About Corpus Christi · Elsmere, Delaware
Corpus Christi Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Wilmington located on New Road in Elsmere, Delaware (a small town just west of Wilmington). Founded in 1948 under Father Thomas F. Gardocki to serve the booming post-WWII 'Baby Boom' population in northern New Castle County, it has shared a pastor with nearby St. Matthew Parish in Woodcrest since 2018 under the diocesan 'Together in the Spirit' pastoral plan, with Rev. Fr. Michael P. Darcy, K.H.S. serving both communities. Today the parish offers weekend and weekday Mass in its chapel, the Sacrament of Penance on Saturday afternoons, religious education (CCD), and a range of outreach ministries including St. Vincent de Paul.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- Corpus Christi (the Body of Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Michael P. Darcy, K.H.S.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wilmington (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Corpus Christi is a small, personable Catholic parish where every member of the congregation is known and welcomed. Under Fr. Darcy's leadership, the parish offers daily and weekend Mass in its chapel, the Sacrament of Penance every Saturday, a CCD program for children, devotions such as First Friday (Sacred Heart), the Rosary after weekday Mass, and a St. Vincent de Paul Society that directly serves neighbors in the Town of Elsmere and Willow Run. The parish shares resources and staff with neighboring St. Matthew Parish in Woodcrest, giving parishioners a broader community of ministries — Knights of Columbus, food pantry support, and other outreach — while still preserving the intimate, family-style feel of a neighborhood church.
Mass times at Corpus Christi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- Saturday 3:15 p.m. (per St. Matthew shared-parish schedule) or by appointment
History of Corpus Christi Parish
Corpus Christi was founded in 1948 by Father Thomas F. Gardocki as a new parish on New Road in Elsmere to serve a rapidly growing post-WWII 'Baby Boom' community. In its early decades the parish ran a parochial elementary school and, for a time, a high school. The original parish school building on the New Road campus later housed All Saints Catholic School, formed in 2011 by merging the schools of Corpus Christi, St. Matthew, Saint Catherine of Siena and Saint Matthew parishes. All Saints closed at the end of the 2020 school year. Under Bishop Malooly's 'Together in the Spirit' pastoral planning initiative, Corpus Christi was linked with nearby St. Matthew Parish in Woodcrest, and the two parishes now share one pastor, staff, and religious education programs.
- Founded 1948 by Father Thomas F. Gardocki
- Elementary school and, briefly, a high school operated by the parish
- Baptismal records begin February 1949
- Merged into All Saints Catholic School in 2011 (closed 2020)
- Linked with St. Matthew Parish under 'Together in the Spirit'
Pastor's Welcome and Shared Pastoral Team
On the parish website, Father Michael P. Darcy introduces himself as the new pastor of both Corpus Christi and St. Matthew parishes under Bishop Malooly's 'Together in the Spirit' plan. Ordained in 2000 by Bishop Saltarelli, Fr. Darcy previously served at St. Thomas the Apostle, Holy Cross in Dover, St. Mary Magdalene in Wilmington, St. Anne's in Bethany Beach, and St. Mary of the Assumption in Hockessin, and was pastor of St. John the Apostle / St. Bernadette in Milford and Harrington before his current assignment. He notes that he is 'depending on the grace of our Lord' and asks the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the parishes.
- Rev. Fr. Michael P. Darcy, K.H.S. — Pastor (Corpus Christi & St. Matthew)
- Rev. Fr. Christopher P. Hanley — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Sean M. Sudler
- Deacon Anthony Petillo
- Deacon David Deghetto
Devotions
Corpus Christi maintains traditional Catholic devotions that anchor the parish's daily life. The Rosary is prayed after every 8:30 a.m. weekday Mass, and the parish gathers for the First Friday (Sacred Heart) devotion during the 8:30 a.m. Mass on the first Friday of each month.
- Rosary following every 8:30 a.m. weekday Mass
- First Friday (Sacred Heart) Devotion during the 8:30 a.m. Mass
Religious Education (CCD)
Faith formation for the children of Corpus Christi and St. Matthew parishes is offered through the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program. Families may choose either weekly CCD classes during the school year or a one-week (40-hour) summer intensive; both satisfy a child's religious education requirement. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is handled separately. A three-day 'catch-up' week is offered in summer for children who have fallen behind. All religious education sessions are held at St. Matthew School.
- Weekly CCD during the school year
- Summer CCD intensive (one week / 40 hours)
- First Communion & Confirmation preparation (separate)
- Three-day 'catch-up' summer option
- Held at St. Matthew School
- Contact: Debbie Ciafre, CRE — (302) 275-8717
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Parishioners are invited to participate in a range of ministries that serve the church, the local community, and those in need. The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Corpus Christi directly serves residents of the Town of Elsmere and the Willow Run neighborhood, while the Knights of Columbus Blessed Sacrament Council meets on the first Monday of each month in the Corpus Christi vestibule. There is also a Decoration Committee to keep the church beautiful throughout the liturgical year, and the parish benefits from the music ministry led by Music Director Susan Dunlap.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — (302) 553-5565, [email protected]; Monday 5:00–5:45 p.m.
- Knights of Columbus — Blessed Sacrament Council (1st Monday, Corpus Christi vestibule)
- Decoration Committee — coordinator Dominic Mattia
- Music Ministry — Music Director Susan Dunlap (Corpus Christi)
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the Eucharist at Mass, hears confessions weekly before the Saturday Vigil, and provides First Communion and Confirmation preparation through the CCD program. Pastoral care — including visits to parishioners in local hospitals — is provided by the priests and deacons of the parish.
- Eucharist — Sunday and Vigil Masses
- Penance (Reconciliation) — Saturdays 3:00–3:45 p.m. and by appointment
- First Communion preparation
- Confirmation preparation
- Anointing / pastoral care of the sick
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Thomas F. Gardockifounding pastor (1948)
Founding pastor of Corpus Christi Parish; photographed at the New Road building site with the parish building committee in early parish history.
- Rev. Fr. Michael P. Darcy, K.H.S.appointed under Bishop Malooly's 'Together in the Spirit' plan (circa 2018)
Ordained in 2000 by Bishop Saltarelli; previously served at St. Thomas the Apostle, Holy Cross (Dover), St. Mary Magdalene (Wilmington), St. Anne's (Bethany Beach), St. Mary of the Assumption (Hockessin), and as pastor of St. John the Apostle / St. Bernadette (Milford and Harrington). Now pastors both Corpus Christi and St. Matthew parishes.