July 2021

Dear friends in Christ:

Just over two weeks ago, I was ordained to be your bishop.  I am so very grateful for the many people who did so much to make the day such a grace-filled day and for all those who have gone out of their way before and since that day to make me feel so welcomed.  Thank you and may your kindness be returned to you many times over.

In these days since my ordination and installation, I have been visiting parishes for the celebration of Sunday and weekday Masses. It has been a joy for me to get to meet and begin to know personally my brother priests and the faithful of the diocese. I hope to visit all of our parishes in the coming months, but I ask for your patience as my days are full and our diocese is large.

The first church to visit on the list after my ordination was easy: the Cathedral of Saint Peter in downtown Wilmington. As the cathedral church for our diocese, it is home to the bishop’s chair.  Just as there are special chairs where a parent or a teacher might sit, so too is there a special chair at St. Peter’s.  As I sat for the first time in the cathedra of St. Peter’s, I sensed a wonderful connection with all the other parish churches and parishioners in our diocese.  As I reflected upon this feeling, I could not help but think that it was not unlike the feeling I would have at a family celebration at which my parents, brothers and relatives would gather and be seated around a table or in another setting.  While the vast majority of Catholics in our diocese belong to parishes other than the Cathedral Parish of St. Peter’s, my prayer is that we all feel a special connection to St. Peter’s as our Cathedral and to one another through this connection.  

For those who may not be aware of it, Sunday Mass from St. Peter’s is available each week on our diocesan YouTube channel.  For those who are unable to make it to Mass this is a great gift. The cathedral parish is also a vibrant community of believers that is helping to address the spiritual, educational, and charitable needs of its urban neighborhood, while working to attend to the physical maintenance needs of the historic structure.

In closing, I also take this opportunity to bring to your attention the annual special collection to assist in meeting the ministerial and maintenance costs of the cathedral. This year’s collection is scheduled for the weekend of August 14 and 15. I ask you to be as generous as your means allow. Together, we can help assure that our Cathedral will remain a place of beauty and prayer for generations to come—a spiritual home for all the faithful of Wilmington.

For more information about the Cathedral, please visit www.cdow.org/cathedral or visit the Cathedral’s website at www.cathedralofstpeter.com. 

Faithfully yours in Christ,    

Most Reverend William E. Koenig
Bishop of Wilmington

Our annual Day of Fun at Jolly Rogers is Sunday, August 15. Wristbands are  available at the parish office and will be for sale after all Masses on August 7/8 and August 14.  This fundraiser benefits our Religious Education Program. Wristbands are $25 each.

Splash Mountain from 10am to 4pm

Rides at 30^th Street from 2pm to 6pm

1 round of golf at 30^th Street between 10am and 4pm

Please click on link for information:      Summer Raffle 2021

K of C Calendar

Click on link above to see what is happening at Columbus Hall.

Many thanks to those who have responded to the 2021 Annual Catholic Appeal; your generosity is deeply appreciated. If you have not yet participated you can contribute to the Appeal by using the pledge card and return envelope mailed to your home, by accessing the Appeal website at www.cdow.org/annualcatholicappeal and clicking “How to Donate” or by completing a pledge card located at the Parish Office. It is never too late to help someone in need.

https://youtube.com/channel/UCUkIycxVnzAt7ihMHUYejwg