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,
Please read the full letter as there is so much happening this Advent and Christmas Season and there are a LOT of dates and times you need to be aware of to participate fully in both seasons!
This Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent. This is the First Sunday of the Liturgical Calendar and the beginning of a new Liturgical Year. Our Sunday Readings are now taken from Cycle B and the Weekday Readings are taken from Year 2. Follow the links to learn more about Advent and the Liturgical Calendar.
This Friday and Saturday are a First Friday and First Saturday. Fr. Morey and I will hear confessions from 10:00AM until 11:30AM on both days followed by Mass at 12 Noon. After Mass on Friday we will have Adoration until the celebration of Benediction at 7:00PM. Please join us!
This Sunday is a First Sunday of the Month. The 10:30AM Mass will be a Children's Mass. I will also offer a Blessing at the end of all Masses for those celebrating their birthday during the month of December. Please stand when invited to do so for the blessing.
You can still make a gift through #iGiveCatholic to our Youth Group. 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!
Faith Formation Classes, Youth Meetings and Bible Studies are back this weekend!
Many thanks to all those who performed in our First Annual Our Lady of the Lake Musical Revue. It was an amazing evening of talented performances and great fun for all who attended. Be sure to join us next year!
The Rite of Welcoming will take place this Sunday, 3 December 2023 during the 5:00PM LIFE TEEN Mass. This Rite is formally known as The (Combined) Celebration of the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens and the Rite of Welcoming Baptized but Previously Uncatechized Adults Who are Preparing for Confirmation and/or Eucharist or Reception into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church. (Phew!) We welcome our Parish Catechumens and Candidates. Their journey of conversion serves as a reminder to all of us that God’s work of redemption and salvation continues in our midst. Please pray for:
Our Catechumens: Sidney Bush and Shani Palmquist
Our Candidates: Carson Adams, Jeffrey Michael Congialdi Jr., Don Davenport, Shane Donnelly, John Galdamez, Josh Zobel and Taylor Zobel
Friday, 8 December 2023, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a Holy Day of Obligation. The Mass schedule for the Holy Day is: Vigil Mass on Thursday, 7 December at 6:30PM. Holy Day Masses on Friday, 8 December will be at 12 Noon (English) and at 6:30PM (Latin). The 6:30pm Mass on the 8th will be celebrated by Father Robert Morey and is the Traditional Latin Mass.
Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, will be visiting Our Lady of the Lake on 10 December and will celebrate the 10:30AM Sunday Mass and preach at the 1:00PM Mass. Please welcome our bishop to our parish! The Bishop loves to highlight children at Masses. We are asking parish families to try to attend the 10:30AM or 1:00PM Mass, if possible, that weekend.
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! Please sign up to attend so that we can ensure enough food is prepared by using the SIGNUP LINK by Thursday, 7 December, or the signup sheets in the Narthex after Masses this weekend. Please indicate the number of adults and children. See the FLYER for more 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.
Both the Men's Club and WinGs will have copies of the book, The Rocking Chair Prophet, given by an anonymous donor, available at their tables on the Plaza this weekend. Please take one.
Join us for XLT on Monday, 4 December from 7:00PM until 8:30PM. See below for details.
THANK YOU to all those who supported the Giving Tree for 2023. You enabled our parish to provide Christmas gifts to our needy neighbors in our community and beyond. Thank you.
The 2024 Parish Calendars are in! Please pick one up as you leave Church this Sunday.
Order Poinsettias today to help adorn our Altar for the Christmas Season. You can use this FORM to place an order or fill one out at Church on Sunday. Forms will be available in the Narthex.
ADVENT PENANCE SCHEDULE:
There will be NO Communal Advent Penance Service this year at OLL. Fr. Morey and I will hear confessions during the following times so that the faithful will have every opportunity to make a good confession before Christmas:
Pre-Advent Confessions:
First Friday, 1 December 10:00AM-11:30AM
First Saturday, 2 December 10:00AM-11:30AM
3:00PM-4:30PM
Advent Thursday Confessions:
14 December 6:00PM-7:30PM
21 December 6:00PM-7:30PM
Advent Saturday Confessions:
9 December 3:00PM-4:30PM
16 December 3:00PM-4:30PM
23 December 2:00PM-3:30PM
!!!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 8:00AM hospitality this week. No 10:30AM hospitality.
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
There have been some BIG changes on the construction of the fountain in front of the church! Please see the newest 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 bookkeeper, 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
#iGiveCatholic Results
It is with hearts full of gratitude and hope that we report yesterday’s #iGiveCatholic results!
Across South Carolina, Catholics collectively donated a record setting $931,161 from 1,900 donors for our 52 parishes, schools and ministries that participated.
This one day of giving shines a bright light on the abundant generosity of the faithful and demonstrates the strength and power of our community in action.
#iGiveCatholic included $11,250 in prizes awarded to organizations from the generosity of our sponsors including the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, South State Bank, Baird, the Catholic Community Foundation of South Carolina, Partners in Mission, Lynch Cracraft Wealth Management, Mepkin Abbey and Joe Griffith Law Firm.
We also offer special recognition to the seven diocesan participants whose hard work resulted in their national placement in the top 100 fundraisers for #iGiveCatholic!
#5 — St. Thomas More Church & Newman Center (Columbia)
#20 — Bishop England High School (Charleston)
#51 — St. Mary Help of Christians School (Aiken)
#56 — Holy Trinity School (North Myrtle Beach)
#58 — St. John School (North Charleston)
#63 — St. Anthony School (Florence)
#69 — Blessed Sacrament School (Charleston)
Off-line donations may be entered through 5 December, and we will report the final figures and the four Grand Prize Winners (charleston.igivecatholic.org/prizes) on 6 December.
Thank you for your enthusiasm and support in achieving a record-breaking turnout for the parishes, schools and ministries of the Diocese of Charleston!
Second Collection for 9 and 10 December 2023
On the weekend of 9 and 10 December, our diocese will take up a special collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious. All donations to this collection go directly towards supporting our retired diocesan religious men and women. We thank you for giving generously to those who have devoted their lives in service to the Church in our state.
Please read a LETTER from Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, in support of this important funding initiative.
National Eucharistic Congress tickets reminder
As a reminder, tickets are still available for purchase for the National Eucharistic Conference in Indianapolis on 17-21July 2024. Individual and group tickets can be purchased on the national website; however, the diocese has secured a limited number of tickets at a significant discount for our parishioners. The diocese has also reserved a block of rooms within walking distance of the stadium.
The cost is $200 per person. The diocese will try to accommodate all requests and will prioritize them as they are received. Requests can be submitted here. These requests are for both adult (over 18) and youth group tickets.
Registration for children/youth (3-18) attending with families and not a youth group will be added later when the diocesan code is entered into the individual registration link on the national website. Children up to age 2 will be free but must also be registered at that time.
The diocese will have to give up the block of rooms by February, so please purchase your tickets and make reservations now!
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
Vocations Resources and Upcoming Events
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.
Check it out!
VISIT the Catholic Miscellany
For the most up-to-date information from the diocese visit: charlestondiocese.org/events.
Read the December 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.)
