Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish at 10 Austin Place, Staten Island, NY 10304 US - Our Mission Statement
Our Mission Statement
Our Lady of Good Counsel parish is a Roman Catholic multicultural community guided by the Augustinian tradition. Through our celebration of the Word and Sacraments and our participation in the life of the Church we strive to:
* grow in our faith and to pass it on to future generations through our school, religious education and adult programs.
* preach God's message by word and example.
* build up a spirit of community in a culturally rich neighborhood through opportunities for friendship and hospitality.
* extend our love within and beyond our parish boundaries through service to those in need.
* foster a sense of stewardship by sharing our time, talent and treasure.
Our Parish Comunity
Our Lady of Good Counsel is a parish church and school founded in 1898 by the Augustinian order. The original building, which stands today as the school, was dedicated in 1899. Our current church was dedicated in 1968 and is famous for its architecture; the design took second prize in 1964’s Liturgical Week Architectural Exhibition in St. Louis, Missouri, received an Architectural Award of Merit from The Liturgical Arts Guild of Southern New Jersey, and tied for first place in the 7th Annual Building Competition sponsored by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce.
There are approximately 1500 families registered with the parish. Geographically we are located in Tompkinsville, but our community spans a broad spectrum of social, ethnic, and economic strata, representative of the population of Staten Island’s North Shore, with outreach and support programs that impact both the Island as a whole and off-Island as well.
What it means to be an Augustinian Community
Augustinians take their spirituality and way of life from Saint Augustine of Hippo, 5th century bishop and Father of the Church. The charism, or special characteristic of Augustinians, is love of God and love of neighbor, which are the foundation of the gospel of Christ and which Saint Augustine enunciates time and again in his writings, especially in his Rule. The interior manifestation of this is the life that his followers lead in common and the bonds of friendship that hold them together. It is externalized by the hospitality that Augustinians extend to others, their service to the world, recognizing that each member of our community and each person with whom we come in contact is a temple of God.
A word about vocations
And so the gospel imperative of love of God and neighbor—which Augustine sees as one, since we love our neighbor in God and our God in our neighbor—becomes for the followers of Augustine their particular charism in friendship and hospitality. No human being is a stranger to an Augustinian. This Augustinian warmth and inclusiveness is one of the reasons why so many of our parishioners feel drawn to Our Lady of Good Counsel. We hope you come to feel this way, too.
Friars of the Order of Saint Augustine search for God through prayer, community life, and service to the Church. Augustinians attempt to bring their prayer, community life, and ministry into a healthy balance, so that the energy of God’s grace and love is made visible. If you, like Saint Augustine, have a restless heart with a desire to know Christ and serve others, then perhaps it is time for you to explore the challenge and opportunity of life as an Augustinian. Feel free to speak with any of the priest in our parish.