Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish

Otterburn means otter stream in Scots.  This majestic pine wooded area attracted many Montrealers in the early 1900s.  On weekends, they take the train and get off at Otterburn Recreation Park and picnic on the banks of the Richelieu River. Railway employees built summer cottages there.

On July 13, 1919, about thirty Catholics met and founded the beginnings of a new distinct community.  The summer visitors, mostly English-speaking, decided to build a summer chapel so that Sunday mass could be celebrated.  David Mason offers two locations located at the corner of Chemin des Patriotes and Gervais Street.  Mr. Georges Morris added a contiguous corner of his land to the lots.

Mr. Joseph Barré, parish priest of Saint-Hilaire, allows the steps to be taken to open a service.  Bishop Alexis-Xyste Bernard, Bishop of the Diocese of Saint-Hyacinthe, placed the chapel under the protection of Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Charles Farand lent the money for the construction. His brother Arthur, a contractor and resident, built the new chapel. Work began in the autumn and was completed in the spring of 1920.

Year after year, the town of Otterburn Park evolves into a place where cottages are transformed into permanent residences. Houses are being built.  Several regular servants officiated from 1919 to 1956. The faithful rejoice in the pastoral services offered.

(1956-1957) Father Jean-Paul Chainey became the first priest for Sunday celebrations.

He was succeeded (1957-1958) by Father Thomas Preston.

From 1958 to 1970, Father Albany Côté (parish priest) became the first resident parish priest. He transformed the adjoining part of the church into a presbytery and provided for a sacristy. From 1970 to 1983, Father Léon Racine was in charge of bilingual service. Bishop Albert Sanschagrin, legally constituted a parish assembly in 1971. Then, he handed over all the assets of the service to the churchwarden committee.

Father Charles Saint-Jean (parish priest: 1983-1984) followed who set up the initiatory catechesis service in the parish with Marie-Thérèse Besner, parish and school pastoral animator at Notre-Dame School.

From 1985 to 2015, Father Jean-Gilles Rodier continued to set up initiatory catechesis in the parish and to develop school ministry at Notre-Dame School. He implemented other new pastoral services. In addition, he undertook multiple enlargements and improvements to the church, the presbytery, the enlargement of the basement and the creation of a Stations of the Cross. In 2006, Father Rodier, with volunteers from the parish, set up the construction of a chapel of perpetual adoration which today remains a jewel of the parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel.  All are invited to come and pray, meditate, and rest in the heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ exposed in the Blessed Sacrament. Today new priests continue the mission and the celebrations.