Parish Life

PARISH LIFE features church and reader submitted news and photos that detail the goings on central to a parish. Click here to view guidelines on how to submit your news.

St. Paul welcomes new leaders

SENECA—St. Paul the Apostle Church welcomes Sarah Viancourt as its first full-time youth minister, and Justin Dery as the program development assistant. The new parish is excited about the development of their youth ministry and music programs.

Viancourt is currently the director of religious education and youth minister at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Paris, Tenn. She is a 2011 graduate of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, where she majored in theology and catechetics with an emphasis in youth ministry. She begins Aug. 5.

Dery is currently the director of music at St. Blaise Catholic Church in Bellingham, Mass. He has extensive experience in youth ministry and strong skills in
music. He will also help develop the church’s music program and build and maintain the parish’s social media and web presence. He begins on July 15.

Knights host flag retirement

COLUMBIA—Knights of Columbus Council 724 and the local Special Olympics South Carolina Area 7 Chapter have had a very close relationship over the past five years.

On June 14, Flag Day, the Special Olympians treated the Knights to a dinner as part of the council’s annual flag retirement ceremony.

The Knights collected flags from parishioners for the event, which was led by Fourth Degree Knight Don Van Borscht. Each year, the flags are inspected for usefulness, certified that they are eligible for retirement and burned.

More than 50 athletes and volunteers from Special Olympics hosted the meal, which closed with patriotic readings by William Hauk, a third degree Knight, and Elizabeth Gosell.

‘More Like Christ’ book

BLUFFTON—John Rabbitt, a member of St. Gregory the Great Church, recently self-published “More Like Christ,” which encourages people to adopt a more active spirituality driven by a faith-based commitment to serve others. Contact: jackrabb@ yahoo.com.

St. Andrew honors volunteer

MYRTLE BEACH—St. Andrew Church will honor Dottie Cunha for her 30 years of service on Aug. 15 at the noon Mass for the Assumption of Mary, followed by a luncheon. Cunha started volunteering in 1983 when she moved to the area with her late husband Bob. She sings in the Resurrection Choir, is a lector, and is active in the women’s club. She has two sons, four grandchildren; and
two great-grandchildren.

Children’s book on Advent

MURRELLS INLET—Jeanne Preski, a member of St. Michael Church, recently published “Praying for Christmas: Children’s Advent Wreath Devotions”. It compiles daily prayers, examples and Bible verses for families to use with the lighting of the wreath. Contact: jeannepreski1@gmail.com.