About St. Joseph on the Brandywine · Greenville, Delaware
St. Joseph on the Brandywine is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Greenville, Delaware, in the Diocese of Wilmington. Founded in 1841 by Irish and Italian Catholic workers of the DuPont powder mills — with the financial support of the duPont family itself — it is the second-longest continuously operating Catholic church in Delaware, after St. Peter's Cathedral in Wilmington. The yellow stuccoed stone church, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, sits on Old Church Road surrounded by a cemetery of more than 5,000 graves and is the home parish of President Joseph R. Biden.
- Established
- 1841
- Patron
- St. Joseph (patron saint of workers)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. John P. Hopkins
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wilmington
Why belong here
St. Joseph on the Brandywine is a small, historic parish where nearly every member of the community is invited to take a hands-on role — from altar serving, choir, lectors, and Eucharistic ministry to catechesis, hospitality, and the cemetery committee. It offers the full sacramental life of a Catholic parish (daily and Sunday Mass, Saturday Reconciliation, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, OCIA, marriage and anointing of the sick) along with active outreach through the Emmanuel Dining Room chicken meal, Advent and Easter Angel ministries, food pantry, and Respect Life committee, as well as a deeply personal ministry to the elderly residents of Country House and Stonegates.
Mass times at St. Joseph on the Brandywine
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- And by appointment
Adoration times
- First Saturday 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM (following the 8:00 AM First Saturday Mass)
Parish History
From the first Masses said in DuPont millworkers' homes in 1814, through the December 20, 1841 dedication by Bishop Kenrick, to the 2022–2023 restoration of the tabernacle to the center of the altar (its original 1841 placement), the parish's history is rooted in the duPont family's support for its Irish and Italian Catholic workforce. The parish's full pastor succession is published on the parish website, listing more than twenty pastors from Fr. Bernard McCabe (1841–1842) to the current Msgr. John P. Hopkins (2021–present).
- 1814 — First Masses celebrated in homes of Catholic DuPont millworkers
- 1841 — Church erected and dedicated on December 20 by Bishop Kenrick
- 1843 — Oldest tombstone in the cemetery
- 1848 — Sanctuary enlarged to current size
- 1878 — Bell tower constructed
- 1894 — Church consecrated (largest Catholic church in Delaware at the time)
- 1902 — First pipe organ installed and electric lighting wired
- 1941 — Present stained glass windows installed
- 1974 — Major interior renovation (altar rail and side altars removed)
- 1976 — Added to National Register of Historic Places (NRIS 76000572)
- 1994 — Allen organ installed; played from two consoles
- 2016 — Delaware State Historical Marker NCC-222 placed; Apostolic Blessing from Pope Francis on 175th anniversary
- 2022–2023 — Sacristy remodeled; tabernacle returned to center of altar; new marble altar and ambo
- 2024 — Family Center renovation completed
Architecture and Historic Campus
Built by DuPont Company stonemasons in 1841, the church has the extraordinarily thick stone walls the masons were accustomed to building in the powder mills. The complex encompasses four contributing buildings — the church, rectory, convent, and former school — together with a parish cemetery of more than 5,000 graves that has been expanded in stages into the 20th and 21st centuries. The church received its distinctive yellow exterior when Alfred I. duPont donated paint to match surrounding duPont homes. Since 2002, the old convent building has housed the diocesan archives, with Catholic records going back two centuries.
- Stuccoed stone walls (yellow), pedimented gable facade with steeple
- Sanctuary enlarged in 1848; bell tower added 1878; steeple/bell completed 1887
- Three arches added to altar in 1894 at consecration
- Stained glass windows installed 1898; replaced with present windows in 1941
- Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, 1976
- Delaware State Historical Marker NCC-222, 2016
- Diocesan archives housed in the old convent since 2002
Parish Staff and Contact
The parish is led by Pastor Msgr. John P. Hopkins with two deacons, a Director of Faith Formation, a Director of Liturgy and Music, a Director of Adult and Youth Choirs, a Business and Cemetery Manager, a Facilities Manager, and a Parish & Pastoral Secretary. The main parish phone is (302) 658-7017.
- Pastor: Rev. Msgr. John P. Hopkins — [email protected]
- Deacon: Dr. Austin A. Lobo — [email protected]
- Deacon: Michael J. Stankewicz — [email protected]
- Director of Faith Formation: Michelle J. Hogan — [email protected] (302) 658-7017
- Director of Liturgy and Music: Dr. Michael Marinelli — [email protected]
- Director, Adult and Youth Choirs: Mary Ellen Schauber — [email protected]
- Business and Cemetery Manager: Melissa Morri — [email protected]
- Facilities Manager: Pat Garrett — [email protected]
- Parish & Pastoral Secretary: Francine Harkins — [email protected]
- Cemetery: (302) 658-7017
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Joseph on the Brandywine serves parishioners of all ages. Weekly faith formation classes for children in kindergarten through eighth grade are held on Monday evenings from late September through early April. Confirmation preparation for ninth graders and above meets Sunday evenings from mid-November through early April. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist takes place during Monday evening sessions from mid-November through early April. For adults, the parish offers Bible study and book club opportunities and a Lenten Speaker Series, and OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, with reception at the Easter Vigil.
- Children K–8: Monday evenings (late September–early April)
- Sacramental Prep (First Reconciliation & First Eucharist): Monday evenings mid-Nov–early April
- Confirmation Prep (9th grade+): Sunday evenings mid-Nov–early April
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) for adults — reception at the Easter Vigil
- Adult Bible study, book club, and Lenten Speaker Series
- Catechist volunteers and substitutes needed; Safe Environments training provided
- Contact: Michelle Hogan, [email protected] — Faith Formation Office 302-433-0182
Liturgical Ministries
Many parishioners are involved each week in preparing and leading the liturgies. The parish's Liturgical Ministries page invites involvement from adults and youth across a wide range of roles, with training and support provided for each.
- Altar Servers — boys and girls from 4th grade and older; training provided
- Adult Choir — weekly rehearsals Thursdays 7:15–9:00 PM (September–May); sings at 10:00 AM Sunday Mass and seasonal concerts
- Youth Choir — weekly rehearsals Thursdays 6:15–7:00 PM (September–May); sings at select 10:00 AM Sunday Masses and special liturgies
- Counters — count weekly offertory and special collections
- Gift Bearers — present the gifts at weekend liturgies
- Leaders of Song (Cantors) — lead congregational singing; workshops provided
- Martha's Guild — launders and irons Mass linens
- Ministers of the Word (Lectors) — proclaim Scripture at liturgy
- Ministers of Communion — distribute Holy Communion; may take Communion to the sick and homebound
- Ministry Greeters — welcome parishioners and visitors at liturgy
- Environmental Committee — creates seasonal and liturgical environment for worship
Community and Social Concern
Catholic Social Teaching shapes the parish's outreach. The parish provides a monthly chicken meal to Wilmington's Emmanuel Dining Room, collects non-perishable food and monetary donations at Easter for families in need, and partners with other parishes on the Food Pantry Ministry. Two elder-care facilities — Country House and Stonegates — fall under the parish's auspices, with Mass, Communion, and Anointing of the Sick offered as needed. The Advent Angel Ministry provides Christmas gifts and essentials to neighbors in need.
- Advent Angel Ministry — Christmas gifts and essentials for neighbors in need
- Easter Angel Ministry — non-perishable food and monetary donations for families in need
- Emmanuel Dining Room Ministry — monthly chicken meal (the 11th, unless it falls on a weekend)
- Parish Outreach and Food Pantry
- Respect Life Committee
- Ministry to the Elderly (Country House and Stonegates) — Mass, Communion, Anointing of the Sick
- Adult Formation Ministry
- Hospitality Committee
Parish Cemetery
St. Joseph on the Brandywine's parish cemetery surrounds the church on Old Church Road and now contains well over 5,000 graves. The oldest tombstone on record dates to 1843. The cemetery has been expanded in stages — including a 1990s expansion along Kennett Pike — and contains the graves of soldiers from every American war as well as several priests who served the parish. Volunteer sales consultants on the Cemetery Committee meet with families for at-need and pre-need arrangements.
- More than 5,000 graves
- Oldest tombstone: 1843
- Expanded in the 1990s to include the parcel along Kennett Pike
- Includes soldiers from every American war and several parish priests
- Cemetery Committee — volunteer sales consultants for at-need and pre-need
- Cemetery office: (302) 658-7017
Notable Burials and the Parish Cemetery
Beyond its size and age, the cemetery is widely known for its connection to the Biden family and other prominent Delawareans.
- Joseph R. Biden — 46th President of the United States
- Joseph R. Biden Sr. (1915–2002) — father of President Biden
- Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden (1917–2010) — mother of President Biden
- Joseph R. Biden III (1969–2015) — 44th Attorney General of Delaware
- Naomi Christina Biden (1971–1972) — daughter of Joe Biden
- Neilia Hunter Biden (1942–1972) — first wife of President Biden
- John McMahon (1867–1954) — professional baseball player (Philadelphia Athletics, Baltimore Orioles)
- Joseph Walsh (1930–2014) — Delaware Supreme Court Justice
- Margaret Gwenver (1926–2010) — stage and soap opera actress
- James Vincent Welding Jr. (1947–2023) — Liberty Mutual Insurance Hall of Fame
Parish School (Historical)
A school was established in the basement of the church almost immediately after the 1841 dedication, and a two-story stone schoolhouse was added in 1855 on what is now the Family Center parking lot. The Sisters of St. Joseph staffed the school from 1853 to 1870, when the Sisters of St. Francis took over and continued to operate it until it closed in 1972.
- 1841 — School opened in the church basement
- 1855 — Two-story stone schoolhouse built (now the Family Center parking lot)
- 1853–1870 — Staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph
- 1887–1972 — Staffed by the Order of St. Francis (Sisters of St. Francis)
- School closed in 1972; former school building still part of the parish complex
Getting Involved
The parish describes itself as a community where ministry is shared broadly. Newcomers are welcomed into liturgical, formation, outreach, and governance roles — from catechist and choir to Parish Council and Finance Committee — with training, materials, and Safe Environments support provided.
- Liturgical ministries (see Liturgical Ministries section)
- Faith Formation catechists and substitutes
- Outreach ministries (Advent Angel, Easter Angel, Emmanuel Dining Room, Food Pantry)
- Respect Life Committee and Ministry to the Elderly
- Parish Council, Finance Committee, Cemetery Committee
- Hospitality Committee and Ministry Greeters
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Bernard McCabe1841–1842
First pastor; served at the dedication of the church on December 20, 1841.
- Fr. Frost1842
- Fr. Daniel Magorien1843–1846
- Fr. John S. Walsh1846–1867
- Fr. John Scanlan1867–1869
- Fr. George J. Kelly1869–1887
- Fr. Edward Henchy1887–1893
- Fr. Peter J. Donaghy1893
- Fr. John D. Carly1893–1895
- Fr. George S. Bradford1895
- Fr. William J. Bermingham1895–1900
- Fr. William J. Scott1900–1926
- Fr. Martin McHale Ryan1926–1933
- Fr. Patrick A. Brennan1933–1946
- Fr. Francis X. Fitzpatrick1946–1950
- Fr. Henry J. Dreyer1950–1966
- Msgr. Henri I. Foltz1966–1977
- Msgr. Paul J. Schierse1977–1992
- Fr. Stephen J. Connell1992–1997
- Msgr. J. Thomas Cini, VG1997–1998
Administrator.
- Fr. David F. Kelley, VF1998–1999
Administrator; later served 1999–2021.
- Msgr. Joseph F. Rebman, VG1999–2021
- Msgr. John P. Hopkins2021–present
Current pastor.