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February 2, 2012

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              Our Lady of Good Counsel Guild was organized in 1955 and became the nucleus of a drive for a church that would provide for the spiritual needs of all Catholics in the Preston area.  The first meeting of the Guild was held on March 15, 1955 and Margaret Noyes was installed as the first President.

 In the beginning, monthly meetings were held in the homes of members, and as the membership grew, they moved to the firehouse and later, met in the church basement. 

 Members would gather with buckets and mops for weekly cleaning parties in the church, with lots of children brought along for extra helping hands.  Floral decorations for the altar were made from donations of the gardens of parishioners.

 Monsignor Murphy suggested Christening robes and the ladies fingers went to work.  One member made the vestment robes for the Priests, many of which are still in use today, while another made several altar server robes.

 Ham and bean suppers were a major social event and a huge fundraiser.  On the first Sunday in May every year the lines would form at the firehouse for these delicious dinners.  The ladies continued these popular dinners for many years after St. Catherine’s was built, in Siena Hall.  The K.of C. of Jewett City volunteered their services at these meals, to help to serve the hundreds of people who came from miles around.  There was also a handy-work booth, with aprons as a best seller, which were made by guild members, as well as many other handcrafted items.  Dessert was always a variety of homemade pies.  All the proceeds were given to the pastor and placed in a special fund for the building of our own church.

After the church was built, the Guild added other fundraisers such as dances for our St. Bernard’s scholarship, fashion shows and card parties.   Huge Christmas bazaars were held, for which the ladies would work for months making crafts to sell.  There were also rummage sales and yard sales.  Every spring a Mother-Daughter breakfast was always a sellout. 

 As more women joined the work force, the attendance and enrollment of
Guild members declined over the years.  As the parish membership grew, the need for monetary contribution from the Guild was not as essential, and the Guild shifted their emphasis towards charitable endeavors and community, diocesan, and national concerns.

At present the Guild members organize the many receptions for RICA, First Eucharist, and Confirmation and others as the need arises.  At the Christmas party each year, hygiene kits for the homeless are assembled.  Approximately 65 kits are distributed.  Other charitable donations have been Layette items for needy mothers, donations to Martin House, help for cancer patients, St. Vincent DePaul Place, Thames River Valley project, Pro-life and TVCCA, and support to a Seminarian.

 The Guild also has sponsored lectures and bus trips, and are thankful for the donations that help us in our efforts.

 Our membership is always open and we welcome all women parishioners who wish to join us for spiritual growth and friendship.