About St. Dennis · Galena, Maryland
St. Dennis Catholic Church is a small Roman Catholic parish located at 153 N. Main Street in the historic town of Galena, Kent County, Maryland. Founded in 1855 by layman Dennis McCauley, it is the oldest Catholic parish in Kent County and belongs to the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware. The parish offers Mass in English and Spanish, is home to a cemetery dating to ca. 1855, and the entire church-rectory-cemetery complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in November 2023. St. Dennis is currently served by Pastor Rev. James D. Hreha and Fr. Pedro Manuel Chalacan Guerrero, who also ministers at a Cambridge-area parish.
- Established
- 1855
- Patron
- St. Denis (Dionysius), Bishop of Paris and martyr, patron of France
- Rector
- Rev. James D. Hreha
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware
Why belong here
St. Dennis offers a faithful, historic Catholic home in upper Kent County with Mass celebrated in both English and Spanish each Sunday, weekday Mass on Thursdays and Fridays, and a welcoming small-town parish family. The parish supports religious education for children, RCIA for adults seeking Baptism or full initiation, and lay liturgical ministries (Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers). Members also have free livestream access to Sunday Mass and to Mass at sister parish St. Polycarp in Smyrna through the parish's YouTube channel, making the parish accessible to those who travel or are homebound.
Mass times at St. Dennis
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM
Parish History
St. Dennis Parish traces its origin to 1855, when Dennis McCauley, a successful Kent County farmer, obtained permission from Archbishop Kenrick of Baltimore to build a Catholic church on his land at Lambson's Station. The cornerstone was laid on August 29, 1855, and the church was dedicated under the invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Dennis on February 3, 1856, with Father Bernard J. McManus offering the first Mass and becoming the first pastor. The parish was originally attended from Old Bohemia Mission (St. Francis Xavier's, Warwick) by the Jesuits, and was the first Catholic parish established in Kent County, Maryland.
- Cornerstone blessed August 29, 1855 by Father Thomas P. Foley
- Dedicated February 3, 1856 to the BVM and St. Dennis
- First pastor: Rev. Bernard J. McManus (of St. John's, Baltimore)
- 1881: parish relocated from Lambson's Station into the town of Galena
- Second church: former Methodist 'Nicholas Chapel,' bought for $700 in 1881
- 1884: Victorian brick rectory built by Thomas H. Solloway
- 1934: present Gothic Revival stone church built (architects Gleeson and Mulroney)
- November 13, 2023: complex listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
St. Dennis is currently served by Pastor Rev. James D. Hreha, who was appointed effective September 8, 2017 in addition to his ministry as pastor of St. Polycarp Parish in Smyrna, Delaware. He was ordained on November 7, 1987 by Bishop Robert E. Mulvee for the Diocese of Wilmington after formation at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. Joining him is Fr. Pedro Manuel Chalacan Guerrero, a priest from Los Andes, Ecuador ordained in 2011, who ministers to the parishioners of Galena and Cambridge and is working to strengthen his English.
- Rev. James D. Hreha — Pastor (appointed Sept. 8, 2017; also pastor of St. Polycarp, Smyrna, DE)
- Rev. Pedro Manuel Chalacan Guerrero — Parochial Priest; born May 16, 1984 in Los Andes, Ecuador; ordained June 25, 2011
- Jennifer Hinton — Director of Religious Education
Sacraments & Parish Registration
Every Catholic family is encouraged to register with St. Dennis. Registration is required for Baptism and Marriage, and parishioners are asked to notify the rectory of any address or phone changes. Sacramental preparation includes Marriage Preparation in Three Easy Steps, and the parish runs a Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation or First Communion.
- Parish Registration — contact rectory at 410-648-5145 (PDF form available online)
- Baptism — registration required
- Marriage — registration required; three-step preparation
- RCIA — adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation or Eucharist
- Communion to the sick at home, in hospitals and nursing homes
Religious Education & Faith Formation
St. Dennis offers a parish-based Religious Education (CCD) program to help parents pass on the Catholic faith and prepare children for the sacraments of Penance, Eucharist and Confirmation. The 2025-2026 Religious Education registration is open, with an early-registration discount available through May 31, 2025 and late registration beginning August 10, 2025. Questions are directed to the Director of Religious Education, Jennifer Hinton.
- Religious Education (CCD) for parish children
- Director: Jennifer Hinton
- Registration deadline: May 31, 2025 (early), August 10, 2025 (late)
Parish Ministries & Volunteering
Parishioners serve the community through a variety of liturgical ministries. The parish is actively recruiting Lectors (who proclaim Scripture and lead the Prayers of the Faithful) and Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion (who also bring Communion to the sick and homebound). Altar Servers — boys and girls who have made First Communion — assist the priest at Mass. The parish's livestream ministry continues to keep homebound and traveling parishioners connected.
- Lectors — proclaim Scripture and lead the Prayers of the Faithful
- Eucharistic Ministers — distribute Communion and visit the sick
- Altar Servers — boys and girls who have made First Communion
- Live-stream ministry (YouTube)
- Contact the rectory (410-648-5145) to volunteer
Giving & Stewardship
St. Dennis sustains its ministries through the offertory and through online giving. Parishioners may enroll in recurring e-giving through Faith Direct or use Text-to-Give. Designated appeals support stained-glass window restoration, capital improvements to the parish's aging facilities, an offertory catch-up fund, religious-education tuition and one-time gifts.
- Faith Direct — recurring online giving (parish code MD 916, phone 866-507-8757)
- Text-to-Give — text 'ENROLL' to (410) 881-6845
- Stained-Glass Windows restoration fund
- Capital Improvements on aging facilities
- Religious Education Tuition
Buildings & Historic Campus
The St. Dennis Roman Catholic Church Complex comprises three historic resources: the Gothic Revival stone church (1934), the Victorian-style brick rectory (1884), and the parish cemetery (ca. 1855) at the junction of SR 290, Duck Puddle Road and Lambson Forest Road. On November 13, 2023 the entire complex was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places (NRHP reference No. 100009525), recognizing its architectural and community significance as the oldest Catholic parish in Kent County. The parish continues an ongoing campaign to restore its stained-glass windows.
- 1934 Gothic Revival stone church — architects Gleeson and Mulroney
- 1884 Victorian brick rectory — carpenter Thomas H. Solloway
- Cemetery ca. 1855 — on the original McCauley acre
- NRHP listed Nov. 13, 2023 (Ref. #100009525)
- Ongoing stained-glass window restoration campaign
Visit, Connect & Stay in Touch
The parish office and rectory are reached at (410) 648-5145, and the parish email is [email protected]. In addition to the official website (stdennischurch.org / stdennischurch.com), St. Dennis maintains a Facebook page and a YouTube channel where Sunday Mass and parish news are posted. Newcomers are warmly welcomed and encouraged to register with the parish family.
- Rectory: (410) 648-5145
- Email: [email protected]
- Websites: stdennischurch.org and stdennischurch.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/stdenniscatholicchurch/
- YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC_Dl3AJWCXaPXy7Fqhkg2yg
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Bernard J. McManus1856–1857+
First pastor of St. Dennis; came from St. John's Church, Baltimore. Offered the first Mass in the newly dedicated church on February 3, 1856.
- Rev. James D. Hreha2017–present
Born in Darby, Pennsylvania; educated at St. Pius X School, Devon Prep, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary and St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore; ordained November 7, 1987 by Bishop Robert E. Mulvee. Previously associate pastor at St. Elizabeth (Wilmington), St. Catherine of Siena (Wilmington), chaplain at Delaware Correctional Center, associate at St. Peter the Apostle (New Castle), St. Edmond's (Rehoboth Beach), founding pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Parish (2002–2015), then pastor of St. Polycarp, Smyrna, DE. Appointed pastor of St. Dennis effective September 8, 2017 in addition to his St. Polycarp duties.
- Rev. Pedro Manuel Chalacan Guerrero
Born May 16, 1984 in Los Andes, Ecuador; studied at Our Lady of Hope Major Seminary; ordained June 25, 2011 by Most Rev. Valter Dario Maggi. Previously served four parishes, most recently Nuestra Señora de Altagracia (Our Lady of Grace). Ministering to Galena and Cambridge.