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S. 1299

STATUS INFORMATION

Senate Resolution
Sponsors: Senator Sheheen
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gm\24116cm14.docx

Introduced in the Senate on May 14, 2014
Adopted by the Senate on May 14, 2014

Summary: Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
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   5/14/2014  Senate  Introduced and adopted (Senate Journal-page 5)

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VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

5/14/2014

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CAMDEN AND TO CONGRATULATE THE PARISH ON THE CELEBRATION OF ITS ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to learn that Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Camden will celebrate one hundred years of ministry on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, at a Mass of Thanksgiving with the Most Reverend Robert Guglielmone, Bishop of Charleston, presiding, followed by a reception on the front lawn; and

Whereas, the Catholic church in Camden had its origin before 1884, following the Diocese of Charleston which was founded in 1820 and which included only one thousand Catholics in all of South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia; and

Whereas, since priests were scarce and Camden was just a small mission with no church building, mass could only be celebrated in private homes when mission priests were available; and

Whereas, in 1884, an effort was made to build a church in Camden, but the building was never completed and was sold later at public auction; and

Whereas, when the Sacred Heart Church was constructed and dedicated in 1903, Camden had its own parish and pastor and used the building until 1914; and

Whereas, after Miss Charlotte Thompson of Baltimore, Maryland moved to the outskirts of Camden in 1909, she became a benefactress of the present Catholic church in Camden. Converted to Catholicism and baptized in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Rome, Italy, she returned with a grateful heart, determined to build a Catholic church in Camden; and

Whereas, the church was constructed and dedicated on May 24, 1914, at which time the church had only twenty members. Membership has grown to some seven hundred families, and the church is considered one of the most charming architectural sites in the State with its Spanish motif and red-tiled roofs; and

Whereas, only a few minor changes have been made to the interior of the church, which is enhanced by a dark natural wood and the white marble altar imported from Italy, above which is an exact replica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Rome; and

Whereas, Southern trees, flowers, and shrubbery maintain the Spanish mission design, and additional buildings erected on the property now include a rectory and St. Mary's Hall; and

Whereas, in the 1960s, the garden area was enclosed and landscaped, and an enlargement of the church was begun and completed; and

Whereas, in 2005, renovations on the altar and the floor inside the church were completed, and the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help altar, which had been in the back of the west wing, became the altar for the reserve Sacrament; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate is pleased to recognize Our Lady of Perpetual Help upon its one hundredth anniversary and join with the church members at the celebration of this significant milestone. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Camden and congratulate the parish on the joyous celebration of its one hundredth anniversary.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Reverend Paul Brenninkmeijer, Administrator Pro Tem of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

This web page was last updated on May 19, 2014 at 10:20 AM