About Our Lady of the Lake · Rockwall, Texas
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) parish in Rockwall, Texas, serving as one of 83 parishes and missions in the Catholic Diocese of Dallas. Founded in December 1974 as a mission of St. Pius X Catholic Church in Dallas, it was elevated to parish status in 1978 and now ministers to every age and group — from infants through senior citizens — through daily and Sunday Masses, perpetual adoration, the OCIA (formerly RCIA), faith formation for children and youth, the Knights of Columbus, and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The parish's motto, drawn from John 13:34, is simply "LOVEONEANOTHER."
- Established
- 1974
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Lake (Marian title)
- Rector
- Rev. Seán Charles Martin, S.T.D.
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Dallas
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Lake offers the full sacramental and devotional life of a Catholic parish — five Sunday Masses (including two in Spanish), a daily Mass schedule in English and Spanish, perpetual adoration in its Adoration Chapel, and bilingual Saturday confessions. Parishioners of every age are formed through OCIA for adults, First Eucharist and Confirmation preparation, Early Childhood Faith Formation, and a robust Youth Ministry for grades 7–12, while serving the wider Rockwall County community through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Knights of Columbus Council #9337.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM (English & Español) in the Reconciliation Chapel, to the right of the main entrance
- Tuesday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Bilingual / Bilingüe with Fr. Tony)
Adoration times
- Sunday–Saturday 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM in the Adoration Chapel (behind the choir loft)
- Thursday 4:45 PM – 5:30 PM (Español, en la iglesia)
- Saturday 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM — last Saturday of each month (Último sábado de cada mes, en la iglesia)
About Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church
Our Lady of the Lake is one of 83 parishes and missions in the Catholic Diocese of Dallas. Established in 1974 by the Catholics of the Rockwall area with the assistance of Monsignor Thomas W. Weinzapfel of St. Pius X in Dallas, the parish today ministers to every age and group — from the smallest infants to the most venerable senior citizens, both English and Spanish speakers. The parish's mission is captured in its motto drawn from John 13:34: "LOVEONEANOTHER."
Parish History
From a first Mass in the Rockwall High School cafeteria in December 1974, to a former Baptist church on Rusk Street, to the current Damascus Road campus dedicated in 1999, Our Lady of the Lake has grown alongside Rockwall itself. Key dates include the parish's elevation from mission on December 3, 1978, and the sanctuary's formal dedication by Bishop Charles V. Grahmann on May 9, 1999.
- Dec 8, 1974 — First Mass, Rockwall High School Cafeteria, 120 people
- 1975 — Purchased 306 Rusk St. (former Baptist church) for $52,000
- Feb 22, 1976 — First Mass at the renovated Rusk Street facility
- May 1983 — Seven acres on Damascus Road purchased
- Dec 3, 1978 — Elevated to parish by Bishop Thomas Tschoepe
- Jan 6, 1991 — Ground broken for new church
- Holy Thursday, April 1, 1999 — First Mass in completed sanctuary
- May 9, 1999 — Sanctuary formally dedicated by Bishop Grahmann
Pastorate of Father Seán Charles Martin, S.T.D.
Father Seán Charles Martin became pastor on July 1, 2020. A biblical scholar by training, he held academic appointments in Rome, Houston, and Irving, and most recently served at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis — first as professor of Biblical Studies and then as the Institute's president from 2014 to 2019. Our Lady of the Lake is his first pastorate.
Becoming Catholic — OCIA (formerly RCIA)
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults at Our Lady of the Lake is a spiritual path of prayer, discernment, and teaching designed for adults seeking baptism, full communion with the Catholic Church from another Christian community, or the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist if they were baptized Catholic as children. English OCIA meets Thursday evenings from 7:30–9:00 PM in the Holy Family Center on the lower level of the church building. The parish also offers OCIA for Children in grades 1–6 and OCIA for Youth in grades 7–12, with Spanish-language sessions coordinated by Emma Rodriguez.
- OCIA in English — Thursday 7:30–9:00 PM, Holy Family Center
- OCIA for Children — grades 1–6
- OCIA for Youth — grades 7–12, Thursday evenings 7:30–8:45 PM
- OCIA in Español — contact Emma Rodriguez ([email protected])
- Coordinator: Sara Campbell
Early Childhood Faith Formation
The Early Childhood Faith Formation program is designed for families with children from birth through kindergarten, offering a nurturing and engaging introduction to the Catholic faith. Classes are held on Sundays and Mondays (with some bilingual sessions) and tuition is $100 per family during early bird registration or $125 per family during regular registration.
- Director: Julie Aldridge ([email protected])
- Sunday class times: 9:15–10:30 AM, 11:15 AM–12:30 PM, 1:45–3:00 PM, 3:15–4:30 PM bilingual
- Monday class times: 4:30–5:45 PM, 6:15–7:30 PM bilingual
- Tuesday 10:00–11:15 AM
- Office hours: Mon–Wed 9:00 AM–3:00 PM or by appointment
Youth Ministry (Grades 7–12)
Our Lady of the Lake Youth Ministry exists to draw students in grades 7–12 into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church through community, formation, and service. The parish offers weekly youth nights, Bible study, service, and leadership opportunities for high school students (grades 9–12), as well as a two-year middle school program designed to prepare students for the Sacrament of Confirmation. In-person classes begin the week of September 10 each year.
- Director of High School Youth Ministry — [email protected]
- Weekly youth nights, Bible study, service, leadership
- Two-year middle school Confirmation preparation
- Confirmation contact: Micaela Hemmer ([email protected])
Sacraments at Our Lady of the Lake
The parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation — Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation — and offers the wider sacramental life of the Church including Marriage and Anointing of the Sick. Only a parent or legal guardian may arrange sacraments for a minor child, and proper documentation (such as a baptismal or birth certificate) is required for registration.
- Baptism — Julie Aldridge ([email protected])
- First Eucharist — Rosie Huls ([email protected])
- Confirmation (grades 7–12) — Micaela Hemmer ([email protected])
- Marriage — In-Church Wedding Coordinator on staff
- Funerals — In-Church Funeral Coordinator on staff
Outreach & Parish Groups
Our Lady of the Lake supports a robust network of lay apostolates and service organizations, most prominently Knights of Columbus Council #9337 and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Our Lady of the Lake Conference, which together serve Rockwall County through fundraising, food drives, the Walk for Life, Wreaths Across America at DFW National Cemetery, the Mobile Food Pantry, and direct aid to neighbors in crisis.
- Knights of Columbus Council #9337
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Our Lady of the Lake Conference (help line 972-772-8875, [email protected])
- Men's ACTS Core Team / Men's Ministry
- Mobile Food Pantry
- Mercy Teams
- Catholic Social Justice Initiative
- Usher Program
- Liturgical Ministry — sacristans, lectors, extraordinary ministers
- Music Ministry / Choir
Visiting Our Lady of the Lake
The church is open daily from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM for private prayer, meditation, and adoration. The Reconciliation Chapel is directly to the right of the main entrance, and the Adoration Chapel is behind the choir loft. From I-30, take Goliad Road north to Damascus Road, turn left, and follow the road around to the back of the property.
- Address: 1305 Damascus Road, Rockwall, TX 75087
- Phone: (972) 771-6671
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://ourladyrockwall.org/
- Facebook: facebook.com/ourladyrockwall
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Albert Cuschieri1974–1985
Founding pastor; led the Rusk Street years and purchased the current seven-acre Damascus Road site in 1983.
- Rev. William J. Doran1985–1992
Began fundraising for a new church building; ground broken January 6, 1991.
- Rev. Richard W. Filice1992
Pastoral Administrator who oversaw the move to the current Damascus Road facilities.
- Rev. Richard T. Brown1992–1993
Continued fundraising for the upper-level finish-out.
- Rev. William A. Richard1993–2005
Oversaw completion of the main sanctuary in 1999; dedicated by Bishop Grahmann on May 9, 1999.
- Rev. Msgr. Robert M. Coerver2005–2010
Later named third Bishop of Lubbock, Texas in September 2016.
- Rev. George P. Monaghan2010–2020
Assigned July 23, 2010; died suddenly on May 19, 2020 after nearly ten years of service.
- Rev. Seán Charles Martin, S.T.D.2020–present
Biblical scholar; previously president of Aquinas Institute of Theology (2014–2019); first pastorate, assumed July 1, 2020.