About Our Lady Queen of the Americas · Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania
Our Lady, Queen of the Americas (OLQA) is a Roman Catholic parish in the small lakeside borough of Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania, in the Diocese of Erie. The parish was established on May 13, 1958, after nearly fifty years of being a mission of St. Peter's in Conneautville, and now serves a little over 400 families. Its patroness is Our Lady of Guadalupe (feast day December 12), and the parish welcomes many summer visitors to nearby Conneaut Lake and Conneaut Lake Park. The church is known for its unique expandable sanctuary, an outdoor cemetery and Stations of the Cross, a Mary's Garden, a prayer labyrinth, and a small columbarium.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- Our Lady of Guadalupe (patroness)
- Rector
- Rev. David E. Carter
- Diocese
- Diocese of Erie
Why belong here
OLQA is a warm, medium-sized Catholic parish of just over 400 families with a strong tradition of hospitality — especially to the many visitors who come for Conneaut Lake and Conneaut Lake Park in the summer months. The parish offers daily Mass four days a week, a full liturgical ministry program (altar servers, lectors, extraordinary ministers, greeters, ushers, musicians, cantors, and choir), a year-round religious education program (C.A.R.E. — Conneaut Area Religious Education), and an active calendar of parish groups including the Knights of Columbus, Altar Rosary Society, 55+ Club, Cursillo, and Marriage Encounter. New families and adults interested in becoming Catholic are invited to call the parish office to register or begin inquiry.
Mass times at Our Lady Queen of the Americas
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- After daily Mass
- Saturday 3:30–4:30 p.m.
- By appointment (call 814-382-7252)
About Our Lady, Queen of the Americas
Our Lady, Queen of the Americas (OLQA) is a Roman Catholic parish in the small lakeside borough of Conneaut Lake, in the Diocese of Erie. The community worships at 155 S. 9th St. and serves a little over 400 families, with a strong tradition of hospitality toward the summer visitors who come for Conneaut Lake and Conneaut Lake Park. The parish's patroness is Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose feast is celebrated December 12. The parish office can be reached at 814-382-7252 or [email protected], and office hours are Monday and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
- Established as an independent parish on May 13, 1958
- Diocese of Erie
- Pastor: Rev. David E. Carter
- Priest-in-residence: Rev. Kyle A. Seyler
- Patroness: Our Lady of Guadalupe (feast December 12)
- Address: 155 S. 9th St., Conneaut Lake, PA 16316-7205
- Phone: (814) 382-7252 · Email: [email protected]
- Website: olqachurch.org
Parish History
The OLQA community traces its roots to nearly fifty years of Catholic Masses celebrated in community buildings and at Conneaut Lake Park while it was still a mission of St. Peter's Parish in Conneautville. Originally called Our Lady of the Lake, the mission was raised to an independent parish on May 13, 1958, and its name was changed to Our Lady Queen of the Americas in 1956, with Our Lady of Guadalupe chosen as patroness. The present church was completed in May 1959 and dedicated by Auxiliary Bishop Edward P. McManaman of Erie on Sunday, May 17, 1959; the altar was consecrated the following year on May 1, 1960.
- Pre-1958: mission of St. Peter's, Conneautville — Mass at Conneaut Lake Park and in community buildings for nearly 50 years
- 1956: name changed from Our Lady of the Lake to Our Lady Queen of the Americas; Our Lady of Guadalupe chosen as patroness
- 1954: construction of the church began
- May 13, 1958: mission raised to independent parish
- May 17, 1959: church dedicated by Bishop Edward P. McManaman
- May 1, 1960: altar consecrated, enshrined with first-class relics of Sts. Felicissimus and Prosperus
Church Building and Grounds
OLQA's stone church features a single bell-and-cross tower and, above its main doors, a mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a map of North and South America flanked by the flags of the American nations. Its most distinctive architectural feature is a set of folding doors and panels behind the altar that can be opened to double the seating capacity for the busy summer season. The parish grounds behind the church include a small cemetery, a columbarium for the interment of ashes, a Mary's Garden with a prayer labyrinth, and an outdoor shrine with the Fourteen Stations of the Cross.
- Stone construction, one bell-and-cross tower
- Mosaic of Our Lady of Guadalupe above the main doors
- Folding doors and panels behind the altar to double seating capacity
- Cemetery behind the church with statues of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady, and the Pietà
- Columbarium in the cemetery's northwest corner
- Mary's Garden to the right of the entrance, with a walking prayer labyrinth
- Outdoor Fourteen Stations of the Cross shrine on the east side of the cemetery
Faith Formation (C.A.R.E.)
The Conneaut Area Religious Education (C.A.R.E.) program is OLQA's faith formation program for young people. Classes meet at the OLQA Parish Education Center and run in concert with the parish bulletin calendar. The program offers classroom experience as well as opportunities for retreat, service, and fellowship. An Adult Bible Study is also offered, and adults interested in learning about the Catholic Church or becoming Catholic are invited to contact the parish office.
- C.A.R.E. (Conneaut Area Religious Education) — classes for youth
- Classes resume in September; meet Sundays 9:10–10:20 a.m. at the OLQA Parish Education Center
- Faith Formation Leader: Amanda Sovisky and Tom Sovisky
- Contact: [email protected] or 814-382-7252
- Adult Bible Study — TBA; contact Tom Sovisky or the parish office
- Adult Christian Formation for those inquiring about or entering the Catholic Church
Parish Staff
The parish is supported by a small staff and lay leaders working alongside the pastor and priest-in-residence. Pastoral Council leadership helps guide the community's mission and life.
- Rev. David E. Carter — Pastor
- Rev. Kyle A. Seyler — Priest-in-residence
- Pat Billingsley — Parish Secretary / Support Staff
- Amanda Sovisky — Admin Assistant / Support Staff / Faith Formation Leader
- Tom Sovisky — Faith Formation Leader
- Christine McGinnity — Director of Liturgical Music
- Vicki Leap — Pastoral Council President
- Tara Durkin — Pastoral Council Vice President
Liturgical Ministries
OLQA invites parishioners to serve in a range of liturgical ministries at and around the altar. Hospitality is one of the parish's stated core virtues, and many of these roles reflect that spirit of welcome.
- Altar Servers — assist the priest at Mass; open to youth who have received First Eucharist
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — must be 18 and Confirmed
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God at Mass
- Greeters/Ushers — welcome, seat those with special needs, assist with collections and the gifts
- Musicians, Cantors, and Choir — lead the congregation in prayer and worship
- Funeral Liturgy Team — assist at funeral Masses
Parish Organizations and Groups
Beyond liturgical service, OLQA parishioners participate in a variety of parish groups and movements that build community and support members across seasons of life. Knights of Columbus Council 6037 is also active in the wider area and supports parish life.
- Knights of Columbus
- Altar Rosary Society
- 55+ Club
- Cursillo
- Marriage Encounter
Sacraments
OLQA prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Couples seeking Matrimony and families seeking Baptism are asked to call the parish office; the Anointing of the Sick is available to any parishioner who is seriously ill, hospitalized, or homebound, and the parish asks to be notified so that the sick can be anointed on a regular basis.
- Baptism — call parish office 814-382-7252
- Confirmation — celebrated as part of the diocese's life; preparation through Faith Formation
- Eucharist — celebrated at all listed Mass times; First Holy Communion preparation through C.A.R.E.
- Penance (Reconciliation) — after daily Mass; Saturday 3:30–4:30 p.m.; by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — call parish office; offered to the seriously ill, elderly, or homebound
- Matrimony — call parish office 814-382-7252
- Holy Orders — discernment supported through the Diocese of Erie
Joining the Parish
OLQA warmly welcomes new families, returning Catholics, and visitors. The parish office helps with registration, sacramental preparation, and adult Christian formation for those inquiring about or entering the Catholic Church. Children remain registered members of their parents' household until age 18, at which point they are encouraged to register on their own.
- Register by calling the parish office 814-382-7252 (Mon/Thu 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.) or emailing [email protected]
- Adult Christian Formation / inquiry for those interested in becoming Catholic — contact the parish office
- Children considered members with parents until age 18, then encouraged to register independently
Visiting Conneaut Lake
Conneaut Lake is one of Pennsylvania's largest natural lakes, and the parish is accustomed to welcoming seasonal visitors to the lake and to historic Conneaut Lake Park. The expandable sanctuary — with its folding doors and panels behind the altar — was designed precisely so that summer crowds can be accommodated at liturgy.
- Many summer visitors and lake-house guests attend Mass at OLQA
- Hospitality greeters and ushers welcome newcomers each weekend
- Outdoor Stations of the Cross, Mary's Garden, and labyrinth are open to all visitors
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Robert Toland1958–1977
Founding pastor; built up the parish from mission status. (1891–1985)
- Fr. John Murray1977–1979
Second pastor.
- Msgr. Edward Zeitler1979–1985
Third pastor.
- Msgr. John Lucas1985–1998
Fourth pastor; served until September 1998.
- Fr. Stephen Anderson1998–2013
Fifth pastor; died in March 2013.
- Fr. Jeffrey Lucas2013–2017
Sixth pastor, appointed June 2013.
- Rev. David E. Carter2017–present
Appointed Parochial Administrator in July 2017; now serving as Pastor.