2021 - Present Fr. Basker Lopez
2017 – 2021 Fr. John Peter Ambrose
2016 – 2017 Fr. Patrick Craig
2014 – 2016 Fr. Daniel Hyman
2010 – 2014 Fr. Craig Lusk
2002 – 2010 Fr. James Morris
1996 – 2002 Fr. Thomas DeVita
1991 – 1996 Fr. Leon Pohl
1986 – 1991 Fr. Stephen Wetmore
1991 – 1986 Fr. Joseph Weller
1974 – 1981 Fr. Howard Murray
1967 – 1974 Fr. Donald Atchison
1962 – 1967 Fr. Amos Wischmeyer
1960 – 1962 Fr. William Limbert
1955 – 1960 Fr. Charles Smith
1947 – 1953 Fr. Gilbert Gruse
1942 – 1947 Fr. Francis Sharpe
1941 – 1942 Fr. George Fitzgerald
1941 - 1941 Fr. Edward Krawczyk
1928 – 1932 Fr. Gerald Owens
(Parish Formed)
1932 – 1941 Fr. Gerald Owens
1922 – 1928 Fr. Louis Hammer
1916 – 1922 Fr. Frank McQuillian
1909 – 1916 Fr. James Welsh
1906 – 1909 Fr. Henry Koenig
1903 – 1906 Fr. John Lynch
1899 – 1903 Fr. Charles Hofsted
1898 – 1899 Fr. John Hewelt
1895 – 1898 Fr. Thomas Lee
1858 – 1895 Fr. Cappon
1850s Fr. Nightingale 

St. Mary of the Lake has a long and rich history and to present (2017) has been served by twenty-nine pastors. The people of New Buffalo financed the building of the original St. Mary’s Church in 1858 at the corner of Whittaker and Buffalo Streets. The church had eight pews and an altar. It was a Mission Church and first served by priests that would come in from Notre Dame and Niles to celebrate Mass. Most notably, Fr. Cappon of Niles and his associate pastors who cared for the church for a total of 37 years until his death in 1896.

In 1891, Fr. Thomas Lee was assigned to St. Mary of the Assumption in Three Oaks, and became the full-time, in-residence pastor there in 1895 with missions in New Buffalo and Dayton. Fr. Lee and the succeeding pastors served New Buffalo faithfully as the area grew.

Fr. Louis Hammer purchased the land on which the present church and rectory stand on June 3, 1926 and on February 8, 1932, St. Mary of the Lake officially became a parish with Fr. Gerald Owens as pastor. Ground for the church was broke in April 1936 and the cornerstone laid in June. The church was opened and dedicated by Bishop Michael Gallagher on September 20, 1936.

The church as it stands today is the result of an extensive renovation done in 2011. This could not have been completed without the leadership of Fr. Thomas DeVita, Fr. James Morris and Fr. Craig Lusk nor without the time, talent and treasure of full-time and part-time parishioners, and our many summer visitors.

The parish grew has grown from seventy-five families in 1936 to over three hundred families at present, not including the many summer residents that attend Mass during the summer months. During the early years priests from Notre Dame University would assist on holy days and holidays. Extra help was needed, because in addition to the Masses at St. Mary’s, there were Masses at the Bridgman Mission and Grand Beach during the summer for vacationers. The summer months still find us at full capacity.

In 1954 more land was purchased on which the school would be built. St. Mary of the Lake School opened on September 8, 1964 with an enrollment of 154 students in grades 1-6. The faculty was comprised of four Sisters of St. Francis from Oldenburg, Indiana. In 2002, under Fr. Thomas DeVita a gymnasium, library and parish activity center were added to the school. 

Over the years many groups and ministries were established. Still in existence today are the Knights of Columbus, the Altar and Rosary Society, the Music Ministry, Religious Education for children, RCIA, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Ushers, and in recent years a Helps group was formed. The Altar and Rosary Society has also offered bible studies, short programs for spiritual growth, and most recently a book club.

In 2016, the Diocese of Kalamazoo established a collaborative model, to better utilize its priests and the resources of its parishes. St. Mary of the Lake, St. Mary of the Assumption (Three Oaks), and St. Agnes (Sawyer) make up our collaborative.