About St. Patrick · Wilmington, Delaware
St. Patrick Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Wilmington, Delaware, founded in 1880 and completed in 1882 at the corner of 15th and King Streets. It is administered as one of the three Downtown Catholic parishes—alongside the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception—under a single pastoral team led by Very Reverend Joseph W. McQuaide, IV. St. Patrick is especially known as the home of the Traditional Latin Mass in the Diocese of Wilmington and for its deep commitment to serving the poor of Wilmington's East Side through the independently operated Saint Patrick Center and an active Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- Saint Patrick
- Rector
- Very Reverend Joseph W. McQuaide, IV
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wilmington
Why belong here
St. Patrick is one of three Downtown Catholic parishes served by a single pastoral team, so worshippers find a stable, well-staffed liturgical home in the heart of Wilmington. It is the home of the Traditional Latin Mass in the Diocese of Wilmington, with daily and weekly Masses in both the ordinary and extraordinary forms. The parish carries a deep commitment to inner-city mission: its Saint Vincent de Paul conference and the affiliated Saint Patrick Center feed, clothe, and shelter the poor of the East Side, giving parishioners a tangible way to put faith into action. A restored 1882 church, an active music program, and parish groups such as the Knights of Columbus and the Millions of Monicas prayer group round out a faithful, generous community.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 4:30–5:15 pm
- Tuesday 4:30–5:15 pm
- Wednesday 4:30–5:15 pm
- Thursday 4:30–5:15 pm
Adoration times
- First Friday 5:00–6:00 pm (before the 6 pm Latin Mass)
About St. Patrick Church
St. Patrick is one of three parishes—the Cathedral of Saint Peter, Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception, and Saint Patrick—that together form the Downtown Catholic community of Wilmington, Delaware, administered by one pastoral team. The parish was founded in 1880 and the present church was completed in 1882, making it one of the oldest Catholic landmarks on Wilmington's East Side.
- Parish founded 1880
- Church completed 1882
- Part of the Downtown Catholic parishes
- Located at 15th and King Streets, Wilmington
Parish History
From a frame shed where the first Mass was said on July 3, 1881, to a thriving inner-city parish serving the poor of Wilmington, St. Patrick's story spans more than 140 years. The original site was purchased in 1880, the church dedicated on March 19, 1882, and the parish school opened in 1888 under the Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia. After the post–World War II decline of urban parishes and the 1968 riots, the school closed in 1974 and the parish itself was slated for closure in 1975. Stabilization came through the addition of a 5:00 pm Mass and the move of the Latin Mass community to St. Patrick, and in 2013 a major interior restoration returned the church to its 19th-century beauty.
- Site purchased October 9, 1880
- First Mass July 3, 1881 (in a frame shed)
- Cornerstone laid by Bishop Thomas A. Becker, July 3, 1881
- Parish school opened September 3, 1888 (Sisters of St. Francis)
- School closed 1974; building became the Saint Patrick Center
- Interior restoration completed 2013
The Traditional Latin Mass
St. Patrick is the home of the Traditional Latin Mass in the Diocese of Wilmington. Masses are celebrated according to the 1962 Missale Romanum on Sundays at 8:00 am (low Mass) and 11:00 am (sung Mass), on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:30 pm, First Fridays at 6:00 pm, and First Saturdays at 9:00 am, with additional days as announced.
- Sunday 8:00 am — low Latin Mass
- Sunday 11:00 am — sung Latin Mass
- Monday & Wednesday 5:30 pm Latin Mass
- First Friday 6:00 pm Latin Mass
- First Saturday 9:00 am Latin Mass
Clergy and Staff
St. Patrick is served by the Downtown Catholic pastoral team, led by Very Reverend Joseph W. McQuaide, IV, who serves as Rector of the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Pastor of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception and Saint Patrick Parishes. Father McQuaide, a native of the Diocese of Wilmington, was ordained in 2011 and also serves as Diocesan Chancellor, Judicial Vicar, and Diocesan Chaplain for Catholic Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Two deacons assist across the Downtown Catholic parishes, and Dana Brehany serves as Music Director for both Saint Mary and Saint Patrick.
- Very Reverend Joseph W. McQuaide, IV – Rector-Pastor
- Reverend Christopher M. Markellos – Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Anthony J. Gallo
- Deacon Roberto Ortiz (bilingual English/Spanish)
- Dana Brehany – Music Director, Saint Mary & Saint Patrick
- Maria Dempsey – Parish Office Administrator
- Kathleen Cullen – Parish Bookkeeper
Faith Formation
Faith formation for the Downtown Catholic parishes is offered through the FORMATION tab on the parish website, including a parish-wide FORMED subscription, a Wednesday afternoon and evening series for ongoing learning, and sign-ups for the Sacraments.
- FORMED subscription
- Wednesday faith formation series
- Sacramental preparation sign-ups
Parish Groups and Ministries
St. Patrick's groups meet primarily in the Saint Patrick Church Hall at 15th and King Streets. They include a Knights of Columbus council, a Saint Vincent de Paul conference, and the Millions of Monicas prayer group for mothers.
- Knights of Columbus – Father Trainor Council (3rd Thursday, 7:00 pm)
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul (every other Tuesday, 6:00 pm)
- Millions of Monicas – prayer group for mothers (every Monday, 6:30 pm)
The Saint Patrick Center
Originally oriented to the service of senior citizens after the parish school closed in 1974, the Saint Patrick Center has expanded into a secular nonprofit providing food, clothing, case management, transportation for seniors, and respite for the homeless. Though independently operated, it grew directly out of the parish and remains a sign of St. Patrick's commitment to the poor of Wilmington's East Side.
- Emergency food assistance and community breakfast
- Clothing closet (twice monthly)
- Case management and senior services
- Serving Wilmington since 1971
- Located at 107 East 14th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801; (302) 652-6219
Sacraments
Parishioners and visitors are invited to contact the Rector-Pastor through the Downtown Catholic parish offices to arrange the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, or Marriage.
- Baptism – contact Rector-Pastor
- Confirmation – contact Rector-Pastor
- Anointing of the Sick – contact Rector-Pastor
- Marriage – contact Rector-Pastor
Visiting and Contact
Worshippers and visitors can reach St. Patrick through the Downtown Catholic offices at 1414 N. King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801, open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
- Downtown Catholic Offices: 1414 N. King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
- Phone: (302) 652-0743
- Fax: (302) 652-7678
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. M. X. Fallon1882 – c.1885
First pastor; oversaw completion and dedication of the church (March 19, 1882).
- Rev. George S. Bradford1885 – c.1894
Second pastor; opened the parochial school in 1888 (Sisters of St. Francis).
- Rev. Dennis J. Flynn1894 – c.1905
Third pastor; winner of Bishop Curtis's famous fundraising contest; built the present parochial school in 1895.
- Rev. William J. Berminghamc.1905 – 1907
Made extensive improvements (entrance, sacristy, side altars); church re-dedicated October 8, 1905; died December 12, 1907.
- Rev. James F. Quigley1908 – 1925
Enlarged the school and convent; died May 3, 1925.
- Rev. James L. McSweeney1925 –
Installed June 1, 1925; installed a new organ dedicated February 23, 1930.