The Sending of the 26
There are days working in ministry when the Church becomes more luminous. than visible! Yesterday was one of those days.
Bishop Fabre’s visit brought him through the doors of St. Peter School and St. Francis Center — two communities separated by a few miles of lowcountry, and united by the same commitment to the people of God. From a military family receiving their first true welcome to a grandmother receiving a recliner so she can finally sit without pain, the Church was present and doing what we have always done, showing up!
The theme that wove itself through every moment of the day was that faithful presence changes everything.
SCHOOL THAT GROWS BECAUSE IT LOVES
Nestled beside its parish in Beaufort, St. Peter is a vibrant, living school, as this visit made abundantly clear. Principal Kevin Fanter, approaching his one-year mark, greets every student, parent and passerby like a long-lost friend. His energy is contagious. Father Andrew Trapp, pastor, visits classrooms at least once a week, and the warmth between him and the school community is the kind you feel when you step inside.
St. Peter is home to 155 students in K3 through sixth-grade, and it has seen steady enrollment over the last few years. Father Trapp credits every person on staff who works tirelessly to make personal connections with each family. That effort shows.
“We are here together to do our best for Jesus.” —Bishop Fabre
Like he did the day before, Bishop Fabre led 26 children in a memorable teaching exercise of representing the 10 Commandments, the 7 deadly sins, the 7 cardinal virtues, and the 2 greatest commandments. The kids in the choir loft were practically climbing over each other just to be included!
PURPLE STAR FAMILY SUPPORT
St. Peter is the first Catholic school in the lowcountry to earn the Purple Star designation, an accreditation recognizing schools that are exceptionally committed to the educational and social-emotional needs of military-connected students. With families stationed across multiple bases nearby, this honor couldn’t be more fitting. Principal Fanter, himself from a military family, brings a personal understanding to his role.
Speakers at the ceremony included representatives from the SC Department of Education, the SC MCEC, the SC Department of Veteran’s Affairs, and the Beaufort County School District.
A moment worth remembering
A little girl asked the bishop to pray for her father, who deployed just two weeks ago. He set down the microphone and spoke to her one on one, as she held his pectoral cross in her hands. It was a reminder of exactly why St. Peter has dedicated itself to supporting its military community.
THE SISTERS WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY
If you want to see the Catholic commitment to human dignity in action, look no further than the St. Francis Center on St. Helena Island, operated by the Sisters of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. Co-directors Sister Marcine Klocko and Sister Canice Adams have steered this ministry since July 2013, and what they have built is extraordinary.
The center serves migrant farmworkers, the hungry, elderly, families in crisis and anyone in need of a hand, or a recliner. Yes, a recliner!
Their ministry spans a food pantry, thrift store, home repairs, scholarship support, English language instruction, temporary housing assistance, and some of the most creative community outreach you’ll ever hear about. Within the last fiscal year:
- 5,045 individuals served via the food pantry
- 49 home repair projects completed — including roofs and accessibility ramps
- $48,500 in scholarships raised for John Paul II School and college students
- 1,000+ air conditioners donated through Operation Breathe Easy
The second helping program, which offers fresh meat, produce and baked goods once a week, served 1,095 families. The food pantry, open twice weekly for non-perishables, helped 2,038 families. And the sisters’ Grandparents Free Shopping Day gathered over 1,000 toys last year for elderly grandparents to gift their grandchildren. The sisters demonstrate that dignity means being able to give, not just receive.
Their latest project is replacing worn-out chairs with comfortable rising recliners for the elderly. Fifty-seven have been donated so far, with a goal of 100.
“You connect with the community so well for three reasons: You are southern like them, you are religious, and you are a tough girl!” Bishop Fabre joked to Sister Canice.
Serving the community has never meant serving only Catholics. St. Francis Center helped rebuild a neighboring Baptist church, and their ecumenical partnerships are a testament to what genuine outreach looks like.
And don’t overlook the man who has kept the center’s grounds beautiful for 30 years: Guillermo, also known as William, who was there long before the current sisters arrived and is still going strong.
The campus itself reflects the spirit within: Marian blue and white on the outside, light and peaceful colors within. It is a place that evokes peace and love from those who step foot on the premise.
JOSEPH, A DREAM COAT, AND A SEND OFF
The evening before his school visit, Bishop Fabre was invited to watch the fifth and sixth grade production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The performance also marked the retirement of Dr. Pam Kane after a remarkable career directing the children’s theater program. The bishop blessed her and thanked her for her years of dedication.
True to form, Bishop Fabre gathered all the children at the front of the stage after the show for his signature “busy bee buzz” activity — and at one point had the whole group singing a piece from the show with hands waving in the air.
“I see the gifts God has instilled in different people, but at the end we are one Church.” — Bishop Fabre
DAY 3
St. Gregory the Great School in Bluffton and John Paul II School in Ridgeland are up next! This is the final day of this Pastoral Visit, but it will continue in June when he returns to the Beaufort Deanery to visitevery parish!
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Please credit: Doug Deas/The Miscellany