Language: English
Staff Contact: Gabriel Mayhugh

The parish book club meets seasonally to discuss a pre-selected book in light of our faith journey. New members are always welcome.

Language: Spanish
Staff Contact: Sr. Mayra Jimenez

Cristoforo means "Bearer of Christ." This is a leadership training program based on Christian values, aimed at helping people discover their potential and lead with purpose and service. Its mission is to train people to serve their community in a positive way, promote constructive actions, and transform their environment with Christian values, helping them develop their personal skills.

Language: Spanish
Staff Contact: Sr. Mayra Jimenez

Be merciful as your Father is merciful. The devotional group “Divine Mercy” aims to learn about and reflect on the Church's teaching on God's love, forgiveness, and tenderness, manifested in His mercy, sharing this teaching with the community and living it in their daily lives through monthly formation, praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, promoting the Holy Hour, and celebrating the Feast of Divine Mercy that the Lord has requested to manifest his love and forgiveness to the whole world.

Meeting: Every third Saturday of the month, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Bishop Hayes Room.

Holy Hour of Divine Mercy: Fourth Thursday of the month in the church

Language: Bilingual
Staff Contact: Geoff Pautsch

The parish endowment committee oversees the parish endowment and use of it's funds. Membership is open by application.

Language: Bilingual
Staff Contact: Geoff Pautsch

The parish finance committee oversees the parish finances and provides suggestions to the pastor in the implementation of parish finances. Membership is open by application.

Language: Spanish
Staff Contact: Sr. Mayra Jimenez

The Parents' Group is a place for mothers and fathers to meet and support each other in the light of faith as they go about their family life. Through dialogue, reflection, and formation, they seek to improve communication at home and grow together in their mission to educate and guide their children with love, responsibility, and faith, strengthening their homes with the values of the Gospel and the love of God.

Meeting: Mondays 7:00 pm Parish Hall

Language: Spanish
Staff Contact: Sr. Mayra Jimenez

This is a devotional group that meets for the purpose of deepening their love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe, mother and patroness of America, and living their faith in a communal and active way. Organizing devotional acts such as rosaries, novenas, and the feast of the Blessed Virgin of Guadalupe in order to bring the community closer to God through these exercises of piety.

Meeting: Second Wednesday of the month 7:00pm Bishop Conway room

Language: Spanish
Staff Contact: Sr. Mayra Jimenez

The Señor de Esquipulas and Jesús Nazareno Devotional Group is a community of faith dedicated to promoting love and devotion to Jesus Christ, inspired especially by the invocations of Jesús Nazareno and Cristo de Esquipulas. Its mission is to strengthen the spiritual life of the community through prayer and expressions of piety, whose main purpose is to bring about greater union with God, thus fostering Christian unity and participation.

Meeting: First Wednesday of the month 7:00pm Bishop Conway room

Language: Spanish/Bilingual
Staff Contact: Amy Sotamba

Iskali forms, empowers and equips hispanic young adults to become transformative leaders. This community provides formation, prayer and sense of belonging for ALL young adults. This community's intention is to help all community members to feel seen, heard and accompanied in their faith. Each week we learn something new about our faith and each other!

All are welcome to join us on Tuesdays at 7:00pm, no registration is necessary.

Language: Spanish
Staff Contact: Sr. Mayra Jimenez

Christian Life Marriage Workshops is a Church movement led by parents, whose mission is to evangelize and strengthen families in the light of the Gospel. In the community of Saint Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes, we started our group on March 10, 2024, with a commitment to accompany and form Christ-centered families. Although it began as a movement for married couples, it is open to married couples, parents, single mothers, divorced or separated individuals who wish to grow in their spiritual life and strengthen their family vocation through faith. Through formative and experiential encounters, we accompany people to deepen their relationship with God, strengthen their family relationships, and live the values of an authentic Christian life. We offer retreats twice a year. We provide spiritual formation and ongoing accompaniment. We encourage prayer, family commitment, and growth in community. We encourage each member to be a living witness of Christ in their home and environment.

How can you participate?

To become a member of Jornadas Matrimoniales, you must attend the Jornadas Retreat, which is held twice a year:

• Memorial Day weekend (May)

• Labor Day weekend (September)

After the retreat, participants can formally join the movement and continue their process of spiritual growth within the community.

Language: English
Staff Contact: Gabriel Mayhugh

The Knights of Columbus are a group of men in the parish who join together and perform acts of service in support of our pastor, our parish, and our surrounding community. Typical Knights activities include providing “muscle” to help with parish events, such as the International Food Festival, assisting in parish activities and running our annual Tootsie Roll drive to support people with Intellectual Disabilities.

Why consider joining the Knights?

• Be of service

• Join in the fellowship with other men in the commuity

• Build your faith

What is the commitment?

• We ask only that men try to participate in a couple of events each year.  It could be as simple as handing our carnations to women of the parish on Mothers Day.

Spouses and children are welcome to participate in any of our programs.

Language: Bilingual
Staff Contact: Gabriel Mayhugh

Saint Mary of the Lake and Our Lady of Lourdes Laundry Ministry is a response to the corporal work of mercy “clothing the naked.” Each week we provide the loving act of washing the clothing for homeless LGBTQ+ youth serviced by the Center on Halsted, qualified seniors living at Town Hall Apartments and the homeless living on the street. Over the years we have provided additional services to these friends as needed. We meet the second and fourth Tuesday at 3:00 PM at the parish office. It takes approximately three hours to pick up the laundry, wash it and return it.

Various Locations on Tuesdays at 3:00pm

Language: Spanish
Staff Contact: Fr. Jesus Romero

The Legion of Mary group is an Apostolic Organization of active lay people. We focus primarily on the Spiritual Works of Mercy, which include visiting the sick, praying for them, visiting families with the statue of the Pilgrim Virgin Mary, sharing Catholic literature, teaching how to pray the Rosary, accompanying people at funerals, and leading novenas for the deceased. During our meeting, we pray the Rosary, share testimonies, and study the Legionary Manual.

Meetings: Tuesdays from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.

Language: Bilingual
Staff Contact: Michael Ruzicki

Our parish’s LGBTQ+ Ministry provides an opportunity to celebrate that all of God’s children have been created in the image and likeness of God. Recognizing that we all strive to live holy and faith-filled lives, the members of this group commit themselves to supporting each other as companions on each other’s spiritual journey. Our LGBTQ+ Ministry Gatherings bring together parishioners and friends for prayer, faith sharing, fellowship, and service.

Language: Bilingual
Staff Contact: Fr. Sergio Rivas

The Parish Pastoral Council serves as a visionary and consultative body that assists the Pastor in fostering the spiritual life and strategic direction of the community. Membership is open by invitation of the pastor and application.

Language: English
Staff Contact: Gabriel Mayhugh

Sant’Egidio is a Christian community born in 1968, after the second Vatican Council. It has become a network of communities in more than 70 countries of the world. The Community pays attention to the periphery and peripheral people, gathering men and women of all ages and conditions, united by a fraternal tie through the listening of the Gospel and the voluntary and free commitment for the poor and peace.

Prayer, poor, and peace are its fundamental points of reference.

Pray with the community of Sant’Egidio: We invite you to join in a commitment to those in the periphery through weekly communal prayer. Praying for the poor, peace and the sick. All of us, no matter how young, old, poor, or busy, have the ability to touch the lives of others through prayer. Prayer is in the church on Mondays at 7:00pm. The first Monday of the month is dedicated to praying for peace.

Serve with the community of Sant’Egidio: On Sundays, members of Sant’Egidio, following the example of the Good Samaritan, visit the homeless and migrants in the streets. While offering food, warm drinks, and items to meet basic needs, the most important element is an openness and desire for relationship and friendship. These are exceptional in the rush of the city, which often erases the most vulnerable, and are concrete signs of a coexistence of solidarity. To help, meet in the parish office on Sundays at 11:30am, following the 10:30am Mass.

Language: Spanish
Staff Contact: Sr. Mayra Jimenez

The Followers of Christ Group is a faith community dedicated to evangelization through the representation of scenes from the life of Jesus, using art and theater as means to proclaim the Gospel. It is founded on the Word of God, which guides its mission and strengthens its spirituality, promoting fraternal life and service by helping others to integrate into the parish community.

Meeting: Second and fourth Friday of month 7:00 pm Parish Hall

Language: Bilingual
Staff Contact: Gabriel Mayhugh

Click here for more Soup Kitchen Information

The soup kitchen at Saint Mary of the Lake offers a powerful opportunity to provide direct, compassionate relief to neighbors facing food insecurity. By volunteering for a Wednesday evening shift, you can play an essential role in maintaining an "open door" environment where everyone is welcomed with dignity and a hot, nutritious meal. The Soup Kitchen Hospitality Volunteers are responsible for the set-up and clean-up of the event, as well as interacting with the guests and serving food. Share in hospitality and conversation and serve as a welcoming face of our parish.

Volunteers are needed on Wednesdays from 5:00pm - 7:30pm.
Sign Up Here

Language: Bilingual
Staff Contact: Gabriel Mayhugh

Click here for more Sack Meal Information

The Sack Meal Program offers a simple yet profound way to make a direct impact on the lives of neighbors facing food insecurity. By preparing just a few portable meals, you provide essential support to guests who rely on these to-go options following the Wednesday evening soup kitchen. Whether you are a busy professional, a student, or a family looking for a meaningful service project, this program allows you to contribute from the comfort of your own kitchen.

Sack meals are to be dropped off on Wednesdays, between 9:00am and 5:30pm at the parish office reception desk. 

We ask that you prepare at least 5 sack meals.

Each sack meal should contain:

• 2 lunchmeat sandwiches with no condiments, cheese is optional but a nice addition

• 2 pieces of string cheese

• 1 bag of chips (or similar)

• 1 piece of soft fruit (for example, orange, banana, grapes)

• Dessert (cookies or candy bar)

• Beverage (juice box, can of soda, or 8oz water bottle/sports drink)

• Napkin

Please pack each meal in a gallon-sized plastic bag (like Ziplocs). Or use a plastic grocery bag.

Sign Up Here

Lanugage: English
Staff Contact: Bernadette Garza

Saint Mary of the Lake Young Adults is a welcoming community for adults in their 20s and 30s who want to build genuine friendships rooted in faith. Through prayer and faith-building opportunities, social events that strengthen joyful connection, and service to our neighbors, we strive to be active apostles within our parish walls and beyond. Whether you’re new to the parish, returning to the Church, or simply looking for a place to build community, you belong here! We can’t wait to meet you!

Click here to learn more about upcoming young adult happenings.

Are you looking for Hispanic young adults? Visit Iskali on this page.

Language: English
Staff Contact: Sr. Claudia Sanchez

The Saint Mary’s Youth Group is a space created for young people ages 13 to 17, where they can come together to connect, share, reflect, and grow in faith.

Through engaging activities, games, friendship, and moments of prayer, teens discover that faith is lived in community and that the Church is a place where they are welcomed, heard, and valued. All gatherings take place in a safe, healthy, and respectful environment that supports both personal and spiritual growth.

Here, teens are encouraged to ask questions, deepen their relationship with God, and build meaningful friendships, while learning to live their faith with joy and commitment.

“Catholic teen groups help young people discover that they do not walk alone, but are accompanied by Christ and a community that encourages them to live their faith with joy.”

— Inspired by the Church’s magisterium and Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Christus Vivit

Teens are accompanied by a group of young leaders who live their faith and generously dedicate their time to walking alongside them, fostering a joyful faith-filled community.

Meetings: Every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. on the third floor of the parish school.

Language: Bilingual
Staff Contact: Sr. Claudia Sanchez:

Learn More Here