Over 180 parishioners crowded into the Parish Activity Center of Lago Vista's St. Mary, Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church on May 28, 2005. They gathered for a covered dish supper to celebrate a Golden Anniversary.

On May 28, 1955, a young Joseph J. Schmitt was ordained into the Catholic priesthood by the Most Reverend Louis J. Reicher, First Bishop of Austin at St. Mary's Cathedral in Austin. He celebrated his First Solemn Mass the next day at St. Louis, King of France Church.
Fast forward fifty years. At a time when most men his age are relaxing in retirement, Monsignor Schmitt is still at work, serving the parishioners of St. Mary's, as he has since he founded it 34 years ago.

Along the way to St. Mary's, he served as Associate Pastor for 15 years at St. Louis Church in Austin, founded and served as Chaplain for two Holy Family guilds and as the Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Castle Club. He worked on a Masters in Education at the University of Texas and became the Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Austin for 24 years. He also served for 18 years as the Chaplain at Seton Medical Center in Austin. It was during his Chaplaincy at Seton Medical Center that he founded St. Mary, Our Lady of the Lake in 1970. The church started at the campgrounds in a humble little building with less than 20 families. Since that time, St. Mary's has enjoyed three major growth periods with a new church, adding an activity center, and later adding on to the current church to make room for the growing parish.

On June 11th, family, parishioners and friends gathered again at St. Mary's for a Mass of Thanksgiving to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Monsignor Schmitt's ordination, followed by a dinner reception at K-Oaks Clubhouse. Accompanied by Most Reverend Gregory Aymond and several priests, Monsignor Schmitt was warmly welcomed by a standing ovation from over 240 people who gathered that evening to honor him and thank him for what he has accomplished over the years. The reception was by reservation only and was completely filled weeks before the event. The evening included a formal meal with a slide presentation focusing on St. Mary's and Monsignor Schmitt's life, speeches from Bishop Gregory Aymond, Monsignor Fred Bomar, Mae Sukup, Carl Crider, Katie Wright, and Rene LeBlanc. This event included a game called "The Monsignor Game" which was filled with humorous answers to questions about the honored guest's life. Unfortunately, no one knew all the answers but everyone had a great laugh. After the speeches and game there was a touching slide presentation on Monsignor Schmitt's vocational history put to the music of "Here I Am Lord". The event concluded with several presentations of gifts including a framed certificate from Pope John Paul II, a beautiful Memory Book containing handwritten cards of appreciation from hundreds of people that he has pastored over the years, messages from the children of St. Mary's and a family vacation gift package.