Parish History

                    OUR LADY OF GOOD COUNSEL PARISH

His excellency, most Rev. Bishop R.H. Dignan decreed on March 3, 1950 that the Parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel would be canonically formed to serve the territory in the northeasterly section of the city of Sault Ste. Marie, and the adjoining townships

Bishop Dignan appointed Father Clement Adams to be the founding Pastor.

Until the Church was constructed, the Collegiate Auditorium was rented for Sunday services, beginning on May 7 with two Masses at 8:30 and 10:30 AM.

That same month, an architect was hired to design the new Church. The plans werecompleted in September and a firm was hired to  erect the structure.

Monsignor T.J. Crowley officiated at the ceremony of the turning of the first sod and the blessing of the site on October 1, 1950.

Construction resumed immediately, and then again, Monsignor Crowley officiated at the laying of the cornerstone on February 25, 1951.

Beginning on May 6, 1951, Sunday masses were celebrated in the parish hall (basement) of the new building.

Bishop R.H. Dignan officiated the Solemn Dedication of the new Church on July 26, 1951. 

Father Adams was the Pastor until he was moved to Sudbury on June 1, 1963. 

The new Pastor , Father Clarence Murphy, arrived to begin his seven years of service at Our Lady Of Good Counsel.

On September 8, 1970, Father Gerry Sullivan was appointed the new Pastor.  He served the Parish for 5 years.

On September 1, 1975, Father Stephen MacLellan was appointed Pastor.  He served the Parish for 11 years.

On September 4, 1984, Father Roy McParland was appointed the new Pastor of the Parish. As a newly ordained priest, he had been in the parish as assistant pastor from 1955 to 1962.  Following his return as Pastor, he served the Parish until his retirement in 2004. ( 20 years )

On September 1, 2004, Father Michael Williams was appointed as the sixth Pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish.  He had previously served the Parish of St. Monica in Wawa for eight years, and was ordained on June 3, 2004.

Over the years, our parish has had many well-known and distinguished assistant Pastors.  Father Hank Thyssen was the first  assistant, followed by Father Tiszai.  Father Roy McParland was next, to be followed by Father Angelo Santa Maria.

Father Gerry Yadivisiak came next, so far the only priest to be ordained from this Parish. Next was Father Bill Strachan, and then Father Brian Dixon. 

The Parish has been assisted with the able help of  Sister Shirley Godin.

She was followed by Sister Marion MacDonell.  Between 1986 and 1990, Judy Horrigan served as Pastoral  Assistant.

We also have three men in the parish who serve as Permanent Deacons.

Rev. Mr. Robert Fex was ordained to the Permanent Deaconate on June 23, 1989.

Rev. Mr. Michael Martin followed.  He was ordained on August 10, 1990. 

Then, in 2001, Rev. Mr. Walter Morrow joined our Parish.  He was ordained in March 1978 at St. Jerome's Parish.