The Catholic Communities of
Schroon Lake and Olmstedville, New York

Our Lady of Lourdes Church and Rectory in Schroon Lake

The Catholic communities of Schroon Lake and Olmstedville are located in Essex County in the scenic Adirondack Mountain region of northern New York.

Our Lady of Lourdes parish is located in Schroon Lake. The parish also includes a chapel in North Hudson dedicated to the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. Map...

St. Joseph's parish is located in the hamlet of Olmstedville in Minerva Township. Also part of the parish is the chapel of St. Mary in nearby Irishtown. Map...

St. Joseph's church and parish house in Olmstedville

History of the Parishes

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish - Schroon Lake

Catholic families first settled in Schroon Lake in 1850. In the early years the community was served by the pastors of churches in Olmstedville, Crown Point, and Port Henry. In 1867 the Catholic community at Schroon Lake became a mission of Olmstedville, and was named Our Lady of Lourdes. By 1879 the mission had grown to twenty-four families, but was still without a church. In that year land was deeded to the Catholic community by Lansford Whitney next to the cemetery on Hoffman Road, and work was begun on a church. The building was completed in 1883.

Our Lady of Lourdes became a parish in 1914 with the appointment of its first resident pastor. Soon the church was moved from its original site to its present location on Main Street in Schroon Lake.

The church was later expanded with the addition of a more spacious sanctuary, and a rectory was built adjacent to the church. Later a parking lot was constructed on the site of the former Methodist church. A parish center was added in 1964, which also served to accommodate the increased number of worshippers during the summer months.

At various times the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes also served missions in Crown Point, Hammondsville, North Hudson, and Blue Ridge. In 1989 the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes also assumed the pastorate of St. Joseph's parish in Olmstedville.

St. Joseph's Parish - Olmstedville

Catholic immigrants from Ireland settled in the area around Olmstedville in the early 1800's. They were first served by priests from Troy, New York, and later from Port Henry and Ticonderoga. The first church for the Catholic community was built in Irishtown in 1847. But within a few years the hamlet of Olmstedville outgrew Irishtown because of its thriving tanning industry, and a larger church was built there in 1871. A resident pastor was assigned to the new church, and it became St. Joseph's parish.

The pastor of St. Joseph's also served missions in Wells, Indian Lake, and Schroon Lake at various times. The parish continued to have a resident pastor until 1989. Since then it has been served by the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Schroon Lake.

St. Mary's Oratory in Irishtown

St. Mary's Oratory in Irishtown was originally connected with St. Joseph's Church in Olmstedville. The Oratory of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary in North Hudson was originally part of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Schroon Lake.

Holy Names of Jesus and Mary Oratory in North Hudson

Pastoral Advisory Councils

The pastor of the parish communities of Olmstedville and Schroon Lake is assisted in carrying out the work of the parishes by Pastoral Advisory Councils in both parishes. The parish councils meet quarterly to discuss the needs and concerns of the parishes.

The St. Joseph's parish council meets on the second Monday of March, June, September, and December. The parish council of Our Lady of Lourdes meets on the following Friday of the same months. The June meeting is a joint session of the two parish councils.