About Our Lady of Fatima · New Castle, Delaware
Our Lady of Fatima is a Roman Catholic parish in the Wilmington Manor section of New Castle, Delaware, that has served Catholic families in northern New Castle County for more than 75 years. The parish was established on August 5, 1948 by Bishop Edmond J. Fitzmaurice of the Diocese of Wilmington, and today it numbers roughly 2,900 registered families. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish, with a Saturday evening Mass in Spanish, a large and active Hispanic Ministry, and bilingual reconciliation. The parish sits on North DuPont Highway in the heart of a once-rural area that boomed after World War II and is known in the diocese for several firsts, including a circular church built "in the round" with a free-standing altar (1965) and the first parish to commission high-school- and college-age Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
- Established
- 1948
- Patron
- Our Lady of Fatima (Mary, under the title given after the 1917 apparitions at Fátima, Portugal)
- Rector
- Rev. David F. Murphy
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wilmington
Why belong here
Our Lady of Fatima is one of the largest parishes in northern New Castle County, with roughly 2,900 families and a worship schedule that genuinely welcomes both English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics, including a Saturday evening Mass in Spanish and bilingual confessions. Parishioners grow in faith through a Religious Education program that serves children from the 1st grade through the OCIA process for adults, supported by an active Hispanic Ministry, a Spanish Choir, Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations each December 12, and a Hispanic Community Center open three nights a week. The parish also reaches outward through its Outreach Office at Asbury Methodist Church for financial assistance, a Pastoral Care office that visits the homebound and hospitalized, and a tradition of involvement with diocesan initiatives such as Retrouvaille and Respect Life.
Mass times at Our Lady of Fatima
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursdays at 6:00 PM (Bilingual)
- Saturdays at 4:00 PM, before the 5:00 PM Mass (Bilingual)
Parish History
Our Lady of Fatima was canonically erected on August 5, 1948 by Bishop Edmond J. Fitzmaurice to serve the post–World War II population boom in Wilmington Manor. The founding pastor, Rev. Edmund J. McDonough, celebrated the first Mass in the Civic Club on August 19, 1948; a 400-seat chapel on Pennsylvania and Harrison Avenues followed in 1949, and by the time Msgr. Roderick B. Dwyer was named the second pastor on May 14, 1952, 300 of the area's 483 homes were registered. The parish grew to 900 families by the 1956 dedication of its first purpose-built church and to nearly 1,300 by 1964, when ground was broken for a new circular church (dedicated April 9, 1965) that was the first in the Diocese of Wilmington built 'in the round' with a free-standing altar.
- Established August 5, 1948 by Bishop Edmond J. Fitzmaurice
- First Mass: Civic Club, August 19, 1948
- First chapel (400 seats) opened 1949 on Pennsylvania & Harrison Avenues
- Original church designed by Gleason & Mulrooney (Philadelphia); contractor C.J. Dougherty & Sons; dedicated November 25, 1956 by Coadjutor Bishop Cartwright
- Current circular church designed by Fletcher & Buck; contractor Tim O'Connell & Sons; dedicated April 9, 1965 by Bishop Hyle
- Parish celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1997–1998 and its Diamond Jubilee in 2008 ('The Many Facets of Fatima: Faith, Family, Future')
Our Patron: Our Lady of Fatima
The parish takes its name from the Marian apparitions reported by three shepherd children at Fátima, Portugal, beginning May 13, 1917. In 2017 the parish was already planning a year-long 100th-anniversary celebration of the apparitions, featuring a statue brought from Fátima, monthly talks, and guest speakers. The parish's mission statement invokes Mary as the one 'who heard the Word of God and kept it, who welcomed Christ into her life and shared Him with our world.'
- Feast of Our Lady of Fatima: May 13
- Statue from Fátima, Portugal brought to the parish for the 100th-anniversary observance
- Parish mission statement: 'we live and pray under the patronage and the example of Mary, Our Lady of Fatima'
Parish Staff and Leadership
Day-to-day parish life is coordinated from the rectory office at 801 North DuPont Highway (office hours Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM) and through a Pastoral Care Office. The parish is supported by a Parish Accountant / Parish Manager, an Office Assistant, and a Coordinator of Religious Education who also serves as Hispanic Ministry Coordinator. Maintenance is coordinated through Bill Messick at the rectory.
- Rev. David F. Murphy — Pastor
- Ms. Migdalia (Dolly) Ibarrondo — Coordinator of Religious Education / Hispanic Ministry Coordinator (302-276-6078; [email protected])
- Mrs. Kathleen Cullen, B.S. Accounting (Goldey Beacom College) — Parish Accountant / Parish Manager ([email protected])
- Mrs. Jenifer Parsons — Office Assistant (302-824-9387; [email protected])
- Pastoral Care Office — 302-328-3431
- Maintenance — Bill Messick via [email protected] or 302-328-3431
- Sister Theresa Ulshafer, OSF — Coordinator of Pastoral Care (homebound/hospitalized visits)
Hispanic Ministry
Our Lady of Fatima has a large and active Hispanic Ministry, coordinated by Ms. Migdalia (Dolly) Ibarrondo, that grew with the surge of new families into Wilmington Manor in the 2000s. The parish offers a Saturday evening Mass in Spanish, a Spanish Choir, a Spanish baptism program, a Spanish Committee, and a Hispanic Community Center that is open three nights a week for assistance within the parish community. The annual feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated each December 12.
- Saturday evening Mass in Spanish
- Spanish Choir
- Spanish baptism program and Spanish Committee
- Hispanic Community Center — open three nights a week
- Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration each December 12
- Coordinator: Ms. Migdalia (Dolly) Ibarrondo — [email protected], 302-276-6078
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish offers religious-education programs from 1st grade through adulthood, including sacramental preparation, OCIA for adults, and a collaborative RCIC program for children. The OCIA process for 2026–2027 begins in September, with registration through the rectory. The RCIC for ages 6–18 is held on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM at St. Peter the Apostle, 521 Harmony Street, New Castle, and is shared with St. Peter the Apostle, Holy Spirit, and St. Paul parishes.
- Religious Education for 1st grade through Adulthood
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) — adults 18+; 2026–2027 sessions begin in September; register at 302-328-3431
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC) — ages 6–18, Wednesdays 6:30 PM at St. Peter the Apostle, 521 Harmony Street, New Castle
- Shared faith-formation partnership with St. Peter the Apostle, Holy Spirit, and St. Paul parishes
- Respect Life ministry
Outreach and Pastoral Care
Outreach to those in need is a long-standing part of parish life. The Outreach Office is housed at Asbury Methodist Church across from the Penn Mart Shopping Center on Basin Road in New Castle and is open Fridays from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM; for financial assistance, callers leave their name and number on 302-322-1525. Pastoral Care, coordinated by Sister Theresa Ulshafer, OSF, reaches out to parishioners who are homebound, sick, or hospitalized.
- Outreach Office at Asbury Methodist Church — open Friday 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM, Basin Road, New Castle (across from Penn Mart)
- Financial-assistance line: 302-322-1525
- Pastoral Care (Sister Theresa Ulshafer, OSF) — visits to the homebound, sick, and hospitalized
- Marriage support: Retrouvaille program publicized through the parish
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation — through its Religious Education program and OCIA process, and it offers Spanish-language baptism preparation through the Hispanic Ministry. The first Confirmation in the parish was conferred by Bishop Fitzmaurice in April 1952, and the parish continues to participate in the Diocese of Wilmington's confirmation program. The Pastoral Care office ministers Anointing of the Sick and viaticum to the homebound and hospitalized.
- Baptism (English and Spanish preparation)
- First Communion and First Reconciliation
- Confirmation (Diocese of Wilmington program)
- Marriage (preparation through the rectory; Retrouvaille for struggling marriages)
- Anointing of the Sick and Pastoral Care visits
- OCIA for adults; RCIC for children ages 6–18
Mission Statement and Catholic Identity
The parish mission statement calls the community to experience God's presence and loving mercy, to proclaim the Gospel, to celebrate the saving mysteries of Christ in the sacred liturgy, and to put that love into action through service. It professes unity 'with Francis, Bishop of Rome, and Francis, Bishop of Wilmington' and in fellowship with other Christian communities. The parish seeks 'the continued renewal of the Church according to the spirit and decrees of the Second Vatican Council' under the patronage of Our Lady of Fatima.
- Called by the Father to hear the Gospel and proclaim salvation
- Committed to Vatican II renewal and active participation in the liturgy
- In communion with the Bishop of Rome and the Bishop of Wilmington
- Lay and united service to one another and the wider community
Visiting and Contact Information
The parish is easy to find at 801 North DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720 — Bishop Hyle noted at the 1965 dedication that the church 'facing a busy highway, serves as a reminder to all who pass by of the presence of God among His people.' The rectory office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Mass cards and remembrance candles (which burn for two weeks) may be purchased at the rectory.
- Address: 801 North DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE 19720
- Rectory phone: 302-328-3431
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Mass cards and remembrance candles available at the rectory (candles are $10 each and burn for two weeks)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Edmund J. McDonough1948–1952
Founding pastor; previously assistant at St. Elizabeth's, Wilmington, and principal of its high school; died suddenly February 23, 1952.
- Father Leo Montgomery1952 (administrator)
Appointed administrator after Father McDonough's death until the next pastor was assigned.
- Rev. Roderick B. Dwyer (later Msgr.)1952–1961
Second pastor; previously pastor of Sacred Heart, Chestertown, MD; built the original church (dedicated 1956) and the school; oversaw parish incorporation (1953); transferred to Christ Our King Parish.
- Msgr. Francis J. Desmond1961–1967
Assigned February 4, 1961; led the parish into the Vatican II era.
- Rev. Leo F. Montgomery1967–1972
Listed in the parish's official pastor succession.
- Vy. Rev. John F. O'Brien1972–1982
Built the circular church dedicated in 1965 and led parish growth in the 1970s.
- Vy. Rev. Stanley J. Russell1982–1994
Long-tenured pastor during the parish's maturation years.
- Rev. Michael J. McDermott1994–1997
Short tenure leading into the Golden Jubilee year.
- Rev. John J. Mink1998–2012
Longest-serving pastor; installed May 24, 1998 by Bishop Saltarelli; celebrated 25th anniversary of priesthood October 24, 2010; transferred to St. Ann's, Wilmington in 2012.
- Msgr. George Brubaker2012–present (as of parish history PDF, 2017)
Previously pastor of St. John, Milford, and Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Wilmington.