About St. Paul · Delaware City, Delaware
St. Paul Parish is a small Roman Catholic parish serving Delaware City, Delaware, within the Diocese of Wilmington. Its roots reach back to 1837, when a Catholic cemetery was laid out at William and Monroe Streets; the parish was officially established as a diocesan church in 1856, and the present church at 209 Washington Street was completed and dedicated in 1905. The parish today numbers roughly 120 registered families and is known for its intimate, tight-knit community where 'everyone knows everyone.' Since 2015 it has also been home to the Korean Catholic Community of Delaware, which celebrates a Korean-language Mass each Sunday.
- Established
- 1856
- Patron
- St. Paul the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. David A. Driesch, O.Praem.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wilmington
Why belong here
St. Paul's is a small, intimate parish where parishioners genuinely know one another — a quality the pastor himself says is what has 'kept that parish going.' Visitors find a welcoming community that has faithfully maintained Catholic worship on Washington Street for nearly 170 years, with the added richness of the Korean Catholic Community, which celebrates Mass in Korean each Sunday. Active parish and finance councils, a music ministry being revitalized under the new pastor, and ongoing religious education for children make it easy to get involved.
Mass times at St. Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 PM – 4:50 PM
- Sunday 8:30 AM – 8:50 AM
- Monday: one half hour before Mass begins, for 20 minutes
History of St. Paul Parish
St. Paul's is one of the oldest Catholic communities in Delaware, tracing its roots to 1837 when a Catholic cemetery was laid out at William and Monroe Streets. A church was built on those cemetery grounds in 1852 and dedicated in 1853; in 1856 the parish was officially established as a diocesan church. When the Diocese of Wilmington was erected in 1868, St. Paul's came under its care.
- 1837 – Catholic cemetery purchased at William & Monroe Streets
- 1852 – First church built; dedicated 1853
- 1856 – Officially established as a Diocesan Church
- 1868 – Comes under the new Diocese of Wilmington
- 1880 – About 160 parishioners and 70 Religious Education students
- 1883 – Incorporated under Delaware civil law
- 1904 – Cornerstone laid for the present church at 209 Washington Street
- 1905 – Current church completed and dedicated
- 1942 – Cox Neck Road cemetery acquired
- 1953 – Parish hall converted into Delaware City's first parochial school
- 1969 – School closed; building sold to the town
- 1979 – Church renovated; Diamond State Telephone Building purchased as new parish hall
- 2004 – Parish celebrates its 100th anniversary
- 2022 – Interior renovation of the church completed
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
St. Paul's is currently shepherded by Rev. David A. Driesch, O.Praem., a Norbertine priest who was appointed Administrator in 2023 and Pastor in 2024. He is assisted by Deacon Charles J. Schauber Sr., assigned in 2013. Father Driesch, who previously served in the Diocese of Pittsburgh and at Daylesford Abbey before joining the Norbertines' Immaculate Conception Priory in Middletown, is believed to be the first Norbertine pastor in the Diocese of Wilmington.
- Rev. David A. Driesch, O.Praem. — Pastor (2024–present); first Norbertine pastor in the Diocese of Wilmington
- Deacon Charles J. Schauber Sr. — assigned 2013
- Father lives at Immaculate Conception Priory in Middletown and commutes to the parish
Mass and Worship Schedule
St. Paul's offers a weekly schedule of Masses in English, plus a Sunday Korean-language Mass celebrated by the Korean Catholic Community that has shared the parish since 2015. Weekday Masses are celebrated on Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings.
- Saturday Vigil – 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday – 9:00 AM (English)
- Sunday – 11:00 AM (Korean, Korean Catholic Community)
- Monday – 8:30 AM
- Tuesday – 8:30 AM
- Friday – 8:30 AM
Korean Catholic Community
Since 2015, the Korean Catholic Community has made St. Paul's its home in Delaware City, celebrating a Korean-language Mass every Sunday at 11:00 AM and giving the parish a multicultural dimension. The community also maintains its own website (delawarekcc.org) with more information.
- Korean-language Mass every Sunday at 11:00 AM
- Korean Catholic Community joined St. Paul's in 2015
- More information at delawarekcc.org
Religious Education and Faith Formation
Faith formation for children in grades K through 8 is offered through the parish Religious Education program. Until 1969 the parish operated Delaware City's first parochial school, housed in what is now the town's municipal building; today, classes take place in the parish hall on Adams Street (the former Diamond State Telephone Building acquired in 1979).
- Religious Education program for Grades K–8
- Classes held at the parish hall on Adams Street
- Pastoral focus on rebuilding parish life and bringing lapsed parishioners back, noted by Father Driesch
Parish Life and Ministries
Parish life centers on a small, tight-knit community where members regularly emphasize that 'everyone knows everyone.' Father Driesch has made music ministry a particular focus of his pastorate and has recruited new members to the parish and finance councils. The parish publishes regular bulletins and maintains a calendar of upcoming Masses and events on its website.
- Music Ministry
- Parish Council
- Finance Council
- Parish Bulletin (published regularly)
- Parish Calendar (online)
Cemeteries
St. Paul's has historically maintained Catholic burial grounds for the local community. The original cemetery was laid out in 1837 at William and Monroe Streets, on the same grounds where the first church was built in 1852. A second cemetery plot on Cox Neck Road was acquired in 1942 from Elizabeth and Henry Curlett to expand the parish's burial ministry.
- 1837 – Original cemetery at William & Monroe Streets
- 1942 – Cox Neck Road cemetery acquired from Elizabeth and Henry Curlett
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Siryuntil 2006
Retired in 2006
- Father Pollard2007–2010
- Rev. Clemens D. Manista2010–2014
Served as Administrator 2010, installed as Pastor 2012; reassigned to Centerville, MD in 2014
- Rev. Msgr. George Brubaker, J.C.L.2014–2023
Pastor; assisted by Father Anthony Giamello (2014–2016) and Father David Murphy (2016–2019); retired 2023
- Rev. Anthony Giamello2014–2016
Associate pastor; reassigned to St. John the Apostle, Milford
- Rev. David Murphy2016–2019
Associate pastor (also serving Our Lady of Fatima); reassigned to St. Edmond, Rehoboth Beach
- Rev. David A. Driesch, O.Praem.2023–present
Norbertine; appointed Administrator 2023, Pastor 2024; first Norbertine pastor in the Diocese of Wilmington