Mission Statement

We Are Called By Christ To INVITE Everyone To LIVE The Gospel As We JOURNEY Together In Faith Towards God

Vision Statement

We, the people of Our Lady of the Lake, are called to INVITE people of all ages to experience God’s peace and to trust him to bring us to calmer waters. There we are free to LIVE the mission for which we were created to make this world a better place as we JOURNEY through the sacraments and the celebration of the Eucharist. At Our Lady of the Lake, we gather together to be refreshed, reconciled and transformed as we journey in faith towards God.

In living out our vision, we will seek to see the face of Christ in one another and serve him through the Core Values of Unity, Compassion, Mercy, Communion, and Mission.

Discerning a Ministry

St. John Paul II often reminded Catholics that a life worth living is a life that is lived for others. In the act of serving others, we encounter Jesus. In this Ministry Directory, there are a variety of ways in which you can serve others in our parish community and beyond. After taking some time reviewing this information, please contact the parish office if you are interested in participating in any of these ministries.

This ministry seeks to educate and enrich the spiritual life of the parish by organizing scripture studies, faith sharing groups, retreats, and days of reflection to share faith insights and strengthen the commitment to the Lord.

These ministers use their talents and time to create an atmosphere conducive to worship and praise. Through the use of living plants and fresh flowers, they acknowledge God’s gifts in the natural world so as to beautify the church and bring it to the greater glory of God.

The Bereavement Ministry offers hope and comfort to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Trained facilitators conduct support meetings that cover a variety of topics for those who are grieving. The death of a loved one can be challenging to accept, and meeting with people who are feeling the same way can help.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist the priest at the celebration of the Mass to distribute the Body and the Blood of Christ to the faithful. They may also bring Holy Communion to the homebound of our parish. The persons invited to serve as Eucharistic Ministers are to be mature (18 years of age), fully initiated Catholics (Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation); who participate fully and regularly in the Sunday Celebration of the Eucharist and have true devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament. We invite those members of the parish who feel called to serve in this ministry to speak with one of the deacons or priests. Training will be provided by the archdiocese and here at Our Lady of the Lake. Ministers are scheduled for approximately one weekend Mass per month.

For current Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, please read the Extraordinary Holy Communion Guidelines. Please download and complete the EMHC Registration Form.

Catechists prepare young people to proclaim the Good News and respond to the Gospel message through a greater understanding and deeper appreciation of God’s loving acts. The goals of the program are to teach Christ’s message, encourage parents to assume their responsibility as the primary religious educators of their child, enrich each child’s prayer life, encourage participation in the liturgy and sacraments, and provide opportunities for the children to express concern for others through apostolic service with the parish family and beyond.

This program assists the financial needs of the parish by selling grocery certificates to parish families after all weekend liturgies and at the rectory during business hours. The certificates, when redeemed at local supermarkets, yield a 5% return for O.L.L. It is hoped that with continued support and participation from all parishioners, greater financial gains can be realized to help the parish achieve some long term goals. Our Church sacristans and volunteers serve approximately 10 minutes after Mass selling certificates.

The Knights of Columbus is an organization long renowned for rendering service to Church and community by promoting the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism. Fund raising for the developmentally disabled, contributing to Catholic Charities, and providing resources for the Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets, are just a few activities organized by the Knights. Meetings are held twice a month.

Fr. James J. Kelly Council 3632 serves the parishes of Our Lady of the Lake in Verona and St. Catherine’s in Cedar Grove.

A beautiful ministry in the Church is that of Lector. A Lector at Mass does not “read” – he or she proclaims the Word. It must be done well, clearly, with feeling and understanding. We have fine Lectors, but we are always interested in more. We offer a special invitation to college-age parishioners, as well as high school age young men and women, to proclaim the Scriptures. A workbook and resource materials are provided during the formation period for new volunteers. Lectors serve approximately once every 5-6 weeks.

For current Lectors, please read the OLL Lector Guidelines. Please download and complete the Lector Registration Form.

The Liturgy/Spirituality Committee ensures that our liturgical celebrations at OLL are Spirit-filled and reflective of what we believe in as a faith community.

Catholic parish liturgy committees act as a consultative body to the pastor, aiming to foster full, conscious, and active participation in the Mass. They are tasked with planning, coordinating, evaluating, and providing spiritual formation for all liturgical ministries within the parish.

The Committee prepares Sunday liturgies, as well as special seasonal liturgies in accordance with the Church norms and the liturgical calendar of the Church.

Recommended reading: Instruction of the Roman Missal

Liturgy of the Word with Children gathers children to celebrate the Liturgy using simplified readings and homilies to help them understand God’s Word. Children are called to the sanctuary (after the greeting) by the presiding priest and led by the lay presider to St. Joseph’s Chapel. The music, environment, reading, Gospel, and homily of the day are presented in images familiar to the children. Liturgy of the Word with Children is held twice a month during the school year at the 9:00 am mass. Time commitment varies for presiders, musicians, and environment team members. Adults and teenagers who would like to help form our children in faith are welcome.

This ministry is currently under construction

Ushers, or Ministers of Hospitality, cordially welcome and greet parishioners as they enter the Church. They provide assistance locating seats and negotiating stairs when necessary. Ushers also facilitate the offertory and communion processions, as well as, gather the offertory donations, and distribute parish bulletins. Ushers generally serve one Mass per weekend. Men and women are always welcome to serve.

Volunteers serve on a monthly basis preparing, serving and cleaning up for a midday meal served at St. John’s Soup Kitchen in Newark to poor, homeless and hungry people. Additionally, monthly food collections are held in parish to ensure replenishment of necessary food supplies at St. John’s.

Ministers to the homebound provide a vital outreach between parish life and those unable to attend liturgies. Our ministers offer Holy Eucharist, parish bulletins, religious reading material, and a few minutes of companionship. Ministers visit upon request.

The Music Ministry is made up of various components, all of which partake in leading song at Sunday liturgies and sacramental celebrations. Included in the leadership of this ministry are the Director of Music and professional cantors. Other ministers participating in the music ministry are the members of the Parish Choir. In addition to leading music at parish liturgies, these groups also participate in an annual Christmas Concert.

The Parish Choir practices on Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:00 pm from September to mid-June and sings for the 10:30 Mass on Sundays as well as for Christmas, Easter, and during Holy Week. The Parish Choir is open to all individuals in grade nine through adult. The ability to read music is not required.

For more information please stop by the organ after Mass.

In keeping with the Vatican documents and the American Conference of Catholic Bishops, the OLL Respect Life Ministry seeks to raise awareness of the appreciation of the consistent ethic of life, in the “seamless garment” tradition, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. By disseminating literature and reporting on national events, this ministry seeks to promote a culture of life, by encouraging prayerful listening to the word of God and openness to the promptings of the Spirit, while addressing a host of moral issues. Volunteers are always welcome and invited to participate in the varied ongoing activities.

n support of the Our Lady of the Lake mission to be a welcoming community, this ministry ensures a warm welcome to all new and current members of the Parish.  On certain weekends parishioners are greeted at the doors of the church by a member of this ministry.  Morning refreshments are periodically offered after Mass.

Women’s Spirituality presents an opportunity for women to gather and recognize God’s grace and presence in the ordinary moments of life. There are usually three sessions a year with six weeks per session. Meetings are held on Thursday evenings from 7:15-8:15 PM in St. Joseph’s Chapel near the ramp door of Our Lady of the Lake.