COASTAL
Operation Christmas Child
FOLLY BEACH—Our Lady of Good Council Church held a packing party Nov. 5 in Father Kelly Hall for Operation Christmas Child. Liz McCafferty coordinated the event, which included Folly Beach Baptist and United Methodist churches. Approximately 45 volunteers packed boxes to be distributed to children at Christmas.
Marjorie Steplight honored
CHARLESTON—St. Patrick Church parishioners honored Marjorie Steplight, a 16-year breast cancer survivor, for her work volunteering with the American Cancer Society; the Witness Project, a national breast and cervical cancer education program; and the Second Chance Cancer Support Group. She is one of the featured individuals in the book, “Second Chances: Stories of Tragedy and Triumph over Cancer.” She lost her mother and sister to the disease. Mayor Joseph P. Riley proclaimed Oct. 23 as Marjorie Steplight Day.
Knights of Columbus and 9th annual Stand Down Against Homelessness
NORTH CHARLESTON—On Oct. 27-28, Ed DeFourneaux, Ed Lee, Frank Di Figlio, Jack Kennerty, James Craven of Council 6250 (all shown) and other members of the Knights of Columbus helped to provide and distribute comfort items to veteran families during the 9th annual Stand Down Against Homelessness.
St Benedict Choir performance
MOUNT PLEASANT– St Benedict Choir performed at MUSC’s St Luke Chapel Dec. 13 as part of a concert series sponsored by the Charleston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and the Department of Music at the College of Charleston.
Knights of Columbus and DSAL’s Buddy Walk
CHARLESTON—Knights of Columbus Council 6250 helped sponsor the Down Syndrome Association of the Lowcountry’s Buddy Walk held Oct. 2 at Etiwan Park. The Knights and their volunteers provided free hot dogs and snacks to more than 3000 people.
Laurey celebrates 90 years
FOLLY BEACH–Jim Laurey was feted by parishioners of Our Lady of Good Council Dec. 17 in anticipation of his 90th birthday. Though his birthday is Dec. 21, over 100 people came out for a party at the parish hall. He is pictured with the Folly Boat painted in his honor.
MIDLANDS
Knights surpass goal
IRMO —Knights of Columbus Council 6892 reported that it doubled its Operation H.O.P.E. state assigned goal of $8,000. Since November 2010 the council has raised $15,600, which will be divided between the South Carolina Special Olympics and The Pendergrass-Fairwold School for the mentally challenged in Columbia.
St. Anne parish outreach
SANTEE—St. Anne Church’s outreach program recently had the Santee Fire Department speak to its participants and inspect their homes for electrical problems. They also installed and explained the correct use of smoke alarms. At the request of Father Samuel Oloyede, O.P., and under the direction of Tammy High, the outreach provides over 150 boxes of food once a month to low-income residents in the area.
Knights donate to school
IRMO—Knights of Columbus Council 6892 presented more than $6,000 to the South Carolina Special Olympics and Pendergrass Fairwold School for medically fragile and severely mentally and physically disabled students in Columbia.
Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge Finals
Columbia—Thirty students participated in the South Carolina State finals for the annual Knights of Columbus Soccer Challenge on Dec. 9 at the 7 Oaks Recreation Park. The winners are: Lilly Slaughter, 10-year-old girls; Colette Grieshop, 12-year-old girls; Madison Miller, 13-year-old girls; Nathan Brown, 13-year-old boys; and Monica Grieshop, 14-year-old girls. Ten students won trophies at the competition. Five of those students were sponsored by Council 6076.
Annual Christmas dinner
COLUMBIA–St. Peter Church is hosting the annual Christmas dinner for people in need Dec. 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. At 9 a.m. that day approximately 100 volunteers will stuff 700 gym bags with hooded sweat shirts, socks, wool hats, thermal underwear, boxer shorts, gloves, belts, toiletries for adults. Children from the shelter will receive new clothing, and a stocking full of goodies. To sponsor a gift bags for $10, make checks payable to St. Vincent de Paul Society and mail to P.O. Box 1896, Columbia, SC 29201, Attn: Robert Keeder, Dinner Coordinator. For more information call the church, (803) 796-9802 or (803) 414-3686.
PEE DEE
Byzantine Catholic liturgies
CONWAY—The December schedule for Byzantine Catholic Eastern Rite liturgies will be celebrated on Dec. 3 and 17. Liturgies begin at 5 p.m. at The Blessed Basil Hopko Mission Chapel, 3059 SC Hwy 90. All are welcome. Information (843) 249-9502 or email donwjean@aol.com.
PIEDMONT
Knights honor St. Paul staff
SPARTANBURG–Knights of Columbus Council 6076 honored Father Timothy Gahan, Deacon Bob Mahaffey, the administrative staff of St. Paul the Apostle Church and the faculty and staff of St. Paul School with a Christmas luncheon Dec. 15 in the Church’s Family Center.
ELSEWHERE
Sister Christine takes vows
MARRIOTTSVILLE, Md.—Sister Christine S. Webb, a chaplain in Hampton Roads, Va., took her final vows with the Sisters of Bon Secours during a ceremony held Nov. 12 at their chapel. Sister Christine learned about the religious order while working as a medical technician at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston, S.C. She earned her master’s degree in pastoral studies at Loyola University in New Orleans, and her bachelor’s in health science at the Medical University of South Carolina. She holds certificates in spiritual direction and grief and bereavement. She is board certified with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.
Sister Mary Jo’s final vows
LaGRANGE PARK, Ill.—Sister Mary Jo Curtsinger, a former resident of Columbia, S.C., professed her final vows to become a Sister of the Congregation of St. Joseph. She worked as a school psychologist and was active in parish and diocesan ministry through St. Joseph Church, serving in the RCIA program, adult religious education, youth catechesis and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Sister Mary Jo teaches Scripture and other theology courses at Nazareth Academy in LaGrange Park, Ill.