St. Peter

History of the Cathedral of St. Peter

Catholic worship in Wilmington goes back to 1782, when French soldiers billeted at the Wilmington Academy during the Revolutionary War were attended by Catholic army chaplains. The brick church atop Quaker Hill was built 1816–1818 under Father Patrick Kenny, designed by Pierre Bauduy (the planner of the Wilmington town hall), and dedicated on September 12, 1818. When Pope Pius IX erected the Diocese of Wilmington in 1868, St. Peter's became the de facto seat of the new diocese. A 35-year enlargement campaign (1870–1905) added frescoes, stained glass, a marble baptistery, three altars, a chancel railing, a barrel-domed roof and a bishop's cathedra. Archbishop Diomede Falconio designated St. Peter's a pro-cathedral in 1905 because the rectory and school were still attached; both were removed in 1925 and full consecration finally followed. Major structural renovations took place in 1981, 1991 (when flying buttresses were added and 20 tons of the building were raised hydraulically to insert a steel substructure) and 2007 (when the tabernacle was centered behind the altar, the cathedra moved, and an accessible Marian shrine was added). The parish marked its 200th anniversary in 2018.

Architecture and Stained Glass

The cathedral is a Romanesque Revival brick building designed by Pierre Bauduy, originally 30 by 40 feet with a tin roof, extended to its current length of 60 feet in 1829 when a bell tower was added. The interior was progressively enriched between 1870 and 1905 with frescoes, a marble baptistery, three marble altars, a chancel railing, a barrel-domed roof and a bishop's cathedra. Twenty stained-glass windows — possibly created by Franz Xavier Zettler, master glass painter in Munich to the Royal Court of Bavaria, or by his pupil Franz Mayer — tell the story of the faith: scenes include the Fall of Adam and Eve, the Nativity, the death and childhood of St. Joseph, the wedding at Cana, the Sermon on the Mount, the Last Supper, the Coronation of Mary, the Assumption, the Immaculate Conception, St. Francis Xavier, the virgins and martyrs, the Doctors of the Church, Christ the King, the guardian angels, St. Peter receiving the keys, and the angel dome. The cathedral church, rectory, convent and school building are contributing properties in the Quaker Hill Historic District, added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 19, 1985.

• Architect: Pierre Bauduy
• Style: Romanesque Revival
• Materials: Brick
• Dimensions: 60 ft long × 30 ft wide (after 1829 expansion)
• Stained glass: 20 windows, possibly Zettler (Munich) or Franz Mayer
• NRHP listing: December 19, 1985 (Quaker Hill Historic District)

Music Ministry

The Cathedral of St. Peter's music program invites all to a worship experience 'proclaiming the Good News of Salvation' within the building's architecture and acoustics. The choir sings at the 9:30 am Sunday Mass during the academic year, with rehearsal afterwards, and performs concerts in Advent and Lent. Cantors and organ also take a prominent role in fostering the full and active participation of the assembly. Music Director Michael J. Davidson has been at the Cathedral since 1982 (organist and schola director), became Director of Liturgical Music in 2003, and is the curator of the cathedral's 1918 Austin pipe organ — a 23-year tonal and mechanical renovation project he expanded to 30 ranks, with a new console and four-rank mixture built and installed by the Peragallo Organ Company in 2006. Davidson studied organ with Robert Frank and is a member of the American Guild of Organists.

• Choir at the 9:30 am Sunday Mass (academic year)
• Cantors and organ at weekend and weekday liturgies
• Advent and Lent concerts, including Festival of Lessons and Carols
• Austin pipe organ Op. 1918 — 30 ranks, Peragallo console (2006)
• Music Director: Michael J. Davidson (since 1982)

Clergy and Staff

The Cathedral is led by Very Reverend Joseph W. McQuaide, IV, Rector and Pastor of Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception and Saint Patrick Parishes. A native son of the Diocese of Wilmington (born December 15, 1985; baptized at Immaculate Conception, Elkton; Salesianum School; Seton Hall; Pontifical North American College; Pontifical Gregorian University S.T.B.; Pontifical Athenæum of Saint Anselm S.T.M.A.), he was ordained in the very cathedral he now leads on June 18, 2011 by Bishop W. Francis Malooly and installed as rector on February 22, 2020. He is assisted by Rev. Christopher M. Markellos, Parochial Vicar; Music Director Michael J. Davidson; Parish Office Administrator Maria Dempsey; and Parish Bookkeeper Kathleen Cullen. The Downtown Catholic community also includes Deacon Anthony Gallo (ordained August 7, 2021) and Deacon Roberto Ortiz (ordained August 7, 2021).

• Rector: Very Rev. Joseph W. McQuaide, IV
• Parochial Vicar: Rev. Christopher M. Markellos
• Music Director: Michael J. Davidson
• Parish Office Administrator: Maria Dempsey
• Parish Bookkeeper: Kathleen Cullen
• Deacons (Downtown Catholic): Anthony Gallo, Roberto Ortiz

Sacraments

The Cathedral celebrates all seven sacraments. Parents should contact the Rector soon after a child is born to begin Baptism preparation. First Holy Communion is generally celebrated on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi for children seven years of age and older who have not yet begun to receive Communion. Confirmation is offered annually to young parishioners from 8th grade upward, and adults contact the Rector directly. Confessions are heard three times a week (Mon/Wed/Fri 11:30 am–12:00 pm) and by appointment. Anointing of the Sick is offered early in any serious illness; the parish office should be notified as soon as possible so the sacrament can be celebrated at the appropriate time. Couples must contact the Rector at least one year in advance of a wedding — the Diocese of Wilmington has a twelve-month preparation program. Those discerning a vocation to priesthood, diaconate or religious life are invited to contact Fr. McQuaide or the diocese's Office of Priestly and Religious Vocations.

• Baptism, Confirmation, First Holy Communion
• Penance (Mon/Wed/Fri 11:30 am–12:00 pm and by appointment)
• Anointing of the Sick
• Holy Matrimony — 12-month diocesan preparation program
• Holy Orders / Religious Life discernment

Cathedral School

Cathedral School is administered by the Daughters of Charity, who view education as a freeing process and strive to provide an atmosphere that 'speaks the Gospel Message and responds to the needs of society.' It operates adjacent to the cathedral on the same Quaker Hill block, allowing families to have their children educated in the shadow of the parish where they worship.

• Administered by the Daughters of Charity
• Located adjacent to the Cathedral on Quaker Hill

Outreach and Parish Groups

The Cathedral operates the Samaritan's Food Pantry (always in need of hams at Christmas, canned goods, soups, vegetables, instant potatoes, jello, peanut butter and jelly) and supports Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Sick who bring Communion to patients at Christiana Care hospitals. Knights of Columbus Council 4182 is active in the parish, hosting community sales (for example, the annual Krispy Kreme donut fundraiser) and supporting parish life. The Cathedral is also home to the diocesan Catholic Youth and Young Adult Ministries, chaperoned by the Rector himself.

• Samaritan's Food Pantry
• EMHCS at Christiana Care hospitals
• Knights of Columbus Council 4182
• Diocesan Catholic Youth and Young Adult Ministries

Tours and Visiting

The parish welcomes parish, school and society groups to tour the historic Cathedral. Visitors can trace the history of Catholic faith in Wilmington through the stained-glass windows, explore the catacombs (which contain original window frames and tombstones dating to the early 1800s), and learn about the various renovations that have protected the building. To schedule a tour, contact Jean Manning at (302) 654-5920. Tours are by appointment, while public worshippers can simply join any Mass on the regular schedule or tune into the live-streamed 9:30 am Sunday Mass.

• Tours by appointment: call Jean Manning (302) 654-5920
• Catacombs with original 19th-century tombstones and window frames
• Live-streamed 9:30 am Sunday Mass via youtube.com/DowntownCatholic