The history of the Spiritans ministry among Black Catholics in South Carolina is a story not explored for the vast richness of working with descendants of freed slaves in the Charleston area. From the very beginning, it seemed that the Spiritan charism was the right match for this mission. 

Francis Libermann from the very early days of the Spiritan Congregation expressed concern for enslaved and recently freed Africans in America. In 1870, Bishop Patrick Lynch, the Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina asked for the help of Spiritans in establishing a mission to meet the African-Americans in his diocese. The diocese comprised the entire state of South Carolina. Because of the Franco-Prussian War, the Spiritans were unable to accept this mission at that time. 

In 1892, a second request was made for the Spiritans to take over the mission among African-Americans in the Charleston/Beaufort area. Again, because of the lack of personnel, the Spiritans were unable to take up the mission in Charleston. The Josephites did take up the mission in Charleston. Finally, because of a lack of personnel in the Josephite community, they had to withdraw. The Oblate Sisters of Providence from Baltimore continued their ministry in staffing the schools of the mission. 

In 1917, Fr. James Hyland, C.S.Sp. was appointed as pastor of St. Peter Claver mission in Charleston, South Carolina. This was the Spiritan’s beginning of ministry in Charleston. St. Peter Claver mission was a former Jewish Synagogue on Wentworth Street located in an area a distance from where the majority of African-Americans lived. The church and school continued to flourish. With the help of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, catechism classes and evangelization efforts grew. Fr. Hyland still pushed for a church to be built closer to where the vast majority of African-Americans lived. After a few years, Fr. Hyland was appointed to Louisiana. 

In 1920, Fr. William Long became pastor and he established a church in the heart of the African-American community. Immaculate Conception Church and School were established on Coming Street with the Oblate Sisters of Providence staffing the school. Immaculate Conception Church and St. Peter Claver Church along with Our Lady of Mercy mission (1954) continued to flourish within the Black community of Charleston until 1967. 

St. Peter Claver parish was merged with St. Patrick parish in 1967. The first Spiritan pastor of St. Patrick was Fr. Philip Haggerty, C.S.Sp. He was assisted by Fathers William Headley, C.S.Sp., and William Joyce, C.S.Sp. With this merger, the congregation of St. Patrick became predominately African-American. The parish began to prosper. Soon several Spiritans such as Fathers Moroney, Tuozzolo, Figaro, Spangenberg, and Howard would take on the leadership of this parish. 

Fr. Egbert Figaro, C.S.Sp. was the first black priest to serve in the Charleston area. Under his leadership, a vast evangelization and renovation process took place in the community. During his leadership, there was more interaction with the non-Catholic churches in the area, and the Charleston black Catholic community was truly seen as a viable part of the community and Diocese of Charleston. Fr. Philip Howard C.S.Sp. from Trinidad was the last Spiritan to serve at St. Patrick before the order withdrew in 1995.