Our Parish mailing address is:

195 Amicks Ferry Road, Chapin SC 29036

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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).

Dear Friends,

This Sunday is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Follow the link to learn more about why we celebrate this important Feast in the Catholic Church. This Sunday also marks the beginning of Ordinary Time and the end of the Christmas Season.

This week we will be focusing on our first Ministry, the Ministry of Greeter at Mass! Sign up sheets for this ministry will be in the Narthex the weekend of the 17/18 January. Follow the link to learn more about this ministry.

There ARE Morning Faith Formation Classes, EDGE and LifeTeen this Sunday.

The Welcome Committee, assisted by the Knights of Columbus, will be hosting a Welcome Reception this Sunday, 11 January after the 10:30AM Mass in St. Andrew Hall.  This reception takes the place of Hospitality and is open to all parishioners to come and welcome newly registered parishioners to our Parish.  Our Parish continues to grow with over 36 new families registered since September!

Poinsettias may be "adopted" this Sunday after the 5PM LifeTeen Mass.

I want to express my deepest gratitude and that of the parish staff and our entire parish Community to Donnie Jameson as he officially retires from being our Parish Facilities Director and Operations Manager. For nearly 20 years Donnie has been a constant presence at OLL. He has been our Church Organist and Choir Director, he managed the construction of the new Sanctuary, he has been on numerous committees and councils, and has been our Facilities Director and Operations Manager since I arrived 10 years ago. The debt I and our parish owe him is significant. He has done all things well and with gracious charity and love. Donnie did not want a big "farewell" party because he and Theresa are not leaving us. He is simply retiring and they are looking forward to enjoying a more relaxed life together. As such, please remember to call Tim Hood-Pittenger, our new Facilities Manager, for our parish facility needs. Donnie deserves this retirement and we need to all do our best to refrain from calling on him as we so often did in the past to solve so many of our problems and meet our needs. Thank you, Donnie, for always being there for us! Enjoy your retirement!!!

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!

Via Fidelis will be entering its second year this January. Look for more updates here in the weeks to come.

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 Sessions are: 8 January, 12 February and 12 March 2026.

Catholic Appeal of South Carolina (CASC) 2025: 

2025 Goal: $57,941.

Total Raised to date: $152,137. 

Percent of Goal: 263%.

Pledged - not yet received: $1,104.

335 Families made one time gifts and/or pledges. 

Participation Rate: 34.43% (Catholic Appeal Solicitor's Report as of 30 November 2025) 

Congratulations - we exceeded 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 Bicentennial Capital Campaign (BCC) closed at the end of 2025. I will share the final numbers for our parish when the diocese makes them available.  

Some brief reminders:

We do have 8:00AM and 10:30AM Hospitality this weekend hosted by the 8:00AM Bakers of Fellowship and the Welcome Committee, assisted by the Knights of Columbus, respectively. 

As we expand, our Bakers of Fellowship Ministry is looking for more Bakers to join us.  If you attend the 8:00AM Mass and would like to make home-made desserts for Hospitality, we would love for you to join us on a 6-week rotation. Contact Darcy Assemany, Coordinator, if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.

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 mini course on CATHOLICISM:

PARISH FINANCIAL UPDATES

This past Sunday's collection was $30,538. (Our Christmas Collection is now $24,344 or $1954 dollars above our budgeted goal!!! Thanks to all for your generosity.) 

It is typical for us to see RMD donations in our collection this time of year! 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. 

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.  

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.  

Work on the stage in the Family Life Center continues. No pictures this week. Still more work to be done.