Lake Michigan Catholic to Become Our Lady of the Lake

A new era for Lake Michigan Catholic Schools began yesterday with the announcement that LMC is becoming Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School. The new name reflects the school’s renewed focus on education, faith and citizenship, a charge led by Canonical Pastor Fr. John D. Fleckenstein.

“Our school started with the goal of giving children a good education and good moral training,” says Fr. Fleckenstein. “We want them to be good citizens and build their lives on a foundation of the Catholic faith. While we call this a ‘new era,’ it is in many ways a return to our roots.”

Those roots include fostering a stronger Catholic culture, with faith infused in every classroom and more time dedicated to communal prayer. A yearly service requirement will give students the opportunity to turn their faith into action, emphasizing the importance of servant leadership in the community.

“We aren’t just teaching our students the principles of Catholicism,” says Fr. Fleckenstein. “We are instilling in them a desire to reflect Jesus to those around them. We want our students to be the ones who change the world for the better.”

While LMC’s commitment to academic excellence is well established, Fr. Fleckenstein plans to lead an in-depth examination of the curriculum, as compared to the top Catholic schools in the United States. He also plans to seek National Blue Ribbon status from the U.S. Department of Education and explore more prestigious accreditations that will elevate the student experience. These efforts and many more are supported by a $250,000 gift from a private donor.

“This is an important moment in the rich history of Catholic education in St. Joseph – the very place where hundreds of years ago French missionaries arrived to spread the Catholic faith,” says Bishop Paul J. Bradley. “I am confident this new direction will propel the school into the future as it continues to exemplify the three pillars of the mission incorporated into the new logo: education, faith and citizenship – with our faith rightly at the center of all we do.”

Fr. Fleckenstein and the second grade students

Fr. Fleckenstein and the second grade students

Berrien County’s first Catholic school was built in 1869. By 1945, the area had two Catholic schools: “The Ponies” of St. Joseph’s and “The Irish” of St. John’s. The two schools merged in 1969 and were renamed Lake Michigan Catholic Schools, with a new mascot: the Lakers. LMC will maintain its identity as the Lakers, along with its existing school colors, when it becomes Our Lady of the Lake.

“‘Our Lady’ is a tribute to the Blessed Mother, while ‘of the Lake’ is a nod to Lake Michigan and a promise that we are ‘Lakers Forever,’” explains Fr. Fleckenstein. ‘Catholic School’ is an acknowledgment that we are grounded in our Catholic faith, and that we are one united school with two campuses.”

The new name will be fully in effect for the 2022-23 school year. The next few months will be a transition period.

	Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School Downtown Campus Grades 6th - 12th Grade 915 Pleasant Street St. Joseph, MI 49085 Phone: 269-983-2511 Fax: 269-983-0883		Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School South Campus Grades PS - 5th Grade 3165 Washington Avenue St. Joseph, MI 49085 Phone: 269-429-0227 Fax: 269-429-1461		"Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, rooted in Sacred Scripture and centered on the Eucharist, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School embraces the values of Education, Faith and Citizenship.”
	Diocese of Kalamazoo Policy on Non-Discrimination The Schools of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the schools. The Schools of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kalamazoo do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of education policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school administered programs and activities, employment policies or contractual agreements.