About Our Lady of the Lakes · Waterford, Michigan
Our Lady of the Lakes is a Roman Catholic parish in Waterford Township, Michigan, in the heart of Oakland County, serving the community since 1948. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Detroit and is part of the Lakes Vicariate, Northwest Region. The parish shares its campus with Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School, one of only five PK-12 Catholic schools in the archdiocese and the only one nestled on a single campus in Oakland County. Father Scott Thibodeau has served as pastor since July 2017 and currently leads the parish as Moderator of the In Solidum Lakes Vicariate Family 1 team.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Lakes (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Scott Thibodeau
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit (Lakes Vicariate, Northwest Region)
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Lakes offers a large, multi-generational Catholic community in the heart of Oakland County, with four Sunday Masses, a daily Mass schedule, Saturday confessions, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, and a Wednesday-evening rosary — a full sacramental rhythm that fits any stage of life. Families can enroll children in one of the only PK-12 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit, with the parish school, elementary campus, and high school all on one campus. The parish also runs a Faith Formation program (grades 1–8), a Saint Vincent de Paul conference, Walking with Moms in Need, liturgical ministries, and parish commission groups, giving parishioners concrete ways to serve, belong, and grow.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Lakes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM — until all are heard
Adoration times
- Tuesday 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM (Eucharistic Adoration on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, followed by Rosary and Benediction at 7:00 PM)
Parish History
Our Lady of the Lakes was founded in 1948 as a mission of St. Patrick in White Lake. Father Frederick Delaney celebrated the first Mass on September 26, 1948, for a community of just 150 families. Archbishop Mooney dedicated the first church and social hall on May 13, 1951; a rectory followed in 1953 and the school in 1956. By the early 1980s the parish had grown to roughly 3,100 families. Ground was broken on the current church in 1985 and Archbishop Szoka dedicated it two years later. The nave is anchored by Christ the Good Shepherd on one side and Madonna and Child on the other.
- Founded: September 26, 1948 (first Mass by Fr. Frederick Delaney)
- Original church dedicated: May 13, 1951, by Archbishop Mooney
- Rectory built: 1953
- School opened: 1956
- Current church: ground broken 1985, dedicated 1987 by Archbishop Szoka
- Founding families: 150; grew to ~3,100 within three decades
Clergy & Staff
Father Scott Thibodeau has been pastor since July 2017 and was named Moderator of the In Solidum Lakes Vicariate Family 1 team effective July 1, 2021. He is supported by priests assigned In Solidum to the Lakes Vicariate cluster and full-time priest support, along with two permanent deacons assigned to Our Lady of the Lakes. Mrs. Jeanine Kenny serves as Head of School.
- Rev. Scott Thibodeau — Pastor / Moderator, Lakes Vicariate Family 1
- Rev. David Blazek — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Craig Marion — Priest In Solidum
- Rev. Yongli Chen — Full-Time Priest Support
- Deacon David Smith
- Deacon Paul Nickels
- Mrs. Jeanine Kenny — Head of School
Devotions & Other Services
Beyond Mass and the sacraments, the parish gathers for a weekly Rosary and a monthly Holy Hour with Eucharistic Exposition, Rosary, and Benediction — both rooted in the parish's Marian identity under the Mantle of Mary.
- Weekly Rosary — Wednesdays at 6:30 PM
- Holy Hour with Exposition — 3rd Tuesday of the month
Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School
Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School is one of only five PK-12 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit, and the only one nestled on a single campus in Oakland County. The school's mission, 'Guided by the Holy Spirit, under the Mantle of Mary, Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School forms disciples through Catholic Tradition, personal discipline and academic excellence,' is carried out under Head of School Mrs. Jeanine Kenny. The curriculum follows a Religion / Language Arts / Math / Social Studies structure across elementary grades, with continuous Faith Formation for grades 1–8 offered in parallel through the parish.
- Grades served: Pre-K through 12
- Single campus in Oakland County
- One of five PK-12 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Detroit
- Mission: 'Guided by the Holy Spirit, under the Mantle of Mary'
- Head of School: Mrs. Jeanine Kenny
- Admissions contact: [email protected]
Faith Formation
Faith Formation begins in first grade and runs consecutive years through 8th grade, complementing the parish school and providing religious instruction for school-age children across the parish community. Registration opens annually.
- Faith Formation for grades 1–8
- Runs consecutive years
- Registration announced annually on the parish website
Ministries & Outreach
Our Lady of the Lakes offers several ways to serve, organized under parish commission groups, liturgical ministries, and outreach. The Saint Vincent de Paul conference meets monthly and welcomes new members. Walking with Mom's in Need extends the parish's outreach to mothers and families. Liturgical ministries and parish commission groups give parishioners hands-on roles in the life of the parish.
- Saint Vincent de Paul Conference (monthly meetings)
- Walking with Mom's in Need
- Liturgical Ministries
- Parish Commission Groups
- Weekly Rosary group
- Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) participation
Parish Life & Vicariate Cluster
Our Lady of the Lakes sits at the heart of the Archdiocese of Detroit's Lakes Vicariate, Northwest Region. Since July 1, 2021, Father Thibodeau serves as Moderator of the In Solidum Lakes Vicariate Family 1, a pastoral team linking Our Lady of the Lakes with St. Anne (Ortonville), St. Daniel (Clarkston), and St. Rita (Holly) — an arrangement that allows priests to support one another across the cluster.
- Vicariate: Lakes Vicariate, Northwest Region
- In Solidum Family 1: Our Lady of the Lakes + St. Anne, St. Daniel, St. Rita
- Effective July 1, 2021
Visit, Contact & Hours
The parish office and church are located at 5481 Dixie Highway, Waterford, MI 48329. Summer parish office hours run Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–5:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM. The church building is open for private prayer throughout most of each day. Inquiries can be sent to [email protected] or made by phone at (248) 623-0274.
- Address: 5481 Dixie Highway, Waterford, MI 48329
- Phone: (248) 623-0274
- Email: [email protected]
- Summer office hours: M–Th 8 AM–5 PM, F 8 AM–12 PM
- Church open for private prayer: Mon–Thu 7 AM–8 PM, Fri 7 AM–5 PM, Sat 7 AM–6:30 PM, Sun 7 AM–2 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Frederick Delaney1948 (founding pastor)
Celebrated the first Mass on September 26, 1948 when the parish began as an outgrowth of St. Patrick, White Lake with 150 families.
- Rev. Scott ThibodeauJuly 2017–present
Seventh pastor in seven decades. Appointed Moderator of the In Solidum Lakes Vicariate Family 1 team effective July 1, 2021, leading OLL together with St. Anne (Ortonville), St. Daniel (Clarkston), and St. Rita (Holly).