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 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
This is the First Sunday of the month, I will offer a special Birthday Blessing at the end of all Masses for all those celebrating their birthday in October.
The 10:30AM Sunday Mass on 5 October is a Children's Mass.
We have a 1st Friday and a 1st Saturday on 3 and 4 October. There will be Confessions from 10:00AM until 11:30AM each day followed by Mass at 12 Noon. On First Friday we will have Adoration following Mass until Benediction on Saturday at 11:45AM. Please sign up to spend time in Adoration. We need at least two adorers to be present at all times during Adoration!
On Saturday, 4 October, after the 12 Noon Mass we will have the Blessing of Animals for the Feast of St. Francis. (His actual Feast Day!) Please bring your pets to the front of the Church by 12:45PM for them to be blessed!
October is Respect Life Month. Each October, the Church in the United States celebrates Respect Life Month and the first Sunday of October is observed as Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between. During the month of October, the Church asks us to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life. Our parish has an active Respect Life Ministry.
LIFE CHAIN is a peaceful and prayerful public witness of pro-life individuals standing for 60 minutes praying for our nation and for an end to abortion. On Sunday, 5 October, the Respect Life Ministry will line up in front of Our Lady of the Lake and pray from 3:30-4:30PM. Signs will be provided. Please join us as we make a public, prayerful, peaceful stand for life. "Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching the people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. That is why the greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion." St. Mother Teresa
The Coats for Kids Campaign continues to ask for your support. (Look for Bins in the Church Narthex and on the Parish Campus.)
The Pumpkin Patch Sale has begun and ends on 31 October. Please purchase your pumpkins from our Pumpkin Patch and encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same. This is a significant fundraiser for our Parish Scouts and for the Men's Club!
Are you interested in becoming a Catholic? If you are unbaptized; or were baptized in a Protestant church; or were baptized Catholic but never fully catechized (Holy Communion/Confirmation); and want to come into Full Communion in the Catholic Church, please email me at pastor@ollchapin.org!
Are you interested in helping people become Catholic? I have multiple volunteers so far but I need more! I'm still looking for volunteers to form a committee to revitalize the RCIA, now known as the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), in our parish. The OCIA was recently updated and we need to expand the program to a full year and more. I envision four teams ultimately running the OCIA in our parish. I need help to develop the program. If you are interested in joining this effort please email me at pastor@ollchapin.org!
Our October Via Fidelis activity for the Diocesan Year of Evangelization is PRAY THE ROSARY FOR EVANGELIZATION. Pray the rosary! Ask for Mary’s
intercession for our families and diocese, to share her
Son in the same way she shared Him with us. Use the rosary mysteries as a starting point for a conversation about Jesus.
Seasons of Hope, the Parish’s Bereavement Support Ministry, meets on Thursdays at 1:00PM in Saint Ignatius Hall for the next 4 weeks. Anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one is welcome to attend.
Natural Family Planning: To learn more about the CrMS Natural Family Planning System contact: Courtney Webber, FCPI, at courtney.nfp@gmail.com or (760) 415-3465. Scheduled Introductory Sessions are: 9 October, 12 November and 10 December.
The Women’s Club will hold a “Baby Shower” for Birthright during the month of October. They would welcome your donations and help in their efforts to assist this Life Ministry.
Catholic Appeal of South Carolina (CASC) 2025:
(As of 26 September)
2025 Goal: $57,941.
Total Raised to date: $138,949.
Percent of Goal: 240%.
Pledged - not yet received: $6,647.
327 Families have made one time gifts and/or pledges.
Participation Rate: 33.61% (Catholic Appeal Solicitor's Report as of 31 August 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 $15,687 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 and 10:30AM Hospitality this Sunday hosted by the 8:00AM Bakers of Fellowship and the Bereavement Ministry 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.
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 first in a series of videos on Why the Church Matters:
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
This past Sunday's collection was $14,435. Ok, so we had another disappointing offertory last week, but let’s remember three things:
1). It was the last weekend of the month.
2). Last year’s collection for the same week was about $9,200, and the prior year was about $13,000, so we exceeded those weeks.
3). Each year collections turn around after Christmas.
Our weekly goal for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 is $20,823. The Finance Council and I remain confident in our budget projections for this fiscal year and believe that we can achieve our goals due to the continued growth of our parish. Nevertheless, your support is essential to the success of our parish mission and ministries. Thank you for your continued support.
The weekly financial report is available HERE. We remain deeply grateful for your generosity.
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.
We are still planning 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!
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
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 launching this project.
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. I encourage you to read about Indulgences for the Jubilee Year. “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).
DIOCESAN NEWS
Message on October Via Fidelis Activity
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I greet you with the joy of the Gospel! I thank you wholeheartedly for receiving from the heart our common calling to live as disciples and to invite others to follow The Way.
As I shared with you since the beginning of my episcopacy, I am grateful for the witness of evangelization my mother gave me in her devotion to Mary. My mother was a member of the Legion of Mary, and we said the rosary every day in our home. The rosary not only taught me to have a relationship with Jesus, but also how to practice works of mercy. The Legionaries had to report to the apostolate what they had done during the week. For example: taking food, medicine to people in need, teaching others how to read and bringing souls to Jesus through Mary. In each of our lives, we can pull from at least one example of a formative period in our spiritual growth.
As we enter the month of October, dedicated to the Holy Rosary, I encourage all of you to embrace this time of prayer and reflection to proclaim the Good News of Christ Jesus with others. In this Year of Evangelization, we remember the words from St. Paul, “If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it” (1 Cor 9:16).
May the prayers we offer this month inspire us to be courageous witnesses of Christ’s hope in our families, communities and beyond!
The Fall 40 Days for Life Campaign Has Begun!
The Campaign runs from 24 September to 2 November. We need YOU! Help Save Lives and Protect Mothers & Children. Please join this worldwide mobilization by praying & fasting for an end to abortion! YOUR presence matters!
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 OCTOBER 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
Are you interested in becoming a Prayer Warrior? We are starting a Prayer Ministry in our parish. If you are interested contact me at pastor@ollchapin.org! The button below is an example of how prayer requests will be submitted and received through Flocknote.
How does the Prayer Requests Button work?
To make a Prayer Request: If you hit the button below, you can make a prayer request and send it to our Parish Flocknote page. Prayer Warriors will then pray for the specific request you made. You will not receive any notification that your prayer request has been fulfilled - although some Prayer Warriors may contact you privately. Be assured however, that your request is being fulfilled and Warriors are praying!
If you want to be a Prayer Warrior: You need to request to be added. Fr Dennis can add you. Just send him a text or email and he will do so.
If you are signed up as a Prayer Warrior: Click on the Prayer Requests button on the left side menu of the Parish Flocknote page when you log into Flocknote. You’ll see a list of requested prayers. When you offer a prayer for a specific request, mark it as completed. You can also check a box on this page to receive email notifications when prayer requests are submitted by others.
If you want, you can then reach out to the individual who requested the prayer privately. This is not required but can be very meaningful.