About St. Helena · Wilmington, Delaware
St. Helena's Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Bellefonte neighborhood of Wilmington, Delaware, belonging to the Diocese of Wilmington and the Brandywine Hundred Deanery. The parish was established in 1906 and its current church on Philadelphia Pike serves a multi-generational community with daily Mass, a year-round religious education program, an active music ministry, and a robust Social Ministry that runs the parish food pantry and Meals on Wheels deliveries. The current pastor, Very Reverend Michael J. Carrier, KHS, V.F., was installed by Bishop William E. Koenig in February 2026.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- St. Helena (mother of Constantine the Great); also honors Mrs. Helena Raskob
- Rector
- Very Reverend Michael J. Carrier, KHS, V.F.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington (Brandywine Hundred Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Helena's offers the full rhythm of Catholic life in a small, family-sized community: daily and Sunday Mass with an acclaimed music ministry (which hosts the annual Festival of Spirituals), a year-round Religious Education program for grades 1–8 with sacramental preparation, an active adult faith formation through Monday-night Scripture Study, and the Knights of Columbus Christopher Council 3182. The parish's Social Ministry operates a Food Bank of Delaware–partnered food pantry, Meals on Wheels routes, the Lazarus Ministry for grieving families, the Respect Life and Social Justice ministries, and a Sewing Group — concrete ways to live the faith beyond the church walls.
Mass times at St. Helena
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30 – 4:30 PM (per parish website)
- Saturdays 3:30 – 4:45 PM (per weekly bulletin)
- After the 9:00 AM First Friday Mass
- By appointment: (302) 764-0325 Ext. 108
History of St. Helena's Parish
St. Helena's was established in 1906 to serve Catholics in the Bellefonte section of Brandywine Hundred along the Philadelphia Pike. The original church was built in 1936 and dedicated on November 22, 1936, by Bishop Edmond J. FitzMaurice, with Rev. John J. Lynch offering the High Mass and Rev. Dr. William Temple preaching. A larger church was dedicated in 1955 to accommodate growth, and that remains the present worship space at 602 Philadelphia Pike. The parish's name honors both St. Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, and Mrs. Helena Raskob, in recognition of the benefactions of John J. Raskob and the Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities.
- Parish established: 1906
- Original church dedicated: November 22, 1936
- Current church dedicated: 1955
- Dedicated by: Bishop Edmond J. FitzMaurice (1936); Bishop William E. Koenig installed pastor Feb. 15, 2026
- Principal benefactor: John J. Raskob, through the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Wilmington
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Very Reverend Michael J. Carrier, KHS, V.F., who also serves as Dean of the Brandywine Hundred Deanery, and was installed by Bishop William E. Koenig on February 15, 2026. He is assisted by two permanent deacons, a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity pastoral associate, an administrative assistant, accountant, receptionist, director of religious education, music director, and the Social Ministry and outreach staff. Fr. Christopher Hanley is referenced on the Prayer Shawl Ministry as blessing shawls and rosaries for the sick.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Michael J. Carrier, KHS, V.F. — [email protected]
- Deacon William J. Johnston, Jr.
- Deacon Joseph A. Cilia, Jr.
- Pastoral Associate: Sr. Kathy Flood, OSF
- Administrative Assistant: Abigail Rowe — (302) 764-0325 x102
- Accountant: Peggy Kulesza — (302) 764-0325 x101
- Parish Receptionist: Terri Hill — (302) 764-0325 x100
- Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry: Hummy Pennell — [email protected]
- Assistant to the DRE: Britney de Ford
- Director of Music / Organist: Joseph A. Louden
Religious Education & Faith Formation
St. Helena's Religious Education program offers 'something for everyone' from 'the cradle to the grave,' with parish-school classes for public-school children in grades 1–8, sacramental preparation, an adult Scripture study, and a Children's Liturgy of the Word at the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass. Classes meet Monday evenings from 6:30 to 7:30 PM in the school classrooms and are taught by volunteer catechists; the program fee is $150 per family if paid by the first night, or two payments of $80.
- Religious Education Classes — Monday evenings 6:30–7:30 PM (Grades 1–8)
- Sacramental Preparation — First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation
- Adult Scripture Study — Monday nights 6:30–7:30 PM
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — Sundays during 10:00 AM Mass
- DRE: Hummy Pennell (302) 762-4280; Assistant: Britney de Ford
Music Ministry and Liturgy
The Music Ministry 'strives to enrich the Mass experience through uplifting music that inspires prayer and reflection,' drawing on a repertoire that ranges from ancient chant and Renaissance and Baroque polyphony through Classical, spirituals, and modern praise and Gospel. The parish is especially proud to host the Festival of Spirituals in its acoustically rich sanctuary, supported by a two-manual Reuter pipe organ. Joseph A. Louden serves as Director of Music and Organist.
- Director of Music / Organist: Joseph A. Louden
- Repertoire: chant, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, spirituals, modern praise, Gospel
- Annual Festival of Spirituals
- Two-manual Reuter pipe organ (Diocese of Wilmington listing)
Parish Life and Community
The Parish Life Committee promotes Christian identity and spirituality across all age groups through social, spiritual, and service activities. The Young at Heart Adult Social Club strengthens community among adult parishioners through monthly meetings with outside speakers, a Crafts Group that makes items for the Christmas Bazaar, a Prayer Shawl Ministry that knits and crochets shawls and rosaries for the sick, and social events like Bingo, a Horse Racing game, and a Covered Dish Dinner. The Knights of Columbus Christopher Council 3182, led by Grand Knight James Bonavita, supports the parish and the broader Church through its fraternal mission.
- Parish Life Committee Chair: John Macconi
- Young at Heart President: Adele Williams; Chair: Nancy Cobb
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — shawls and rosaries blessed by Fr. Christopher Hanley
- Crafts Group — meets Monday evenings; supports Christmas Bazaar
- Knights of Columbus — Christopher Council 3182 (Grand Knight: James Bonavita)
- Annual Christmas Bazaar (two-day parish fall event)
Social Ministry and Outreach
The Parish Social Ministry Office upholds the dignity of every person, born and unborn, and works to build a culture of life through prayer, compassion, advocacy, and service. It operates the parish Food Pantry in partnership with the Food Bank of Delaware, a Meals on Wheels delivery route, a Social Justice Ministry that studies issues like homelessness and human trafficking, a Respect Life Ministry, a Lazarus Ministry supporting grieving families, the Sewing Group, and a casserole program for the Emmanuel Dining Room in Wilmington.
- Director / Coordinator: Carol Ann Plunkett — (302) 764-7545
- Food Pantry (Food Bank of Delaware partner) — by appointment
- Meals on Wheels — Coordinators: Linda and Jim Deeney
- Social Justice Ministry — issues include homelessness, housing, poverty, human trafficking, respect life
- Respect Life Ministry — abortion, IVF, contraception, trafficking, euthanasia, stem-cell research, death penalty
- Lazarus Ministry — funeral greeters, meals, house-sitting, November Mass of Remembrance
- Emmanuel Dining Room — casseroles every other month; Coordinator: Bridget Kirk
- Sewing Group — Coordinator: Carol Ann Plunkett
- Social Ministry Committee meets first Tuesday of each month
Sacraments
Baptisms and Weddings are arranged by appointment through the Rectory. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation is offered through the Religious Education Program, with a dedicated Sacramental Preparation track. The Lazarus Ministry supports families through funeral liturgies, and anointing and other pastoral sacraments are available on request.
- Baptism — by appointment; call the Rectory
- Marriage / Weddings — by appointment; call the Rectory
- First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation — via Religious Education Program
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment
- Funeral coordination — Lazarus Ministry
Contact and Visiting
The parish welcomes visitors and newcomers for worship and the sacraments. The Rectory Office is open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM, and the Parish Receptionist can be reached at extension 100. The Social Ministry Outreach Office has its own phone line for food-pantry and assistance requests.
- Address: 602 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, DE 19809
- Main phone: (302) 764-0325
- Rectory Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Outreach Office: (302) 764-7545
- Religious Education Office: (302) 762-4280
- Confession appointments: (302) 764-0325 Ext. 108
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John J. Lynch1936 (dedication)
Celebrated the High Mass at the original church's dedication on November 22, 1936.
- Rev. John J. Dougherty1936 (dedication)
Assisted Bishop Edmond J. FitzMaurice at the November 22, 1936 dedication of the original church.
- Rev. Christopher Hanley
Referenced on the Young at Heart Prayer Shawl Ministry page as blessing the shawls and rosaries.
- Very Reverend Michael J. Carrier, KHS, V.F.Installed February 15, 2026
Installed by Most Reverend William E. Koenig, Bishop of Wilmington, at the 10:00 AM Mass on Feb. 15, 2026; also serves as Dean of the Brandywine Hundred Deanery.