Ten Years with Fr. Pat

Ten years ago Precious Blood of Christ had 343 families registered and a wonderful piece of property, a potential parish campus. After using and out-growing Founders Hall, we had just moved into our beautiful new sanctuary which allowed us to turn our original house of worship into a place for fellowship and ministry.

When Father Pat arrived – a priest with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart and a native of Ireland--who could know all that could be and would be accomplished in his first ten years with us as our leader and pastor.

The visionary that Father Pat is, the visionary that all of us have come to see during his tenure here, began to develop our property as a campus, a growing living entity that would bring the Catholic community and worship to a new level here in Pawleys Island.

His biggest endeavor was campaigning for and building our Parish Life Center. There was a time when that seemed impossible, but through Fathers Pat’s love of God, spiritual guidance and dedication to this community, the parish created a building, and we now wonder what we did without it. Sometimes the place fits the community, and this could not be truer than here at Precious Blood. Our vibrant community continues to fill the halls and rooms of the PLC with stewardship of parishioners’ time and talents. We have a place for fellowship and laughter, a place to share God’s Love.

As Father Pat looked at all that had been built, he still saw opportunities for more--a peaceful, spiritual columbarium, a playground for our youth and a ball field like no other in the area. His contributions were not all bricks and dirt: he invited the U.S. Army Chorus to visit Pawleys Island, and they came…and returned year after year, performing for full houses at each concert. He wanted to feed the hungry of the community, so gave his blessing to a daring new project, Tastes at Pawleys, a food festival featuring the best restaurants in our area. With funding from that, Father Pat’s Lunch Kitchen opened and continues to serve the unfortunate. His emphasis on outreach enables the parish to help many in our community.

All the physical changes and projects are visual--we can see them--but what we truly give thanks for is the spiritual growth of our parish under Father Pat’s leadership. There is no one else who sees people’s gifts as clearly as he and has such a wonderful ability to get the very best from people. What more could we want in a pastor, a leader, a friend.

It goes without saying that without this parish community - now numbering over 950 families - we would not have been able to accomplish any of this. We are so blessed to have such a working living example of Stewardship in our parish.

Thank you, Father Pat, for all you are, all you do.

From your PBOC Families & Staff

May you always have work for your hands to do
May your pockets hold always a coin or two
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain
May the hand of a friend always be near you
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.