Resurrection Catholic Parish (Wilmington)
Encyclopedia
Resurrection Parish is a Catholic church in the Pike Creek Valley in Wilmington, Delaware
, and is commonly referred to as Resurrection.
Wilmington, Delaware 19808
(302) 368-0146
Website
The new parish was established in the area between St. John the Beloved Parish and St. John the Baptist/Holy Angels. In a time when boundaries established the parish someone would join, parishioners in these two parishes were permitted to choose between staying in their present parish or joining the new Parish of the Resurrection.
Many people came to the new parish because of Fr. Herron’s vision (coming from the documents of the Second Vatican Council), that challenged the parents to take responsibility for the religious education of their children as their “primary inalienable duty and right.”
In the beginning there was no parish school and the community embraced the model of a “Pilgrim People” on their journey to salvation. For the first two years, liturgies were held in the auditorium of a local school, Shue School, which lovingly became known as “St. Shue”. For the next 10 years, liturgies were held at St. Mark’s High School auditorium. An important feature of St. Mark’s was its large atrium where members of the parish would set up a donut counter each Sunday. This feature enabled the parishioners to visit with one another after services and to welcome new members to the community.
Finally in 1984, the growth of the parish and the increasing need for a permanent worship space and space for staff offices and rooms for meetings led to the building of a multi-purpose center. The parish center was then expanded in 1996 to its present size in order to meet the needs of growing membership and also to include a small chapel for daily worship.
The Preamble of the Parish constitution states that “the people of Resurrection parish have a commitment to the concept of community.” It is this commitment which continues to inform and influence our liturgies, our religious education programs, our outreach and concern for the larger community though our work for social justice.
The Parish celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009.
and donuts after the Masses. This was quite effective - people actually stayed and mingled instead of breaking out for the parking lot. The Donut Counter continues to this day and is considered to be one of the parish and family life ministries. Many people stay after the Masses, often long enough to meet others coming in to the following Mass. Volunteers pick up and serve the donuts, coffee, tea, milk, orange juice and apple juice. As often as practical, the Donut Counter is served by Pastoral Council members as a way to meet and communicate with other parishioners.
Liturgy Committee Chair - Oversees all liturgical preparation. Fosters critical evaluation of Liturgy.
Music Ministry Chair - Oversees and instructs folk groups, cantors, psalmists,instrumentalists.
Children's Liturgy of the Word - Offers the Liturgy of the Word on a child's level at 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays.
Lectors - Each of 7 Teams meets every 7 weeks to prepare each Sunday's liturgy.
Ministers of the Eucharist - Assist the celebrant and deacons distributing the Eucharist at liturgical celebrations.
Sacristan Coordinator - Has care of all vestments, cloths and sacred vessels.
Sacristan ("Marthas") - Prepare altar for Mass.
Linen Sacristan - Wash the linens used on the altar.
Environment - Designs setting of each season, Sunday and feast day.
Greeters/Ushers - Welcome all to our Sunday liturgies, especially guests and new parishioners, distribute bulletins and assist at communion.
Altar Servers - Boys and Girls, 5th grade and older, who assist at the altar
Bread Baking - Bakes the bread to be consecrated into the Body of Christ.
Sacred Dance - Dance and mime to enhance the liturgy.
Christian Formation Committee (CFC) - Oversees and proposes policy for all religious education programs from Baptism through adulthood.
Cherub Nursery - Volunteers supervise infants to 3 year-olds while parents attend 10:30 a.m. Mass.
M.O.M.'S Faith Sharing - A weekly gathering of book study, pray and share their lives.
Mondays 9:30 - 11 a.m. at the worship center.
R.C.I.A. (Catechumenate) - Initiates new members into the Church through a year round process of prayer, teaching and action according to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
R.C.I.C. - A journey of faith formation for children who have not been baptized.They are prepared for Initiation (the reception of Baptism,Confirmation and First Eucharist) through Liturgy of the Word,"Breaking Open" our Liturgical symbols, shared prayer and communal gatherings. The process runs anywhere from one to three years.
Youth Minister - Coordinates total youth ministry program for youth in the 7th to 12thgrades. Includes religious education, service, and social events.
Athletics - Adult softball & volleyball, Girl's softball (6th to 8th grade), Boy's basketball (9th to 12th grade).
Coffee and Donuts - Sees to the servicing and staffing of the coffee and donut counter after the Sunday Masses.
L.A.F.F. (Living After Fifty-Five) - Weekly gathering for members 55 and older.
Next Step - A Christian group organized for Single, Separated, Divorced or Widowed adults to meet for spiritual growth, support & socialization.
Social Activities - Fosters community spirit within the parish through social events.
Parish Hospitality - Assists with setting up and serving refreshments for parish activities.
Youth Ministry - Coordinates social activities for youth of the parish.
Prayer Chain - Group prayer for the submitted needs of parishioners.
The Council is composed of:
The Pastor
Five elected Ministry Representatives (CFC, Liturgy, Social Concerns, Parish & Family Life, Property & Grounds Committees)
Eight elected Stewards (representing parishioners alphabetically, two for each of four areas)
Two elected Trustees
Two Pastoral Appointees
Executive Officer of Finance Council (non-voting member)
Deacon (non-voting member)
Youth Ministry Representative
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, and is commonly referred to as Resurrection.
Contact information
3000 Videre Drive, Skyline RidgeWilmington, Delaware 19808
(302) 368-0146
Website
History
The Parish of the Resurrection was established in 1969 by Bishop Mardaga (1968–1984). He called the Rev. Francis J. Herron to be the founding pastor.The new parish was established in the area between St. John the Beloved Parish and St. John the Baptist/Holy Angels. In a time when boundaries established the parish someone would join, parishioners in these two parishes were permitted to choose between staying in their present parish or joining the new Parish of the Resurrection.
Many people came to the new parish because of Fr. Herron’s vision (coming from the documents of the Second Vatican Council), that challenged the parents to take responsibility for the religious education of their children as their “primary inalienable duty and right.”
In the beginning there was no parish school and the community embraced the model of a “Pilgrim People” on their journey to salvation. For the first two years, liturgies were held in the auditorium of a local school, Shue School, which lovingly became known as “St. Shue”. For the next 10 years, liturgies were held at St. Mark’s High School auditorium. An important feature of St. Mark’s was its large atrium where members of the parish would set up a donut counter each Sunday. This feature enabled the parishioners to visit with one another after services and to welcome new members to the community.
Finally in 1984, the growth of the parish and the increasing need for a permanent worship space and space for staff offices and rooms for meetings led to the building of a multi-purpose center. The parish center was then expanded in 1996 to its present size in order to meet the needs of growing membership and also to include a small chapel for daily worship.
The Preamble of the Parish constitution states that “the people of Resurrection parish have a commitment to the concept of community.” It is this commitment which continues to inform and influence our liturgies, our religious education programs, our outreach and concern for the larger community though our work for social justice.
The Parish celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009.
Donut Ministry
One way Fr. Herron developed the community, communication, and spirit within the parish was to offer coffeeCoffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
and donuts after the Masses. This was quite effective - people actually stayed and mingled instead of breaking out for the parking lot. The Donut Counter continues to this day and is considered to be one of the parish and family life ministries. Many people stay after the Masses, often long enough to meet others coming in to the following Mass. Volunteers pick up and serve the donuts, coffee, tea, milk, orange juice and apple juice. As often as practical, the Donut Counter is served by Pastoral Council members as a way to meet and communicate with other parishioners.
Liturgy
Coordinator of Liturgy and Music - Oversees the sacramental and ritual life of the parish so as to invite each member of the parish community to participate in the life, death and resurrection of Christ.Liturgy Committee Chair - Oversees all liturgical preparation. Fosters critical evaluation of Liturgy.
Music Ministry Chair - Oversees and instructs folk groups, cantors, psalmists,instrumentalists.
Children's Liturgy of the Word - Offers the Liturgy of the Word on a child's level at 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays.
Lectors - Each of 7 Teams meets every 7 weeks to prepare each Sunday's liturgy.
Ministers of the Eucharist - Assist the celebrant and deacons distributing the Eucharist at liturgical celebrations.
Sacristan Coordinator - Has care of all vestments, cloths and sacred vessels.
Sacristan ("Marthas") - Prepare altar for Mass.
Linen Sacristan - Wash the linens used on the altar.
Environment - Designs setting of each season, Sunday and feast day.
Greeters/Ushers - Welcome all to our Sunday liturgies, especially guests and new parishioners, distribute bulletins and assist at communion.
Altar Servers - Boys and Girls, 5th grade and older, who assist at the altar
Bread Baking - Bakes the bread to be consecrated into the Body of Christ.
Sacred Dance - Dance and mime to enhance the liturgy.
Christian Formation
Christian Formation Program (CFP) - Provides religious learning for children from mid-nursery through 10th grade, and for adult and parent/sacrament programs.Christian Formation Committee (CFC) - Oversees and proposes policy for all religious education programs from Baptism through adulthood.
Cherub Nursery - Volunteers supervise infants to 3 year-olds while parents attend 10:30 a.m. Mass.
M.O.M.'S Faith Sharing - A weekly gathering of book study, pray and share their lives.
Mondays 9:30 - 11 a.m. at the worship center.
R.C.I.A. (Catechumenate) - Initiates new members into the Church through a year round process of prayer, teaching and action according to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.
R.C.I.C. - A journey of faith formation for children who have not been baptized.They are prepared for Initiation (the reception of Baptism,Confirmation and First Eucharist) through Liturgy of the Word,"Breaking Open" our Liturgical symbols, shared prayer and communal gatherings. The process runs anywhere from one to three years.
Youth Minister - Coordinates total youth ministry program for youth in the 7th to 12thgrades. Includes religious education, service, and social events.
Parish Family Life
Membership / Welcoming Coordinator - Keeps parish roster up to date. Welcomes newcomers and plans Community Weekends.Athletics - Adult softball & volleyball, Girl's softball (6th to 8th grade), Boy's basketball (9th to 12th grade).
Coffee and Donuts - Sees to the servicing and staffing of the coffee and donut counter after the Sunday Masses.
L.A.F.F. (Living After Fifty-Five) - Weekly gathering for members 55 and older.
Next Step - A Christian group organized for Single, Separated, Divorced or Widowed adults to meet for spiritual growth, support & socialization.
Social Activities - Fosters community spirit within the parish through social events.
Parish Hospitality - Assists with setting up and serving refreshments for parish activities.
Youth Ministry - Coordinates social activities for youth of the parish.
Prayer Chain - Group prayer for the submitted needs of parishioners.
Pastoral Council
This council acts in concert with the pastor to lead and guide the people by making decisions with him for the common good. It also acts as a representative of the people, bringing their thoughts and concerns to the pastor.The Council is composed of:
The Pastor
Five elected Ministry Representatives (CFC, Liturgy, Social Concerns, Parish & Family Life, Property & Grounds Committees)
Eight elected Stewards (representing parishioners alphabetically, two for each of four areas)
Two elected Trustees
Two Pastoral Appointees
Executive Officer of Finance Council (non-voting member)
Deacon (non-voting member)
Youth Ministry Representative