Our Parish mailing address is:
195 Amicks Ferry Road, Chapin SC 29036
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.
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 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Follow the link to learn more about Ordinary Time.
There is NO Faith Formation, EDGE or LifeTeen this weekend due to President's Day and the District Holiday. The 5:00PM Mass on Sunday is NOT a LifeTeen Mass. All classes resume on 22 February.
Bishop Gugliemone will be at the 5:00PM Evening Mass on Sunday, 15 February, to confirm our 18 Candidates for Confirmation. Please pray for these students as they prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
I will speak at Mass this Sunday about the Ministry of Lector. Sign up sheets will be in the Narthex for Ministry of Altar Server and for the Ministry of Lector! Follow the links to learn more about these two ministries.
Members of the Adoration Team will be on the Plaza after all Masses this weekend to sign up Adorers for Adoration during Lent! LENTEN ADORATION COMMITMENT: Do you want to draw closer to God during this 40 day Lenten season? Commit to just one hour per week in our Adoration Chapel (See FLYER). For more details on Adoration and how to sign up online for your own one hour slot (same time a day each week) click Adoration. You can sign up today, or visit our table outside the church this Sunday after Mass where a team of adorers can assist you in signing up, answer any questions about Adoration at our church, or show you around our Adoration Chapel. Sign up today and we hope to see you this weekend.
Members of the Men's Club will be inside by all the Exit Doors this weekend after all Masses to hand out the Little Black Books for Lent 2026, compliments of the Men's Club. Thank you!
The Men's Club is accepting scholarship applications from our graduating High School Seniors. Please apply using these links: MEN'S CLUB SCHOLARSHIP and DEEDS AND NEED SCHOLARSHIP. Paper copies of these applications are also available in the Vollkommer Bell Tower.
ASH WEDNESDAY is on 18 February!
Distribution of Ashes and Mass schedule:
Service @ 7AM (ONLY Distribution of Ashes; NO Mass)
EF Mass (Trad. Latin),10AM; Distribution of Ashes & Low Mass
Distribution of Ashes & Masses @ 12Noon and 6:30PM
Ash Wednesday & Lenten Guidelines
Below are some of the rules and regulations binding on Roman Catholics on Ash Wednesday and throughout the penitential season of Lent.
Summed up succinctly, Roman Catholics must fast and abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026, and Good Friday, April 3, 2026. In addition, Catholics are required to abstain from meat on all Fridays during Lent.
Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It is a period of preparation for the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord through prayer and the reading of Sacred Scripture; we serve others through almsgiving; and we practice self-control through fasting.
We are called not only to abstain from certain foods or luxuries, but to a true interior conversion of heart as we strive to follow Christ more faithfully. During this season, we recall the waters of Baptism, through which we were baptized into Christ’s death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Him.
Many are familiar with the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but the Church also calls the faithful to practice self-discipline in other ways throughout the season. Almsgiving is one way to share God’s gifts—not only through financial generosity, but also through the offering of our time and talents. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us:
“Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs.”
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446)
During Lent, the baptized are invited to renew their baptismal commitment, while others prepare to be baptized through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)—a time of formation, learning, and discernment for those seeking full communion with the Catholic Church.
Ash Wednesday is one of two days of obligatory fasting and abstinence for Roman Catholics, the other being Good Friday. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the law of fasting is binding on Catholics from age 18 through age 59. Fasting permits one full meal, along with two smaller meals that together do not equal a full meal.
The law of abstinence from meat is binding upon Catholics age 14 and older. Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church.
For those outside the age limits, Canon Law reminds us that “Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence are taught the true meaning of penance.”
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also notes non-age-related exemptions:
“Those excused from fast and abstinence include the physically or mentally ill, including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting.”
The other obligatory day of fasting and abstinence is Good Friday, the day on which Catholics remember the death of Jesus on the Cross. The U.S. Bishops explain that, when possible, the Good Friday fast should extend through the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night.
While these are the only two days of obligatory fasting and abstinence, the entire season of Lent is meant to be a time of spiritual formation and preparation for Easter. As the bishops write in their Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence:
“For all other weekdays of Lent, we strongly recommend participation in daily Mass and a self-imposed observance of fasting… We urge, particularly during Lent, generosity to local, national, and world programs of sharing… We also recommend spiritual studies, beginning with the Scriptures, as well as traditional Lenten devotions such as the Stations of the Cross and the Rosary, and all the self-denial summed up in the Christian concept of mortification.”
The Catholic tradition of “giving something up” for Lent is a meaningful and pious custom, though it is not regulated by Church law.
Courtesy of the Catholic Telegraph, Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Shared from St. Clare of Assisi Church in Charleston.
LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP FOR THE
VALENTINES DINNER AND DANCE!
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!
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 12 March 2026.
Catholic Appeal of South Carolina (CASC) 2025:
I want to offer a heartfelt thanks to all who made a generous gift to the 2025 Catholic Appeal of South
Carolina at our parish. I am deeply grateful for those who recognized the important work of the Catholic Church beyond our parish walls and chose to offer their support to its critical schools, programs, and ministries. I feel blessed to part of a generous parish family that consistently supports those who act as the hands and feet of Christ in every corner of this state. Thank you all.
The 2026 CASC kicks off this February. You can learn more about the CASC and make a donation or pledge online by following this LINK. Last year our parish exceeded our parish goal by 263% and will receive a rebate check of $47,098.17 by the end of February as our parish portion of the CASC!!! Our Parish goal for the 2026 CASC is $64,836 which reflects an increase of $6,895 over our 2025 goal. This increase is due to the CASC goal for the diocese being higher this year: 5.5 million over the previous goal of 5 million. The increase is due to overall costs increasing for all diocesan ministries and programs over the past several years. This is the first increase in the CASC goal since 2022!
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 Women's Club 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 tenth in a mini course on CATHOLICISM:
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 $31,903. This generous collection nearly made up for the two weekend winter storms in a row that negatively impacted our collections. We were under budget for those two weekends by $14,475 in total, and this week we were over by $11,080. Please, if you can, remember the church this Sunday by increasing your donation to make up any weekends you may have missed. That will definitely help us recover from the storms' financial impact on the parish. 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.
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.
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 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.
For any questions, please contact Russell and Suzy Howell at pavers@ollchapin.org
Work on the stage in the Family Life Center continues. No pictures this week. Still more work to be done.
DIOCESAN NEWS
Via Fidelis Year 2 begins Ash Wednesday, 18 February 2026!
Understand the Faith – Year of Catechesis
Our theme for Via Fidelis in 2026 is “Understand the Faith.” This year, we will work to know and love our faith by deep knowledge of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is a fruit of the Second Vatican Council and a gift given to the Catholic Church by St. John Paul II. We are so fortunate to have easy access to the central teachings of our faith and to have them all in one, simple volume! With both the Bible and the Catechism, we can know sacred doctrine, discern the will of God and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us and give us his guidance. The entirety of the Catechism is available online: CATECHISM
Black History Month Events
The Diocese of Charleston would like to bring your attention to our events and celebrations for Black history months throughout the year, and to kindly request and invite you to join in and participate.
As we all know, February is Black History Month in the United States. This celebration can be traced to Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-trained historian who established a week-long festivity to commemorate Black American achievement in 1926. He wished to honor their contributions to the nation and the world during the nation’s 150th anniversary. In 1976, in a groundbreaking moment for understanding and celebrating Black history, President Gerald Ford extended the celebration to span the month of February. This year marks the 50th anniversary of that extended celebration of the Black History Month.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops endorse two separate months to celebrate and recognize African American contributions. February is Black History Month and November is Black Catholic History Month. In our diocese, we organize events to celebrate African American histories that foster our social and spiritual growth.
Bishop Fabre has approved the following events regarding Black Catholic Ministry for our diocese. Please keep these dates in your calendar:
Black Catholic Liturgy Heritage Celebration: Feb. 13-14 at St. Patrick Church, 134 St. Philip Street in Charleston.
2026 Lyke Conference: June 16-19 at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 309 Gower Street in Greenville.
200th Anniversary of St. James the Greater Mission: Sept. 12-13, at 3087 Ritter Road in Walterboro.
Black Catholic History Month Celebration and Day of Reflection: Nov. 7 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Anne and St. Jude Church, 1855 Beckwood Road in Sumter.
All are welcome to celebrate these events with our Black brothers and sisters.
Check it out!
VISIT the Catholic Miscellany
For the most up-to-date information from the diocese visit: charlestondiocese.org/events.
Read the FEBRUARY 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.