About St. Edward on the Lake · Lakeport, Michigan
St. Edward on the Lake is a Roman Catholic parish in Lakeport, Michigan, in the Archdiocese of Detroit, serving the Catholic community along the Lake Huron shoreline in northern St. Clair County. The parish was established in 1946 as a summer mission out of St. Stephen's in Port Huron, raised to a full parish in 1955, and today offers daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacraments, an elementary school (preschool through 5th grade), religious education, OCIA, a Knights of Columbus council, an Altar Society, St. Vincent de Paul conference, a Men's Group, and other parish organizations. Its current pastor is Rev. Lee Acervo. The parish church sits at 6945 Lakeshore Road, overlooking Lake Huron.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. Edward (the parish is named in honor of Edward Cardinal Mooney, and several founding figures also bore the name Edward)
- Rector
- Rev. Lee Acervo
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Detroit
Why belong here
St. Edward on the Lake offers the full rhythm of Catholic life on the Lake Huron shoreline: daily Mass Monday through Saturday, three weekend Masses, weekday and Saturday confessions, and Eucharistic Adoration two days a week. A parish elementary school (preschool through 5th grade), a parish religious education program, OCIA, FORMED access, an active Men's Group, Altar Society, Knights of Columbus Council #8274, St. Vincent de Paul conference, and an Evangelization Committee give newcomers real ways to belong — and the parish family-run OCIA, the Surviving Divorce program, and parish retreats meet people in every stage of life and faith.
Mass times at St. Edward on the Lake
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 11:30 am
- Monday: 7:30 am
- Tuesday: 7:30 am
- Wednesday: 7:30 am
- Thursday: 6:00 pm
- Saturday: 7:30 am, 8:30 am, and 4:00 pm
- First Fridays: 6:30 pm
Adoration times
- Wednesdays: after the 8:00 am Mass until 7:30 pm
- Thursdays: 8:00 am until the 7:00 pm Mass
Parish History
St. Edward on the Lake grew out of St. Lawrence Church in Jeddo, founded in 1851 by Fr. Lawrence Kilroy on land deeded to the Archdiocese of Detroit by John and Mary Ann Carroll for one dollar. After St. Lawrence was cut off from Croswell with the creation of the Diocese of Saginaw, the Catholic presence in northern St. Clair County shifted to Lakeport. In 1945, summer parishioners Mr. and Mrs. H. A. Carroll donated a 150' x 150' parcel on M-25, and Fr. Edward J. McCormick of St. Stephen's, Port Huron, with Cardinal Mooney's blessing, launched a new mission. The first Mass was celebrated outdoors on July 7, 1946; a hall-church was built in 1947; Fr. John R. Hogan became the first resident priest in 1950; and the mission was raised to a full parish on August 20, 1955, with the new church blessed on May 20, 1956 by Bishop Alexander M. Zaleski. The parish retains the original Jeddo cemetery.
- Roots in 1851 St. Lawrence Church, Jeddo (Fr. Lawrence Kilroy)
- 1945 Carroll family donates 150' x 150' site on M-25
- First Mass July 7, 1946; collection $436
- Fr. Edward J. Hurley named first acting pastor, 1946
- Hall-church completed 1947
- Fr. John R. Hogan, first resident priest, 1950
- Raised from mission to parish August 20, 1955
- New church first Mass: Holy Thursday, March 29, 1956
- Church formally blessed by Bishop Zaleski May 20, 1956
Parish Staff
St. Edward is led by pastor Rev. Lee Acervo. The parish office is run by Office Manager Sara Hunter and Bookkeeper Kathy Cowles, with Parish Hall Coordinator Terrie Solomon and Maintenance Supervisor Mark Hearn. Lauren Leyva directs the music ministry, and the school has its own principal and office staff (see school page). The parish and school share an address on Lakeshore Road.
- Rev. Lee Acervo — Pastor
- Sara Hunter — Office Manager
- Kathy Cowles — Bookkeeper
- Terrie Solomon — Parish Hall Coordinator
- Mark Hearn — Maintenance Supervisor
- Lauren Leyva — Music Director
- Denis Metty, Jr.
- Mary Rumley
St. Edward on the Lake School
St. Edward on the Lake School is the parish's own Catholic elementary school, serving preschool through 5th grade and described by the parish as 'a great elementary school with great students, a terrific staff, wonderful parents, and generous benefactors.' The school community is presented as a family centered on the Catholic faith. Inquiries and visits can be arranged through the school office at (810) 385-4461, and the parish also runs a Scrip tuition-rebate program (60% to family tuition, 40% to the St. Edward Children's Fund).
- Preschool through 5th grade
- School phone: (810) 385-4461
- Principal and full-time Catholic teaching staff
- Individualized Learning teacher on staff
- Scrip program supports tuition and the Children's Fund
Religious Education & OCIA
Director of Religious Education Paula McCarthy oversees sacramental preparation for parish children who do not attend St. Edward School. The program prepares students for First Communion and Confirmation; 8th graders preparing for Confirmation meet individually with Fr. Acervo and complete a mandatory retreat. Adults seeking to become Catholic are welcomed into OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), which begins each September and meets Monday evenings, walking inquirers through the Catholic faith over the course of the year.
- DRE: Paula McCarthy
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — Monday evenings, beginning in September
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation
- Confirmation retreat (mandatory)
Adult Faith Formation & Men's Group
Adult faith formation at St. Edward includes a parish subscription to FORMED (Catholic on-demand video, audio, and study), Fr. John Hardon catechetical courses (coordinated by Ellen Ziolkowski), Marian Catechist courses, an annual parish retreat, and the Surviving Divorce program. The parish's Men's Group meets every other month for an evening of adoration, dinner, fellowship, and a talk on a virtue or aspect of Christ's life; it is open to all men of the parish.
- FORMED parish subscription (code/zip 48059)
- Fr. John Hardon catechetical courses
- Marian Catechist courses
- Annual parish retreat
- Surviving Divorce — 12-week program, $20 (call Mike at 810-404-9489)
Parish Groups & Organizations
St. Edward has a long list of lay-led groups that support parish life, the school, and those in need. The Knights of Columbus Council #8274 meets the second Wednesday of the month; the Altar Society meets the first Tuesday after the 8:00 am Mass to clean the church and maintain the flower gardens; the St. Vincent de Paul Society offers direct, dignified assistance to those facing financial, medical, or personal crisis; and the Evangelization Committee works to bring inactive Catholics back and welcome seekers. The Parish Council and Finance Council serve as consultative bodies assisting the pastor in governance.
- Altar Servers — contact Fr. Acervo
- Altar Society — Paula McCarthy, President (810-385-5428)
- Knights of Columbus Council #8274 — Pat Scheuer, Grand Knight (810-434-6106)
- Men's Club
- Evangelization Committee — Harry Tillotson, Chair
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Parish Council (meets third Tuesday every other month)
- Parish Finance Council
Sacraments
The seven sacraments are celebrated at St. Edward on the Lake according to the normal parish rhythm: Baptisms usually take place the second Sunday of the month after the 12:00 pm Mass, First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the Religious Education program, the Anointing of the Sick is available by calling the parish office (and a 24/7 emergency line for after-hours needs), and Confession is heard before every daily and weekend Mass. Marriages are arranged by contacting the parish office to begin preparation.
- Baptism — second Sunday of the month after 12:00 pm Mass
- First Communion & Confirmation — via Religious Education
- Anointing of the Sick — office line 810-385-4340; emergency line 810-294-0050
- Confession — see full schedule
- Marriage — contact parish office
Contact, Visiting & Parish App
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Edward by phone at (810) 385-4340, by fax at (810) 385-6972, or by email at [email protected]. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, and Friday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (closed on Fridays in summer). For after-hours pastoral emergencies call (810) 294-0050. The parish also maintains a weekly e-newsletter, a YouTube channel (youtube.com/stedwardonthelake), a Facebook page, and a parish app (text 'App' to 55321 for iOS/Android). Newcomers are encouraged to use the online registration form linked on the parish website.
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 am–4:00 pm; Fri 9:00 am–12:00 pm (closed Fri in summer)
- Bulletin submission deadline: Monday 12:00 pm
- Emergency line (after hours): (810) 294-0050
- YouTube: youtube.com/stedwardonthelake
- Facebook: facebook.com/stedwardonthelake
- Parish app: text 'App' to 55321
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Edward J. McCormick1945–1950 (oversaw foundation from St. Stephen, Port Huron)
Pastor of St. Stephen's, Port Huron; accepted the Carroll property in 1945 and planned the move from Jeddo to Lakeport; turned the first sod for the new church in 1955.
- Fr. Edward J. Hurley1946–1950
First acting pastor; organized the new mission, supervised construction of the 1947 hall that served as the first church, founded parish societies and fund-raising socials.
- Fr. John R. Hogan1950–
First resident priest (June 1950); became Administrator when the mission was raised to a full parish on August 20, 1955; celebrated the first Mass in the new church on Holy Thursday, March 29, 1956.