To See the Beauty of the Church
On May 8, Bishop Fabre concluded this first leg of his Beaufort Deanery visits with stops at two of the diocese’s vibrant Catholic schools: St. Gregory the Great and John Paul II.
The day was filled with the joy of first Communion, the energy of curious students, and the quiet witness of communities doing the work of the Church faithfully and well. The theme that wove through every moment was one the bishop has returned to again and again on this journey: a shepherd must go to his sheep.
“THAT FRIEND IS JESUS”
At St. Gregory the Great School, the morning began as it should, with the children leading the way as first Communion students processed in before the bishop at Mass. This celebration included a May crowning and the “sending of the 26,” with the bishop’s repeated theme to schools on commandments and virtues.
Bishop Fabre reminded the new communicants that, “When you have a friend, you want to see and hear [that] friend as much as you can. That friend is Jesus!”
St. Gregory the Great parish responded with the kind of warmth that only comes from years of deep investment, as this community made it the most well-attended Mass from the deanery. And, the school bears the fruit of that investment. With 185 students, it is a growing community shaped by 18 years of pastoral presence from Msgr. Ronal R. Cellini, pastor, and the dedication of Principal Beth Kelley, who was the school’s very first teacher when it opened in 2006.
It was also a day for a tender farewell. Bishop Fabre acknowledged Father Daniel Perry’s upcoming departure to a new assignment. “You never forget your first parish, your first love. That is where you learned to become a priest.”
SERVICE, FAITH & EXCELLENCE
Across town, John Paul II School offered a different and equally inspiring picture of Catholic education. What began in 2013 with 57 students has grown into a thriving community of 413, a testimony to vision, perseverance and trust in God’s provision.
When Bishop Fabre invited the students to ask him anything, high schoolers who were initially shy quickly opened up. Their questions ranged from sports to seminary memories, and the bishop met every one of them with warmth and humor.
A JPII senior who once struggled to speak English now volunteers every Sunday to tutor bilingual children in the language she worked so hard to learn. These are just some of the exceptional stories and fruits of a school that makes service, faith and excellence inseparable.
A moment worth remembering
One moment stood out above the others. Leo and Angelo Iskandar, (pictured above, center and right respectively), inspired by faith and love for their family, have raised more than $16,000 to rebuild their mother’s home parish in Lebanon — a church destroyed by violence.
“The purpose is for me as a shepherd to see the beauty of the Church.” — Bishop Fabre
LOOKING AHEAD
For those of us in ministry — whether in a parish, a school or a diocesan office — it can be easy to feel like the work we do goes unseen. These visits remind us otherwise. The Church in South Carolina is alive. In every classroom where a priest shows up on a Monday morning, in every confession offered on a rotating schedule, in every student who discovers that service is a way of life, the Kingdom of God is being built. You are not alone in that work! What he has found, week after week, is beauty in abundance.
Bishop Fabre will continue his deanery visit to Beaufort in June to visit every parish. This is his third pastoral visit following the Aiken and Rock Hill deaneries last year! So, stay connected with us through our diocesan communications for updates on upcoming visits. And, if he’s not been to your deanery yet, don’t worry — he will!
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Please credit: Doug Deas/The Miscellany