Parish Life

JAMES ISLAND--Mike O'Neale caught this rainbow behind the Church of the Nativity before the 9 a.m. Mass on Easter Sunday, March 30.

AIKEN--St Gerard Church was awarded a trophy for the religious entry in the Aiken Christmas parade. The float theme was Joy to the World the Angels Sing. Sunday school students and instructors were dressed as shepherds and angels. 

This is the second year that St Gerard had a float in the parade.

Submitted by Wayman J. Johnson

GREENVILLE—Twenty-three people from St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church and Longbranch Baptist Church of Greenville joined forces to mark the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 22.

St. Anthony's pastor, Franciscan Father Patrick Tuttle, chauffered the parish bus which carried the representatives to Furman University for a lecture on "Visualizing Emancipation" by Edward Ayers, historian and president of the University of Richmond.  The talk was the last in a series sponsored by Furman and the Upcountry Historical Museum to mark the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's Jan. 1, 1863, action freeing 3.1 million African-American slaves in the South.

St. Anthony's bus was equipped with a selection of rousing African American Spirituals and the travelers sang joyfully along the way.

Ayers presented a historical context of the proclamation, noting that it was unexpected by most. He said the recent blockbuster movie "Lincoln" understated the rancor and dissension that gripped the country at the time in both the North and the South.  He said the presidential decree freeing the slaves would probably not have occurred if the Southern states had not taken the drastic step of seceding from the Union.

Ayers also noted that slaves in the Kentucky, which remained in the Union, were not affected by the release which only applied to the states in rebellion. He said the whole event seemed small in the perspective to the next 100 years of segregation, discrimination, unemployment, and poverty that gripped blacks in the South. In response to a question from Jesse Bowens of St. Anthony about the real impact of the proclamation, he responded that one key result that should never be forgotten was that "no one could ever again sell your children."

After the presentation and Q&A period, the attendees from the two churches repaired to a nearby mountain — "Yogurt Mountain" that is — for refreshments and fellowship hosted by St. Anthony before boarding the bus and again joining together in song as they made their way home.

Submitted by Don Kilburg

CHARLESTON—Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone celebrated the annual chrism Mass before
a packed congregation at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

Traditionally held on the Tuesday of Holy Week, it is the time when diocesan priests  renew their pledge to serve the people of God.

One lady put her hand over her heart and smiled as she watched over 120 priests process into the church.

Bishop Guglielmone noted the large turnout of priests and their parishioners, and thanked everyone for making the journey.

Chrism is consecrated oil used in Greek and Latin churches, so the annual event is also called the Mass of the Oils.

During the liturgy, the bishop consecrates all the sacred oils that will be used in sacraments during the coming year. They are the oil of catechumens, used in baptism; oil of the sick, to anoint the ill; and oil of sacred chrism, considered the chief anointing oil and used for sacraments of initiation, dedications and holy orders.

The bishop explained that the oils he consecrated during Mass are the oils used throughout the diocese. During his homily, Bishop Guglielmone spoke about his recent vacation and the time it gave him to reflect on Holy Week.

“I kept coming back to the same question,” he said. “Why?”

Why did Jesus receive a triumphant welcome into Jerusalem just to be crucified one week later? Why did he suffer such anguish all for us?

And more to the point of the day, why do priests come before God and His people each year to renew their vows?

Bishop Guglielmone said that everyone is called in some capacity. Some are called to be ordained priests, and given the mission and challenge to care for God’s sheep.

This is not an easy role to carry out, the bishop said, but priests answer the call every day despite their human weaknesses.

Referring to the Gospel of John, the bishop reflected on the connection between Jesus, Peter and our priests today.

When Peter affirmed three times that he did indeed love the Lord, Jesus told him to act upon that love by going forth into the world to care for His people. This is still the call of priests, and they do so in a multitude of ways.

As a sign of their gratitude, the congregation stood at the close of the chrism Mass and
applauded their modern day disciples.

A luncheon was held after the Mass and Bishop Guglielmone paid tribute to the clergy who have jubilees coming up this year.

Trappist Father Feliciano Manalili; Father Robert Vogt, retired; and Adorno Fathers  Nicholas Capetola and Frank Palmieri will all celebrate 50 years.

Also, celebrating 25 years are Fathers Maximino E. Tria Jr., John Bosco Duraisamy, Raymond J. Carlo, Michael F. McCafferty and
James M. Crowley.