About Our Lady of the Lake · Mandeville, Louisiana
Our Lady of the Lake is a Roman Catholic parish in Mandeville, Louisiana, on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain, serving the community for over 150 years and forming part of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Orleans. The parish is anchored by a 1953-dedicated church, a parish school (Our Lady of the Lake School, est. 1890) that now enrolls roughly 800 students, a parish activity center (the Chotin Center), and a perpetual adoration chapel housed in what was once an outdoor shrine to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Today's parish life is shaped around four mission pillars — Prayer, the Eucharist, Education, and Service — and is currently led by Fr. Doug Busch as pastor.
- Established
- 1870s
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Lake (the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Fr. Doug Busch
- Diocese
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of New Orleans
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Lake offers the rhythm of a large, historic Catholic community with multiple Sunday Masses (including a Saturday vigil and five Sunday options), weekday Masses, daily confession times, and a perpetual adoration chapel open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Families can send their children to the parish school (a three-time National Blue Ribbon award winner with capacity for 800 students) or enroll them in the FIRE Family Faith Formation program, and adults can grow through OCIA, the CCD program, or adult education. Active ministries such as Youth Group, Respect Life, and ongoing outreach give parishioners concrete ways to live the parish's four-fold mission of Prayer, the Eucharist, Education, and Service.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday & Thursday 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (cancelled on holidays including Easter Monday)
- Wednesday & Friday 6:00 AM – 6:20 AM
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel — open 24 hours a day, every day of the year (enclosed former outdoor shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help)
Parish History — Over 150 Years in Mandeville
Our Lady of the Lake traces its roots to the mission-priest era of U.S. Catholic history. Rev. Joseph Outendirck, a native of Belgium, was appointed the first pastor of the Church of Mandeville. After him came many mission priests before the Benedictine Fathers assumed care of the parish in 1912. The Benedictines established the parish school under Rev. E.J. Lavaquery and brought in religious sisters — first the Sisters of Christian Charity and then the Benedictine sisters from St. Scholastica Convent in Covington — to teach the growing student body. The current church and the original outdoor shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help were dedicated in 1953 under Fr. Canisius Bleumel. Fr. John LeBlanc (1958–1979) was the last Benedictine pastor; the school playground is named 'Fr. John Field' in his honor. Subsequent pastors — including Msgr. Joseph Chotin, who oversaw the major new construction of school, church, parish activity center, and perpetual adoration chapel — built the parish into its present form.
- First pastor: Rev. Joseph Outendirck (Belgian missionary)
- Benedictine Fathers assumed care in 1912
- Present church dedicated 1953 under Fr. Canisius Bleumel
- Fr. John LeBlanc served 1958–1979 (last Benedictine pastor)
- Msgr. Joseph Chotin oversaw major new construction
- Current pastor: Fr. Doug Busch
Our Lady of the Lake School
Founded in September 1890 under the direction of a lay teacher by Fr. E.J. Lavaquery, the parish school began with 10 boys and 8 girls. The Benedictine Sisters from St. Scholastica Convent in Covington came to Mandeville in 1916 to help build the school, and through the 20th century the school grew from those 18 students to a current capacity of 800. The school is a three-time National Blue Ribbon award winner, Cognia STEM-certified, and a PLTW Distinguished School. The Cardinals compete in athletics and the school partners with the parish on faith formation.
- Address: 316 Lafitte Street, Mandeville, LA 70448
- Founded September 1890 by Fr. E.J. Lavaquery
- Three-time National Blue Ribbon award winner
- Cognia STEM-certified and PLTW Distinguished School
- Capacity: ~800 students
- Athletic teams: Cardinals
Worship & Liturgy
The parish celebrates Mass in English throughout the week, with a Saturday vigil, five Sunday Masses, and daily Masses Monday through Saturday. The parish also maintains the perpetual adoration chapel — an enclosed former outdoor shrine to Our Lady of Perpetual Help — that is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year for prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Confessions are heard multiple times each week.
- Saturday vigil: 4:00 PM
- Sunday Masses: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM (Chotin Center), 12:00 PM, 6:30 PM
- Daily Masses Monday–Saturday
- Confessions Mon/Thu 4:30–5:00 PM, Wed/Fri 6:00–6:20 AM, Sat 3:00–3:45 PM
- Perpetual Adoration (24/7) in the chapel of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Faith Formation & Education
Faith formation at Our Lady of the Lake is built around the family. The Religious Education department runs the FIRE (Family-Inspired Religious Education) program, a model that treats parents as the primary catechists of their children, drawing on the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Church teaching that 'family catechesis precedes, accompanies and enriches all forms of catechesis.' Tiffany Blanchette serves as Director of Religious Education. The parish also maintains a vibrant CCD program reaching close to 800 students and has recently launched an Adult Education program to help parishioners learn the essentials of the Faith.
- FIRE — Family-Inspired Religious Education (Family Faith Formation)
- Director of Religious Education: Tiffany Blanchette
- CCD Program (~800 students)
- Adult Education program
- Confirmation preparation
- Vacation Bible School (VBS)
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the parish's process for adults seeking to become Catholic, for baptized Catholics who have not yet been confirmed, and for baptized Christians wishing to enter full communion with the Catholic Church. The Inquiry phase runs from mid-September through the end of November, with the four pillars of the Catholic Faith — What We Believe, How We Worship, How We Live, and How We Pray — explored during formation. Those not yet baptized are typically baptized at the Easter Vigil; baptized Christians are generally confirmed at the Easter Vigil or whenever prepared.
- Director of Adult Faith Formation: Laura Patton
- Inquiry phase: mid-September through November
- Easter Vigil initiation for unbaptized candidates
- Open to baptized Christians entering full communion
- Open to Catholics completing Christian initiation
Youth Ministry
The parish runs a Sunday Morning Youth Group for students in Grades 6–12, meeting between Masses from 10:15 AM to 11:05 AM. The program combines friendship, donuts, games, and faith formation, including Bible study, reflection on the Mass readings, discussion of Catholic life, video series on the timeline of the Bible, and a Theology of the Body series. The group also joins parish-wide family events such as Pumpkin Carving, Advent Wreath Making, and the Christmas Pageant, plus evening socials like bowling, movie nights, and scavenger hunts.
- Sunday Morning Youth Group (Grades 6–12), 10:15–11:05 AM
- Director of Youth Ministry: Luke Brooks
- Higher Calling Ropes Camp — weeklong Catholic summer camp each August
- Bible timeline and Theology of the Body series
Respect Life Ministry
In response to the Gospel of Life, the Respect Life Ministry commits to prayer and action in defense of life from conception to natural death, promoting Catholic teaching on abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, the death penalty, and stem cell research. The ministry has no age or qualification requirements — a love of God and neighbor is all that is needed — and offers many one-off ways to participate.
- Life Marches in Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C.
- Woman's New Life Center 'Born to Run' fundraisers
- Annual Life Chains in Slidell and Mandeville
- Nine Month Spiritual Adoption Program
- Baby Shower for mothers in need
- 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil
- Christmas Giving Tree for Nursing Home Residents
- Summer Sock Collection for the Homeless
Parish Coat of Arms
The OLL coat of arms weaves together the parish's Marian patronage, Eucharistic devotion, school mission, and Louisiana Catholic heritage in a single heraldic shield. Each element points to a defining feature of parish life.
- Capital 'M' — Mary, Our Lady of the Lake
- 'IHS' — the Holy Eucharist
- Book and quill pen — the parish school as an evangelizing ministry
- Wheat border — unleavened bread of the Eucharistic sacrifice
- Three fleurs-de-lys — the Trinity and Louisiana's French Catholic heritage
- Central cross — faith passed down through apostolic succession
Getting Involved & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are invited to register as parishioners, sign up for the parish's FlockNote communications, give online, and explore ministries such as OCIA, Youth Group, the FIRE family program, and the Respect Life Ministry. The parish office can be reached by phone or email for sacramental scheduling and general inquiries.
- Join the Parish — online registration
- Sign up for FlockNote (parish communications)
- Online Giving available
- Weekly bulletins published online
- 360° property tour available on the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Outendirck
Native of Belgium; first pastor of the Church of Mandeville
- Rev. E.J. Lavaquery
Benedictine-era pastor who opened the parish school in 1890
- Rev. J.C. Schmitt
Brought in the Benedictine sisters from St. Scholastica Convent to teach
- Fr. Canisius Bleumel
Benedictine priest under whom the present church and Our Lady of Perpetual Help shrine were dedicated in 1953; expanded the school cafeteria and started the hot lunch program
- Fr. John LeBlanc1958–1979
Last Benedictine priest to serve as pastor; playground 'Fr. John Field' named for him
- Msgr. Joseph Chotin
Oversaw completion and dedication of new construction — school, church, parish activity center, and perpetual adoration chapel
- Fr. Rhenné Cervantes
Predecessor to current pastor
- Fr. Walter Austin
Predecessor to current pastor
- Fr. John Talamo
Predecessor to current pastor
- Fr. Michael Schneller
Predecessor to current pastor
- Fr. Mark Lomax
Predecessor to current pastor
- Fr. Doug Busch
Current pastor; continues parish mission through Prayer, the Eucharist, Education, and Service