Beginning Monday, Nov. 2, Our Lady of the Lake University will implement a swipe-in system to better monitor weight room usage. All students, faculty, and staff must bring a valid OLLU ID to access the facility.
Weight room hours are Monday–Thursday, 6 a.m.–10 p.m.; Friday, 6 a.m.–8 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Remember to bring your OLLU ID and plan your workouts accordingly. Go Saints!
Blanchard, Oklahoma- The Our Lady of the Lake University women’s golf team was led by Claudia Hidalgo, who finished tied for fifth place at 16-over-par. Hidalgo delivered the Saints’ top individual result, competing against a field of collegiate golfers and securing a top-five finish.
Samantha Garcia followed with an 11th-place finish at 22-over-par, providing another strong result for OLLU. Grayson Weiler placed 13th at 25-over-par, while Jordan Hernandez finished tied for 21st at 37-over-par. Micah Guy rounded out the Saints’ competitors with a 31st-place finish at 51-over-par. Karla Gonzalez also competed as an individual for OLLU but did not record a final score.
Hidalgo’s top-five performance highlighted the Saints’ individual results, while Garcia and Weiler added finishes inside the top 15. The team’s performance provided valuable experience and opportunities to continue developing consistency across the lineup as the season progresses.
Forth Worth, Texas- The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) men’s and women’s cross country teams competed at the DBU Old Glory Gallop on October 17 at AP Ranch in Fort Worth, Texas. The meet featured a competitive field of collegiate programs, with the Saints gaining valuable experience in the men’s 8,000-meter race and women’s 5,000-meter race. The highlight of the competition came from Isai Moran, who set a new OLLU school record in the men’s 8K.
Moran led the Saints with a time of 23:47.0, finishing 12th overall and establishing a new school benchmark in the event. His performance placed him among the leading runners in the field and marked a significant achievement for the OLLU cross country program. Joseph Lopez was the team’s second finisher, placing 32nd overall in 24:29.2.
The men finished 21st in the team standings with 510 points and a combined time of 2:06:23, averaging 25:16 per runner. Joey Poblano finished in 25:43.9, followed by Joseph Gonzalez in 25:55.4 and Luke Adams in 26:28.2 to complete the team’s five scoring positions. Jose Perez also competed for the Saints, finishing in 27:15.9.
On the women’s side, OLLU placed 36th in the 5K team standings with 1,099 points and a combined time of 1:48:56. The Saints averaged 21:47 per runner across their five scoring finishers.
Serenity Williams led the women’s team, finishing in 20:13.1. Jocelynn Reyes followed with a time of 21:40.2, while Claudia Lopez crossed the finish line in 22:00.4. Norma Ramos recorded a time of 22:12.9, and Evee Rodriguez completed the team’s scoring lineup in 22:50.1.
West Texas A&M claimed the men’s team title with 27 points and a combined time of 1:57:01. In the women’s competition, West Texas A&M also secured first place, scoring 80 points with a combined time of 1:26:36. East Central finished second in the women’s standings, followed by Dallas Baptist in third.
The DBU Old Glory Gallop provided both OLLU squads with another opportunity to measure their progress against a large and competitive field. Moran’s school-record performance stood out as a major accomplishment for the men’s program, while the women continued to build experience and work toward their season goals.
Official meet results are available through TFRRS at https://www.tfrrs.org/results/xc/27617/DBU_Old_Glory_Gallop.
San Antonio, Texas- The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) women’s soccer team earned a 3-1 victory over Texas A&M University-San Antonio on October 17 in San Antonio, delivering a strong offensive performance highlighted by three first-half goals. The Saints controlled much of the match, finishing with 31 shots, including 19 on goal, while limiting the Jaguars to six shots and four on target.
OLLU opened the scoring in the eighth minute when Miya Haehnel found the back of the net off an assist from Deserie Herrera at 8:19. The Saints continued to apply pressure, doubling their lead in the 18th minute as Alexzia Gamez scored an unassisted goal at 17:49.
The Saints added a third goal just before halftime. Hannah Brookfield converted a scoring opportunity at 44:02, assisted by Eleonora Diversi, giving OLLU a commanding 3-0 advantage heading into the break.
Texas A&M-San Antonio responded in the second half, with Heidi Berchelmann scoring at 80:13 off an assist from Kaylee Haskins. However, the Jaguars were unable to overcome the deficit as OLLU maintained its two-goal advantage through the final whistle.
OLLU’s offensive production was evident throughout the match. Diversi led the Saints with six shots, including two on goal, while Herrera also recorded six shots and three on target. Monica Sanchez added four shots, all on goal, and Angela Garcia registered three shots, including two on target. Haehnel, Gamez and Brookfield each contributed a goal to the Saints’ three-goal effort.
Defensively, goalkeeper Carola Verano played all 90 minutes, recording three saves while allowing one goal. The Saints also generated eight corner kicks and committed eight fouls during the contest.
Texas A&M-San Antonio goalkeeper Isabella Villarreal recorded 16 saves as she faced sustained pressure from the OLLU attack. The Jaguars managed six shots and six corner kicks but were unable to generate enough offense to challenge the Saints’ lead.
The victory showcased OLLU’s attacking depth and ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities early in the match. By building a three-goal cushion in the first half and maintaining control after the break, the Saints secured a 3-1 road-area victory over their San Antonio opponent.
Costumes, candy and colorful displays mark the arrival of Halloween and Día de los Muertos. Behind these familiar traditions are connections to Catholic faith, remembrance and hope—offering the OLLU community opportunities to celebrate while reflecting on those who have gone before us.
Halloween, celebrated Oct. 31, takes its name from “All Hallows’ Eve,” the evening before All Saints’ Day. “Hallows” refers to holy people, or saints. On Nov. 1, the Church honors the saints in heaven; on Nov. 2, All Souls’ Day, Catholics pray for the faithful departed. Together, these days invite reflection on lives of holiness, our own mortality and the promise of eternal life.
According to Vatican News, Halloween customs such as dressing in costumes can be enjoyed in a Catholic spirit. The article cites Bishop David Konderla of Tulsa, who encourages Catholics to preserve the celebration’s connection to All Saints’ Day and avoid practices contrary to their faith. Participating in seasonal fun can coexist with prayer and reflection on the example of the saints.
Día de los Muertos, generally observed Nov. 1–2, also brings families together to remember the deceased. Although it is a cultural observance rather than an official Catholic feast, many Catholics celebrate through cemetery visits, shared meals and home prayer altars displaying photographs of loved ones.
Writing for Catholic Answers, Father Charles Grondin explains that these traditions can express the Communion of Saints: the spiritual connection among the faithful on earth and those who have died. Catholics may participate, he writes, provided the celebration’s elements remain consistent with Catholic belief. Remembering loved ones and praying for them can give the observances a meaningful expression of faith.
For OLLU, where Catholic identity and Hispanic heritage are central to university life, this season offers an invitation to bring faith and culture together. Enjoying a costume celebration, sharing family stories, remembering a loved one or offering a prayer can each create space for connection. Celebrated thoughtfully, both holidays can encourage gratitude for the lives that have shaped us and reflection on how we live today.
See What’s Happening on Campus for activities that celebrate and remember Halloween, All Souls Day and Dia de Los Muertos.
What does your department wish everyone at OLLU knew? Whether it’s how to navigate a process, find the right resource or connect with your team, a short conversation can make a difference.
The OLLU Staff Assembly is launching “Pláticas: 15-Minute Virtual Lunch & Learn,” a new initiative designed to keep our University community connected, informed and ready to help—and your department is invited to participate.
Starting soon, these short, focused virtual sessions will be featured weekly in Lake Weekly. Each Plática will offer a brief update or demonstration from an OLLU department or office, giving colleagues an opportunity to learn about campus resources, procedures and the people behind them.
You don’t need a big announcement to host a Plática. Think about the questions your team answers most often or a tip that could make a colleague’s day easier. Possible topics include:
By sharing your expertise, you can help colleagues work more confidently, strengthen campus connections and better support our students.
Email Staff Assembly at SAC@ollusa.edu with:
Bring your ideas, introduce your team and help turn 15 minutes into a stronger campus connection.
Hosted by the OLLU Staff Assembly’s Staff Development and Customer Service Committee.
Students and faculty from Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) participated in the 54th Annual Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) Conference, held Oct. 16–19 in San Antonio. The conference brought together educators, researchers, administrators, and future teachers to celebrate and advocate for bilingual education.
OLLU’s involvement included Dr. Kennedy serving on the TABE Volunteer Committee and BESO students volunteering, attending educational sessions, and networking with bilingual education professionals from across Texas.
A major highlight was “Somos BESO: Conectando Generaciones,” a networking event connecting undergraduate students, BESO alumni, and bilingual educators, including BESO founder Dr. Ellen Riojas Clark. Participants discussed leadership, cultural and linguistic identity, advocacy, and the future of bilingual education.
The conference concluded with the BESO Post-Conference Leadership Institute on Oct. 19, where students from universities across Texas participated in leadership development, collaborative activities, and discussions on strengthening BESO chapters and advocating for bilingual education.
OLLU’s participation reflects its continued commitment to preparing future educators and supporting bilingual education leadership and advocacy across Texas.
An extra hour is on the calendar for the OLLU community. Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2 a.m., when clocks move back one hour to 1 a.m., marking the return to Central Standard Time.
Before heading to bed on Saturday, Oct. 31, remember to set manual clocks back one hour. Many smartphones and internet-connected devices adjust automatically, but check their settings to ensure your Sunday schedule stays on track.
The shift to standard time in autumn gives you an extra hour of sleep but leads to much earlier sunsets, which can trigger seasonal sluggishness or mood drops.
To ease the transition, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends allowing at least seven hours of sleep each night for adults and gradually adjusting sleep schedules before the change. Keeping consistent bedtimes and wake-up times can also help your body settle into the new schedule.
Other tips for the “fall back” transition of darker evenings include:
So, fall back, Saints! Set those clocks, enjoy the extra hour and head into November ready to shine—even when the sun clocks out early.
Did you know OLLU’s yearbook was titled The Margil? Nearly a century later, its namesake’s connection to the university lives on through art, historical collections, and a tradition of honoring San Antonio’s mission heritage.
Venerable Antonio Margil de Jesús (1657–1726), a Spanish Franciscan priest, founded Mission San José in 1720. Often called the “Father of the Texas Missions” and the “Patron Saint of Texas,” he referred to himself with remarkable humility as “La Misma Nada,” or “Nothingness Itself.” Although popularly associated with the patron saint title, his formal designation is Venerable.
OLLU’s Special Collections holds a portrait of Father Margil painted around 1770 by Nicolás Enríquez. The university loaned the painting to the San Antonio Museum of Art for its exhibition Fray Antonio Margil de Jesús: The “Patron Saint of Texas,” which ran from October 2013 through March 2014.
The university’s connection also includes La Semana de las Misiones, an annual celebration first held on Aug. 6, 1978, the anniversary of Margil’s death. The inaugural celebration was a collaboration between the Old Spanish Missions of the Archdiocese of San Antonio and OLLU’s former Institute for Intercultural Studies and Research.
Today, OLLU helps preserve access to mission history as steward of the Old Spanish Missions Historical Research Library collection. Original documents remain in convent archives in Zacatecas and Querétaro, Mexico. In the 1970s, Father Benedict Leutennegger, OFM, Father Marion Habig, OFM, and Sister Maria Carolina Flores, CDP, helped make those records accessible through photography and microfilm. A $350,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant will support the Sueltenfuss Library’s preservation of mission records and related collections beginning in January 2027, making high-resolution images searchable online with tools to help researchers worldwide transcribe and translate the documents.
Together with books and documents in OLLU’s Texana and Spanish Colonial collections, these resources connect the university community with Father Margil’s legacy and the history of the region.
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has been ranked No. 5 in Texas for its Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) master’s program by MastersInCounseling.org in its Best MFT Master’s Programs in Texas for 2027 guide. This marks the second time in five years that OLLU has earned this distinction.
The ranking recognizes OLLU’s Master of Science in Psychology with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. Of the 13 Texas institutions included in the guide, OLLU is one of only five whose programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), the gold standard for MFT program accreditation.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our faculty and our commitment to preparing professionals who serve with both clinical skill and compassion,” said OLLU President Abel A. Chávez, MBA, Ph.D. “Our students learn to recognize the strengths within individuals and families and to respect the cultures and experiences that shape their lives. They carry that preparation into communities where their work can strengthen relationships, support healing and make a lasting difference.”
OLLU’s 60-credit-hour program emphasizes cultural and linguistic competence, ethical practice, and strengths-based psychotherapy. Students gain practical experience through supervised clinical training at OLLU’s Community Counseling Service and approved community sites.
While classes at the main San Antonio campus are held in the evenings Monday through Thursday, classes in Houston follow a cohort model, with most meetings held on alternating Saturdays. These flexible structures appeal to working adults. The COAMFTE-accredited specialization provides a foundation for pursuing licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas.
The program also offers training opportunities at satellite locations, including Houston and the Rio Grande Valley, as well as a certificate that supports students who speak Spanish and serve Spanish-speaking populations.
The program has a 100% graduation rate, with more than 90% of graduates achieving licensure and employment. Graduates work in private practice, nonprofits, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and other community settings.
For more information, visit OLLU’s Marriage and Family Therapy program page.
