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St. Mary of the Lakes is a Roman Catholic parish in Medford, NJ, within the Diocese of Trenton, committed to our mission statement: "We Make Missionary Disciples." Our parish is faithfully served by our eighth pastor, Very Rev. Daniel F. Swift, our parochial vicar, Rev. Roy Ballacillo, Deacon Richard Lutomski, and many, many “missionary disciples.” Founded in 1931 and formally established as a parish in 1943, St. Mary of the Lakes has grown throughout its history as a vibrant Catholic community, now including 4,000 families with 450 children in our Parish Religious Education Program and 375 students enrolled in St. Mary of the Lakes School. As Bishop O’Connell said on the occasion of St. Mary of the Lakes’ 75th anniversary, ours "is a long and marvelous history of handing on the Catholic faith through St. Mary of the Lakes’ wonderful school and vibrant religious education programs which, in turn, have inspired and strengthened the families of the parish to bond together in ongoing mutual support and charity for the building of the Kingdom of God in the Diocese of Trenton." Our parish hosts over 70 ministries, including the Knights of Columbus Council 6520, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Youth Energized in the Spirit, various small groups, and many more.
St. Mary of the Lakes School provides quality Catholic education to students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. The school follows a rigorous academic curriculum, emphasizing the importance of faith and virtue. Its faculty and staff are dedicated to the growth and development of each student, both academically and spiritually. The parish and school are deeply intertwined and work together to create a supportive, faith-filled, Catholic community for our students and parishioners.
St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church and School is proud to serve the greater Medford community and provide a strong foundation for those seeking Truth, community, and love.