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195 Amicks Ferry Road, Chapin SC 29036

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Dear Friends,

This Sunday is the First Sunday of Advent. It also marks the beginning of a New Liturgical Year in the Church. Follow the links to learn more about Advent and the Liturgical Calendar.

Thanks to all who prayed for me during my vacation. I had a wonderful and productive trip to Arizona. I look forward to seeing everyone again at the Weekend Masses. 

I will celebrate a Thanksgiving Day Mass on Thursday, 27 November at 9:00AM.

In Observance of Thanksgiving, the Parish Office will be closed on Wednesday, 26 November, at 12Noon and reopen on Monday, 1 December.

Due to the Thanksgiving Holidays, there will be NO Morning Faith Formation Classes, EDGE, or LifeTeen on Sunday, 30 November. Classes resume on 7 December! The Sunday Evening Mass on 30 November at 5:00PM is NOT a LifeTeen Mass!

Father Dennis, Deacon Greg, Deacon John, Deacon Jim, Deacon James & OLL Parish Staff would like to wish all parishioners a Blessed, Happy & Safe Thanksgiving 2025!

Monday, 8 December 2025, is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This IS a Holy Day of Obligation. As there is NO Vigil Mass on Sunday for the Holy Day, Fr. Dennis will celebrate Mass on Monday at 7:00AM and 12:00 Noon. In the United States, the Immaculate Conception is one of the Holy Days that is always observed, even if it falls on a Saturday or Monday.  Fr. Morey will celebrate the Mass in the traditional Latin Rite for the Holy Day on 8 December at 6:30PM. 

ON THE PLAZA this weekend:

• Knights of Columbus for their Keep Christ in Christmas Campaign!

• Members of WinGs taking orders for their 2025 Christmas Ornament, the 6th in the series of ornaments that are replicas of the stained glass windows in our church.  This year’s ornament is The Agony in the Garden.  

The Men's Club invites all families to the Annual Christmas Family Dinner, Saturday, 13 December, from 6:00PM to 7:30PM in the Family Life Center. Please bring a dessert if able!  Sign up to attend by 11 December so that we can ensure enough food is prepared.  See signup sheets and Poster in the Narthex after Masses this weekend.

Throughout the month of November the Parish offered Prayers and Masses for all the Faithful Departed. It is our honor to remember the dead and to pray for the repose of their souls.

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 December Via Fidelis activity for the Diocesan Year of Evangelization is EVANGELIZE WITH SYMBOLS OF OUR FAITH. Use Church seasonal symbols to invite someone to parish events, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe, Las Posadas, Nativity plays or other parish festivities.

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. The next scheduled Introductory Session is: 10 December.

GIVING TREE 2025.  All Gifts for the Giving Tree must be returned by this Sunday, 30 November 2025. Please be sure to attach the gift tags securely to the wrapped gifts or gift bags. Sincere thanks to all who helped provide Christmas gifts to our neighbors in need!

Many thanks to all who provided TURKEYS for the Thanksgiving Dinner at the HUB! Thanks as well to members of the Men's Club who cooked many of these turkeys and additional turkeys on Wednesday evening. 

All turkeys need to be cooked & sliced and delivered to the church parking lot NO LATER THAN 8:00AM Thanksgiving morning! That is dedication!!!

Christmas Poinsettias can now be ordered for our Altar this Christmas Season by using the Forms  found on the Credence Table in the Narthex.  You may use the envelope marked “Flower Donation” that can be found on the table or in your monthly packet of offertory envelopes.  These can be placed in the Collection Basket, given to any Usher or brought to the Parish Office.

#iGiveCatholic 2025 is here! Every year, it's celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving as part of #GivingTuesday. Advanced Giving began on 17 November. Thank you for your continued support.

Catholic Appeal of South Carolina (CASC) 2025: 

2025 Goal: $57,941.

Total Raised to date: $146,417. 

Percent of Goal: 253%.

Pledged - not yet received: $3,986.

333 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 ends on 31 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, there is only $13,877 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 until  7 December as the St Ignatius Hall Kitchen is still being 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 fifth in a series of videos on Priest, Prophet, King:

PARISH FINANCIAL UPDATES

This past Sunday's collection was $28,026. It is typical for us to see increased year end giving during this time of year. Thank goodness for RMDs!

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.

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 now selling pavers for the plaza around the fountain in front of the Church! PLAZA PAVERS is up and running for you to use to make your purchase(s). There are plenty of paver options for every family to consider. Funds raised from the sale of pavers will enable us to complete this project. Pavers may be  inscribed with family names, in honor of, or in memorial.  

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. 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.