About Our Lady of the Lake · McCall, Idaho
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Parish is a mission-station parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise serving the resort town of McCall, Idaho, and an enormous surrounding territory of more than 9,000 square miles — over 10% of the state of Idaho. The parish operates from its main church at 501 Cross Road in McCall and reaches satellite communities through St. Jerome Chapel in Riggins (north on the Salmon River) and St. Katharine Drexel Station in Cascade (west on Highway 55). Today's worship life includes weekend Mass in McCall, daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, weekly adoration, a Knights of Columbus council, OCIA formation, youth and faith-sharing groups, and a regional food bank ministry.
- Established
- 1916
- Patron
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help (original patron); parish feast day celebrated under the title of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Fr. Bradley Neely
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Lake is one of the most geographically far-flung Catholic parishes in Idaho, yet it remains a tight-knit Eucharistic community with the full rhythm of Catholic life: daily Mass Tuesday through Friday, two weekend Masses in McCall, weekly Eucharistic adoration, a long-running OCIA program, youth ministry, faith-sharing groups, a Knights of Columbus council, and a parish-run food bank partnership with the regional Heartland Hunger Resource Center. Whether you live in McCall year-round or are a seasonal visitor to Payette Lake, you'll find a parish committed to faithful liturgy, sacramental preparation for every age, and hands-on outreach across the Salmon River, Cascade, and McCall valleys.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM at Our Lady of the Lake, McCall (or by appointment)
- St. Jerome (Riggins): by appointment
- St. Katharine Drexel (Cascade): 3rd Sundays of each month, after the 11:00 AM Mass
Adoration times
- Tuesdays, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM at Our Lady of the Lake, McCall
- Fridays, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at Our Lady of the Lake, McCall (after the 9:30 AM Daily Mass)
Parish History
Our Lady of the Lake was established in 1916 as a mission of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Boise under the original title Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The first Catholic church building in McCall — the structure on Roosevelt Avenue on the east side of Payette Lake — is now the Alpine Theater. In 1963 Father John Koelsch became the parish's first resident pastor; the present church was built under his leadership and dedicated in 1964 with the new name Our Lady of the Lake, and it was remodeled to its current interior arrangement in 1993. The parish's feast day is celebrated on August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Founded 1916 as Our Lady of Perpetual Help, mission of St. John the Evangelist Cathedral, Boise
- First church building (now Alpine Theater) stood on Roosevelt Avenue, east side of Payette Lake
- Father John Koelsch, first resident pastor, arrived 1963
- Present church built and dedicated 1964 under the name Our Lady of the Lake
- Interior remodeled to current configuration in 1993
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Father Bradley Neely as Pastor and is supported by two deacons, parish office staff, a bookkeeper, a website administrator, and a youth program leader. Music Ministry in McCall is coordinated by Pam Fitzsimmons, the OCIA team is led by Chris Moreno and Joyce Majure, the prayer chain is coordinated by Cathleen Curtiss, and Faith Sharing is facilitated by Barbara Wimer.
- Fr. Bradley Neely — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Floyd Loomis
- Deacon Derek Williamson
- Kristin Koskella — Parish Office ([email protected])
- Joanne Wood — Bookkeeper ([email protected])
- Heather Berry — Website Admin ([email protected])
- Rachel Reynaga — Youth Program Leader
- Pam Fitzsimmons — Music Ministry ([email protected])
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
Our Lady of the Lake runs sacramental preparation programs for every age and stage — Baptism for infants and children, First Communion and First Reconciliation for young parishioners, Confirmation for high schoolers, and Marriage preparation for engaged couples. Adults and children age 7 and older who are interested in joining the Catholic Church are welcomed into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), which meets Wednesdays at 5:30 PM in the Gathering Room and includes a potluck dinner.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Wednesdays 5:30 PM, Gathering Room, with Chris Moreno and Joyce Majure ([email protected], 208-205-9117)
- First Communion / First Reconciliation — classes begin mid-January; new Youth Program under Rachel Reynaga
- Confirmation — high school freshmen through seniors, Thursdays 5:00–6:30 PM, parish office top floor; classes begin early January; sacrament usually celebrated around Pentecost
- Marriage preparation — recommended start at least 4 months before the wedding; reserve the church through the parish office
Ministries and Parish Life
Beyond the Mass schedule the parish supports an active network of lay ministries. The Music Ministry welcomes volunteers in both McCall and Cascade; the Knights of Columbus Council meets the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00 PM in the Gathering Room; a Faith Sharing Small Community meets Wednesdays from 10:00 AM to noon in the Gathering Room for an in-depth study of upcoming Mass readings and Scripture. Ushers, Lectors, and Eucharistic Ministers are recruited and trained through the Deacons, and a Prayer Chain is available for personal prayer requests.
- Music Ministry in McCall (Pam Fitzsimmons) and Cascade (choir rehearsal Sundays 10:15 AM)
- Knights of Columbus — 1st Tuesday, 6:00 PM, Gathering Room, McCall
- Faith Sharing Small Community — Wednesdays 10:00 AM – noon, Gathering Room
- Youth Group meetings (dates TBA) — discussion, prayer, fellowship, food
- Prayer Chain — Cathleen Curtiss, 208-315-7027
- Ushers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers — contact the Deacons
- Safe Environment training — required for all clergy, staff, and volunteers
Outreach and Community
Our Lady of the Lake partners with the regional Heartland Hunger Resource Center to operate a food bank in McCall; the parish regularly sends volunteers and notes that 'volunteers are needed to serve at the food bank.' Food distribution is held at the police-station-adjacent facility, and the parish also points community members to FindHelpIdaho.org for additional local resources.
- Parish-run food bank partnership with Heartland Hunger Resource Center
- Food distribution at the McCall police-station-adjacent facility
- Volunteer contact: Linda Kl (208-634-6989)
- Resource referrals to FindHelpIdaho.org
Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick and Funerals
Anointing of the Sick (commonly called 'last rites') is celebrated by the pastor for those who are ill, anticipating treatment, or preparing for surgery, uniting the person's suffering with the suffering of Christ and bringing forgiveness of sins. Arrangements are scheduled through the parish office. Funeral Masses are likewise arranged through the parish office at [email protected] or 208-634-5474.
- Anointing of the Sick — scheduled through the parish office; administered only by a priest
- Funerals — scheduled through the parish office
- Available by appointment at all three parish locations (McCall, Cascade, Riggins)
Visiting Our Lady of the Lake
The parish office welcomes all visitors, both year-round residents and seasonal guests to Payette Lake. The McCall church is centrally located near the intersection of Forest and Cross Streets, diagonally across from the hospital. Visitors needing wheelchair access should enter from the back of the church via Cross Rd, Mather Rd, and Brundage Dr, where marked handicapped parking is available.
- Phone: 208-634-5474
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 501 Cross Rd, McCall, ID 83638 (Mailing: P.O. Box 821)
- Handicapped access: rear entry via Cross Rd → Mather Rd → Brundage Dr
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John Koelsch1963–
First resident pastor of the parish; oversaw construction and 1964 dedication of the present church as 'Our Lady of the Lake'
- Fr. Bradley Neely
Current pastor, appointed to Our Lady of the Lake, McCall