Good Counsel was founded on March 10, 1985, in Hoboken, New Jersey, by Christopher Bell and his spiritual advisor, Father Benedict Groeschel, a Franciscan priest and psychologist. The inspiration for Good Counsel came while Christopher Bell was living and working at Covenant House in Times Square, a ministry for homeless youth. There, he witnessed firsthand the dire need for services specifically for homeless, pregnant women—a group often overlooked and in desperate need of compassion and support.
With Father Groeschel’s encouragement and guidance, Christopher Bell launched Good Counsel in a former convent, creating a safe haven dedicated to providing shelter, care, and resources for pregnant women and their children. Since its founding, Good Counsel has grown into a trusted ministry that not only meets immediate needs like housing and food but also equips mothers with the tools, counseling, and life skills necessary to achieve independence and stability.
For nearly four decades, Good Counsel has been a beacon of hope, offering faith-based support and holistic services to vulnerable women and their families. By addressing both urgent and long-term needs, the organization continues to live out its mission of compassion—helping mothers choose life, build strong futures, and find dignity and purpose.