About Our Lady of the Lake · Leominster, Massachusetts
Our Lady of the Lake is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Worcester, located at 1400 Main Street in Leominster, Massachusetts. The parish was formed in 1952 when the North Leominster faithful separated from the mother church of St. Leo's, and it has served the community ever since. It offers weekend and weekday Masses (with a Sunday evening Mass during the school year), Saturday confessions, weekly Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration, and a vibrant parish life that includes youth ministry (Catholic Youth In Action/CYIA), OCIA (formerly RCIA), faith formation for children, and a long-running annual parish bazaar that has been a community tradition since 1976.
- Established
- 1952
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Lake (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Father Kenneth R. Cardinale
- Diocese
- Diocese of Worcester
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Lake is a welcoming, mid-sized Catholic parish in north Leominster that combines traditional parish life with active youth and faith-formation programs. Weekday Mass is celebrated Monday through Wednesday, with a Sunday evening Mass offered September through May for those who can't make morning services. The parish nourishes Eucharistic devotion through Wednesday Adoration (8:30 a.m.–6 p.m.) and Saturday confessions, and it builds community through Catholic Youth In Action (CYIA) trips, sacramental preparation for children and adults, and the beloved annual parish bazaar — a multi-day tradition since 1976.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 pm
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:30 am – 6:00 pm (interrupted briefly when a funeral Mass is scheduled; resumes afterward)
Parish History & Community Roots
Our Lady of the Lake Parish was established in 1952, formed from the North Leominster faithful of St. Leo's — the mother Catholic parish of Leominster, founded in 1872. As the Catholic population of north-central Worcester County grew, several parishes were spun off from St. Leo's over the decades, with Holy Family following in 1963. Today the parish carries on a community tradition marked by long-running events like its annual bazaar.
- Formed 1952 from St. Leo's North Leominster parishioners
- Part of the Diocese of Worcester
- Annual parish bazaar tradition since 1976
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently served by Father Kenneth R. Cardinale, who became pastor after serving as pastor of St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge. Father C. Michael Broderick, his predecessor at Our Lady of the Lake, was reassigned as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Lancaster. Inquiries about the priesthood and religious life (Holy Orders) are directed to Father Ken through the parish's online form.
- Pastor: Father Kenneth R. Cardinale
- Previous pastor: Father C. Michael Broderick (now at Immaculate Conception, Lancaster)
- Contact: (978) 342-2978 / [email protected]
Sacraments
The parish website dedicates a page to each of the seven sacraments, with practical guidance for parishioners on preparation and reception.
- First Eucharist — children begin a two-year preparation in grade one (must already be baptized); adults prepare through OCIA
- Anointing of the Sick — available by request through the parish office; described as a sacrament of healing, not only for the dying
- Holy Orders — vocational inquiries directed to Father Ken via online form
- Reconciliation — Saturday 4:00 pm
- Becoming Catholic (OCIA) — adult initiation process with weekly classes beginning in fall; candidates receive sacraments at the Easter Vigil
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
Our Lady of the Lake runs the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) — the Church's formal process for adults seeking to become Catholic. An OCIA instructional team walks candidates through the steps and rites needed for full initiation, with weekly classes starting in the fall and reception of the sacraments at the Easter Vigil. Inquiries can be directed to the Parish Office.
- Weekly OCIA classes begin in the fall
- Candidates received into the Church at the Easter Vigil
- Contact: (978) 342-2978 / [email protected]
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's faith formation is organized through the Religious Education Office. Children must be baptized before beginning preparation for First Eucharist, typically starting a two-year course in grade one. The parish office can be reached at (978) 342-2978, Option 4, or by email at [email protected] for details on registration and class schedules.
- Two-year First Eucharist preparation beginning in grade one
- Baptism prerequisite for First Eucharist prep
- Contact: [email protected] / (978) 342-2978, Option 4
Youth Ministry — Catholic Youth In Action (CYIA)
CYIA is the parish's youth ministry, focused on building faith and community for young parishioners through trips and service. To help offset trip costs, CYIA runs an annual bottle and can collection drive at the parish, with drop-off at the parish trailer by the garage doors. Wyman's Liquors in downtown Leominster has supported the team by opening early so youth can use their bottle return facility.
- Annual CYIA bottle and can collection fundraiser
- Drop-off at parish trailer by the garage doors
- Local partner: Wyman's Liquors, downtown Leominster
Annual Parish Bazaar
The Our Lady of the Lake parish bazaar is one of the longest-running parish bazaars in north-central Massachusetts. First held in 1976, it reached its 48th year in September 2024 under the leadership of Father Kenneth Cardinale. The bazaar spans multiple days on the church grounds and is a community tradition that brings parishioners together for food, games, karaoke, and the sale of homemade apple pies baked by a parish crew.
- Held annually on church grounds since 1976
- Multi-day event (typically Friday evening through Saturday evening)
- Homemade apple pies baked by parish volunteers
- Family activities and karaoke
- Contact: (978) 342-2978, Ext. 111
Parish Communications & Giving
The parish maintains a website at ourladylake.org and uses Flocknote for email/text communication and ParishPay for online giving. The homepage links to the parish's Facebook and Instagram pages, and surfaces Bishop Barron's daily reflections alongside the daily Mass readings.
- Flocknote signup (name, email, phone)
- ParishPay online giving
- Facebook and Instagram linked from the homepage
- Daily Mass readings and Bishop Barron's reflections featured
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father C. Michael Broderick
Pastor of Our Lady of the Lake before being reassigned as pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Lancaster; Father Kenneth R. Cardinale, previously pastor of St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge, succeeded him.