The Diocese of Wilmington

The Catholic faith was first brought to the peninsula that lies betweenthe Chesapeake and Delaware Bays in the seventeenth century by Jesuitpriests who rode circuit from the Maryland colony, offering Mass and bringingthe sacraments to private homes. As the country grew, so too did the Catholiccommunity on Delmarva, and many new churches and missions were founded.From the earliest established church'St. Francis Xavier Mission in CecilCounty, Maryland, founded in 1704--to Salesianum School, the first highschool in Delaware to be racially integrated, from the involvement in the dioceseof American saints John Neumann and Elizabeth Ann Seton to a variety ofreligious orders and organizations, these honored institutions and remarkableindividuals helped to shape the minds and spirits of young and old alikeThe story of the Diocese of Wilmington, which split off from the Diocese ofPhiladelphia in 1868, is not just one of church construction dates--it is the storyof its people. From the colorful settlement of French exiled after a slave rebellionin Haiti to the New World immigrants of Irish, German, Italian, Polish, andlater, Hispanic descent, the Catholic community in the region has been diverse,vibrant, and steadfast in a shared faith. From its humble beginnings, the diocesehas grown to serve a population of more than 190,000 members with 56 parishes,20 missions, and 37 schools and has fostered a strong civic tradition in athletics,theater, and community festivals.

© 2001 Arcadia Publishing (E-bog): 9781439612163

Udgivelsesdato

E-bog: 1. august 2001