An Important Update from Our Rector

Dear parishioners and friends of the Basilica,

I hope this update finds you enjoying the remaining days of a very hot summer before school and university activities resume.

I want to start by sharing with you a major decision made by the Bishop of Charleston that will affect all of us. In an appointment letter dated July 27^th, Bishop Jacques Fabre has appointed me Vicar General of the Diocese of Charleston and Moderator of the Curia effective August 3, 2026. This assignment is in addition to my current assignments as Rector of the Basilica of Saint Peter, Vicar for Priests, and Secretary of the Clergy.

While I am honored and excited about this opportunity, going forward I will be a very busy man! I have no false expectations of my abilities but can only rely on the help of God to fulfill my current and new duties as best as I can. Realistically, it will take some time to work out a “battle rhythm” in terms of time in my office at the Chancery and here at the parish. Much of the day-to-day work of visitations, daily Masses, and hospital calls will fall on the able shoulders of our Parochial Vicar, Fr. Philippe Dubourdieu, with whom I will be in constant contact.

Given this, I humbly ask you to pray for me, for our bishop, the staff of the Chancery, and our Basilica staff that we may all work together to accomplish the greater mission of the Church of bringing souls to Christ with the talents he’s given us.

I am happy to announce the following Staff Changes:

Mr. Jordan DeRouen, our Organist and Choirmaster, will depart the Basilica following the English Masses on August 9^th to begin his new position as Principal Organist of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas. Saint Michael’s is considered by many to be the largest Episcopal Church in North America. We’re very grateful for Jordan’s seven years of service at our console. His mastery of improvisation will be greatly missed. Please wish him well as he prepares to take up his new responsibilities.

We are overjoyed to welcome Mr. Jack Cleghorn as Organist and Choirmaster at the Basilica. Jack is a graduate of the College of Charleston and Westminster Choir College. For the past nine years, he served as Organist and Choirmaster at Arkansas’ largest Episcopal Church, Saint Paul’s in Fayetteville, where he was responsible for a comprehensive music ministry that included children’s, youth, adult choirs, a professional schola cantorum, handbells, and a concert series. Prior to his appointment at Saint Paul’s, Jack served as Director of Music at Stella Maris Catholic Church on Sullivan’s Island. A practicing Catholic, Jack is excited to once again lead music in the Catholic Church. He will be joined by his wife, Grace, and their daughter, Tallulah. Jack’s first Sunday with us will be on August 23^rd.

New School Mass Policy:

I have one more announcement I’d like to share before we begin the new school year. Following the tragic attack at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, we’ve been pondering how best to keep our children and faculty who attend our weekly school Mass safe. After conducting meetings with our Safety Team lead, volunteers, and concerned parents and a subsequent meeting with the Diocese’s new Superintendent of Schools, we’ll be making some slight changes.

Beginning on August 19^th, when we resume having school Masses at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesdays, all persons seeking to attend the 8:30 a.m. Mass will be required to enter the Basilica via the entrance to the Bernadin Center where the parish offices are located. There they will be vetted by Safety Team volunteers prior to being permitted to enter the Church. The front doors of the Church will remain secure before, during, and after Mass in order to lessen attention and help maintain the safety of our growing student population. Parents and other guests of the school should be vetted at the School Office and accompany the children into the Church.

We at Saint Peter’s take school safety very seriously and trust this adjustment will still make it possible for other guests and parishioners to participate while enabling us to ensure our children’s safety.

In the Lord’s Service,

Very Rev. Canon Gary S. Linsky, VP

Rector