History of Our Lady of the Lakes

Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church was officially established in July 26, 1962 with Father Darold Lehman as pastor under Bishop Alphonse Shadweiler, the first Bishop of New Ulm Diocese. Carl Klein and Eldon Wiedeman were the first lay trustees. Msgr. Arnold Berg, vicar general of the diocese, laid the cornerstone on October of 1962.

Although officially established in July, the first Mass in the 32' x 80' building with contemporary colonial style canopy, wasn't held until September 9, 1963. Forty-eight charter members (16 families) many of whom donated vast amounts of time, labor, and monies, fulfilled the dream of their own House of Worship so they could hear the Word of the Lord in liturgy, song, and sermon, and be sanctified with the Sacraments.

The parish family grew rapidly, which necessitated getting permission to satisfy Sunday obligation with a Saturday evening Mass. Our Lady of the Lakes has the distinction of being the first parish in the United States to be granted this privilege.

Father Robert Merth replaced Father Lehman on August 25, 1969. By 1977, the parish had grown to over 90 families making a 56' x 32' addition necessary. This consists of an upper level finished to match the knotty cedar in the original nave and seating 110 and lover level religion classrooms.

Father Felix Fasching came to the parish on January 16, 1980. The parish continued to grow to 220 families by 1982 so in April of 1988, construction began on a two-story 36' x 92' educational addition which would give enough classrooms, plus additional seating in the nave with overflow into the new social hall.

Father Fred Fink became our present pastor in June of 1999, when Father Fasching retired. Our parish families now number at 400 plus!

Our Lady of the Lakes Church has a Parish Administrative Council, Faith Formation Committee, Worship and Spiritual Life Committee and the Catholic Women (CCW) of which each parish woman is a member.

In August of 2002, we began building a new church, to allow for our continued growth. On August 3, 2003, we celebrated our first mass in our new church with Rev. Fred Fink and Bishop John Nienstedt presiding.

On July 1, 2005, Father Fred Fink retired from our parish and Father Jeff Horejsi became our new priest, and we are happy to have him with us!