Our Lady of the Lake - Branson, Mo.

(Observer photos/Sharon Boehlefeld)

Destination: If you have never been to Branson, Mo., or simply have never been to Our Lady of the Lake Parish for Mass, it’s well worth adding to your trip itinerary.
Masses  are Saturdays at 5 p.m. in English and 7 p.m. in Spanish; Sundays at 8 and 10:30 a.m.; Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m.; Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.; First Fridays at 10 a.m. and First Saturdays at 9 a.m.
Why to go: The parish website explains: “We are about 5 percent Catholic across southern Missouri, with 550 active families, and routinely welcome 2,500 to 3,000 ‘Parishioners-For-A-Day’ to the Lord’s eucharistic table each weekend. Our ‘Parishioners-For-A-Day” join us at daily Mass and eucharistic adoration in our Blessed Mother Teresa Chapel.”
Photos - Above: The exterior of the church from the overflow parking lot across the street.
Left: The interior of the church showing the altar along the right wall.
Right: The tabernacle is next to a small area for quiet prayer.
In a community dedicated to tourism and entertainment, it will be no surpise that the music at this parish is a bit better than average for the size of the parish.
A parish of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Our Lady of the Lake has grown from holding “sporadic summer time Masses for visiting fishermen and campers, to a bustling family of Catholic Christians who welcome several thousand visitors every weekend,” according to the diocesan website.
The Catholic faith, it continues, was planted in Taney County, Mo., in 1915. The parish was dedicated in 1936 by Msgr. James J. McCaffrey. Its first home was a stone structure vacated by Farmers Bank. But the burgeoning tourist base of the local economy led to a need for a much larger church. A new church was dedicated in 1971 by Bishop William Baum. Still, as tourism continued to grow, the building grew too small.
In 1993, Msgr. Philip A. Bucher envisioned a church that would serve the parish’s unique needs for many years to come.
Today, that chuch welcomes 150,000 “part-time parishioners” to its three weekend Masses over the course of the year.
Events: As an active parish, expect the usual kinds of events during your visit. Check the bulletin at the parish website for details.
(Grand) Kid friendly: Of course.
Info: Address — Our Lady of the Lake Parish, 203 Vaughn Dr., Branson, MO 65616-2542
Phone — 417/334-2928
Website — http://www.ladyofthelakeparish.org/

— Sharon Boehlefeld compiled this story.
Send Destinations ideas to seasonedobserver@rockforddiocese.org