Grace Thompson
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston is the only diocese in South Carolina, covering the entire state. Established in 1820 by Pope Pius VII, it is the seventh-oldest Catholic diocese in the United States. Charleston is the see city, and the diocese consists of 95-96 parishes, 21 missions, and 32 diocesan schools. The current bishop of Charleston is Jacques Fabre-Jeune, appointed in 2020, and he is the first African American to hold this position.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Diocese of Charleston |
| Location | South Carolina |
| Date Established | July 11, 1820 |
| Established By | Pope Pius VII |
| Number of Parishes | 95 or 96 |
| Number of Missions | 21 |
| Number of Diocesan Schools | 32 |
| Bishop | Jacques Fabre-Jeune |
| Population of South Carolina | Over 5.2 million |
| Percentage of Population that is Catholic | 10% |
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What You'll Learn
The Diocese of Charleston
The history of the Diocese of Charleston is a rich and complex one. In 1824, the diocese began work on St. Peter's Church in Columbia. The construction of railroads in the Midlands region of South Carolina attracted Irish Catholic families, leading to the assignment of a priest to that region in 1821. The first bishop, John England, travelled extensively throughout his diocese, meeting with parishioners and ministering to their needs. He also established the Philosophical and Classical College and Seminary of Charleston in 1832 to address the shortage of priests. During the cholera and yellow fever epidemics in Charleston, Bishop England joined priests and nuns in caring for the sick. He also preached to African Americans and celebrated an early mass for them every Sunday.
In 1855, Monsignor Patrick Lynch became the new Bishop of Charleston. Unfortunately, a fire in December 1861 destroyed the Cathedral of Saint John and Saint Finbar, the bishop's residence, and the diocesan library. The Union Army's artillery bombardment of Charleston during the American Civil War closed most churches and impoverished their congregations. By the end of the war in 1865, the diocese faced a significant financial crisis, with debts exceeding $200,000. Despite these challenges, the Diocese of Charleston has persevered and continues to serve the Catholic community in South Carolina.
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The Catholic Church's mission
The Catholic Church has one diocese in South Carolina, the Diocese of Charleston, which encompasses the entire state. It was established on July 11, 1820, by Pope Pius VII, making it the seventh-oldest Catholic diocese in the United States.
The Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ, has endured for over 2,000 years. The Church's primary mission is to spread the kingdom of God, which broadly means the reign of righteousness, justice, and peace. The Church strives to promote a culture that upholds the common good, the dignity of every human person, the sacredness of all life, and the transcendentals of truth, goodness, and beauty.
The Church's mission is also to communicate the divine life to mankind, so that we can, by God's grace, be true children of God. This is known as the "trinitarian mission", which includes the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Caring for the poor and needy is an important aspect of the Church's mission. Pope Francis emphasized that the Church is called to be the house of the Father, with doors always wide open. This openness and inclusivity are key to the Church's mission, as it seeks to empower the poor and marginalized.
The Church provides quality education to youth, outreach and ministry to those in need, and the holy Sacraments, which are the fonts of sanctifying grace. Through faith and good works, the collective Church acts to build the Kingdom of God on earth.
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Parishioner increase
The Diocese of Charleston, established in 1820, covers the entire state of South Carolina. It is the seventh-oldest Catholic diocese in the United States. The diocese consists of 95 parishes and 21 missions, with Charleston as its see city.
South Carolina has witnessed a significant increase in its Catholic population over the years. In 1832, the Catholic population of the diocese was estimated to be approximately 7,500 in South Carolina, 3,000 in Georgia, and 500 in North Carolina. However, in the 1980s, South Carolina was considered the least Catholic state in the country, with only 2% of the population identifying as Catholic.
The tides turned following Pope John Paul II's historic visit to the University of South Carolina in 1987. The Pope's message of embracing "truth, freedom, and service to humanity" resonated with many, and the state has seen a steady growth in its Catholic community ever since.
In recent years, South Carolina has experienced a notable surge in Catholic parishioners. According to statistics, there has been a remarkable 14% increase in registered parishioners within the Diocese of Charleston over the last decade. This growth is attributed to several factors, including an influx of converts, individuals relocating to the South, and a strong rise in Catholicism among the state's younger population.
The Catholic Church in South Carolina is vibrant and dynamic, with a dedicated community of devout Catholics committed to deepening their faith. The diocese has also seen an increase in vocations, with more seminarians in formation than ever before. The high number of seminarians reflects a thriving Catholic community that is actively engaging with its faith and seeking to serve the Church.
The Diocese of Charleston provides quality education, outreach, and ministry to those in need. It operates 32 diocesan schools, including 5 high schools, and offers the holy Sacraments to its parishioners. The diocese is committed to promoting a culture that upholds the common good, the dignity of every person, and the sacredness of life.
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Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune
There is one Catholic diocese in South Carolina, the Diocese of Charleston, which was established on July 11, 1820, by Pope Pius VII. It is the seventh-oldest Catholic diocese in the United States.
Bishop Jacques Eric Fabre-Jeune, C.S., was appointed by Pope Francis as the 14th Bishop of Charleston on February 22, 2022. He is the first Haitian-American to head a diocese in the United States and the first African-American Bishop of Charleston. He was consecrated bishop on May 13, 2022, at the Charleston Gaillard Center.
Fabre-Jeune was born on November 13, 1955, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. As a teenager, he emigrated to the United States and settled in New York City, where he completed his secondary education. He joined the Scalabrinians (the Missionaries of St. Charles) and took his first vows in 1982. He was ordained a priest on October 10, 1986, and served in a variety of roles in places such as Cuba, Colombia, Rome, the Dominican Republic, Florida, and Georgia.
During the Haitian refugee crisis in 1990, he was assigned as a chaplain to Haitian detainees at Guantanamo Bay, where he was involved in an altercation with U.S. military police while protecting a detainee. From 1991 to 2002, he pastored a parish in San Pedro de Macorís in the Dominican Republic, working with Haitian immigrants and developing community services in a tense racial environment.
Since becoming Bishop of Charleston, Fabre-Jeune has emphasized inclusion, youth engagement, and immigration reform. He has visited nearly all parishes in the diocese and launched listening sessions to assess pastoral needs and administrative transparency. He is fluent in five languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Haitian Creole.
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The Diocese's history
The Dioceses History
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston, established on July 11, 1820, by Pope Pius VII, is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church for the state of South Carolina in the United States. It is the seventh-oldest Catholic diocese in the country. The diocese originally encompassed South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, but now only covers South Carolina.
The first bishop of Charleston was John England, who travelled extensively throughout his diocese to meet his parishioners. He celebrated an early mass for African Americans every Sunday and preached at a Vesper service. During the cholera and yellow fever epidemics in Charleston, he joined priests and nuns in caring for the sick. In 1834, he recruited a group of Ursuline nuns from Ireland to teach and minister in the diocese.
The current bishop of Charleston is Jacques Fabre-Jeune, the first African American to hold this post. The diocese consists of 95-96 parishes, 21 missions, and 32 diocesan schools, including 5 high schools. Charleston is the see city. The diocese has seen a recent surge in vocations, with more seminarians than ever before in its recent history. There has also been a 14% increase in registered parishioners over the last decade, partly due to an influx of converts and individuals moving to the South.
The Catholic Church in South Carolina has faced legal challenges in recent years. In 2021, the diocese sued the State of South Carolina over a provision in the state constitution forbidding the use of public funds for private schools. This provision blocked the diocese from receiving grants from the 2020 Federal CARES Act.
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Frequently asked questions
There is one Catholic diocese in South Carolina, the Diocese of Charleston.
The Diocese of Charleston was established on July 11, 1820, by Pope Pius VII.
The Diocese of Charleston currently consists of 95 or 96 parishes and 21 missions.
As of 2023, the current bishop of Charleston is Jacques Fabre-Jeune.
The population of South Carolina exceeds 5.2 million, of which an estimated 10% are Catholic.
