Jacques Fabre-Jeune
Jacques Eric Fabre-Jeune | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Charleston | |
| See | Diocese of Charleston |
| Appointed | February 22, 2022 |
| Installed | May 13, 2022 |
| Predecessor | Robert E. Guglielmone |
| Previous post(s) | Pastor, San Pedro de Macorís (1991–2004) Parochial Vicar, St. Joseph’s and Holy Trinity Parishes (2006–2010) Administrator, San Felipe de Jesús Mission (2009–2022) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | October 10, 1986 by Wilton Daniel Gregory |
| Consecration | May 13, 2022 by Wilton Daniel Gregory, Gregory John Hartmayer, and Luis R. Zarama |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 13, 1955 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | St. John's University University of St. Michael's College Catholic Theological Union Pontifical Urban University |
| Alma mater | St. John's University University of St. Michael's College Catholic Theological Union Pontifical Urban University |
| Motto | Whatever you do to the least of my children, you do to me |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Jacques Eric Fabre-Jeune | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Jacques Eric Fabre-Jeune, C.S., known before May 2022 as Jacques Fabre, (born November 13, 1955) is a Haitian-born American prelate of the Catholic Church who has served as bishop of the Diocese of Charleston in South Carolina since 2022.
Fabre-Jeune is the first African American to become bishop of Charleston and the first Haitian-American to head a diocese. Since becoming a priest with the Scalabrinians in 1986, Fabre-Jeune has worked in Florida, Georgia, the Dominican Republic, and briefly at a refugee camp at Guantanamo Bay.
Biography
[edit]Early life
[edit]Jacques Fabre-Jeune was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on November 13, 1955. He was one of six children in his family.[1] As a teenager, he emigrated to the United States, settling in New York City where he completed his high school education. He then attended St. John's University before transferring to University of St. Michael's College in Toronto to begin seminary studies.[2] During his novitiate with the Scalabrinians, Fabre-Jeune served in a mission in Mexico, gaining early exposure to cross-cultural ministry.[3]
Fabre-Jeune continued his theological education at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and the Scalabrini House of Theology. He later earned a Master of Divinity and a Licentiate in Migration Studies from the Urbaniana University in Rome.[4]
Priesthood
[edit]Fabre-Jeune was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn on October 10, 1986, by Auxiliary Bishop Wilton D. Gregory at St. Theresa of Avila Church in Brooklyn.[1]
His first pastoral assignment was at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Immokalee, Florida. In 1990, during the Haitian refugee crisis, he was assigned as a chaplain to Haitian detainees at Guantanamo Bay. He ministered to spiritual and humanitarian needs and was involved in a reported altercation with U.S. military police during efforts to protect a detainee.[5]
In 1991, Fabre-Jeune was sent to the Dominican Republic where he pastored a parish in San Pedro de Macorís for over a decade. There, he worked with Haitian immigrants and developed community services in an environment marked by ethnic and racial tension.[2]
Upon returning to the United States, he was assigned as a parochial vicar at St. Joseph’s Parish in Athens (2006–2008), and Holy Trinity in Peachtree City (2008–2010). In 2009, he became administrator of San Felipe de Jesús Mission in Forest Park, Georgia, where he led a predominantly Hispanic congregation and successfully spearheaded the construction of a new self-funded church, dedicated in 2011.[6]
From 2010 to 2022, Fabre-Jeune held multiple administrative roles in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, including:
- Member of the finance council
- Member of the budget and operations committee
- Member of the projects review committee
- Director of the Hispanic Charismatic Renewal
He also served as the superior of the Scalabrinian religious community in Atlanta.[2]
Bishop of Charleston
[edit]On February 22, 2022, Pope Francis appointed Fabre-Jeune as the 14th bishop of the Diocese of Charleston.[2] He is the first African-American and first Haitian-American to lead the diocese, as well as the first member of a religious order to do so.[7]
He was consecrated bishop on May 13, 2022, at the Charleston Gaillard Center. The principal consecrator was Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, with co-consecrators Archbishop Gregory John Hartmayer and Bishop Luis R. Zarama.[8]
Since his installation, Fabre-Jeune has emphasized inclusion, youth engagement, and immigration reform. He has visited nearly all parishes in the diocese and launched listening sessions with clergy and laity to assess pastoral needs and administrative transparency.[9]
Fabre-Jeune is fluent in five languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Haitian Creole. He uses this multilingual capacity to communicate with diverse communities throughout the diocese.[2][3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Golden, Jessica (March 1, 2022). "Jacques Fabre appointed bishop of Charleston, S.C., the first Black bishop in the diocese's history". NBC News. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Father Jacques Fabre, C.S., Appointed Bishop of Charleston". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. February 22, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Meet Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune". The Messenger. June 16, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
- ^ a b "Biographical Summary: Bishop Jacques Eric Fabre-Jeune, C.S." Vatican Press Office. February 22, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
- ^ Duke, Lynne (September 19, 1992). "U.S. CAMP FOR HAITIANS DESCRIBED AS PRISON-LIKE". Washington Post. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Dávila, Ruth E. (April 14, 2011). "Hispanic Mission Builds Self-Financed Church". The Georgia Bulletin. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
- ^ a b Phillips, Patrick; Zuhowski, Emilie (February 22, 2022). "First Black man named to serve as 14th Bishop of Charleston". WCSC Live 5 News. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
- ^ "Thousands applaud installation of Charleston Diocese's first Black bishop". The Post and Courier. May 13, 2022. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ "Charleston's new bishop meets with parishioners in statewide listening tour". WCSC. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
External links
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- 1955 births
- Living people
- Scalabrinians
- Bishops appointed by Pope Francis
- Pontifical Urban University alumni
- Haitian emigrants to the United States
- Haitian Roman Catholic bishops
- People from Port-au-Prince
- Roman Catholic bishops of Charleston
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- 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States