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.
We are all deeply saddened by the continuing tragedy and loss of life and property due to the flooding in Texas and now New Mexico. While prayers are needed for those affected we can also give to Catholic Charities and the Texas Flooding Relief fund. This fund was established specifically to help flood victims in Texas. Follow the link to make a donation today in support of Catholic Charities Relief efforts!
Attention new (and current) Altar Servers: There is ongoing Altar Server Training available after all Masses (except after the 1:00PM Mass). We ask that all Altar Servers attend at least one of the 30 minute trainings led by our Summer Seminarian Theodore Lombardi by the weekend of 27 July. There is no training the weekend 19-20 July as Theodore will be at the Steubenville Youth Conference with our Life Teen Group.
Our JULY Via Fidelis activity for the Diocesan Year of Evangelization is CHALLENGE THE CULTURE. Have you given in to cultural pressures that run contrary to the faith? Examine your conscience, then ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and work for a culture founded on the Gospel.
FERTILITY CARE: I am so pleased to announce this new ministry to the parish. As your pastor, I strongly support Natural Family Planning. The benefits to your marriage are countless. The Creighton Model Fertility Care System (CrMS) offers an empowering approach to women's reproductive health care that is safe from side-effects, life-affirming, and clinically proven.
The Creighton Model System can help you:
Monitor and maintain your gynecological health.
Share responsibility for fertility regulation between spouses.
Uncover the root cause of many female health issues.
Achieve or avoid pregnancy with a safe, clinically-proven, and morally-acceptable alternative to hormonal birth control and IVF.
Introductory Sessions are now available at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church. The first session is scheduled for Thursday, 10 July 2025, at 6:00PM in the Mega Room, Second Floor of the Family Life Center. To learn more about the CrMS Natural Family Planning System contact: Courtney Webber, FCPI, at courtney.nfp@gmail.com or (760) 415-3465.
Catholic Appeal of South Carolina (CASC) 2025:
(As of 04 July)
2025 Goal: $57,941.
Total Raised to date: $117,625.
Percent of Goal: 203%.
Pledged - not yet received: $17,725.
324 Families have made one time gifts and/or pledges.
Participation Rate: 32% (Catholic Appeal Solicitor's Report as of 31 May 2025)
Congratulations - we have reached our 2025 Goal for the CASC! You can learn more about the CASC and make a donation or pledge online by following this LINK.
Bicentennial Campaign
The Diocesan Bicentennial Campaign is coming to an end at the end of December 2025. Time is running out. If you made a pledge, now is the time to check to see if your pledge has been fulfilled. Currently, after receiving confirmation that several pledges could no longer be fulfilled, there is only $21,440 in unpaid pledges to be redeemed. If you can't fulfill your pledge please let me know so that we can update our records. If you did not give to the Bicentennial Campaign but would like to do so we can still accept one time gifts -DONATE HERE! We thank all those who made one time gifts or pledges to the Bicentennial Campaign.
Some brief reminders:
There is 8:00AM Hospitality and 10:30AM Hospitality this Sunday hosted by the 8:00AM Bakers of Fellowship and the Knights of Columbus respectively.
Phishing Scams Alert: Please be aware, you will NEVER receive an email or text from me or any of the parish staff requesting donations, gift cards, or similar items. Also, please be cautious when reading social media posts about Pope Leo. There are many memes and articles being posted that are simply false. Check out the article HERE for information on how to identify these and avoid them.
Pray for peace in the world and for protection from storms and other natural disasters.
Peace and all good,
Fr. Dennis
PADRE'S PICK
A weekly series of videos to watch (or listen to) that I recommend for every parish household and family! This week's Word on Fire video is the second in a series of 12 videos on Pivotal Players in the Catholic Church:
The entire Word on Fire Library is also available. Just click the white "play" arrow to begin or follow the link to access the library.
PARISH FINANCIAL UPDATES
Our First Sunday collection of the new fiscal year was $24,761! We have officially begun Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and will share our new weekly goal in the coming months. This first collection was an outstanding start to the new fiscal year. Your continued support is crucial to our parish mission and ministries. Thank you!
Many of our parishioners give yearly from investments that have Required Minimum Disbursements. There is a significant tax advantage when RMDs are given directly to a charity like the Church. Check with your financial advisor if you have RMDs and would like to reduce your tax burden.
The weekly financial report is available HERE. We remain deeply grateful for your generosity.
In the coming months we plan to host a Planned Giving Seminar that will give you information on how to plan your estate and ensure the mission of Our Lady of the Lake far into the future! You can also visit Stewardship & Mission Advancement - South Carolina Catholic at the Diocese of Charleston's website to learn more.
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!
Thanks to parish families, the wider Chapin Community, and volunteers, this year's Parish Yard Sale exceeded last year's total by 18%, raising $26,099! Outstanding!! Congratulations to all on another successful Yard Sale.
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 at the Sunday Morning Masses. 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 appropriate time. If you have forgotten an envelope or need more, they are available in the Narthex.
CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
We are continuing to work on an in house solution to the question of movable Altar Rails for our sanctuary. More information to come in the near future! To understand some of the benefits of installing movable 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. 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 very close to finalizing pricing for the pavers.
JUBILEE OF HOPE
The Year 2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church. Pope Francis declared the Jubilee of Hope on 9 May, 2024. He invited all the faithful to be Pilgrims of Hope during this Jubilee Year. You can learn more about being a Pilgrim of Hope at the USCCB Website. There is so much to talk about during a Jubilee Year that it is hard to know where to begin. To start, I encourage you to read about Indulgences for the Jubilee Year. I promise to share more information in the coming weeks. “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5)!!!
Jubilee Pilgrimage Sites in the Diocese of Charleston:
As the Church celebrates the Jubilee Year of Hope this year, Bishop Fabre announced that our diocese has four parishes designated as pilgrimage sites. They are:
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist – 120 Broad St. in Charleston
Basilica of St. Peter – 1529 Assembly St. in Columbia
Old St. Mary Help of Christians – 125 Park Ave. SE in Aiken
St. Mary – 111 Hampton Ave. in Greenville
Basilica of St. Peter – 1529 Assembly St. in Columbia
Old St. Mary Help of Christians – 125 Park Ave. SE in Aiken
St. Mary – 111 Hampton Ave. in Greenville
Pilgrims can receive a plenary indulgence by visiting one of these churches in addition to the normative requirements for obtaining such an indulgence. For more information, please visit https://charlestondiocese.org/jubilee2025/sc-pilgrimage-sites/.
“Be kind to your servant that I may live, that I may keep your word. Open my eyes to see clearly the wonders of your law. I am a sojourner in the land; do not hide your commandments from me” (Ps 119:17-19).
NOTES OF IMPORTANCE FROM
THE DIOCESE
Second Collection for July 2025
On the weekend of 19-20 July, the diocese will take up a second collection to assist with the care of retired and infirm priests in South Carolina. This collection helps to provide for the needs of our retired and hospitalized priests, who have given their lives in service to our local parish communities.
Please read Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune's LETTER in support of this important funding initiative.
Human Trafficking Movie Screening in July
On 30 July, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, you’re invited to a special three-city, one-night screening of The Slave in Your Backyard: The Local Reality of Human Trafficking, a powerful documentary produced by the South Carolina Catholic Conference and Fisher Films. This compelling film sheds light on the hidden dangers of human trafficking in our own state and communities while inspiring us to take steps toward hope and change.
Screening Details
Charleston | Terrace Theater | 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
1956D Maybank Hwy | 155 seats per show
Columbia | The Nickelodeon Theater | 6 p.m.
1607 Main St | 99 seats
Greenville | Camelot Cinemas | 6 p.m.
48 E Antrim Dr | 94 seats
RSVP at the link below to guarantee admission! Concessions will be available for purchase during the screenings. Seats are limited.
You’ll not only witness the reality of this critical issue of our time, but also join your community in answering the Church’s call to protect the dignity of every human person. Together, we can be a voice for the voiceless and make strides to eradicate human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
We hope to see you there for this important event.
Human Trafficking Documentary: SIGN UP
Please select which showing you will attend July 30. They are:
Charleston = 155 seats per showing
Columbia = 99
Greenville = 94
Save your Confirmation Email as your entry "ticket"!
Back to School Mass Invitation
A Back to School Mass with Bishop Fabre will be celebrated at St. John Neumann, 100 Polo Road, Columbia, on Sunday, 10 August, at 5:00 PM. All are welcome and this Mass counts towards your Sunday obligation.
In this year dedicated to Proclaim the Faith, we recall that in the Great Commission, our Lord asks us to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). It is our calling to bring the Good News of salvation to every area of human habitation, but also to every facet of human life.
The 13th Marian Eucharistic Conference
The 13th MEC will be held from 24-25 October at the Greenville Convention Center.
Speakers include Fr. Joseph Wolfe, EWTN; Fr. Chris Alar, MIC; Fr. Donald Callaway, MIC; Daniel Cellucci, CEO, Catholic Leadership Institute; Russ Breault, Founder of Shroud Encounter; John Martignoni, President, Bible Christian Society.
General admission is $135, youth $90 (includes dinner Friday and lunch Saturday).
Register online or by mail before 11 October. Registrations after 11 October will be $145.
Gluten-free meals available. Free parking.
Call (864)354-7160 or visit MEC for more information and to register online.
Year of Evangelization
Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, kicked off the five-year plan for the Diocese of Charleston, called Via Fidelis, at the beginning of Advent, 1 December 2024.
Our first year's theme is Proclaim the Faith - a Year of Evangelization!
The bishop has given each month a focus to challenge us to grow in our faith. As we prepare ourselves to enter deeper into this evangelization year of Proclaim the Faith, we are asking all the faithful to keep in prayer Via Fidelis, your parish and the entire diocese as we work to spread the Word of God in our state.
You can read more about Via Fidelis in our monthly articles in The Catholic Miscellany: Via Fidelis. Attached are the monthly activities calendar for 2025 and our prayer card.
Additional resources and videos may be found online at charlestondiocese.org/via-fidelis.
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.