About Our Lady of the Lake · Edwardsburg, Michigan
Our Lady of the Lake is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Kalamazoo serving Edwardsburg, Michigan and the surrounding Michiana area. Founded in 1923 as a summer chapel on Eagle Lake for vacationers from Michigan and northern Indiana, it has grown into a thriving parish community of over 500 families. The parish shares its faith life with neighboring St. Ann Parish in Cassopolis through a collaborative relationship. Today it offers a full schedule of weekend and daily Masses in English, faith formation for children and youth, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), outreach ministries including a food pantry, and an active liturgical and devotional life — celebrating its centennial in 2023.
- Established
- 1923
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Lake (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title 'Notre Dame du Lac')
- Rector
- Rev. Robert J. Johansen, S.T.D. (Cand.)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Kalamazoo
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Lake offers a warm, family-sized Catholic community rooted in a century of faith on the shores of Eagle Lake. Parishioners can worship through a full schedule of English Masses and the sacraments, walk their children through Sunday-evening faith formation and Confirmation preparation, and grow personally through OCIA, the High School Youth Group, and discipleship ministries. Outward-focused members find meaningful service through the parish food pantry, Sunshine bags for shut-ins, prayer shawls, and grief support, while the parish's vision — 'Reaching up to God, reaching out to one another, through Prayer, Service and Friendship' — shapes a community where newcomers are welcomed as readily as long-standing families.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
- Wednesday 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
- Friday 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
- 30 minutes before weekday Masses
Parish History
Our Lady of the Lake traces its roots to 1923, when Catholic summer residents on Eagle Lake — aided by Holy Cross Fathers from Notre Dame — built a small frame chapel on the lake's south shore and dedicated it to the Blessed Mother as 'Our Lady of the Lake' (Notre Dame du Lac). For decades the mission was served from St. Mary's in Niles and later St. Ann's in Cassopolis, and in 1981 Bishop Paul Donovan of the Diocese of Kalamazoo established it as an independent parish with Fr. Bill Remmel, S.D.S., as its first resident pastor.
- 1923 — Frame chapel built on south shore of Eagle Lake
- 1925 — First addition due to growing summer attendance
- 1954 — New 40' x 80' red brick church on US 12 dedicated by Bishop Joseph Albers
- 1967 — Expanded church dedicated by Msgr. John Slowey and Fr. Allen Theis
- 1981 — Became independent parish under Fr. Bill Remmel, S.D.S.
- 1987 — Rectory built
- 2000 — Social Hall and Classroom building dedicated
- 2006 — Old church converted to offices; Fr. Joseph McCormick, O.S.A., becomes pastor
- 2014 — $2.4M church renovation and expansion
- 2023 — Centennial / 100 Year Anniversary celebrated
Faith Formation & Discipleship
The parish runs a robust Sunday-evening faith formation program from September through April, covering elementary catechesis, Confirmation preparation for middle school youth, and a High School Youth Group. The Discipleship team also oversees the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process for adults seeking to enter or return to the Catholic Church, supported by sponsors and a trained OCIA team.
- Elementary Faith Formation (grades 1–5), Sundays 4:30–6:00 PM
- Confirmation Preparation (middle school), Sundays 4:30–6:00 PM
- High School Youth Group, Sundays 7:00–8:30 PM (Oct.–April)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- OCIA Sponsor Ministry (monthly Sponsor Nights)
- Children's Catechist and Aide opportunities
- Confirmation Service, Socials, and Retreats volunteer team
- Substitute Catechists and Hall Monitors
Parish Life, Outreach & Service
True to its vision statement — 'Reaching up to God, reaching out to one another, through Prayer, Service and Friendship' — the parish balances liturgical worship with concrete outreach. Members support a community food pantry, deliver Sunshine bags to homebound parishioners, knit prayer shawls and blankets, and distribute materials to those who are grieving. Fellowship events such as trivia night, parish picnics, outdoor rosaries, funeral luncheons, and special dinners knit the community together across generations.
- Community Food Pantry
- Sunshine Bags for Shut-ins
- Prayer Shawls and Blankets Ministry
- Grief Support Materials
- Trivia Night and Special Dinners
- Outdoor Rosary gatherings
- Funeral Luncheons
- Parish Picnics
- 100 Year Anniversary Committee
Sacraments
All seven sacraments of the Catholic Church are celebrated at the parish — the three Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist), the two Sacraments of Healing (Penance, Anointing of the Sick), and the two Sacraments of Service (Holy Orders, Matrimony). Families and individuals schedule appointments and sacramental conferences through the parish office.
- Baptism — by appointment
- Confirmation — through parish preparation program
- First Eucharist / First Communion
- Penance / Reconciliation — weekly schedule + Lenten service
- Anointing of the Sick — including special Anointing Mass
- Holy Orders — discernment support
- Matrimony — preparation and wedding coordination
Devotions & Special Masses
Beyond the regular Mass and Confession schedule, the parish marks the year with devotional practices including novenas, an annual Anointing Mass for the sick, a Mass of Remembrances, outdoor rosaries, and seasonal reconciliation services during Lent.
- Special Novenas
- Anointing Mass
- Mass of Remembrances
- Outdoor Rosary
- Annual Lenten Reconciliation Service
Centennial (100th Anniversary)
In 2023 Our Lady of the Lake celebrated 100 years since its founding as a summer chapel on Eagle Lake in 1923. The centennial Mass gathered two former pastors, members of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, and the wider parish community, with preaching by Notre Dame staff chaplain Father Jim Bracke. The parish ended the Mass by giving thanks for a century of support and looking forward to its bicentennial.
- 100 Year Closing Mass — June 16, 2023 at 11:00 AM, with a light reception to follow
- Two former pastors in attendance
- Preacher: Fr. Jim Bracke, Notre Dame staff chaplain
Visiting & Contact
Our Lady of the Lake is located at 24832 US 12 East in Edwardsburg, Michigan. The parish office can be reached at (269) 699-5870 (fax 269-699-5474), and visitors are encouraged to call ahead to meet with the pastor or Faith Formation directors. The parish maintains an active Facebook page and posts a regular bulletin online.
- Address: 24832 US 12 East, Edwardsburg, MI 49112
- Phone: 269-699-5870
- Fax: 269-699-5474
- Website: ourladyedwardsburg.org
- Facebook: Our Lady of the Lake Parish Community
- Diocese: Diocese of Kalamazoo
- Parish collaborative partner: St. Ann Parish, Cassopolis
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Salvatorian Fr. Bill Remmel1981–1988
First resident pastor when the mission became an independent parish in 1981; built up community and programs; oversaw 1987 rectory construction.
- Fr. Dave Otto1988–2006
Diocesan priest; served 18 years despite rheumatoid arthritis; oversaw 2000 Social Hall and Classroom building; parish grew to 400 families.
- Rev. Joseph McCormick, O.S.A.2006–
Augustinian friar; oversaw 2014 $2.4M church renovation/expansion; parish grew to 550+ families; current pastor-emeritus in the parish collaborative.