About St. John the Baptist · Newark, Delaware
St. John the Baptist–Holy Angels Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Newark, Delaware, belonging to the Diocese of Wilmington. It is a two-campus parish: the original St. John the Baptist Church, consecrated in 1883 at 200 E. Main Street and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982; and Holy Angels Church on Possum Park Road, dedicated in 1956 with the present church built in 2004, which since the late 1990s has served as the home of the largest Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Wilmington. The parish serves roughly 2,818 registered families (about 9,590 parishioners) with Mass offered in both English and Spanish, plus the parish school (Holy Angels School) on the Possum Park campus.
- Established
- 1891
- Patron
- St. John the Baptist
- Rector
- Rev. Carlos Ochoa
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wilmington
Why belong here
St. John the Baptist–Holy Angels is one of the most culturally rich parishes in the Diocese of Wilmington: a registered community of roughly 2,800 families who worship in both English and Spanish across two historic campuses — the National Register–listed 1883 Romanesque Revival church on East Main Street and the modern 2004 Holy Angels Church on Possum Park Road. The parish runs Holy Angels School, an active Religious Education program, Confirmation preparation, a vibrant Hispanic Ministry (the largest in the diocese), a Knights of Columbus council, youth and young adult groups, multiple choirs, retreats, marriage and baptism preparation, St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP), Alcoholics Anonymous, men's and women's Bible studies, Perpetual Adoration in Spanish on First Fridays, and Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday in English — offering countless ways to belong.
Mass times at St. John the Baptist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 pm at Holy Angels Church
- Saturday: 8:45–10:00 am at St. John the Baptist Church (per parish calendar)
- By appointment through the parish office (302) 731-2200
Adoration times
- Thursdays at 7:00 pm at Holy Angels Church (Spanish)
- Fridays at St. John the Baptist Church after the 8:00 am Mass (English)
- First Fridays at Holy Angels Church after the 10:00 pm Mass until 6:00 am (Spanish)
- Bilingual Eucharistic Adoration (per parish calendar) at Holy Angels Church
- Eucharistic Adoration following the 8:00 am daily Mass at St. John the Baptist (per parish calendar)
Parish History
St. John the Baptist–Holy Angels traces its roots to Irish Catholic settlers of the pre-Revolutionary era and the first Masses offered in colonial taverns along the Newark crossroads. In 1868 Charles A. Murphy donated the old Village Presbyterian building to the Diocese, creating the St. Patrick's mission; after its floor collapsed on Christmas morning 1880, Father John A. Lyons rebuilt the present Romanesque Revival church on the same site and renamed it St. John the Baptist in honor of his patron. The church was consecrated June 24, 1883 by Bishop Thomas A. Becker, the first Bishop of Wilmington, and was elevated to parish status in 1891 with Father Frederick V. Campbell as first resident pastor.
- 1868 — Murphy purchases the Presbyterian frame building for $1 and gives it to the Diocese as St. Patrick's mission
- 1880 — Christmas morning floor collapse during Midnight Mass
- 1882–1883 — Sunday Mass held at the Newark Grange Hall (today Klondike Kate's)
- June 24, 1883 — Consecration of St. John the Baptist by Bishop Thomas A. Becker
- 1885 — Justin J. Pié donates land for the parish cemetery at Elkton Rd and West Park Place
- 1891 — St. John's mission elevated to parish status
- May 7, 1982 — Placed on the National Register of Historic Places
- November 20, 1983 — Parish centennial celebration
Two Campuses — St. John the Baptist & Holy Angels
Today the parish worships at two sites. St. John the Baptist Church, at 200 East Main Street, is the 1883 Romanesque Revival historic church that hosts English daily Mass and weekend Masses. Holy Angels Church, on the Possum Park Road campus, was first dedicated in 1956 and rebuilt as a new church in 2004; it is the home of the parish school, Religious Education, and the diocesan Hispanic Ministry, with multiple Spanish-language Masses each Sunday.
- St. John the Baptist — 200 E. Main Street (historic church, English Masses)
- Holy Angels — 82 Possum Park Road (parish office, school, Hispanic Ministry)
- San Damiano Center on the Possum Park campus
- St. Michael the Archangel prayer room inside Holy Angels Church
- Permanent baptismal font added at Holy Angels under Fr. Fiore
Sacraments
Sacraments are coordinated through the parish office and, for Hispanic families, through the Office of Hispanic Ministry. Sacramental preparation is available in both English and Spanish, including dedicated preparation for adults seeking Confirmation and marriage.
- Baptism — Spanish: 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month; English by appointment
- First Communion & Reconciliation preparation
- Confirmation — youth in 8th grade or higher; adults by separate preparation
- Marriage — Matrimonial preparation in English and Spanish
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion of the Sick (home and hospital visits)
- Funeral Masses
- Quinceañera (15 Años) classes
Holy Angels School & Religious Education
Holy Angels School is the parish elementary school on the Possum Park Road campus. The school was founded in the 1950s, staffed originally by the Sisters of St. Francis of Glen Riddle, Pennsylvania, and recovered from a major asbestos crisis in 1989–1990. In addition to the school, the parish offers a robust Religious Education program (CCD) for public-school children, meeting on Sunday evenings and Wednesday evenings, plus Confirmation preparation.
- Holy Angels School, Principal Dr. Mary Elizabeth Muir, (302) 731-2210
- Religious Education Sessions — Sundays 5:30–7:30 pm, Wednesdays 6:00–7:30 pm
- CRE: Mary Alberici, (302) 731-2209, [email protected]
- Confirmation Youth Program — for 8th grade and above; registration in the fall
- Adult Confirmation (English) — Anne Adams, (302) 731-2200
- Adult Confirmation (Spanish) — Marta Just, (302) 731-2436
Hispanic Ministry / Ministerio Hispano
Since the late 1990s the Diocese of Wilmington has designated Holy Angels Church as the home of Hispanic Ministry — the largest in the diocese — and it continues to grow. The Office of Hispanic Ministry, led administratively by Marta Just, coordinates all Spanish-language liturgical celebrations, sacramental preparation, retreats, and community life, while serving as a bridge between English- and Spanish-speaking parishioners.
- Director: Marta Just — [email protected], (302) 731-2436
- Office hours: 9 am–12 pm and 1 pm–4 pm, Monday–Thursday
- Four Sunday Spanish Masses at Holy Angels (7 am, 11 am, 1 pm, 7 pm)
- Annual Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration drawing 1,000+ faithful
- San Andrés catechetical school (Yadira Barcenas)
- Multiple Spanish choirs and music ministries
- Marian groups (Lazos de Amor Mariano, Grupo Mariano de Parejas)
- Hispanic youth, couples, prayer, and retreat ministries
Parish Life, Groups & Outreach
Beyond liturgy and sacraments, the parish runs a wide range of formation, fellowship, and outreach groups. The Knights of Columbus council is part of the parish community, and St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) serves those in need. Adult faith formation includes a Saturday morning Men's Bible Study and the Ladies Heart of Mary group.
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Society
- Alcoholics Anonymous (Fridays, parish center)
- Men's Bible Study (Saturdays)
- Ladies Heart of Mary (Wednesdays, 6:30 pm)
- Youth Group (ages 13–17)
- Young Adult Group (ages 18–26)
- Matrimonios Unidos a Cristo (marriage ministry)
Parish Staff & Office
The parish is led by Pastor Rev. Carlos Ochoa and served by two Parochial Vicars, a Deacon, and a lay staff for administration, faith formation, music, Hispanic Ministry, and maintenance. The parish office is on the Possum Park Road campus and is open Monday through Thursday.
- Pastor: Rev. Carlos Ochoa
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Michael Preston
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Manuel Quiceno
- Deacon: David Feaster
- Administrative Assistant: Annie Adams, [email protected]
- Bookkeeper: Brooke Hamilton, [email protected]
- CRE (Religious Education): Mary Alberici, [email protected]
- Hispanic Ministry: Marta Just, [email protected]
- Music & Liturgy: Jean Toman, [email protected]
- Human Resources: Amy Press, [email protected]
- Maintenance: Charles Wyszynski, [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu, 9 am–12 pm and 1 pm–4 pm
Buildings, Renovation & Campus Projects
The two campuses have been continuously renewed. The 2004 new Holy Angels Church replaced the original 1956 worship space, and subsequent pastors have methodically completed unfinished interior rooms — including the St. Michael the Archangel prayer room, additional meeting and gathering areas, and a permanent baptismal font — while completing the San Damiano Center and front plaza. At St. John's, the cupola has been repaired and a new slate roof installed to preserve the 1883 historic structure for future generations.
- 2004 — New Holy Angels Church and school gym completed under Fr. Reissmann
- Cupola repair and replacement at St. John the Baptist under Fr. Fiore
- Permanent baptismal font added at Holy Angels
- St. Michael the Archangel prayer room
- San Damiano Center (Fr. Jackson)
- Front plaza at Holy Angels (Fr. Jackson)
- New slate roof at St. John the Baptist (referenced by The Dialog)
Pastoral Succession
Since 1891, fourteen pastors have served St. John the Baptist–Holy Angels. Their tenures are documented on the parish's Our Parish page, from founding pastor Frederick V. Campbell to the current pastor Carlos Ochoa (2021–present). Two of them — Arthur B. Fiore and James M. Jackson — are particularly remembered for shaping the modern Holy Angels campus.
- Frederick V. Campbell (1891–1895)
- George L. Ott (1895–1909)
- John N. Dougherty (1909–1919)
- Patrick A. Brennan (1919–1933)
- James F. Earner (Mar–Jun 1933)
- Eugene J. Kraemer (1933–1949)
- Leo W. O'Neil (1949–1969)
- William R. Couming (1969–1975)
- John J. Masterson (1975–1984)
- Richard A. Reissmann (1984–2009)
- Arthur B. Fiore (2009–2017; Temp Admin 2021)
- James M. Jackson (2017–2019)
- Stanislao Esposito (2019–2021)
- Carlos Ochoa (2021–present)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Frederick V. Campbell1891–1895
First resident pastor when the mission was elevated to parish status.
- George L. Ott1895–1909
- John N. Dougherty1909–1919
- Patrick A. Brennan1919–1933
- James F. EarnerMarch 1933–June 1933
- Eugene J. Kraemer1933–1949
Undertook the 1946–1947 major interior renovation including the stained glass and rose windows.
- Leo W. O'Neil1949–1969
Continued expansion; assisted by Fr. Francis P. Cornely, the parish's first associate pastor, named in 1950.
- William R. Couming1969–1975
Initiated plans for further growth that led to Holy Family parish in 1979.
- John J. Masterson1975–1984
- Richard A. Reissmann1984–2009
Oversaw the 2004 construction of the new Holy Angels Church and school gym; retired 2009.
- Arthur B. Fiore2009–2017
Repaired the St. John cupola, added the permanent baptismal font at Holy Angels, and completed interior rooms piece by piece; later returned as Temporary Administrator in 2021.
- James M. Jackson2017–2019
Completed the San Damiano Center and installed the front plaza at Holy Angels Church.
- Stanislao Esposito2019–2021
- Carlos Ochoa2021–present
Current pastor.