The Synod of the Diocese of Charleston, 1990-1995, was a time when the Church of Charleston reviewed its past accomplishments and chartered new directions for its future. The theme, "Our Heritage and Our Hope: led to a celebration of past accomplishments and brought new energy to fuel future growth. The Synod moved the church toward working together as clusters of parishes to renew and extend the Church of Charleston.

During this time the parishes in the Midlands Deanery took the first steps on a journey that would eventually lead to the formation of a parish community in the area northeast of Columbia. Monsignor Leigh A. Lehocky of St. Peter's Church, Monsignor Charles H. Rowland, Pastor of St. Joseph Church and Reverend Frederick F. Masad, Pastor of St. John Neumann, as well as other parishes of the cluster group sponsored a study to determine if the needs of Catholics living in the area were being met.