Originally, all of the widespread area of O.L.G.C. was a part of St. James Parish in Falls Church. As St. James became overcrowded, His Excellency Bishop Peter L. Ireton of Richmond established a new parish for the Vienna-Pimmit Hills area which would be located on 23 acres in Vienna that the Diocese had previously purchased. Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish began in November 1955 with 750 families and the Reverend Albert P. Campbell, a diocesan priest, as pastor. The first Masses were held in the Dunn Loring Firehouse. Soon after, a chapel and parish center was built on the second floor of Frank Gadell's Food Locker.

After Father Campbell became too ill to continue as pastor, Bishop Ireton asked the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales to assume the administration of the parish. On September 1, 1956, Reverend Joseph C. Toy, O.S.F.S., was named pastor. On Sunday, January 6, 1957, two years after the formation of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, ground was broken for a Chapel (the present day library and former gym of Our Lady of Good Counsel School), a school facility with eight classrooms to accomodate children to the sixth grade, and a temporary Rectory.

The following year, the Frink house on one acre of land was purchased for a priests' residence, replacing the temporary facilities located in the back of the school. The Frink house, which was constructed in 1835, was owned by Mrs. Ada Frink, the founder and first president of the Altar and Rosary Society (now known as The Women of O.L.G.C.). In 1958, eight more classrooms and the Counsel Room/cafeteria were added to the school facility as well as a convent to house the Sisters of St. Joseph who taught there.

In August of 1963, Father Raymond McKone, O.S.F.S., succeeded Father Toy as pastor. Just ten months later, Father Edmond P. McCarthy, O.S.F.S., was named pastor. On May 25, 1965, Bishop Ireton declared that appoximately 750 OLGC families, (about half the size of the parish at that time) along with two other parishes, would form the new parish of St.Mark, located on Vale Road on the west side of Vienna. Fr. McCarthy led the parish until his death in 1968. In January 1969 Father Edward J. Corcoran, O.S.F.S., came to assume the pastorate of Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Under Father Corcoran's leadership, a new church was built and dedicated on March 10, 1973. A separate 3 bell tower, rises in front of the church to peal its welcome to arriving worshipers. The largest bell weighing 1480 pounds, is inscribed "Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Vienna, Virginia, November 1972, 'Henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.'" The medium bell, weighing 704 pounds, says: "Live + Jesus - 'I am come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.'" The smallest weighs 400 pounds and reads "St. Joseph - St. Jude - St. Francis de Sales - Pray for us". In 1977, the old Frink house was torn down and a new Rectory and Parish Administration Building was erected.

In June of 1985, Reverend John T. Gavin, O.S.F.S., was assigned to Our Lady of Good Counsel as pastor. Under his direction the parish was one of the first in the diocese to computerize its accounting and parish record keeping. In addition he set up committees to begin to explore what the needs of the parish were going to be. This process was the groundwork for the ultimate approval of the parish to its major facility expansion which began in 2000.

In July of 1991, Reverend Francis W. Danella, O.S.F.S., was named pastor and strengthened the consultative process by formalizing the role of the Pastoral and Finance Councils. A formalized budget process was established. Fr. Danella expanded the parish ministries, placed a strong emphasis on liturgy and the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales. In addition under his guidance an annual Parish Auction and Dinner was begun which has helped fund virtually every facility repair and improvement since.

In September 1996, Reverend John M. O'Neill, O.S.F.S., was installed as Pastor. Major repairs and improvements were made to the school and a new science lab was constructed. A study of parish needs was completed with the result that a Capital Campaign was begun to fund major improvements and additions to parish facilities. Additional improvements were then made to the school including a new library, and computer classroom; a new regulation size gym was constructed; a new chapel and multipurpose facility as well as an enclosed vestibule for the chapel, church and multipurpose facility where begun.

In July 2004, Reverend William J. Metzger, O.S.F.S., became pastor and is overseeing the completion of the new facilities.

Throughout its history, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish has consistently fostered the practical Spirituality of St. Francis De Sales, a spirituality directed specifically to those who are active in the world. This spirituality calls each person to "Live Jesus" in and through their own unique personality, utilizing their unique gifts within the context of the their own family, parish, neighborhood, work environment, state and nation. St. Francis says, "Be who you are and be that well" and again "The opportunity to do great things does not come very often, but at every moment we can do little acts with great love." We invite you to begin an exploration of this spirituality by visiting the De Sales Spirituality Center at http://www.oblates.org/spirituality.