The history of Our Lady of the Mountains goes back more than 50 years when a few Catholic souls arrived in Highlands, North Carolina. In these early days after the Second World War, travel and roads were a little more arduous than we experience today. The priest had to drive from Waynesville in order to offer the Mass every other week to the four year-round Catholic living in Highlands. Those names may still be familiar to some of the current residents: Bessie Crunkelton, Mrs. Schiffli, Miss Dyth Quinn and the Forest Ranger, Mr. Peterson.

   The then bishop, the Most Reverend Vincent W. Waters, Bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh, made the decision to purchase land for a church in Highlands. In 1950, the physical church became a reality.  Before construction of the church, Mass was held at the Little Playhouse Theater. The Reverend Charles J. O'Connor served the church here in Highlands as Pastor from 1950 until 1954.

   After the Reverend O'Connor's term of service, other diocesan priests served the little church in Highlands.  The Reverend Vincent Erb is remembered for his work during the period 1954-1960, aided by the Reverend John O'Brien during the last two years. The Reverend Henry Becker followed them from 1960-1963. It was during the pastorate of the Reverend Charles Mulholland, 1963-1965, that the little parish had grown so much that an addition was made to the church and the hall. Later, during the pastorate of Father Edward Sheridan, there were more improvements to the building. Father Sheridan was also very instrumental in the construction of the Parish of Saint Jude in Sapphire Valley, a  village some 13 miles east of Highlands.

   There continued to be a steady growth of Our Lady of the Mountains for Highlands had long been discovered by Floridians and others who fell in love with these North Carolina mountains. In 1972, the year that the Diocese of Charlotte was formed from the western half of North Carolina, Our Lady of the Mountains became a mission of Saint Francis of Assisi Parish in Franklin, where the Reverend Father Michael  Michael Langell  a Glenmary priest, was assigned to serve both parishes. Father Langell served as priest for ten years until 1982.

   As the church continued to grow, it was returned to the care of the priests of the Diocese of Charlotte in 1982, when the diocesan priest, the Reverend Myles Quail, was assigned to serve as pastor both of Franklin and Highlands. Father Henry Beck took over many of the duties of Our Lady of the Mountains during these years 1982 to 1986. In December of 1986, the Reverend John Hoover became administrator of Our Lady of the Mountains and Saint Jude in Sapphire Valley. He lived in a small apartment adjacent to the church until March 1988 when he was able to move over into a newly constructed rectory.

   By 1988-1989, the year-round and summer attendance at Our Lady of the mountains had increased so that a further expansion was necessary. A fund drive was begun in 1989 to expand both the basement parish hall and the size of the church above that space. Ground was broken for the north wing in the spring of 1989 and completed in late October of that year.

   In 1989, for a short period of time, Father Joseph Ayathuadam served as administrator in Highlands. From 1989 until 1994, Father Frank Connolly served Saint Francis Church in Franklin and he was followed by Father Richard T. McCue. Father Jim Collins was assigned Parochial Vicar in Franklin and worked closely with Father McCue in Highlands at Our Lady of the Mountains. Father Ray Berg aided these priests from 1992 until 1996 in their duties in Highlands. At that time, a pastoral associate, Ms. Diane Small was hired to aid with many of the administrative chores associated with making Our Lady of the Mountains run smoothly.  When Father Ray Berg retired in July of 1996, Our Lady of the Mountains became again under the auspices of Saint Francis Church in Franklin.

   In 1996, Father William M. Evans was assigned as Sacramental minister for Our Lady of the Mountains Church and Saint Jude Church.  Shortly thereafter, Ms. Small resigned and Father Evans became the administrator of Our Lady of the Mountains parish. Since 1996, Our Lady of the Mountains  has been in the midst of another burst of growth, especially with large increases of summer residents.

   With Father Evans retirement in June 2005, Father Tien H. Duong  arrived in Highlands as Pastoral Administrator. With a bright future for Our Lady of the Mountains, the parish is hoping and praying to convince the Bishop of Charlotte to raise it once again to the status of a parish instead of allowing it to remain a mission of Franklin.