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Bicentennial Campaign Case Statement
A Letter from Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
In July 2020, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston will celebrate its bicentennial year. Established by Pope Pius VII in 1820, our diocese has upheld God’s Word and built His Kingdom for nearly 200 years. Through our rich history, we are now 114 parishes and missions strong, with over 200,000 registered Catholics.
Our diocese is entering an era of significant growth. People from all over the country and the world are choosing to make South Carolina their home. Challenged by population growth and secularization, our parishes need the strength and capacity to both support the faithful and evangelize our neighbors by being the light of Christ for others.
Pope Francis said in Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), “To evangelize is to make the Kingdom of God present in our world.” Therefore, we are compelled to accomplish this by living out our faith with generosity and joy.
Having served as your bishop for nearly a decade, I strongly believe in the need for the Church to prepare for the demands of this next century of Catholic evangelization. Through our $60,000,000 Bicentennial Campaign, we will strengthen our parishes and missions across 46 counties to serve our people, enhance state-wide programs and ministries, and help those who suffer by acting as the hands and feet of the Body of Christ.
I challenge you to put Christ in the center of your life so that all whom you encounter can see Christ in you. I ask you to take responsibility for upholding the mission of our Church and join me in sharing the Gospel throughout South Carolina.
In the Lord’s peace,
Most Reverend Robert E. Guglielmone
Bishop of Charleston
Bicentennial Campaign vs. Bishop's Annual Appeal
More Info
The Church’s mission is advanced in important ways through both the Bishop’s Annual Appeal and the Bicentennial Campaign. In some areas, the Annual Appeal supports the daily operation of critical ministries throughout the Church of South Carolina while the Bicentennial funds more strategic, comprehensive, long-range, and larger scale initiatives to help the Church serve its people and prepare for doing the Lord’s work in the future.
Catholic Community Foundation
How Funds will be Managed
How will the money collected from the Bicentennial Campaign be managed?
All dollars raised from the campaign will be maintained in a separate account under the Catholic Community Foundation of SC to be used exclusively for the purposes outlined in the case statement. None of the money raised in the campaign will be used for any other purpose.
Campaign funds will be received through the Catholic Community Foundation of SC and distributed to parishes and missions starting the first fiscal quarter after conclusion of the parish campaign.
Funds supporting the Diocesan priorities outlined in the case statement should be distributed based on donor intent and each elements’ percentage of the overall target.
The Catholic Community Foundation of SC is a separate 501(c)3 organization with an independent board of lay leaders who will oversee the management and distribution of all funds to ensure transparency.
St. Joseph's Case for Support
Our Need
$765,000 - St. Joseph School is badly in need of repairs, upgrades and critical advanced security for our students, faculty and staff. Our parish school should provide an inviting learning environment dedicated to the success of every child while also maintaining a secure and beautiful campus. Funds will focus on three major areas:
Safety: Replacing doors and windows that no longer meet code standards and will improve safety.
Health: Removing encased asbestos in windows and flooring.
Environment: Installing new floors and counter tops in classrooms, upgrading lighting to cost-effective LED bulbs, improving various landscaping areas, and installing permanent street-front signage.
By investing in our school now, we are ensuring a strong presence in the midlands for decades to come. Our school provides an education that serves not only the children who attend it, but our entire parish family. The school campus is utilized by every ministry in our parish and its future is in all of our hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need this campaign?
Bishop Guglielmone believes in the need for the Church to prepare for the demands of the next century of Catholic evangelization. Our Bishop asks that we realize together how important the Church is as the Body of Christ. We must work to make sure that every reflection of who the Church is—in every parish and mission—focuses on these three (3) essential elements.
Parishes remain at the center of our priorities. We must also address shifting demographics and the current state of our buildings and facilities. It is essential that we respond to the needs of all God’s people in our Diocese—our parishioners, our seminarians, our children, and our most vulnerable.