-
August 9, 2023On July 2, 2023, the Redemptorists completed their 93-year mission to the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina. Arriving in May 1930, the Redemptorists began serving the rural poor, especially African Americans in Orangeburg. They established St. Joseph’s Church for African Americans in Spartanburg in 1940 and served until 1962, leaving the parish because of its lack of growth over those 22 years. They established St. Gerard’s in Aiken which continues to serve as a parish on the west side of Aiken. In the 1980s, Bishop Thompson asked the Redemptorists to establish a parish on Hilton Head Island, primarily for the workers who lived on the north end of the Island. With changing tax laws and development of the island, the lower income workers moved from the island. Once the church and school of St. Francis by the Sea were built the Redemptorists gave the care of the parish to the Diocese.
In the meantime, with changing conditions in the Orangeburg out missions, a new church on the edge of the city, the Redemptorists returned the pastoral care to the bishop who asked that we provide a community to serve two churches in Sumter to replace the Oblates of Mary Immaculate who were leaving. After 16 years in Sumter, the Redemptorists in 2015, were asked by the bishop to send at least two confreres to Our Lady of the Hills Parish in Columbia. The original community was made up of Fr. John Murray II and Fr. Peter Sousa. We were joined by Fr. Rodney Olive in 2018. At the last quadrennium Fathers Blas Caceres and George Rosario (Majella Vice Province) with Peter Sousa provided the pastoral care of the parish. It has had a continuing growing Hispanic population and a vibrant English-speaking community.
The Redemptorists also assisted the diocese as the chaplains to the Diocesan Evangelization Team and by helping in neighboring parishes. Fr. Sousa served on the Diocesan Presbyterial Council and the Seminary Admissions Board.
On June 3, 2023, the present ordinary, Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS and the previous ordinary, Bishop Robert Guglielmone, celebrated a special Mass that commemorated the 50th anniversary of the parish and the farewell to the Redemptorists. Fathers Blas Caceres, George Rosario, Michael Koncik, John Murray II, John Tizio, Peter Sousa and the two vicar generals of the Diocese Monsignors Anthony Droze and Richard Harris concelebrated with the bishops. It was a bittersweet event but filled with hope. Following the Mass, over 350 parishioners came together for a festive meal in the gymnasium. All enjoyed the gathering and celebrated the accomplishments that have taken place in the parish since its founding but were saddened at the departure of the Redemptorists.
On Sunday, June 25th, a farewell Mass was presided over by Father Mike Koncik at Corpus Christi Church in Lexington, SC. This was the parish he resided at while he did his prison ministry. He also assisted in the parish. He was assisted by his Redemptorist confreres and a few diocesan priests. The church was full as the members of the parish, Catholic Charities, his prison chaplain colleagues, Knights of Columbus, and the Kairos community gathered to wish him farewell. A reception followed in the parish hall.
Although the planned departure was for June 15th, the Redemptorists were asked to remain until July 2nd. Finally on June 20 Father Bruce Barnett was appointed pastor and Fr. Santiago Guzman was appointed parochial vicar. That final weekend so many people expressed how sorry they were to see the Redemptorists depart. We had touched their lives, helped them grow in their faith, helped them love Our Mother of Perpetual Help, and left them with an experience of our Alphonsian message, “with him there is plentiful redemption.”
