Our Lady of Good Counsel honors four who serve
If the faithfulness of a parish community may be measured by the steadfastness of its volunteers, then the parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel on Folly Beach has good reason to celebrate. At a pot luck luncheon on Sunday, July 11, the parish honored four of its members whose combined years of dedicated service measures a lifetime: 89 years.
Although their contributions have had a dramatic effect on the parish, custodian Jim Laurey, 88; sacristan Catherine Eyer, 92; music director and organist Margaret Sheedy, 99; and church decorator Claire Martin, 71, are modest about their achievements. And while each is stepping down from some of the responsibilities they assumed, none is leaving the parish community they love or their call to serve.
Jim Laurey and his wife Retta moved from James Island to their home on Folly Beach on Saint Patrick’s Day, 1975. For 35 years they have been actively involved in the community and the church. Uncomfortable in the limelight of this recognition, Jim Laurey points to the many people have joined him in serving the priests who served the parish. On weekdays, Joe Moran and Jim assist at Mass and especially at funeral liturgies. When the first resident priest moved in to his cottage on Huron Street, Richard Jones and Jim helped to complete the renovations. With help from Larry Martin, they painted the inside of the priest’s residence. When sexton Don Longenecker is out of town, Jim takes responsibility for opening the church each day.
Jim’s custodial service to the parish is the kind of thing that is most noticeable if left undone. He changes the air filters and takes out the trash. He looks for cost-saving opportunities: turning off the air conditioner when the hall is not in use, cleaning the refrigerator filter, and shopping for supplies for the hall at the discount stores. Because this community is like a family, retiring from it is not something Jim imagines he will do. “I’ll still do my share,” he said. “Maybe it’s not all that much, but you never give up.”
Giving up is not something that Catherine Eyer is likely to do, either. A resident of James Island since the late 1960s, Catherine “discovered” the mission church on Folly Beach around 1987. She was drawn to the familiar art and architecture in the traditional space and felt at peace. At that time the parish had no resident priest, so various priests of the diocese were assigned to minister to the small congregation. Monsignor Donald Hamburger instructed Catherine on the proper care of altar linens. Eventually, Catherine served as Our Lady of Good Counsel sacristan for 20 years, caring for the altar cloths, vestments, and sacred vessels of our church under the direction of nine resident priests and countless visiting priests. She also coordinated the work of the Altar Guild. Catherine’s attention to detail and circumspection challenged everyone to be mindful of the privilege and responsibility of handling the sacred vessels, and to value the sacred traditions of our faith. “It was a joy to do it,” she said.
Catherine announced her “retirement” in March 2009, and the parish recognized her contribution at a Mass and with a permanent remembrance in the parish memorial garden. She continues to serve as extraordinary minster of the Eucharist and as a member of the Altar Guild.
Earlier this year, in honor of Margaret Park Sheedy’s many years of service as organist, music director and choir director, the choir presented parish administrator Father Jesuprathap Narichetti with a gold ciborium. While “Miss Margaret” gave her time to the Folly Beach parish for 17 years, she was no stranger to service. Active in her beloved Charleston community since 1939, she volunteers with the American Red Cross, is an associate member of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, has served as an usher for the Dock Street Theatre, and is an active member of the Theresians. She continues to worship with the parishioners of Our Lady of Good Counsel and is a rich resource for the music ministry.
Another one of the honorees who will continue to serve is Claire Martin, who has been in charge of church decorations for 17 years. As a graduate of Hixson’s School of Floral Design in Lakewood, Ohio, Claire’s natural talents were given professional polish when she began arranging flowers for weddings, receptions and holidays. In 1993, Claire and her husband Larry relocated to Folly Beach from Philadelphia. Around the same time Father Ronald Cellini, formerly of Pittsburgh, PA, was appointed as administrator of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Claire was just the sort of self-starter that Father Cellini was hoping to find. Before long she was engaging others in her vision. For Claire, the work was never a chore. The joy was in making the sanctuary beautiful because for her, it enhances the experience of worship. Since those early days, many more people have joined in the mission. Throughout it all, Claire saw the hand of God at work. “I learned so much by doing this,” said Claire. “Some days I might be frustrated and wonder how it was going to work out. Then, I’d turn around and someone would be standing there ready to help.” Claire says she’s not going to stop serving the parish, which she called “wonderful”. “I could never totally walk away from the neatest parish in the whole wide world. It’s just time for someone else to be in charge.”
Who will take center stage as this cast of four step out of the limelight? The future is in the hands of God. Now is the time for Jim, Catherine, Margaret and Claire to take a bow.
