Parish Blog

Summer News

07-29-2018Pastor's Letter Rev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As I announced at Mass last Sunday, with sadness we will soon say goodbye to Father Michel as he undertakes the next chapter in his priestly ministry as Administrator of St. Louis Catholic Church in Dillon, SC, and Infant Jesus Mission in Marion, SC (not far from Florence, SC). Always we know in the back of our minds that our parochial vicars are here for a time and then “graduate” to leading parishes of their own. Mark your calendars: Father Michel's last Sunday as parochial vicar of St. Mary’s will be August 12. We will have a special farewell reception for him that day in St. Angela Hall from 2:00-3:30pm. And please pray for Fr. Michel and his bright future. The process of naming a new parochial vicar is in the works, and we hope to be able to announce that soon.

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Living God's Plan - Not Mine

07-22-2018Pastor's Letter Rev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Last Sunday was our summer seminarian Rafa’s last with us, and he has departed to capture some vacation time before soon heading back to St. Mary’s Seminary in Houston. Although you may have caught only a glimpse of him at Sunday and, perhaps, daily Masses, Rafa was extremely active, most especially with our youth programs. Please continue to pray for Rafa as he prepares to enter 2nd Theology; and remember to pray for all of our seminarians. We are grateful to God for their willing sacrifice.

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A Pilgrim People

07-15-2018Pastor's LetterDeacon Bob and Donna Pierce

Dear St. Mary’s Family,

We want to thank Fr. Wilson for allowing us to share his column. From May 26 to June 7, we had the privilege of walking the Camino Primitivo, the original pilgrimage route to the body of St. James the Apostle in Compostela, Spain. This route is shorter (only 210 miles) than the route Fr. Wilson took a couple years ago, but was more remote and mountainous. It was quite a pilgrimage, beginning at the cathedral in Oviedo that contains the head cloth (cf. Jn 20:8) at Jesus’ burial, which is different than the shroud that covered his body. Our first rest day came eight days later in Lugo, where the cathedral has maintained perpetual adoration of Jesus in the Eucharist for over 1000 years. We experienced the pageantry of a Eucharistic procession in Lugo on the Feast of Corpus Christi. The pilgrimage ended in Compostela, at the relics of St. James, the brother of St. John the Evangelist.

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The True Happiness of Our Vocation

07-08-2018Pastor's LetterRafael Ghattas, Seminarian

Father Wilson asked me to write something for St Mary's bulletin. I apologize in advance, it is my first time doing so. To begin, allow me to share with you one of my favorite verses in the bible, which is John 21:15.

"Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Feed my lambs.'"

This encounter between Peter and Jesus comes at the last chapter of the gospel of John, and I am pretty sure John did not put it there by coincidence. John meant to end his gospel with this intimate dialogue between the two old friends, Jesus and Peter.

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God Bless America

07-01-2018Pastor's LetterFr. Gregory B. Wilson

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, please note that Mass on Wednesday, July 4th is moved to 9:00am in Old St. Mary’s. Also, join us for a special Holy Hour and Rosary for our nation before Mass, beginning at 8:00am.

Below is a wonderful prayer for our nation based on one by Archbishop John Carroll, first bishop in the United States, composed in 1791 for the inauguration of George Washington as President and recited in all parishes. May you all have a safe and happy holiday.

–Father Wilson

We pray, O almighty and eternal God, who through Jesus Christ has revealed Your glory to all nations, to preserve the works of your mercy; that your Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of Your name.

We pray You, who alone are good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, Pope Francis, the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, Robert, all other bishops and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Your people into the ways of salvation.

We pray You O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Your Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the president of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Your people over whom he presides. Let the light of Your divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, and may perpetuate to us the blessings liberty.

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He must increase…

06-24-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“He must increase; I must decrease.” – St. John 3:30

Before continuing with our Ordinary – or numbered – Time, we pause to celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Generally, the Church only celebrates the birth into heaven of Saints, i.e., their day of death. But in fact, there are three earthly birthdays – or nativities – that we celebrate: Jesus at Christmas (of course), the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sept. 8), and today (June 24), St. John the Baptist.

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A Safe Environment for Everyone

06-17-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It has been fifteen years since the implementation of the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" in the United States. Our diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Miscellany, reported the results of the most recent audit conducted between July 1, 2016, and June 30, 2017, by the independent auditor StoneBridge Business Partners. I thought it an opportune time to comment on our efforts here in the Diocese of Charleston and St. Mary's parish in particular to ensure the safest environment possible for our young people and vulnerable adults.

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Making Time For God

06-10-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This past Wednesday was our final school Mass for the academic year and also the final school Mass for our retiring principal, Mrs. Marguerite "Peggy" Wertz. We have been extremely blessed to have the leadership of Mrs. Wertz these many years. Saint Mary's School has flourished under her capable guidance. I am personally grateful to Mrs. Wertz not only for her expert hand in forming our children in faith and knowledge, but also for staying a whole year past the time she planned to retire in order for us to find the best successor. So, let's all give a collective, "Thank you, Mrs. Wertz!"

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Feast of Corpus Christi

06-03-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Welcome to our summer seminarian, Rafael Ghattas! Rafa is entering 2nd year theology at St. Mary's Seminary in Houston, Texas. Rafa's home parish is St. Andrew's in Myrtle Beach. Be sure to give him a warm St. Mary's welcome when you see him!

"This is my Body… This is my Blood of the covenant" (Mark 14:22, 24). "My Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink." (John 6:54-55).

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Most Holy Trinity

05-27-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

First, please note the change in the daily Mass time for Memorial Day, Monday, May 28 at 9:00am. There will be no confessions or 5:30pm Mass this day.

This summer, St. Mary's warmly welcomes Rafael Ghattas, a seminarian for our diocese entering 2nd Year Theology at St. Mary's Seminary in Houston, Texas. Although originally from Egypt, Rafa's home parish is St. Andrew's in Myrtle Beach. Welcome, Rafa!

Don't forget that we will have a special Mass for our retiring school principal, Mrs. Peggy Wertz, Wednesday, June 6, at 8:30am in the church. After Mass, drop into St. Angela Hall to express your appreciation to Mrs. Wertz for her remarkable years of dedicated service to our school and parish communities.

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Pentecost

05-20-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Congratulations to Jimmy Touzeau and Francisco Vargas, who were ordained as transitional deacons Friday, May 18. (Transitional deacons are seminarians who are ordained on the way to priesthood, as compared to our permanent deacons.) Many of you will remember Deacon Touzeau when he was assigned as a seminarian here the summer of 2015. Please continue to pray for him and his classmate as they complete their last year of seminary and prepare for ordination to the priesthood during the summer of 2019. Congratulations, Deacons!

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Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

05-13-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Deacon Robert Waters, who has served our parish and the Diocese of Charleston for decades, the last twenty-seven years of which in Holy Orders as a Deacon, entered into eternal rest at his home in Aiken on Monday, May 7, surrounded by his loving family, including his wife of fifty-six years, Donna. (Since the bulletin must go to print on Tuesday morning, full arrangements have not been made as I write this.) Deacon Bob's greatest love was our Lord. He was able to love everyone in the deepest, most beautiful way because he loved them through the love of Christ his Lord. He was likely the person most prepared for death that I've seen. In the words of one of his daughters: "My father looked at death as a very beautiful thing. He said he always waited for the special moment that he would be with our Lord. ... His wish to his family was to always love the Lord because He was good to him and helped him at the lowest moments of his life. Let us go and rejoice in the Lord because my father made it to the place he worked his whole life to get to." Well done, good and faithful Deacon. May you rest in peace. Amen.

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Mrs. Wertz is Retiring

05-06-2018Pastor's LetterRev. Gregory B. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Welcome one and all to our annual Parish Picnic! Every first Sunday of May, we gather as one parish after Holy Mass for food, fun and fellowship. One of the difficulties of a large parish is that, if we are not careful, it can become like five smaller parishes who use one campus. Since we are by nature creatures of habit (and that can be just fine in general), we usually like "our" Mass time and rarely go to other Masses. One unfortunate result is that those at one Mass time may never get to meet anyone else of the over 1,800 families, or roughly over 4,500 registered souls, who are also part of the broader St. Mary's family. So hopefully, for this hour, we have broken out of our comfort zones and are attending the events today. Try to introduce yourself to parishioners you haven't met. You can always start with, "Hello! What Mass do you usually go to?"

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