Jesus in 41 Persons More!

Yesterday morning, Bishop Fabre walked into a Catholic school on the coast, and what unfolded was a reminder of why our faith is worth everything.

This past Sunday, 41 students from St. Francis School in Hilton Head received the Eucharist for the very first time. This morning, dressed in the same clothes they wore for that sacred moment, they processed into St. Francis by the Sea Church and placed flowers on a statue of Our Lady in a beautiful May crowning.

“There must be something in the air here,” Bishop Fabre said. “Jesus is in 41 persons more!”

THE HOMILY YOU WON’T FORGET

The bishop invited 26 students up during his homily — each one represented either the 7 deadly sins, the 7 cardinal virtues, the 10 Commandments or the 2 greatest commandments. One by one, students read their cards aloud while Bishop Fabre wove together a message about what it means to stay rooted in Christ.

“We must be connected with Jesus. We are the branch and he is the vine. If there is no love, then we are not connected,” he said.

FAITHFUL TEACHERS RECOGNIZED

For Teacher Appreciation Week, Principal Andrea Smith honored each faculty and staff member by name before the bishop conferred on them a special blessing. His message for the St. Francis staff was that teachers hold three sacred responsibilities in training the body, mind and spirit of their students.

He also reminded everyone (and us) that the very first teacher of the Diocese of Charleston was, is, and always will be, Jesus Christ.

The very first teacher was, is, and always will be, Jesus Christ! – Bishop Fabre

BISHOP HITS THE PLAYGROUND

After Mass, Bishop Fabre made his way through all classrooms, welcoming questions from “How long have you been bishop?” to “What position did you play in baseball?” He answered each with a smile.

When he reached the younger grades during recess, something remarkable happened: the children dropped what they were doing and ran to him! He played soccer and accepted handfuls of smooshed wildflowers.

St. Francis by the Sea is a school of 177 students in pre-K through eighth grade, and this morning was a sweet reminder that the size of a community has nothing to do with the depth of its faith.

DAY 2

St. Peter School in Beaufort is next, and the bishop will visit St. Francis Center on St. Helena Island, an outreach program of the Sisters of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. Come back for a full recap on the bishop’s next stop!

May the beauty from today encourage your parish, your school and your family to continue to learn from Jesus, the Great Teacher.

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Please credit: Doug Deas/The Miscellany

This story is part of Bishop Fabre’s ongoing pastoral visits throughout the Diocese of Charleston. From small towns to growing cities, these visits celebrate the people and communities living the faith across our state. Visit the main Pastoral Visits page to explore the map, catch up on recent stops, and follow the journey as it continues throughout the year.