Our Parish mailing address is:
195 Amicks Ferry Road, Chapin SC 29036
(We no longer maintain a PO BOX number for mail to the Parish.)
Sign-up HERE to bring up the Gifts at Mass
Sign-up HERE for all Liturgical Ministries
If you need help please contact the parish office at 803.345.3962
or Fr. Dennis Willey at 843.834.5447.
Dear Friends,
This Sunday is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This is the last Sunday of the Liturgical Calendar. It is also the 34th Week of Ordinary Time. Follow the link to learn more about this Solemnity.
Tomorrow, Thursday, 23 November, is Thanksgiving Day. We will have Daily Mass at 10:00AM. Follow the link to learn how Thanksgiving Day is actually very Catholic in its origin! A blessed Thanksgiving Day to all.
The Parish Offices are closed for Thanksgiving from Noon on Wednesday, 22 November until 9:00AM on Monday, 27 November. There is NO DAILY MASS on Friday, 24 November.
Early giving is now open for #iGiveCatholic! Last year our youth group raised $15,000 to support youth ministry in our parish. This allowed us to help fund taking 35 participants to the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis last week! The event was life changing for many of our teens.
Please consider making your tax deductible donation today! Visit: OLL LifeTeen or scan the QR code in image below!
There are NO Faith Formation Classes or Bible Studies this weekend due to it being Thanksgiving Weekend. Enjoy your time with your families!
Join us for a Musical Revue the day after Thanksgiving! The Our Lady of the Lake Musical Revue will be held in St Andrew Hall on 24 November at 6:30PM. Admission is free. Enjoy a family-friendly program of solo and ensemble performances featuring music from musicals from stage and screen provided by local, talented parishioners.
Many thanks to all who welcomed Fr. Michael Drea, National Chaplain of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) to Our Lady of the Lake this past weekend. He was most grateful.
Our Parish Youth Life Teen Group, Youth Minister, Chaperones and I all had an AMAZING time at the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis. Many thanks to all who supported this trip with your prayers and monetary gifts. This was a life changing spiritual adventure that inspired all who attended to be FULLY ALIVE. Thank you all.
The Knights of Columbus will be on the plaza this weekend with their Keep Christ in Christmas fundraiser. Christmas Wreaths, Christmas Cards, and car magnets will be available for purchase.
WinGs - Women in God's Service, will be on the plaza this weekend to sell the 2023 Christmas Ornament. You can also order an ornament HERE!
The Men's Club invites all families to the Annual Christmas Family Feast, Saturday, 9 December, from 6:00PM to 7:30PM in the Family Life Center. Please bring a dessert if able! To attend, sign up in the Narthex after Masses this weekend. See the FLYER for details.
All ladies of the parish are invited to the Annual Women's Club Christmas Party on Thursday, 14 December at Mid-Carolina Club in Prosperity. See the FLYER for details.
Throughout the month of November we have remembered the Faithful Departed at all of Parish Masses. Envelopes with the names of those inscribed on them have stayed on the altar as a reminder of our loved ones.
This the last weekend for the Giving Tree in the Narthex. All our gift tags were taken. Thank you for your generosity! Please attach the tag securely to wrapped gifts or gift bags and return them by THIS Sunday, 26 November. Thank you for providing Christmas gifts to our less fortunate neighbors.
The 2024 Parish Calendars are in! Please pick one up as you leave Church this Sunday.
!!!ALERT ALERT ALERT!!!
This year Christmas Eve falls on the 4th Sunday of Advent. This doesn't happen often but when it does it makes for a VERY CONFUSING and LONG weekend. We still need to observe our Sunday Mass Obligation AND our Holy Day Obligation by attending BOTH a 4th Sunday of Advent Mass and a Christmas Mass. In order to do this and not exhaust our Priests, Deacons and Liturgical Ministers we will be radically altering the 4th Sunday of Advent Mass times for the weekend of 23/24 December. Our Christmas Mass Schedule will remain the same as in years past for 24 and 25 December. We will be offering TWO VIGIL MASSES on Saturday, 23 December for the 4th Sunday of Advent at 4:00PM and 6:30PM . On the morning of 24 December we will have an 8:00AM Mass and a 10:00AM Traditional Latin Mass for the 4th Sunday of Advent.
You cannot attend one Mass on 24 December and consider it to fulfill both your 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas Mass obligations! There is NO TWO FOR ONE SPECIAL on this weekend!!!
The ADVENT/CHRISTMAS SEASON SCHEDULE is at the end of this letter and can be downloaded HERE!
Pray for peace in the world and for protection from storms and other natural disasters.
Some brief, but important news and reminders:
There is NO 8:00AM or 10:30AM hospitality this week.
One of our parishioners, Stu Silverman, is asking for help. Many of you know his wife, Dona. Stu wrote on his Caring Bridge site: "If you would consider being my living donor, please complete the referral form at musc.co/livingdonorform or contact the MUSC Health Transplant Center at 843-792-5097 for more information. Please share this with others. Thank you.
If you or anyone else has any questions please reach out to me." Stu Silverman.
Peace and all good,
Fr. Dennis
FOUNTAIN CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
Through the generous donation of a donor we continue construction on a fountain in front of the church. Please see PICTURES of our progress to date. This fountain will be a beautiful addition to our campus and will be a focal point for gatherings outside of the church after Masses. As this is a construction site, please be mindful of the barriers and stay out of the construction area for your own safety. Please be watchful of children to protect them from harm. Thank you.
COLUMBARIUM SALES
Our new Columbarium has been installed in the Parish Cemetery. We are working to schedule our first Inurnments! Sales of Niches (each niche holds two urns) continues. See the Sales Brochure for details and to arrange a meeting with Donnie Jameson to purchase a niche or niches!!!
PARISH FINANCIAL UPDATES
We are below expected revenues for this year's budget. Please prayerfully review your giving and consider increasing your gift to help support our many parish programs.
It has come to our attention that some of our donors who give on-line are unaware that their credit cards or bank information has expired and that their gifts are no longer being received by the parish. If you give online, please take a moment to confirm your credit card and banking information is up to date and current. You may also call our bookeeper, Cindy Belter, in the Parish Office to help you update your information. Thank you.
The weekly financial report is available HERE. We remain deeply grateful for your generosity.
Please remember that every gift to the church helps, no matter the amount. We emphasize equal sacrifice - NOT equal giving! We ask that all registered households give what they can to support the ministry of the Church. We are always THANKFUL for your generosity and support!
THANK YOU!!!
Do you give online using your credit card? If so, our vendor now allows you the option to add the processing fee to your gift. Please consider making this change and strengthen the power of your gift.
CHILDREN'S ENVELOPE ARTWORK
NOTES OF IMPORTANCE FROM
THE DIOCESE
Thanksgiving Message from the Bishop
On behalf of Most Rev. Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, we wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Please see the VIDEO for the bishop’s 2023 Thanksgiving Message and feel free to share.
En nombre de Excmo. Mons. Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, ¡les deseamos a todos un Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias! Vea el VIDEO a continuación para ver el mensaje de Acción de Gracias de 2023 del obispo en español y siéntete libre de compartirlo.
Second Collection for 25-26 November 2023
On the weekend of 25-26 November, our diocese will take up a special collection for diocesan International Ministries and missionary trips to Guatemala. Fifteen years ago, the diocese partnered with the Sisters of Bethany working in San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala. We proudly support their work through a sponsorship program for students and conduct two medical missions per year.
Attached is the letter from Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, in support of this important funding initiative, plus photos from one of the Medical Mission trips in 2023.
Vocations Resources and Upcoming Events
We have been sent information and resources to use to promote vocations in our parish and homes.
Currently the diocese has 20 seminarians. In addition, dozens of men and women in the diocese are discerning religious life. Please continue to encourage our young people to be open to God and the religious life. All studies point to the fact that the most powerful invitation is the one from the parish priest as well as from family and friends!
These websites offer good sources of shareable information and resources:
Vianney Vocations - vianneyvocations.com
Vocation Ministry - vocationministry.com
The diocesan site is being redesigned and should be ready by next summer. For now, posters and a prayer card can be downloaded from charlestondiocese.org/vocations.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Jan 12-14, 2024 — Men’s Discernment Retreat at Camp Gravatt in Aiken (flyer attached)
Feb 2-4, 2024 — Men’s Seminary Come & See (contact Father Dennis if interested)
Feb 24, 2024 — Women’s Day of Discernment in Columbia
May 24, 2024 — Four seminarians are set to be ordained deacons, 6 p.m. at St. Joseph Church in Columbia
June 7, 2024 — Two deacons to be ordained priests, 6 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Charleston
Interest in the priesthood, diaconate and religious life is increasing in our diocese! Please continue fostering the openness to serve God and his people. The most fruitful environments for religious vocations are always in families attending Mass weekly with faithful priests celebrating reverent liturgies with quality music. In addition, let us promote prayer time in front of the Blessed Sacrament and invite young people to take those graces out to serve the people of God through weekly involvement at our Parish Youth Programs Edge and LifeTeen.
Mass & procession for Our Lady of Guadalupe
Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, will celebrate Mass on 12 December at 6:00PM in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It will be held at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, 120 Broad Street in Charleston. Following Mass will be a candlelit procession and an enthronement of the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the Cathedral. All are welcome to attend. Please see the following video invitation from the bishop:
EN: https://youtu.be/unCNaqthYnE
ES: https://youtu.be/Vm-Wa2AfTjg
Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!
Rediscover Your Marriage
Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi with a long i) simply means 'rediscovery'. The program offers the chance to rediscover yourself, your spouse, and a loving relationship in your marriage. 10’s of 1000's headed for divorce have successfully saved their marriages by attending. Retrouvaille is not a sensitivity group, not a seminar, not a social gathering, but is anchored in Christian reconcilement, communication and healing. For confidential information about, or, to register for the program beginning with a weekend on 19-21 January in Charlotte area, contact Bill and Lyn Folsom at 727-343-6701 or email: 3062ac@helpourmarriage.org or visit the web site at www.HelpOurMarriage.org
Upcoming Marriage Encounter Weekends
“What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.” Proclaim the good news of a Christian marriage and bring God into your marriage by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter experience 26-28 January 2024, in North Myrtle Beach. Early sign up is recommended. For information visit: SCMarriageMatters.org or contact: applications@scmarriagematters.org or 803-810-9602.
World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life
Each year, the Church celebrates World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life on 02 February. This day was established by St. John Paul II in 1997, and it falls on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, traditionally known as Candlemas. In 2024, it will be celebrated in parishes on 03 and 04 February.
To commemorate this day of prayer and the men and women religious serving in our diocese, Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, will celebrate Mass at the Chapel of the Holy Family on 28 January, 2024, at noon with a reception following. An RSVP link will be sent in the coming months, and all are welcome to attend.
Just as Christ was presented to the Father in the temple by Mary and Joseph, our religious who have dedicated themselves to lives of service and sacrifice have been presented to God in the sight of the Church on earth. Let us take this opportunity to unite and pray for all consecrated men and women in our diocese.
National Eucharistic Revival
The National Eucharistic Revival is the joyful, expectant, grassroots response of the entire Catholic Church in the United States to the divine invitation of re-centering our lives on the Real Presence of the Eucharist. In South Carolina, this movement seeks to ignite fervor for the Most Blessed Sacrament in the hearts of faithful through teaching, practice and evangelization. For more information see the following links:
National Eucharistic Revival Website
Diocese of Charleston
Check it out!
VISIT the Catholic Miscellany
For the most up-to-date information from the diocese visit: charlestondiocese.org/events.
Read the November CARITAS; the Diocesan Monthly E-Newsletter.
HEALTH PROTOCOLS at OLL!
If you are feeling unwell we ask that you stay home and watch Mass through our Parish Live Stream. If you are unsure please wear a Mask to spare others from possibly sharing your germs. We are asking that shaking hands, hugging, or kissing be reserved to immediate family members only. Please continue to smile and wave to non-family members around you in the pews rather than extending your hand for the Sign of Peace.
We live stream the Sunday 10:30AM Mass using BOXCAST and FACEBOOK-LIVE. Links are also provided on our parish web site and in the
Weekly Reminder.
Prayer of Spiritual Communion:
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen
NOTE: BOXCAST has the best streaming!
Look for our parish channel on BoxCast Apps
in Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV
for a direct link. You can find us listed as
Our Lady of the Lake, Chapin SC.
Weekly Bulletin, Calendar and Mass Schedule:
Our Parish mailing address is:
195 Amicks Ferry Road, Chapin SC 29036
(We no longer maintain a PO BOX number for mail to the Parish.)
