Whereas the growth of the Catholic Faithful within the state of South Carolina has led to the determination that a new configuration of seven vicariates forane would better serve the needs of the Diocese of Charleston; and
Whereas to foster pastoral care through common action as well as ensure that the spiritual needs of the growing Faithful are met, it is now deemed necessary to establish seven vicariates forane within the Diocese of Charleston; and
Having sought and heard the counsel of the Presbyteral Council of the Diocese of Charleston on January 19, 2015, and in accordance with the norms of canon 374 §2, and by testimony of this document;
I HEREBY ESTABLISH seven vicariates forane within the Diocese of Charleston which shall be apportioned as follows:
The Aiken Deanery shall comprise the counties of Abbeville, Aiken, Barnwell, Edgefield, Greenwood, and McCormick.
The Beaufort Deanery shall comprise the counties of Allendale, Bamberg, Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper.
The Charleston Deanery shall comprise the counties of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester.
The Columbia Deanery shall comprise the counties of Calhoun, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, and Sumter.
The Greenville Deanery shall comprise the counties of Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and Union.
The Myrtle Beach Deanery shall comprise the counties of Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, and Williamsburg.
The Rock Hill Deanery shall comprise the counties of Chester, Lancaster, and York.
I further direct that this decree be published on the website for the Diocese of Charleston, sccatholic.org, which will be presumed the official notification of this action.
The establishment of seven vicariates forane within the Diocese of Charleston is to become effective April 5, 2015, nothing the contrary withstanding.
Given at Charleston, South Carolina, on the 3rd day of March 2015.
_________________________________
Most Reverend Robert E. Guglielmone
Bishop of Charleston
_________________________________
Sr. Sandra Makowski, SSMN, JCL
Chancellor