SALUTE TO THE CANON CHAPLAIN

This morning’s preacher at the 9 and 11 o’clock services is the Rev’d Canon Paul Douglas Peterson who has been with us as Chaplain to St. Alban’s at The Citadel for most of this century! In "older times" Doug served in a variety of capacities and ministries, mostly as a school master and headmaster, but his gifts of ministry and mentorship seem to have been particularly and fruitfully fulfilled in his responsibilities at The Citadel. Now well into the seventh decade of its existence, St. Alban’s has a long history of affiliation with, and support from, the Cathedral and has enjoyed a remarkable revival under Canon Peterson, with attendance at weekly services in the St. Alban’s Chapel averaging about forty, and attendance at Thursday evening Bible studies continuing at about the same number.

In recent years Canon Peterson has been encouraged by the increasing numbers of upperclassmen who remain active and involved, wanting to pass on to the new students the things they gained from St. Alban’s. During the first few weeks of the academic year, all freshmen at The Citadel are required to participate in religious activities on Sundays (or Fridays or Saturdays, if they are Muslim or Jewish) and, since Dean McKeachie initiated a "new tradition" some years ago of Episcopal Cadets being invited to the Cathedral for a home-cooked breakfast prepared by members of the Parish family, those Cadets then join other worshipers at the 9 o’clock service or, in the case of any who are serving as acolytes, the 11 o’clock service.

The mission of St. Alban’s is to nurture and strengthen those Cadets who are Episcopal and to encourage others to find their faith and their church home with us. The results of this work may not be seen immediately at the Cathedral, but they will be seen and known for years to come in the wider church (for instance, two recent Cadet graduates are currently in seminary as postulants of the Diocese of South Carolina), and for this vocational development we can all give thanks to God as well as Canon Peterson.