About Us

Our Lady of Consolation

Our Lady of Consolation’s roots date back to 1947. What is today known as OLC was once called Immaculate Heart of Mary. The church was located in Independence Hill and founded by Father Alvin Jasinski. Following the conclusion of World War II, people in the armed forces began returning home and starting families. With only St. Peter and Paul servicing families in the area, another church was needed. While the first building was under construction, parishioners needed a temporary home. On October 5, 1947, the first Mass in Immaculate Heart of Mary’s history was celebrated in the Independence Hill fire station. Just over a month later, Mass was celebrated for the first time in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and within a few weeks, the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony were celebrated.

Growth of the new church continued over the next two decades. Father Leo Armburuster served as the pastor from 1959-63 and it was during this time that fifteen acres of land were purchased on State Route 55, South of US 30, for the future site of a new church. This project would continue into the tenure of Father Herman Schoudel and in 1965, an additional 7 acres of land was purchased and ground was broken in the fall of 1965. At that time there was another church near LaPorte also called Immaculate Heart of Mary, so the church was solemnly dedicated as Our Lady of Consolation. Bishop Francis Noll’s decision for the new name was a reference to a statue at Holy Trinity Church in Gary of Jesus with the title, “Jesus the Consoler.” He felt that Jesus the Consoler should have a Mother of Consolation. In 1988, ground was broken for a Parish Activity Center and a new rectory. The OLC Parish Activity Center cornerstone was blessed and laid by Father Joseph Vamos and Father Louis Wozniak on October 30, 1988. The new parish center was built with a chapel, parish offices, a banquet hall with a fully-equipped kitchen, and six large classrooms. These classrooms have been used for religious education, preschool, OCIA, and small parish meetings. 

St. Stephen Martyr

As the number of Catholic families in the area continued to increase in the 1960’s, the need for another church became apparent. In 1968, Bishop Grutka asked Father Lawrence Heeg to organize what would become St. Stephen Martyr. Ground was broken in May 1969, and just over a year later, the church was completed and then dedicated on the Solemnity of the Assumption, August 15, 1970.  Not only did Father Heeg help start the parish, he would also help create its Men’s and Women’s Clubs as well as the Youth Group. Father Heeg would serve until Father Timothy Doody became pastor in 1976. From 1976-2000, the church had five pastors serve and after the departure of Father David Nowak in 2000, there was no resident pastor for one year. St. Stephen is nestled in the heart of a subdivision and at one point in time it had over 400 families. 

In 2001 St. Stephen Martyr welcomed Merrillville native, Father Michael Maginot. As the resident pastor, Father Maginot  worked to build the family atmosphere that Bishop Grutka envisioned in the 1960’s. The family-like atmosphere could be experienced by all who attended the parish throughout the decades. From the time of its inception, St. Stephen Martyr’s main mission has been focused on family. According to one parishioner, “Everyone supports and helps each other here.” Parishioners may not be blood-related, but there was a strong sense of community and family. St. Stephen's became one four parishes that merged together,  and for a time before the final merge, was known as Holy Martyrs.

St. Joan of Arc

1968 was a busy year for expansion in the Merrillville area. St. Stephen Martyr wasn’t the only church to be added as St. Joan of Arc would come into existence as well. Bishop Grutka stuck with his idea of smaller family-style parishes at the time when he organized St. Joan of Arc. The Diocese owned property on the Northeast corner of 78thAvenue and Broadway. Father Alfred Dettmer was named the first pastor of St. Joan of Arc. This church however took a while to build in many different ways. The new congregation celebrated Mass in a dime store as well as in the public high school auditorium.

Subsequent pastors, Father Michael Kenny and Father Clare Hendricks felt holding Mass in these locations was inappropriate. St. Joan of Arc parishioners would be given permission to celebrate with St. Andrew until a building was created and dedicated for St. Joan of Arc on September 9, 1979. However, while a building existed for St. Joan of Arc, many other necessities inside the church still were not available. There were no pews initially, so church goers would use borrowed chairs and “hand-me-down” furniture and office equipment. Additionally, seamstresses of the parish sewed vestments and altar linen, while other people would paint, install tile, or finish other projects.



Over time and with many fundraisers and donations, the church was able to purchase furnishings as well as pay off its debt. This would not be the last time St. Joan of Arc members would have to rally together to overcome a challenge. In 2005, a fire caused significant damage to the sanctuary. With the help of surrounding parishes, the community came together to rededicate the church on October 5 of that same year.   

In 2022, St. Joan of Arc became one four parishes that merged together, and for a time before the final merge, was known as Holy Martyrs.

The Merrillville Process 

A recurring concept throughout the history of these churches is growth, community, and teamwork with guidance from the Holy Spirit. Every one of the Merrillville parishes started small and became bigger. Some didn’t have everything they needed in the beginning, and all have faced challenges along the way. With patience and teamwork, the seeds that the first pastors and parishioners planted have sprouted, grown, and become the amazing parishes of the Merrillville community that we know and love today.

The parishes in the Diocese of Gary were involved in a process of discernment from March 10, 2021-September 2025. This decision has involved meetings of the clergy and laity from the parishes, with both representative groups and town hall meetings, resulting in recommendations from the bishop. Through this process the decision has been made to combine four parishes into one. Saints Peter & Paul, St. Andrew, and St. Joan of Arc and St. Stephen parishes have merged into one parish, now called Holy Martyrs. The Church at St. Andrews remained open for Mass and to serve Holy Martyrs parishioners and the community. Our Lady of Consolation continued  parish activities as well. The Merrillville Process, which prayerfully discerns with a committee how to best serve the needs of Catholics and those in the community, is conclude with the final merge to bring together Holy Martyrs and Our Lady of Consolation as one new parish, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, with two campuses and Aquinas Catholic Community School.

The campus formerly known as Holy Martyrs or St. Andrew is now referred to as the North Campus. The campus formerly known as Our Lady of Consolation is now referred to as the South Campus effective September 15, 2025.