St Mary Of The Lake

Mounting debt and a shrinking membership delivered Gary's St. Mary of the Lake Church to the brink in 2015 when newly installed Diocese of Gary Bishop Donald J. Hying arrived for a visit. Looking at the downward trend over the past three decades, Hying decided to close the church."We'd fallen into disarray with maintenance, attendance and hope," church council member Jim Wiseman said.Stunned by Hying's announcement, parishioners passionately sought a second chance.It came on Easter Sunday 2015, when Hying gave St. Mary a "year of opportunity," to turn the church around.As they mark Easter on Sunday and the resurrection of Christ, St. Mary of the Lake members can revel in their own comeback."As hard as it was, it was such a blessing," said Josie Werhowatz-Nieman, a lifetime member whose July wedding was in jeopardy in 2015. "We realized we couldn't be stagnant. We had to look at a different way of doing things."Instead of dimming a light, Hying's words lit a candle.Finding its way, St. Mary sent a bolt of needed energy into the Miller community, hardened by shuttered school buildings and decline.Unlike many churches, St. Mary of the Lake, 6060 Miller Ave., offers a distinct midcentury modern look, harkening back to its 1959 roots. Visitors arriving at the front door are greeted by the Virgin Mary, whose toes stand in a sea of bright blue, emblematic of Lake Michigan.Inside, church organist and choir director Jack Denges said workers built the church around its organ's towering pipes that reach 32 feet. Two elderly women parishioners donated money for the organ, he said.Letting go of that legacy became impossible."We knew this was life or death in that moment," Werhowatz-Nieman said of Hying's one-year reprieve.St. Mary had been served by a string of visiting priests before a new pastoral leader came forward. Retired Bishop Emeritus Dale Melczek, 79, offered to serve as St. Mary's pastor."He came in with a lot of energy and a lot of positivity," church council member and parish life director Judith Siroky said. "He's the church o... (Chicago Tribune)

Mary of the Lake, Bishop Emeritus Dale J. Melczek reminded the faithful that even St. Peter, the first pope, denied knowing Jesus three times. Don’t let imperfections discourage you, the bishop counseled.Only a few years ago, the congregation at the Roman Catholic parish in Gary’s Miller neighborhood received discouraging news. Bishop Donald J. Hying, spiritual leader of the Diocese of Gary, told parishioners the parish founded in 1929 faced closing. He challenged them to breathe new life into the church if they wanted to save it.Four years later, St. Mary’s doors remain open. The parish has paid off its debt, Mass attendance is up, and new faces are joining the faith community, as St. Mary of the Lake collaborates with neighboring churches and civic groups.So what’s been the difference? Hying attributed two factors to St. Mary’s success.“The first is Bishop Melczek — his pastoral leadership, zealous evangelization, personable presence and generous service,” Hying said. “The second is the dedication, hard work, love and faith of the people. They have exceeded every expectation I had, in terms of developing a communal and dynamic faith life, volunteering, contributing, evangelizing and sacrificing for the parish.”Scattered throughout the Region are beautiful churches, cathedrals and chapels. Here's 10 that stand out to us. Melczek, starting his fourth year at St. Mary, served as bishop of the Gary Diocese from 1992 until his succession by Hying in January 2015. At an age when other clergy might be taking it easy (he turns 80 this year), Melczek accepted the position at St. Mary and has found a new home and life as a pastor.“Things are going very, very well,” Melczek said. “The people have a lot of joy and enthusiasm. They love this parish, and they love being together, whether it’s in liturgy or singing.”Finding new purposeAmong the new parish’s ministries is a food pantry, done in conjunction with the Northwest Indiana Food Bank, donors and local merchants. Carole Barnes, who with her husband, Rich, co-chairs the pantry, report... (nwitimes.com)