Whereas, he attended the University of South Carolina and the College of Charleston and completed his seminary training at St. Mary College in St. Mary, Kentucky and St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore; and

Whereas, he served as chaplain for Our Lady of Mercy Convent at may Forest in Charleston County during the summer of 1970 and was associate pastor for the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, from 1970 until 1975; and

Whereas, he was pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Charleston from 1075 until 1982 and served as pastor at the diocese cathedral; and

Whereas he has served as assistant to the diocesan chancellor, as associate chancellor, as notary and secretary of the Diocesan Tribunal, as acting chancellor, and finally, as Chancellor to the Catholic Diocese of Charleston; and

Whereas, he was a member of the faculty of Bishop England High School for four years, served his country with distinction in the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1962, attended Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and served as diocesan director for cemeteries; and

Whereas, the present Bishop of Charleston, the Most Reverend David B. Thompson, appointed Monsignor Rowland to serve as Judicial Vicar for the Tribunal of Charleston; and

Whereas, Monsignor Rowland has also served as vicar general and as moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Charleston and has been a member of the Council of Presbyters and the College of Diocesan Consulters; and

Whereas, in 1987, he served a Licentiate Degree in Canon Law and was named a Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II in 1983; and

Whereas, since 1991, he has served as pastor of the Catholic Church of Saint Joseph in Columbia; and

Whereas, he clearly has had a distinguished career as a priest in a brief period of twenty-five years; he is a strong supporter of the ecumenical movement and is respected and admired by the clergy of other denominations for his work in this area; and he is greatly beloved by his parishioners at the Church of Saint in Columbia; and

Whereas, he places his priestly duties before all else and excels in those duties; and

Whereas, he is generous, kind, caring, and considerate man and as a clergyman, he works ceaselessly for the spiritual well-being of the members of his flock; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly are greatly pleased to be able to recognize this distinguished native of Charleston and to extend to him best wishes for a happy and successful future. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, congratulates the Reverend Monsignor Charles H. Rowland, pastor of the Catholic Church of Saint Joseph in Columbia, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Monsignor Rowland and also to the Most Reverend David B. Thompson, Bishop of Charleston, at Charleston, South Carolina.

Pastor of Saint Joseph, Columbia, April 15, 1991 to May, 2006.

Pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Folly Beach May, 2006 to May, 2007.

Pastor of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Johns Island June, 2007 to current.