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 Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. The last time we celebrated this Feast on a Sunday was on 9 November 2014 - eleven years ago! Follow the link to learn more about this important Feast.
This Friday, 7 November, is a First Friday. We will have Adoration following Mass and ending with Benediction at 7:00PM. Please sign up HERE to take an hour for Adoration.
Tuesday, 11 November, is VETERANS’ DAY. Veterans' Day is a federal holiday that honors all military veterans for their service to the country. Originally known as Armistice Day, it was first celebrated in 1919 to commemorate the end of World War I, but the name was changed in 1954 to include veterans of all wars. Observances include parades, ceremonies, and thanking living veterans for their service. I will acknowledge all Veterans at the end of Sunday Masses this weekend, 8 and 9 November. Please join me in honoring all who have served in defense of our freedoms!
Next weekend, 15 and 16 November, please welcome Rev. Martin Holler who will be with us to celebrate Masses and tell us about the work of UNBOUND, a lay Catholic sponsorship ministry that helps children and the elderly in 17 developing countries. To learn more, call 800.875.6564 or visit UNBOUND online at www.unbound.org.
Throughout the month of November the Parish will offer Prayers and Masses for all the Faithful Departed. Envelopes can be found in your OSV Envelope Sets or special envelopes marked “All Souls Day” can be found on the Offertory Table in the Narthex. Parishioners can use them to include the names of their deceased relatives and friends. Once completed, place in the Collection Basket. These envelopes will stay on the altar for the month of November.
Fr. Morey and I will are having a fruitful retreat with Bishop Fabre and the priests of the Diocese of Charleston this week. We will return to Chapin late on Thursday. Thank you for your prayers for us both, the priests of the diocese, and our bishop during our retreat.
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 November Via Fidelis activity for the Diocesan Year of Evangelization is FIND CHRIST IN ANOTHER.
Find ways as an individual, family, or a parish group to find Jesus in your brother(s) and sister(s) and to serve with love and joy.
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: 12 November and 10 December.
Members of the Women's Club will be on the Plaza this weekend, 8-9 November, after all Masses to sell their cookbook, Feeding the Flock.
I am taking a two week vacation beginning on 9 November. I'll be in Arizona until 23 November. Below is a copy of the bulletin announcement listing Priests who will be here for Mass coverage.
Catholic Appeal of South Carolina (CASC) 2025:
(As of 31 October 2025)
2025 Goal: $57,941.
Total Raised to date: $143,663.
Percent of Goal: 248%.
Pledged - not yet received: $4,626.
330 Families have made one time gifts and/or pledges.
Participation Rate: 33.85% (Catholic Appeal Solicitor's Report as of 30 September 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 $14,077 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 NO 8:00AM and 10:30AM Hospitality for the next few weeks as the St Ignatius Hall Kitchen is renovated.
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 second in a series of videos on Priest, Prophet, King:
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 $16,238. We should see good collection next week as on-line giving will be caught up for the month.
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. Look for this project to launch this November!
Through the generosity of the Women's Club we are almost finished with the remodeling of the kitchen in Saint Ignatius Hall! We will not have Hospitality until this remodeling is completed. Click HERE to see pictures of the kitchen work in progress - it is already not recognizable! Thank you, ladies, for making this remodel happen for the benefit of our parish family!!!
The stage in the Family Life Center is also being updated. No pictures this week. Still more work to be done.
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
Bishop's Message on November Via Fidelis Activity
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
This month in Via Fidelis, we turn our focus to seeing the face of God in our neighbors. Sometimes, we get caught up in the day-to-day rush and forget that, despite how we are feeling in the moment, everyone deserves respect as living images of our Creator.
Christ called us to spread the Gospel in every aspect of our lives — not just at church, but at home, at work and in our daily interactions. The fullness of the Good News culminates in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, where he taught us truly how to love one another. “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you” (Jn 15:12). Once we live this instruction, our lives become a testimony to the kerygma.
We may find the love of Jesus in every part of God’s creation and must especially see that love in our brothers and sisters. Let us focus on recognizing the face of Christ in everyone we meet this month so we may serve them with love, joy and humility. This might mean offering patient words to someone who frustrates us, showing kindness to a worker at a drive-thru, or reaching out to someone who is lonely.
November is dedicated to the saints and the departed faithful. We know that Christ’s salvation was offered once and to all, so we pray for those who have gone before us. Their salvation is at hand, and our prayers support their journey to eternal life with God. We are not separated by death from those whom we love.
I encourage you to participate in Mass celebrations, to pray the rosary and to perform acts of charity. What a beautiful gift we can offer through our prayers, and may our understanding of and love for the Gospel bring us and others to everlasting life. As we do these things as a diocese, and continue our personal and parish activities, we will make an indelible mark in South Carolina.
Thank you for answering the call to become disciples of the Lord and seeing his face in the people and the world around you.
So through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous. … so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rm 5:19, 21).
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 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
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.