Although the Catholic presence in the community reaches back to the
1850s, the first St. Mary of the Lake dates to 1935. Originally located at
the junction of County Road 15 and 73, it was dedicated on September 8, 1935.
By the mid-1950s, with the rapid, post-war growth of the western suburbs, a
larger church was needed. Between 1961 and 1964, a church, school, rectory,
and convent were built at the present location, just a few blocks southwest
of the original church site. The parish school, staffed by the School Sisters
of Notre Dame, operated until 1968. In 1997, the interior of the church was
refurbished, adding stained glass windows and air conditioning
Today, St. Mary of the Lake has 950 registered families, 2,184 parishioners
from many different school districts and neighborhoods.
