About Us
The Catholic community of Lexington began as an unorganized mission in the mid-1960s. Services were held in the homes of Catholic families in the Lexington area. Monsignor William J. Croghan served as the missionary priest for the Lexington area from 1968 to 1973.
Reverend Henry J. Burke ministered to Lexington from 1973 to 1975. In 1973, our church became an organized mission under St. Peter's Church in Columbia. Mass was held in various facilities, including a bank meeting room, the Lexington United Methodist Church, and the Jamil Shrine Temple. In August of 1975, Reverend Michael Burton, pastor of Our Lady of the Hills Church, served the mission church of Lexington. Reverend Gerald A. Armstrong was appointed to the mission of the Catholic community of Lexington from November 1978 to June 1979. In 1978, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the construction of a multipurpose building on the site of our present church. In 1979, Corpus Christi Mission was established as an official parish of the Diocese of Charleston. Monsignor Donald C. Hamburger was appointed as our first resident pastor. A mobile home was purchased to serve as a temporary rectory. In 1983, a new religious education building was constructed. Monsignor Hamburger ministered to our parish from June 15, 1979, to June 14, 1985. Reverend Vincent S. Sikora served as our pastor from June 15, 1985, to June 1, 1988. Under his pastorship, a permanent rectory was constructed in 1986. Reverend Mark Edward A. Byrd served as pastor from June 1, 1988, to April 1, 1991. During his administration, we obtained the services of Sister Amelia Krajcik, OSF, as our Director of Religious Education. Also, from 1990 to 1994, Corpus Christi had the distinction of serving as the Deaconite Seminary for the Diocese of Charleston. Reverend Mark J. Smith served as pastor from April 1, 1991, to February 1, 1994. Our church had grown to a congregation of approximately 400 families and we had long outgrown all of our facilities. Reverend Jerome F. Schwab came to Corpus Christi on February 1, 1994. His dauntless efforts for a new permanent church became real with the groundbreaking ceremony held September 15, 1994, with Most Reverend Bishop David B. Thompson officiating and Father Schwab assisting. The church is a modified basilican architectural style structure with a seating capacity of approximately 600. Reverend Robert J. Sayer arrived at Corpus Christ on February 1, 2001. Our parish families now exceeded 900. During this time, the church mortgage was paid off, while parish office and classroom capacity were increased. Reverend Emmanuel Andinam arrived at Corpus Christi November 18, 2011. Developments included the addition of a Columbarium to the campus, and Town Hall meetings to seek parishioner input on long-term, strategic plans. Reverend Raymond Carlo, Pastor, arrived at Corpus Christi in March of 2014. Parish families now number more than 1200, and significant efforts to modernize our campus and improve our church sanctuary have been undertaken. Notable improvements have included the addition of a parish columbarium, relocation of the parish rectory off campus, parking area redesign and repaving, and upgrades to the altar, Tabernacle, Stations of the Cross, and church vestibule. Reverend Joseph V. Romanowksi arrived at Corpus Christi in June of 2019. We give thanks and praise to God our Father for blessing this faith community with a magnificent place of worship, and the blessed generosity of parishioners past and present. |