Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese
of the Roman Catholic Church
in the eastern United States
and comprises the entire state
of Delaware
and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It is led by Bishop
William Francis Malooly
, whose seat is the Cathedral of Saint Peter in the City of Wilmington
.
The Diocese publishes a newspaper, The Dialog, which underwent a circulation and format transformation in 2011 as a result of financial pressures.
. The mission appears on the National Register of Historic Places
. The diocese was canonically erected on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX
. It took its territories from the Archdiocese of Baltimore
and the then Diocese of Philadelphia
, and also received the 2 eastern-shore counties of Virginia, thus extending all the way down the Delmarva Peninsula
. The Virginia part was returned to the Diocese of Richmond in 1974, leaving the Diocese of Wilmington with all of Delaware and the 9 eastern-shore counties of Maryland. In 2009, the diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the face of financial liabilities from lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by priests. A settlement was reached in February 2011, implementation of which had not yet occurred by May 2011.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in the eastern United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and comprises the entire state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. It is led by Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
William Francis Malooly
William Francis Malooly
William Francis Malooly is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, who currently serves as the Bishop of Wilmington.-Biography:...
, whose seat is the Cathedral of Saint Peter in the City of Wilmington
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...
.
The Diocese publishes a newspaper, The Dialog, which underwent a circulation and format transformation in 2011 as a result of financial pressures.
History
The first Roman Catholic mission in Delaware was established in 1804 by Rev. Patrick Kenney on the site of the Coffee Run Cemetery in Mill Creek, DelawareMill Creek, Delaware
Mill Creek is an unincorporated community in New Castle County, Delaware, United States.- References :...
. The mission appears on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The diocese was canonically erected on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
. It took its territories from the Archdiocese of Baltimore
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Baltimore is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. The archdiocese comprises the City of Baltimore as well as Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, and Washington Counties in Maryland...
and the then Diocese of Philadelphia
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in southeastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. It covers the City and County of Philadelphia as well as Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. The diocese was...
, and also received the 2 eastern-shore counties of Virginia, thus extending all the way down the Delmarva Peninsula
Delmarva Peninsula
The Delmarva Peninsula is a large peninsula on the East Coast of the United States, occupied by most of Delaware and portions of Maryland and Virginia...
. The Virginia part was returned to the Diocese of Richmond in 1974, leaving the Diocese of Wilmington with all of Delaware and the 9 eastern-shore counties of Maryland. In 2009, the diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the face of financial liabilities from lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by priests. A settlement was reached in February 2011, implementation of which had not yet occurred by May 2011.
Diocesan bishops
- † Thomas Albert Andrew BeckerThomas Albert Andrew BeckerThomas Albert Andrew Becker was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the first Bishop of Wilmington and the sixth Bishop of Savannah .-Biography:...
(1868–1886), appointed Bishop of Savannah - † Alfred Allen Paul CurtisAlfred Allen Paul CurtisAlfred Allen Paul Curtis was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wilmington and Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore .-Biography:...
(1886–1896) - † John James Joseph MonaghanJohn James Joseph MonaghanJohn James Joseph Monaghan was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wilmington from 1897 to 1925.-Biography:...
(1897–1925) - † Edmond John FitzmauriceEdmond John FitzmauriceEdmond John Fitzmaurice was an Irish-born prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wilmington from 1925 to 1960.-Biography:...
(1925–1960) - † Michael William HyleMichael William HyleMichael William Hyle was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wilmington from 1960 until his death in 1967.-Biography:...
(1960–1967) - † Thomas Joseph Mardaga (1968–1984)
- Robert Edward MulveeRobert Edward MulveeRobert Edward Mulvee is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wilmington, Delaware and Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island .-Biography:...
(1985–1995), appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Providence - † Michael Angelo SaltarelliMichael Angelo SaltarelliMichael Angelo Saltarelli was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Wilmington from 1995 to 2008.-Biography:...
(1995–2008) - William Francis MaloolyWilliam Francis MaloolyWilliam Francis Malooly is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, who currently serves as the Bishop of Wilmington.-Biography:...
(2008–present)
High schools
- Archmere AcademyArchmere AcademyArchmere Academy is a Roman Catholic college preparatory school of 474 students in Claymont, Delaware. It is run independently within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.-History:...
*, Claymont, DE - Padua AcademyPadua AcademyPadua Academy is an all-girls Catholic high school in Wilmington, Delaware. It is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. It is a four-time winner of the “Superstars in Education” Award from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. . The school has been awarded Blue Ribbon School...
, Wilmington, DE - Saints Peter and Paul High SchoolSaints Peter and Paul High SchoolSaints Peter and Paul High School is a parochial, Roman Catholic, co-educational, day school in Easton, Maryland. It is located in the heart of the Eastern Shore, an area populated by a wide variety of professional, managerial and rural residents. The school serves an area of seven counties...
, Easton, MD - St. Elizabeth High School, Wilmington, DE
- St. Mark's High SchoolSt. Mark's High SchoolSt. Mark's High School is a coeducational Roman Catholic high school located at 2501 Pike Creek Road, Wilmington, Delaware. The school is administrated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The current enrollment is...
, Wilmington, DE - St. Thomas More PreparatorySt. Thomas More PreparatorySt. Thomas More Preparatory is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Magnolia, Delaware. It is run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.-Background:...
, Magnolia, DE - Salesianum School *, Wilmington, DE
- Ursuline Academy *, Wilmington, DE
- * Privately operated
Ecclesiastical province
- See: List of the Catholic bishops of the United States#Province of Baltimore
See also
- Resurrection Catholic Parish (Wilmington)Resurrection Catholic Parish (Wilmington)Resurrection Parish is a Catholic church in the Pike Creek Valley in Wilmington, Delaware, and is commonly referred to as Resurrection.-Contact information:3000 Videre Drive, Skyline RidgeWilmington, Delaware 19808 368-0146-History:...
- St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church (Wilmington, Delaware)
- St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Wilmington, DelawareSt. Catherine of Siena Parish, Wilmington, DelawareSaint Catherine of Siena Parish is located in Wilmington, Delaware. It has a Roman Catholic church located on Centerville Road with over 1100 families. The original church was founded in the 1960s by the surrounding Catholic community. A new church was recently built in 1993 and the original...
- Serviam Girls AcademyServiam Girls AcademyServiam Girls Academy is a private school in New Castle, Delaware offering classes in grades 5-8 for girls. Established in 2008 as an Ursuline school, it is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington and is a member of the NativityMiguel Network of Schools. The current enrollment is...
- List of the Catholic cathedrals of the United States
- List of the Catholic dioceses of the United States
- United States Conference of Catholic BishopsUnited States Conference of Catholic BishopsThe United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...