Prot. N. 2025/002
JACQUES FABRE-JEUNE, CS
By the Grace of God and the Authority of the Apostolic See
Bishop of Charleston
Decree Erecting the Church of San Sebastian
as a Personal Parish in
Greenville, South Carolina
Canon 515 §2: It is only for the diocesan bishop to erect, suppress, or alter parishes. He is neither to erect, suppress, nor alter notably parishes, unless he has heard the presbyteral council.
Canon 518: When it is expedient, however, personal parishes are to be established by reason of the rite, language, or nationality of the Christian faithful of some territory, or even for some other reason.
Whereas the Guatemalan communities of Upstate South Carolina laid the foundation for the Mission of San Sebastian to be established in 2012 within the territory of Saint Mary’s Church in Greenville, South Carolina to meet the spiritual needs of Spanish-speaking Catholics, especially those from Guatemala and Mexico; and
Whereas this vibrant community has continued to flourish and grow; and
Wherefore, willingly desiring in all things to promote the greater glory of God and desirous of providing for the good of souls; and
Whereas having ascertained that there are sufficient means and resources for the support of the Pastor and for the proper maintenance of the temporal goods of the Parish; and
Having sought and heard the counsel of the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Charleston on 25 February 2025; and
Having faithfully observed the requirements of the law; and
To Provide more suitably for the spiritual and pastoral care of souls; and
Invoking the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and of His Holy Mother, the Ever-Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Holy Martyr Sebastian;
I, the undersigned Bishop of Charleston, exercising my ordinary power in accordance with the norms of canons 515 §2 and 518, herewith create and erect the Church of San Sebastian as a Personal Parish in Greenville, South Carolina, with all the rights, obligations, and privileges granted it by law.
This Personal Parish has been created and erected for the Catholic Faithful domiciled in Greenville County South Carolina and the surrounding area who are Spanish-speaking and those who are from Central or South America, especially the native peoples of Guatemala and Mexico. This Personal Parish is assigned to the Greenville Deanery.
In the allocation of patrimonial goods, rights, and obligations, equity and justice must be observed, and the intentions of founders and donors must be respected (c. 122, 1°-2°).
We concede and decree that the said Parish and Church shall enjoy all rights and privileges, which by law, parish churches possess by virtue of the universal law of the Church and the particular law and lawful customs of our Diocese.
This Decree is effective beginning 13 May 2025, the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima, and the Decree is to be communicated to the faithful of the Diocese and to the Pastor of the newly created Parish (c. 532).
This Decree is to be published on the website of the Diocese of Charleston, which will constitute the official notification of this action. The Pastor may challenge this Decree within the peremptory time limit of ten days from the legitimate notification of the Decree and in accordance with the norm of law (c. 1734 §2).
Given at the Chancery in Charleston, South Carolina on 3 March 2025, the Memorial of Saint Katharine Drexel.
The Most Reverend Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS
Bishop of Charleston
The Very Reverend Jay Scott Newman, JCL
Chancellor