Pope Francis has appointed an order priest born in Haiti as the new pastoral leader for the Diocese of Charleston. Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone introduced Father Jacques Fabre, CS, today as the 14th Bishop of Charleston. Bishop-elect Fabre is a member of the religious order the Missionaries of St. Charles (Scalabrinian Fathers).

“I am humbled to be named Bishop of Charleston and look forward to serving the people of South Carolina,” said Bishop-elect Fabre. “As shepherd, it is my hope to work together to strengthen our Church and project God’s love to all who we encounter.”

Bishop-elect Fabre was born on Nov. 13, 1955, in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. He immigrated to New York City while in high school and completed his secondary education. He joined the order of the Missionaries of St. Charles and took his first vows in 1982. Four years later, on Oct. 10, 1986, he was ordained to the priesthood in Brooklyn, NY. Over the past 35 years, Bishop-elect Fabre served in various locations and in a variety of roles:

• 1986-1990 — Our Lady of Guadalupe in Immokalee, Fla.
• 1990-1991 — Parochial Vicar in Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Delrey Beach, Fla., and Aggiornamento Course ITEPAL Social Communication and Enculturation of the Gospel in Colombia
• 1991-1992 — Ministry to Haitian Refugees as Chaplain in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
• 1992-2004 — Administrator of Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre in San Pedro de Macorís D.R.
• 2004-2006 — Human Mobility in Rome
• 2007-2008 — Parochial Vicar at St. Joseph in Athens, Ga.

Since 2008, Bishop-elect Fabre has served as administrator of Mission San Felipe de Jesus in Forest Park, Ga. He speaks five languages including English, Spanish, Italian, French and Creole.

Bishop-elect Fabre will succeed Most Rev. Robert E. Guglielmone, DD, who has served as the Bishop of Charleston since March 2009.

“As Bishop of Charleston, it has been a pleasure to serve the faithful in South Carolina. Together, we have served the less fortunate, developed new programs, opened additional schools and outreach centers, and built new churches,” said Bishop Guglielmone. “There is so much more to be done and I’m more than confident that Bishop-elect Fabre will serve our diocese well in the upcoming years.”

Bishop-elect Fabre will be installed as the 14th Bishop of Charleston on April 29.