Above: Several past and present clergy of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Endicott attended the church’s 85th anniversary celebration on April 26. From left to right are: Deacon Paul Heiland, OLGC; Fr. Richard P. Prior, current pastor of OLGC; Deacon Michael Carroll, OLGC; Fr. James Serowik, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Blessed Sacrament Church in Vestal and graduate of the former OLGC school; Deacon Tom Harley, minister at OLGC since 1991; and Fr. Edward Zandy, past pastor of OLGC from 1998-2010. Photo | Kathy Hamilton
By Connie McKinney
Contributing writer
Michael Swetitch grew up attending Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Endicott and remembers making his first holy Communion there.
“It’s smaller and neighborly. It fosters a friendliness amongst the parishioners. They’re like family,” he said of the church. “It seems like home to me.”
Swetitch has been a member of the church for 50 of the church’s 85 years. He was among a few hundred parishioners and other guests attending an anniversary dinner for the church on April 26, the feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Black and gold balloons decorated the gymnasium. Big band music from 1941 — the year the church was founded — played in the background as parishioners celebrated the church’s anniversary.
The church’s current pastor, Father Richard Prior, talked about what life was like back in 1941. World War II was already underway. Franklin Delano Roosevelt started his third term as president that year. And Our Lady of Good Counsel opened its doors in October that fall.
“Here we are, 85 years later,” Prior said before leading those attending in a toast.
Two parishioners have been members of the church for its entire 85-year history: Judy Stauble and Edward Cunningham, who was a member of the first Communion class of 1942.
Judy Stauble is also one-half of the parish’s longest married couple. She and her husband Jerome married at the church in 1964 and have been married for 62 years. Another couple, Bob and Teena Cargill, celebrated their 51st anniversary on the same day the church celebrated its anniversary: April 26.
Prior credited the church’s parishioners for keeping the church going strong for 85 years.
“There’s a deep sense of faith in the community,” Prior said.
One of his predecessors, Father Edward Zandy, agreed. He served as pastor of the church from 1998 through 2010.
“They’re family-oriented. People who love their church,” he said of parishioners.
The church is also known for its big heart, Prior said. Church members are involved in many charitable activities, including a weekly soup kitchen.
“There’s a great sense of giving back,” he said.
Many other past and current members of the clergy at Our Lady of Good Counsel returned for the anniversary dinner, including Father James Serowik. He graduated from the former OLGC grammar school in 1974.
“We had a pretty tight-knit community back then,” said Serowik, who now serves as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Blessed Sacrament Church in Vestal. “It’s always good to be here and to see old friends.”
Many of those attending the dinner repeatedly referred to the church as a family.
“It’s just a beautiful church with beautiful people,” said longtime parishioner Cathy Cavitt. “It’s very warm and welcoming.”
Dan Baldock agreed. He wore an Our Lady of Good Counsel T-shirt to commemorate the church’s anniversary.
“You feel welcome,” he said. “If you come to one Mass, you feel like you belong.”
His wife, Roseanne, agreed. She is a lifelong parishioner at the church who has been teaching religious education for nearly 30 years.
“It’s a family,” she said of the parish. “You get to know the people. They talk to you. They treat you like you belong here.”
Many people attended with their family members, including one of the church’s deacons, Deacon Michael Carroll. He’s been a member of the church for 33 years and attended the dinner with his son, Michael Jr.
“Being part of Our Lady of Good Counsel holds a special place in my heart,” he said. “It’s become like my second family.”
