CHARLESTON — Bishop David B. Thompson announced on May 8 that Msgr. Sam R. Miglarese has resigned as pastor of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and from priestly ministry. Bishop Thompson has accepted both resignations effective immediately.
While expressing deep sadness and regret at the resignations, Bishop Thompson thanked Msgr. Miglarese for his many years of priestly ministry to the Diocese of Charleston. “I am most grateful to him for the eight years he served with me as Vicar General of the Diocese and pastor of the Cathedral,” said Bishop Thompson.
Bishop Thompson will appoint a new pastor for the Cathedral in the very near future.
Below are the remarks given by Bishop Thompson during Masses at the Cathedral on May 9 and 10.
I deeply regret having to stand before you today to talk about a very sad situation. Your pastor and mine, your friend and mine, Msgr. Miglarese, has resigned as Pastor of this Cathedral Parish and from priestly ministry. He presented these resignations to me by fax on Thursday and will present them to me in person very soon.
I have accepted both resignations effective immediately.
There are no words for me to express adequately to you how I feel but I must try.
First, I want to express publicly, as I so often have done in the past and in this very same church, my gratitude to Msgr. Sam for his many years of priestly ministry to the Diocese of Charleston. I am most especially grateful to him for the eight years he served as your and my pastor and as my Vicar General.
Let us not forget Sam’s good works and his grace-filled ministry with us.
Second, I would be less than honest if I did not tell you that I am disappointed, disheartened, full of pain, and most of all, very, very sad. I know you may have these and other feelings.
Third, I want to make two commitments to you. I commit to pray especially for the parishioners and staff of the Cathedral and ask your special prayers for me. I also commit to you my intention to appoint expeditiously a pastor for this parish, for you. Already I am in consultation with members of the Priests’ Personnel Committee and hope to make the appointment very soon.
Finally, let us look to holy scripture for consolation and advice.
In today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Barnabas and Paul say, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” And, in John’s Gospel, Jesus says, “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
With God’s grace, we shall bear our hardships. With God’s grace, we shall remember to love one another, especially Sam.
Let us turn to God in prayer for all affected by this very sad situation.