About Our Lady of the Lake · Holland, Michigan
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Holland, Michigan, situated on the north side of Lake Macatawa at 480 152nd Avenue. Founded in 1979 as the second Catholic parish serving Holland, it belongs to the Diocese of Grand Rapids and is led by Fr. Michael Burt, Pastor. The parish is organized around five ministry departments (Community Life, Discipleship, Mission, Parish Care, and Worship) and is closely connected with Corpus Christi Catholic School. Worship takes place in a main Sanctuary, a daily-Mass Chapel that houses the tabernacle and a Reconciliation Room, and a wooded Prayer Garden where summer Thursday Masses are celebrated.
- Established
- 1979
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Lake (the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael E. Burt (Fr. Michael Burt)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Grand Rapids
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Lake offers a deeply intentional Catholic community organized around five ministry departments — Community Life, Discipleship, Mission, Parish Care, and Worship — so there's a concrete way for every parishioner to live out the faith. The parish is closely tied to Corpus Christi Catholic School and forms disciples through family faith formation, youth Discipleship Classes, and the adult Lakeshore Academy for the New Evangelization (LANE). It reaches beyond its walls through partnerships with the St. Vincent de Paul Center, Holland Rescue Mission, City on a Hill, prison and jail ministry, and a sister parish in Haiti, all under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesdays — 6:30 p.m.
- Saturdays — 9:00–10:00 a.m.
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursdays — 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- First Friday of the month — 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Parish History — From Waukazoo School to a Parish of Its Own
Our Lady of the Lake was announced by Bishop Joseph Breitenbeck on April 1, 1979, as a new parish for the north side of Lake Macatawa. Land at 152nd Avenue and James Street was acquired that May, Fr. Denis Nash was named founding pastor, and the first Mass on site was celebrated September 1, 1979. For the next three years the parish worshipped out of Waukazoo Elementary School on Lakewood Boulevard, with parishioners setting up and tearing down the worship space every Sunday. Ground broke November 15, 1981 on a DeBrincat Architecture design that could expand with the parish. Pioneer Construction completed the $1,350,000 building in under a year — nearly $1 million of it paid in cash — and on October 31, 1982, more than 900 parishioners processed from the school to the new church for its first Mass, with St. Francis de Sales providing a bus for those unable to walk. The cornerstone had been laid August 15, 1982 (the Feast of the Assumption), and a formal Dedication Mass followed March 6, 1983. After the 1995 fire at neighboring St. Francis de Sales, the two parishes' "Mission and Ministry 2000" plan expanded OLL and founded Corpus Christi Catholic School on the OLL campus.
- Announced April 1, 1979 by Bishop Joseph Breitenbeck
- Founding pastor: Fr. Denis Nash
- First on-site Mass: September 1, 1979
- Met at Waukazoo Elementary School, 1979–1982
- Architect: DeBrincat Architecture; Builder: Pioneer Construction
- Cornerstone laid August 15, 1982; Dedication Mass March 6, 1983
- Mission and Ministry 2000 collaboration with St. Francis de Sales after 1995 fire
Parish Grounds, Chapel & Prayer Garden
The parish campus combines worship, formation, and outdoor spaces. The main Sanctuary hosts weekend Masses, baptisms, and other liturgies. The Chapel houses the tabernacle, the Reconciliation Room, an altar for weekday Mass, and several pieces of devotional artwork. A wooded Prayer Garden — maintained by a team of volunteers — hosts the summer Thursday Mass and includes a trail through the woods.
- Main Church / Sanctuary — weekend Masses, baptisms, other liturgies
- Chapel — tabernacle, Reconciliation Room, weekday Mass altar, devotional art
- Prayer Garden — summer Thursday Mass, wooded trail, maintained by volunteers
- Fire pit — across the main parking lot
- Softball field on parish grounds
Five Ministry Departments
OLL organizes all of its staff and programs into five ministry departments designed to equip parishioners to live Christ's mission, under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The five are Community Life, Discipleship, Mission, Parish Care, and Worship.
Community Life
Community Life builds meaningful connections among parishioners through guilds, social groups, parish events, communal prayer, and parish communications. The parish sees its local community as its primary community within the universal Church, helping parishioners form friendships and a sense of belonging.
- Guilds and social groups
- Parish events and gatherings
- Communal prayer opportunities
- Parish communications
Discipleship & Lifelong Formation
Discipleship pursues the perfect discipleship of the Blessed Virgin Mary through a culture of lifelong learning. Adults have ongoing formation through the Lakeshore Academy for the New Evangelization (LANE), and a variety of Discipleship Classes for children and youth assist parents in teaching the Catholic faith and preparing young people to receive the sacraments.
- Lakeshore Academy for the New Evangelization (LANE) — adult formation
- Discipleship Classes for children and youth
- Sacramental preparation for young people
- Family faith formation resources
Mission — Outreach to the Poor and Vulnerable
Mission carries the parish beyond its walls through the corporal works of mercy. OLL partners with local charitable organizations, maintains a relationship with a sister parish in Haiti, and engages in diocesan programs such as prison and jail ministry.
- St. Vincent de Paul Center
- Holland Rescue Mission
- City on a Hill
- Sister parish in Haiti
- Diocesan prison and jail ministry
Parish Care
Parish Care responds to the joyful obligation to love fellow parishioners, especially those on the margins. Mind, body, and soul ministries include visitation, parish nursing, recovery support, funeral ministry, and support groups — both for those who can serve and for those in need of care.
- Visitation ministry
- Parish nursing program
- Recovery ministries
- Funeral liturgy ministry
- Support groups
Worship & Liturgical Arts
Worship at OLL celebrates the liturgy with reverence, faithfulness, beauty, and joy, recognizing the Eucharist as the source of communion with Christ and with each other. Many parishioners serve as liturgical ministers, sing in the choir, or play instruments during the liturgy — all are called to active participation in the holy sacrifice of the Mass.
- Liturgical ministers (altar servers, lectors, EMHCs, etc.)
- Parish choir
- Instrumentalists
- Active full, conscious participation in the Mass
Corpus Christi Catholic School
Corpus Christi Catholic School is an integral part of Our Lady of the Lake's parish mission. It authentically educates children in and through the Catholic faith in an environment centered on the Word of God, the sacraments, and the teachings of the Church. Students discover truth, goodness, and beauty in all fields of study in an academically rigorous and culturally diverse learning community — born from the Mission and Ministry 2000 collaboration with St. Francis de Sales after the 1995 fire.
- Authentically Catholic, academically rigorous curriculum
- Centered on the Word of God, the sacraments, and Church teaching
- Culturally diverse learning community
- Supported through parishioner time, talent, and treasure
Staff & Leadership
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. The leadership team includes Pastor Fr. Michael Burt, Director of Administration Greg Smith, Director of Ministries Melissa Linderman, and Administrative Assistant Rose Hernandez, with additional priests and staff supporting the five ministry departments.
- Fr. Michael Burt — Pastor ([email protected], 616-399-1062 x106)
- Greg Smith — Director of Administration (616-399-1062 x104)
- Rose Hernandez — Administrative Assistant (616-399-1062 x102)
- Melissa Linderman — Director of Ministries (616-399-1062 x113)
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Visit, Register & Contact
OLL warmly welcomes Catholics returning to the faith, those curious about Christ and his Church, and visitors of all backgrounds. Newcomers are invited to register or become parishioners through the parish website, and to attend any of the Masses or parish events listed. The church building is handicapped accessible from the main parking lot.
- Address: 480 152nd Avenue, Holland, MI 49424
- Phone: (616) 399-1062
- Fax: (616) 399-5766
- Emergency line: (616) 953-9026
- Handicapped-accessible building
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Denis Nash1979 (founding pastor)
Named pastor by Bishop Joseph Breitenbeck at the parish's inception; led OLL through its first three years meeting at Waukazoo Elementary School, the groundbreaking (Nov. 15, 1981), cornerstone (Aug. 15, 1982), and move into the new church (Oct. 31, 1982).
- Fr. Michael Burt
Current pastor; authored the parish welcome message and serves as primary point of contact for the parish.