Our Lady of the Lake Parish Community at 24832 US12 East, Edwardsburg, MI 49112 US - Parish History

The bell from our original chapel is now displayed in front of the church.

Our Lady of the Lake Chapel had its beginning as a mission church in 1923. Catholic residents of Michigan and Northern Indiana who had summer homes at Eagle Lake came to realize that a church near by would be a great convenience, so a small frame building was erected on the central south side of the lake.
On June 16, 1923 by command of the Most Reverend James Gallagher D.D., Bishop of Detroit and Father J.F. Decat, Pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Niles, the Chapel was dedicated under the patronage of the Holy Mother of God, with the title, “Our Lady of the Lake.”
In 1925, because of an increase in attendance, an additional section was added to the Chapel. Only eight Catholic families resided in the area year round so during cold winter months, half of the Church was closed off and the remaining section was heated by an oil stove.
The organ in the first church was made by Hugo VanDinter of Mishawaka, and was pumped by a stick on the side. Increasing membership soon outgrew the little chapel. The Ralph Kaja family donated five acres of land on U.S. 12. Work began in August of 1953 on a 40 by 80 foot red brick church seating 310 people which was completed in the spring of 1954. This church was dedicated August 29, 1954 by the Most Reverend Joseph H. Albers, Bishop of Lansing. In 1965, under the guidance of Father Cletus Rose, work began on an expansion and the new addition was dedicated September 15, 1967.
The organ was donated by William Donahue of Pleasant Lake. The marble statue standing high on the front of the church was designed especially for the church to represent Our Lady of the Lake. It was carved in Italy and donated by the Kaja family. The beautiful work of art weighed so much it had to be lifted into place by a crane.
The Grotto in front of the Church was donated by Kenneth Considine of South Bend in memory of his daughter, Margaret, who had been killed in an automobile accident. The statue was given by John Grohowski of Edwardsburg in memory of his late wife, Elaine.
In June of 1968, after nearly a week of rain, Cobert Lake overflowed resulting in the flooding of the basement. Six feet of water flooded the basement of the new addition. It took three days for the Edwardsburg Fire Department with help from the Edwardsburg Conservation Club to pump all of the water out. When the water was removed it was discovered the cement floor had erupted from the pressure, and a total of $10,000 damage had been done.
With diligent work over the years and the dedication of members and friends, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church has been a steady influence in the community. In 1971, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church became part of the newly formed Diocese of Kalamazoo. In 1981, Bishop Donovan assigned Father Bill Remmel as the first resident Pastor. He lived in a small apartment above the Parish offices until a new rectory was constructed in 1988. Father David C. Otto was assigned to Our Lady of the Lake in the summer of 1988 and served until his transfer to St. Mary's in Niles in 2006.
The most recent building program saw the construction of a classroom wing and new social hall. It was completed in 2001.
Father Joseph McCormick, OSA, became pastor in the summer of 2006.

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