Our Parish mailing address is:
195 Amicks Ferry Road, Chapin SC 29036
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 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time! Learn more about Ordinary Time from Jeff Cavins by following the link.
The National Eucharistic Congress is upon us! The Congress 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. Events are happening now throughout the United States in anticipation of this historic event. For more information and to watch events online see the following links:
Go to the National Eucharistic Revival Website (Includes tab for the National Eucharistic Congress) and join in praying 10,000 Rosaries for the Eucharistic Congress!
There is NO Altar Server Training after the weekend Masses this week. Training will resume next week until the end of July.
Join us for a special celebration of XLT on 19 July at 6:00PM. You don't want to miss this! Our Faith Formation and Music Ministry leaders invite all members of our Parish to join us for our first ever FAMILY FESTIVAL OF PRAISE on Friday, July 19th! This night is geared toward everyone - young and old alike. Join us in Saint Andrew Hall at 6:00PM for a free hot dog dinner provided by the Knights of Columbus and WinGs, plus FREE Kona Ice Sno Cones for all kids (courtesy of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry). At 7:00 PM, we will all move to the church for a short evening of praise and worship music ending with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The evening will conclude with Benediction at 8:45PM. Come for some or all of this great event as we continue to celebrate the Eucharistic Revival at Our Lady of the Lake!
While this event is free, we are asking that parishioners sign up via Sign Up Genius to ensure that we have enough food for everyone to enjoy! Please see the flyer below for the QR code or sign up directly at FESTIVAL. Questions? Contact Megan Shealy at 803.814.5735 or youth.ministry@ollchapin.org.
Respect Life Ministry would like to extend an invitation to all parishioners to our annual Movie Night on 27 July at 6:00PM in Saint Andrew Hall showing "Sound of Freedom". An action packed film starring Jim Caviezel, the "Sound of Freedom", based on an incredible true story, shines a light on even the darkest of places - the world of human trafficking. Light refreshments will be provided by the Respect Life Committee. Please note this movie is rated PG-13, so while all are invited, parents are encouraged to use their discretion when deciding to bring children.
If you have questions about this event, or Respect Life Ministry, please contact Deacon Greg and Maureen Weigold at respectlife@ollchapin.org.
2024 Catholic Appeal of South Carolina (CASC) Update: As of 2 July 324 families have made one time gifts and pledges totaling $110,724. This represents 189% of our goal of $58,503. An additional $18,566 is pledged but it is not included in our total until the monies are received. If all of the current pledges are paid in full we will reach 221% of our goal!!! Bishop Fabre-Jeune has challenged all parishes in the diocese to exceed 25% participation. Using diocesan numbers, Our Lady of the Lake is currently at 34 percent participation. We continue to lead the diocese for parishes of approximately 1000 families in support of the Gospel in SC! Please join our efforts and make a pledge or one time gift today!!!
Some brief, but important news and reminders:
There is 8:00AM and 10:30AM Hospitality this week hosted by the Bakers of Fellowship and Knights of Columbus respectively.
Thank you for your prayers for my mother, Jean. Please pray that bone growth occurs and that the fractures and break in her left foot and ankle heal fully! Your prayers are greatly appreciated!!!
Pray for peace in the world and for protection from storms and other natural disasters.
Peace and all good,
Fr. Dennis
CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
The Installation of the vertical lift in the Family Life Center began on Monday, 1 July! Some additional electrical work, a land line phone, final inspections and certification must still be completed. Thanks to our crew from the Men's Club that is continuing work on the vertical lift.
See the most recent pictures HERE!
We continue to research a more robust chair lift for the staircase to the choir loft.
We are working on a project to install moveable Altar Rails for the Sanctuary. We have a working design and a cost proposal. We are currently approaching the diocese for approval. To understand some of the benefits of our installing Altar Rails at Our Lady of the Lake please read this ARTICLE.
Future plans for the fountain in front of the church are to extend the plaza in front of the church with pavers so as to include the area around the fountain. A final design is close to approval. We will raise funds to complete this project by selling pavers to be inscribed with family names, in honor of, or in memorial. We are currently working on pricing for the pavers.
PARISH FINANCIAL UPDATES
We have a new budget for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year. This budget includes an overall 5% increase. Our new weekly collection goal is $18,617. To achieve this goal I am asking every parish family to review their giving to the church and prayerfully consider making a small increase, within their means, to their weekly church offering. Together, I know we can achieve our goals and continue to grow and prosper as a parish as we proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to our families, our neighbors, and our greater community here in Chapin and beyond.
The first Sunday Collection of the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year was $29,513! This is a great start to the fiscal year.
An abbreviated weekly financial report for the the new fiscal year is available HERE. Our regular reports will return next week. We remain deeply grateful for your generosity.
As soon as we complete our year end budget report for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year that just ended we will make it available for all parishioners to review. Typically this happens in early September after all financial reports are received and recorded.
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
We encourage all our parish children to use their envelopes during the summer at Mass. If you have forgotten an envelope or need more, they are available in the Narthex. Children can make a monetary donation or just write something on the envelope; a good deed, a prayer, artwork, etc. Father Dennis will hold a basket and invite the children to come forward at the Sunday Morning Masses.
NOTES OF IMPORTANCE FROM
THE DIOCESE
Sea Sunday Observance
On Sunday, 14 July, the Church observes Sea Sunday. This is an opportunity to remember and pray for all men and women who work daily at sea to provide for our society’s needs. We especially pray for their protection from storms and the turbulence of the ocean waters.
“On this Sea Sunday, we pray for all seafarers, fishers, port workers, their families, and all the People of the Sea who sacrifice so much for our benefit. May they find fair seas and following winds on their voyages through life, and find safe harbor when storms arise. May Our Lady, Stella Maris, keep them and all of us in her prayers.”
Our Lady Star of the Sea, pray for us!
Vocations - Seminarian Fund
The Diocese of Charleston has announced the creation of the Seminarian Fund, a new opportunity to support our growing number of men in formation in the diocese.
Some points worthy of note:
The primary sources of revenue to form seminarians comes from the Catholic Appeal of South Carolina and the collection for this weekend — however, those sources of revenue have not kept pace with increasing number of seminarians and associated costs.
The diocese currently has 28 seminarians for the 2024-25 academic year.
Of the 28, 7 are college seminarians, 8 are pre-theologians, 2 are on pastoral year, and 11 are theologians.
Seminary formation can take anywhere from 6-10 years, depending on the person.
We currently have seminarians in Latrobe, Pennsylvania; Boynton Beach, Florida; Covington, Louisiana; and Washington, D.C.
We ordained two priests this year and four transitional deacons.
The average cost to the diocese per seminarian per year is about $57,000.
The normal application window for our diocese is November through January each year.
The Seminarian Fund answers the call for the increased financial needs while providing a means for parishioners to be a part of the men’s journey to priesthood.
Please reach out to the Office of Stewardship & Mission Advancement with questions about the fund, or contact the Office of Vocations at: charlestondiocese.org/vocations.
Open Positions with the Diocese
The Diocese of Charleston is always looking for people to join our mission of service and faith to the people of God. We encourage the members of our diocese to consider the job openings currently available. Working for the Church is an excellent opportunity to infuse Christ into daily life and to help strengthen the communities of our parishes.
If you are interested in any of these roles, please reach out to gnino@charlestondiocese.org or visit our website charlestondiocese.org/jobs.
Check it out!
VISIT the Catholic Miscellany
For the most up-to-date information from the diocese visit: charlestondiocese.org/events.
Read the JULY CARITAS; the Diocesan Monthly E-Newsletter.