of Reconciliation be an occasion for many to taste the infinite mercy of God.
+ We pray that this season of Lent be a time of spiritual renewal for our entire parish. We pray for all those preparing for the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist.
+We pray for our parishioners who are sick or recovering from injury, illness, or surgery, especially, retired Deacon John Barton and Father Thirburse Millott.
+ We pray for our departed brothers and sisters, especially the over 500,000 who have died in our nation from the ongoing pandemic. May all the dead find mercy and peace with God.
-
-
-
Ways to Observe Lent
This year, our observance of Lent may have to be a bit more unconventional. Here are some practices that you might consider incorporating into your daily or weekly routines:
Call someone who is lonely. Cement a friendship. Talk to a person who is a generation older or younger and listen!
Spend 30 minutes alone quiet in church. Try not to waste anything for a day.
Pray for an enemy. If you love someone, say so.
Buy one grocery item a week to contribute to the food pantry. Be a shoulder to cry on.
Give up snacks and donate monies saved to a relief agency. Refuse to gossip.
Learn more about your faith and what Jesus taught. Spend 15 minutes each day thinking about how much you’ve been given are blessed.
Help without being asked. Affirm a colleague’s work.
Pray for a friend who is struggling. Walk outside with friends and talk about how your faith helps you to live fully.
Resist trying to be the center of attention. Make sure your financial investments are socially responsible.
Spend less time watching the news and more time helping others. Refuse to categorize others.
Recognize the truth about yourself no matter how good. Give away stuff that you never use or don’t need.
Pray with someone who is anxious. Allow others to speak and really listen.
Create a quiet place at home or outside to pray, think and reflect. Go there.
-
-
Understanding our Liturgy Part 5
-
Silence In Church Before and During Mass
"God speaks in the silence of the heart. Listening is the beginning of prayer." Mother Teresa
Our world can be a very noisy place. Some would say that our technology has made it noisier. Finding a quiet peaceful place to pause and to reflect can be a challenge.
A church is first and foremost a “house of prayer. Prayer is both vocal and silent. We must quiet the “noise” around and within ourselves in order to truly “listen.”
The Catholic liturgy envisions specific moments of silence when the community gathers for Mass. These include:
1) Before the Mass begins;
2) After the priest’s invitation to the Penitential rite;
3) After the invitation, “Let us pray;”
4) After the homily;
5) After the distribution of Holy Communion.
The “silence” of these moments invites us to reflect upon what Christ, present among us, is about to do or is doing in our midst.
Before Mass, it is important that we allow the people around us to pray, without undue distraction. For some of our neighbors, this may be the only time and place they have to find prayerful silence.
Mother Theresa summarized the dynamic of silence-prayer-living in these words: “The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of silence is peace.”
-
-
-
Connecting our Parish Community During the Health Emergency
Our Parish website www.goodcounselma.com offers much information about our parish, as well as links to other websites, and live feeds with news every day. Please consider “bookmarking” the Our Lady of Good Counsel website so as to more easily access it. The website is designed to make information about Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish available to our parishioners and to the wider community 24/7, every day of the year. This includes the latest edition of the weekly bulletin.
Regular Flocknote messages sent to your email offer a summary of the Sunday homily given at Mass. If you are not receiving these and would like to, simply contact the parish office.
Also, our parish Facebook page, Our Lady of Good Counsel West Boylston, is regularly updated with news, announcements, and reflections.
The Word Among Us booklets at the entrances to the church are offered free of charge. Many find these booklets helpful for daily prayer and reflection.
Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays in the church from 3:00-6:00 pm provides a socially distanced way of praying in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
Please help us stay connected as a parish during this challenging time!
-
-
-
As we enter into the winter months, we offer this reminder regarding winter weather and weekday Masses:
In the event of severe winter weather, the cancelation of daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration will be announced by means of Facebook and Flocknote emails. We will also need to rely on our parishioners to “spread the word” to those who are not connected by the internet.
At this time, due to the fact that school is not in session in the usual way, we cannot use the “school cancellation policy” as a way of signaling the cancelation of Mass due to winter weather as we have done in the past. When the weather is bad, it is important to remain safe at home and allow the snow removal crews to do their work.
Please share this information with others. Thank you!
-
-
Liturgical Schedule At Our Lady Of Good Counsel
-
Mass Times
- Saturday: 4:30 PM EnglishEnglishEN
- Sunday: 8:30 AM EnglishEnglishEN 10:30 AM EnglishEnglishEN
- MonThu 9:00 AM EnglishEnglishEN
-
Holy Day MassesCelebrated on the day: Generally 9 am
When traveling: click catholicmasstime.org or call 1-410-676-6000 for mass time anywhere
-
Confession Times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM and other times upon request.
-
Adoration Times
- Wednesday: 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
-
-
-
Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays 3 - 6 pm
Eucharistic Adoration is the practice of quiet, reflective prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed upon the Altar. The practice invites us to be still and contemplate the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We join our hearts and minds to the One who is a fountain of mercy and who journeys with us on our pilgrimage through life.
During the present COVID-19 health emergency, some parishioners feel uncomfortable being part of gatherings of any kind, including the celebration of Mass. Eucharistic Adoration provides a context of (socially distanced) quiet prayer in church with only a few individuals being present.
Weekly Eucharistic Adoration has now begun. It is held every Wednesday from 3:00-6:00 pm.
Already a group of parishioners has committed to one hour of prayer between 3:00-6:00 pm. We welcome others. Some might wish to commit on a weekly basis, others monthly. Even if you are unable to commit to a specific time, you are always able to join us, as you are able.
Our thanks are extended to all who are participating in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The attendance has been very positive and enthusiastic. Many of the scheduled individuals have asked if have a “substitute” list that can be called in case of a necessary absence. If you would be willing to volunteer as an occasional substitute between 3:00-6:00 pm on Wednesdays, please contact Deacon Mick at m.beck@goodcounselma.com.
-
-
-
Praying the Rosary on Saturdays at 4 pm
A group of parishioners has been praying the rosary in the church on Saturdays at 4 pm. This endeavor has been well received. During these extraordinary times of anxiety and uncertainty, many appreciate the opportunity to pray for peace and reconciliation in our nation, our communities, our families, and our hearts. The rosary also helps transition to a quiet, prayerful environment in church before the start of Mass. All are welcome!
-
-
-
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) on Saturdays from 3:00 - 3:45 pm
The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is offered every Saturday in our parish church from 3:00-3:45 pm.
At this time, the Sacrament is celebrated in the sacristy (room to the right of the sanctuary) and not in the confessional room. The sacristy, being a larger room, is more conducive to social distancing protocols.
For those receiving the sacrament: When the sacristy door is open (to the right of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary), please feel free to enter and close the sacristy door so as to assure privacy. If the door is closed, please wait until the door is opened before entering. Thank you
-
-
-
Our Lady of Good Counsel Public Masses Covid Guidelines
Those attending Mass are to be aware of the following State and Diocesan guidelines:
- Those attending Mass must wear masks or some kind of face covering.
- Upon entering the church please use sanitizer provided at the entrances.
- Please maintain a distance of approximately six (6) feet between yourself and others (family members excluded) upon entering and leaving the church.
- Please do the same when processing down the main aisle to receive Holy Communion.
- Please sanitize your hands before receiving Holy Communion.
- Seating in the church will be every other row.
Please be mindful of the following:
- There will be no congregational singing. Only the cantor will sing at the 4:30 and 10:30 Masses.
- The offertory collection will not be taken up. Baskets for this purpose are placed at the entrances to the church.
- The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered in the sacristy on Saturdays at 3:00 pm until 3:45 pm only.
- The parish office is open during usual business hours by appointment only. Please call or email Terri beforehand to make an appointment. Please wear a mask when coming to the office.
Father Steven Labaire
-
-
-
Periodic Flocknote Mailings to the Parish
It is important that the entire parish stay connected and informed during these challenging times. In an effort to regularly communicate by email with as many OLGC parishioners as possible, Fr. Steven is sending periodic emails with parish information through Flocknote, an email service used by many local parishes and the Worcester Diocese. The emails will display "OLGC All Parish" in the From field in the email heading.
If you have not received these emails, it may be because we do not have your most current email address. If you would like to receive these OLGC All Parish emails, please be sure to send your name and email to Terri King in the parish office at t.king@goodcounselma.com. The addresses will be added to the parish email list, and will not be used for any other purpose.
Alternatively, you will find a Flocknote Signup Form below. Please feel free to signup there and check off All Parish as the group you would like to join.
Thank you!
-
-
-
Rectory Office Hours
Monday By appointment 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Tuesday By appointment 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Wednesday By appointment 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Thursday By appointment 9:30 am to 4:30 pm
Friday Closed
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed
-
Today's Readings
-
Reading I Jer 18:18-20Responsorial Psalm 31:5-6, 14, 15-16Gospel Mt 20:17-28
-
-
-
-
Catholic News Service
-
ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. (CNS) — Dennis R. DePerro, the 21st president of St. Bonaventure University,...
-
WASHINGTON (CNS) — As the coronavirus pandemic swept the nation this past year, hospital chaplains...
-
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — On the same day that 10 rockets hit an air base...
-
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — There is no greater love in the world than the love...
-
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, approved Feb. 27 by...
-
-
Word on Fire
-
Around the Diocese
-
Wednesday, March 3Stations of the Cross during Lent at 5:30 pm in English and 7 pm in SpanishRead More
-
March 3 - April 7
The Respect Life Office of the Diocese of Worcester invites you to join “Live the Gospel of Life” a 6-week on-line study of St. John Paul II’s landmark encyclical Evangelium Vitae. The sessions will be held via Zoom from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. on six consecutive Wednesdays, March 3 through April 7. In the study participants will have the opportunity to study and prayerfully reflect more deeply on The Gospel of Life and its central themes and teachings. The study series is open to anyone interested. You must pre-register in order to receive materials and the login link. To register, send an email to aledoux@worcesterdiocese.org with your name, parish, and email address; include the words “EV Study Registration” in the subject line. All are welcome!Read More -
Wednesday, March 3, 6:00 PMEach Lenten Wednesday the Votive Mass of St. Joseph will be celebrated at 6 pm including recitation of the Novena Prayer to St. Joseph. All are welcome!Read More
-
-
