Our Lady of the Lake Parish

WHAT WE ARE ABOUT

People hunger for more in life, but they don’t know they’ll find it in Christ. So FOCUS brings the hope and joy of the gospel to them — meeting them in friendship, inviting them into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and equipping them to go out and share Christ with others.

Through Bible studies, outreach events, mission trips and everyday accompaniment, missionaries inspire and build up others in faith, sending them out to spread the good news and live out the Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

Missionaries

THE NEED

Since the early 1950s when Our Lady of the Lake Parish was founded, the college students at "Edinboro College" have been a particularly important part of the hearts of our parish.   For us, the responsibility to see that the Catholic collegians become mature Catholic Christians is personal.  Care for them is a natural part of the Catholic faith experience at PennWest-Edinboro.

Caring for faith development takes staffing.  There was the time that we had a full-time priest assigned to the school, along with several Sisters of St. Joseph.   We even had our own 'Newman Center' where each day during the school year, students were given the opportunity to avail themselves of the sacraments and to study of their faith.  In more recent decades we have benefitted from the loving support of lay Campus Ministers who gave selflessly of themselves to carry on the tradition of care.   A significant part of the financial and spiritual support came from Our Lady of the Lake Parish in collaboration with the Diocese of Erie.

A special fund was developed to continue the good work of Catholic Campus Ministry at PennWest-Edinboro.   However that fund has slowly decreased over the years. How did this happen?

Over the past five years, Our Lady of the Lake Parish has used the fund to pay our share of having a profoundly gifted group of young adult missionaries from Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) to serve our campus.   FOCUS missionaries perform the "campus ministry" part of serving the Catholics at PennWest-Edinboro, while the pastor leads as a Chaplain for the sacramental and spiritual guidance of missionaries and students alike.

The challenge is that soon, the fund will be all but depleted... and yet the work being done by FOCUS missionaries has proven to be very fruitful.   Last year alone, over 60 college students were involved in bible studies along with faith and community-building activities.  The truth is--- we don't want to see this good work slip away on account of money.

THE ASK

We need mission partners from parishioners, organizations, friends, alumni of Edinboro University / PennWest-Edinboro to support the mission of serving the souls of the young adults at our university campus.  Money is very important... but more so is the mission.  And, we want YOU to be a part of our mission to care for the Catholic students on our campus.

WHO IS FOCUS?

FOCUS missionaries are highly trained in all the levels of Campus Ministry.  That's why we brought the on board -- they center their energies on bringing the message of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Faith to all students they encounter at PennWest-Edinboro, with the goal that those they encounter will become active disciples of the Lord Jesus.

On the parish level, our missionaries help teach middle school faith formation classes at Our Lady of the Lake on Wednesday evenings, as well as provide several hours of volunteerism at Thrifty Threads Store, which is operated by our parish.  Parishioners will often see them at daily Mass and devotions throughout the week.

HOW WILL OLOL PARISH PAY THE FOCUS FEE FOR THIS YEAR?

We plan on paying the 2025-26 parish fees by dividing up our total cost of $70,000 in order to help stretch what remains of the Campus Ministry Fund.  Our funding sources include:

• A contribution from Thrifty Threads Store (a ministry of Our Lady of the Lake Parish dedicated to supporting Catholic efforts to care for needy individuals and Catholic / Local charities
• A contribution from the Diocese of Erie (provided through the annual Catholic Services Appeal)
• A contribution from the existing Campus Ministry Fund
• A contribution from Our Lady of the Lake Parish budget
• A contribution from parishioners, alumni of Edinboro University / PennWest-Edinboro and many friends like you through #iGiveCatholic.

WHAT IS THE #iGive Catholic FINANCIAL GOAL FOR THIS YEAR?

We are asking for $25,000.  A third of the annual parish fee.  We want to offer you the opportunity to be a part of the mission to form strong Catholic young adults.   Will you be a part of our missionary opportunity?