Saint Francis Caracciolo Catholic Church Mission at Cane Bay is the result of a tremendous investment of time, creativity and skills many of talented people, namely; Most Rev. Robert E. Guglielmone Bishop Emeritus of Charleston, Most Rev. Teodoro Kalaw, CRM Superior General of Adorno Fathers, Very Rev. Jason Caganap, CRM Delegation Superior of USA and Philippines, Rev. Noly Berjugea, CRM pastor of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Father Binil Jose Attappattu, CRM the priest in charge of the Mission. The Spirit is at work bringing vitality and spiritual growth that will exceed new and great expectations. The new mission expresses hope for the future and looks forward as living stones to strengthen and build up catholic faith in expanding rural surroundings of Cane Bay.

LOCATION OF THE NEW MISSION

The New mission is located at Cane Bay in Berkeley County the State of South Carolina. Catholic community at Cane Bay is fast growing, with committed and vibrant people. The mission community at Cane Bay now experiences renewed spirit through Sunday liturgy. Sunday liturgy is celebrated at Cane Bay Family YMCA, a recreational facility in the Cane Bay residential area and over 230 attendances for typical Sunday Mass. The weekday massed is celebrated at Living by Faith Baptist Church on Nexton Parkway which is located also in the neighborhood.

THE BLESSINGS AND MILESTONES

THE NAME FOR THE FUTURE CHURCH

The Catholic Community in Cane Bay was officially named as St. Francis Caracciolo Catholic Mission on July 06, 2022 by Most Rev. Robert E. Guglielmone, Bishop Emeritus of Charleston. His Excellency assured his prayers and blessings for the new community. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston Decreed Erecting the Mission of St. Francis Caracciolo in Summerville, South Carolina. DECREE OF ELEVATION AS MISSION PARISH held on Friday, September 24th, 2021.

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL COMMITTEE AND ALL OTHER COMMITTEE IN THE MISSION

Father Noly and Father Binil formed the St. Francis Caracciolo Leadership Council from the leaders of all the committee in the mission. This council was established to provide direction, communication, and relationship among all the committee of St. Francis Caracciolo Mission Church (StFCMC). The committee names are as Building Committee, Finance Committee, Membership Committee, Faith Formation, Sacristan, Lectors, Ushers and Greeters, Choir, Hospitality Capital Campaign, Saint Francis Caracciolo Women of Faith and the Prison Ministry. All the committee meet once in a month to discuss and evaluate progress the of the mission.

THE SUNDAY MASS

Saint Francis Caracciolo mission is rapidly growing and the mass attendance is increasing because of blessing of joining t younger families. The current average of Sunday Mass is 230 in number. The liturgy is enriched with faith-filled music presence and the sound equipment is set up each Sunday to enhance the Sunday Eucharistic celebration. In our mission the faithful come to holy Mass not because it’s an obligation. Rather, they attend Mass because it’s their loving response to the God who has loved them first.

 

 

WEEKDAY MASSES

A lease agreement was signed with the Living by Faith Baptist Church at 2328 Nexton Parkway, Summerville, SC for the weekday masses on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10:00 AM. In addition, confessions and the rosary are prayed after Tuesday Mass and the Divine Chaplet of Mercy are prayed after Friday Mass. Average Mass attendance is 30 in number. There were 144 worshippers at our recent Ash Wednesday Mass. Our schedule is little different during Lent. We are doing the ‘No Greater Love’ Bible Study from Ascension Press after our Tuesday Mass with 32 participants. On Fridays, we pray the Stations of the Cross after Mass. Confession are offered before and after each of the Masses. We are truly grateful for the kindness and generosity of our Christian brothers and sisters at Living by Faith Baptist Church.

FAITH FORMATION

Religious Education is now offered to children in K-6 grades. The classes are held at the Cane Bay YMCA from 8.45am till 9.45 am prior to our Sunday Mass. We currently have 25 children enrolled. On March 5th 2023, we celebrated our very First Reconciliation for the first communion students. Ten students received the sacrament and will continue to prepare for their First Holy Communion on May 21, 2023. Over the summer and continuing throughout the following years we plan to initiate a Children’s liturgy. We are currently in negotiation with the YMCA to utilize a children’s room during mass liturgy for about 20 minutes each Sunday.

SAINT FRANCIS CARACCIOLO WOMEN OF FAITH

Saint Francis Caracciolo Women of Faith is a spiritual group upholding the spirituality of Saint Francis Caraccilo. As the women of faith, they are able to build the real relationship with Jesus and enhance the faith through the life of Saint Francis Caracciolo. Saint Francis Caracciolo Women of Faith provide women with opportunities to lift one another up, and grow in godliness as they engage with God. Through this ministry, they come to Christ and grow in Christ, by understanding the gospel, responding to the gospel and applying in their lives.

SAINT FRANCIS CARACCIOLO PRISON MINISTRY

The Diocese of Charleston asked Saint Francis Caraccilo Mission to take care of Prison Ministry at MacDougall Correction Center. The mission received the permission from the State of South Carolina to visit the inmates on Thursdays. God seeks to set prisoners free not always from their physical prison, but certainly from their imprisonment by sin, ignorance, rebellion and foolish choices. Prison population grows larger and larger. Often, people come out of the prison worse than when they went in. Many commit more crimes and return to prison and get struck to in the cycle of crime, prison and release. The answer is not about more prisons. The answer is giving Jesus to the inmates. We try to do the liturgy both in English and Spanish and to enhance the participation in the liturgy. We make copies of “The Word Among Us”. These are the small booklets that come out each month; they have daily reflection and the readings for Mass each week. They are available in both English and Spanish. It makes easier for both English and Spanish speaking men to partake in holy Mass. Besides holy Mass we do the sacrament of confession and spiritual talks to the inmates. Yes, we understand that prisoners need regeneration not rehabilitation and as Jesus has commissioned His followers to reach beyond the barbed wire fences and steel bars to touch the lives of men and women bound by the shackles of sin.

THE NEW LAND PURCHASE

Presently, the Diocese of Charleston Real Estate Office is in negotiations for securing 16 acres of new land for the Church at the corner of Black Tom Road and State Road 176. It has been determined that this location would be a more pastoral setting for the new Church than the previously purchased land and owned by the Diocese of Charleston. We have selected Glick Boehm Architecture Firm to assist us in the design of our new Church.

CONCLUSION

For last four years the Cane Bay mission has been celebrating Sunday liturgy in the YMCA and from February 2022 weekday masses on Tuesdays and Fridays Living by Faith Baptist Church. It is the time to move to the next level. Most Catholics relate to the church and identify themselves as church members through the parish. The parish, in fact, is seen as both the basic resource system where the sacraments are offered and received to the faithful people. Currently the goal is to make a master plan about the land. Then move to clear the land and sooner or later to build an All Purpose Room Facility. Prior to all Eucharist celebrations and all the meetings we do the prayer for the new Church, through the intercession of Saint Francis Caracciolo.