About Our Lady of the Lakes · Balsam Lake, Wisconsin
Our Lady of the Lakes is a Roman Catholic parish in the village of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, situated in Polk County and part of the Diocese of Superior. The parish church, dedicated on June 28, 2003, was formed through the consolidation of three earlier parishes in the region: St. Patrick Church in Centuria, Our Lady of the Pines in Balsam Lake, and Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Georgetown. Today it operates as part of the Catholic Lakes Cluster alongside St. Joseph Parish in Amery and St. John the Baptist in Clear Lake, a partnership formalized in July 2025 in response to changing demographics and a declining number of ordained priests in northern Wisconsin.
- Established
- 2003
- Patron
- Our Lady (Blessed Virgin Mary) — under the title 'Our Lady of the Lakes'
- Rector
- Rev. Chandra Ery (Parochial Administrator of the Catholic Lakes Cluster)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Superior
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Lakes welcomes Catholics of Polk County into a lakes-area parish with strong sacramental life, daily and weekend Mass, Sunday and weekday confession, Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesday mornings, and a clear pathway for the sacraments through its religious education program. As part of the Catholic Lakes Cluster (formed July 2025 with St. Joseph in Amery and St. John the Baptist in Clear Lake), it offers parishioners the benefits of a shared staff, shared faith formation for children and youth (grades 4K through 11), and shared liturgical ministries, while keeping its own church building in Balsam Lake at the center of worship for the local community.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Lakes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:45–8:15 AM (Our Lady of the Lakes)
- Or by appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- Wednesday 9:30 AM (Our Lady of the Lakes), following the 9:00 AM weekday Mass
About Our Lady of the Lakes
Our Lady of the Lakes is the Catholic parish serving the village of Balsam Lake and surrounding areas of Polk County in northwestern Wisconsin. It belongs to the Diocese of Superior and since July 2025 has operated as part of the Catholic Lakes Cluster with sister parishes St. Joseph in Amery and St. John the Baptist in Clear Lake. The church stands at 507 W. Main Street in Balsam Lake, and the parish mailing address is PO Box 399, Balsam Lake, WI 54810.
- Parish church dedicated June 28, 2003 by Bishop Raphael M. Fliss
- One of three parishes in the Catholic Lakes Cluster
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (Fri–Sun closed)
History of Our Lady of the Lakes
The parish is the product of three earlier Catholic communities in Polk County. In the 1870s, St. Patrick Church was built near Long Lake in Centuria on land donated by the Williams and Murphy families. The St. Patrick church building was later moved to Balsam Lake, where it became known as Our Lady of the Pines parish. In 2003, Bishop Raphael M. Fliss of the Diocese of Superior dedicated a new church, Our Lady of the Lakes, bringing together St. Patrick (Centuria), Our Lady of the Pines (Balsam Lake), and Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (Georgetown) into a single parish. The parish history is preserved in 'Our Journey through Faith: A History of the Diocese of Superior' by Sam Lucero (2005).
- 1875–1975: St. Patrick Parish at Long Lake / Centuria celebrated its centennial
- St. Patrick church building physically moved to Balsam Lake and renamed Our Lady of the Pines
- June 28, 2003: Bishop Fliss dedicated the new Our Lady of the Lakes Church
- Consolidating parishes: St. Patrick (Centuria), Our Lady of the Pines (Balsam Lake), Our Lady of the Holy Rosary (Georgetown)
The Catholic Lakes Cluster (since July 2025)
Due to changing demographics in northwestern Wisconsin and a decreasing number of ordained priests, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Clear Lake joined the previously clustered parishes of St. Joseph in Amery and Our Lady of the Lakes in Balsam Lake. The Catholic Lakes Cluster began in July 2025 and now shares pastoral leadership, staff, and faith formation across all three communities. Each parish retains its own church building and weekly Mass schedule.
- Cluster parishes: St. Joseph (Amery), Our Lady of the Lakes (Balsam Lake), St. John the Baptist (Clear Lake)
- Cluster leadership: Rev. Chandra Ery, Parochial Administrator
- Shared staff includes coordinators of religious education and an office administrator
Parish Staff
The parish is served by the priests, deacons, and lay staff of the Catholic Lakes Cluster. Fr. Chandra Ery serves as Parochial Administrator for the cluster. Coordinators of Religious Education and office staff serve Our Lady of the Lakes and the wider cluster.
- Rev. Chandra Ery — Parochial Administrator, Catholic Lakes Cluster
- JoAnne Agne — Coordinator of Religious Education & Secretary (Our Lady of the Lakes / Cluster)
- Crystal Siebenaler — Coordinator of Religious Education (Cluster)
- Fay Strenke — Coordinator of Religious Education Volunteer (Cluster)
- Jennifer Lefler — Office Administrator (Cluster / Our Lady of the Lakes)
- Steve Rogers — Cluster staff
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at Our Lady of the Lakes is part of the cluster's Youth Catechesis program. Preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation is a central focus, with grade-level classes offered from 4K through 11. Classes at Our Lady of the Lakes meet on Wednesdays from 6:30–7:30 PM. The cluster also offers YDisciple for youth ministry. Adult volunteers and confirmed youth are needed, and training and background checks are provided at no cost.
- Grades 4K–5: Elementary faith formation
- Grades 6–9: Middle-school catechesis
- Grades 10–11: Confirmation preparation
- YDisciple youth ministry
- Our Lady of the Lakes classes meet Wednesdays, 6:30–7:30 PM
Liturgical Ministries & Worship
Parishioners serve the Mass as lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ushers, greeters, and musicians. The cluster website highlights Liturgical Ministries as a shared area of service. Music for funerals and other liturgies is coordinated with Fr. Chandra Ery.
- Lectors / readers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Altar servers
- Ushers and greeters
- Music ministry (funeral music coordinated with the pastor)
Sacraments
Our Lady of the Lakes prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Schedules for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation are coordinated through the cluster's Youth Catechesis program. Weddings and baptisms are arranged through the parish office, and the Anointing of the Sick is available to those in need.
- Baptism — by arrangement with the parish office
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist — parish-based preparation
- Confirmation — grades 10–11
- Marriage — by appointment with the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — as needed
- Reconciliation (Confession) — Sunday 7:45–8:15 AM or by appointment
Funeral Planning
The parish helps families plan Catholic funerals, including scheduling the Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Lakes. A list of suggested sacred music is available for download from the cluster website, and families may select other sacred hymns with the approval of Fr. Chandra Ery.
- Funeral Mass offered at Our Lady of the Lakes
- Suggested music list available on the cluster website
- Music selections approved by Fr. Chandra Ery
Visit, Contact & Connect
Our Lady of the Lakes welcomes visitors at its church on 507 W. Main Street, Balsam Lake. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (closed Friday through Sunday), and can be reached by phone, fax, or email. The parish shares an updated website with the Catholic Lakes Cluster.
- Phone: 715-405-2253
- Fax: 715-405-2743
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: ourladyofthelakes.ws / catholiclakescluster.org
- Mailing: PO Box 399, Balsam Lake, WI 54810