Chaplaincy Services help meet the spiritual needs of those in hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons as well as those who work in civil service and law-enforcement occupations. Institutional chaplains are the hands and feet of Christ, bringing healing and strength to those they serve in special corners of the Diocese.

The Office of Hispanic Ministry assists parishes and diocesan offices in realizing their mission to the Hispanic flock. The Hispanic Ministry Team fosters the development of spirituality, community building, social action, and leadership and theological formation with its Mobile School of Evangelization. The diocese’s growing Hispanic population is estimate at 100,000. Currently, 19 parishes serve as regional Hispanic Ministry Centers.

The Ministry for Black Catholics seeks to explore and implement evangelization efforts needed to uplift the spirits of Catholics of African Descent, and to bring others, both churched and unchurched, into the family of the Body of Christ. It seeks to generate opportunities for Black Catholics to share their gifts with the larger community, and participate more fully in the Church as individuals.

The Office for Marriage and Family Life provides and supports educational and pastoral programs for individuals, couples, and families. The Office extends to all boundaries of the diocese by providing marriage preparation courses, offering Engaged Encounter weekend retreats, and assisting couples who will remarry in the Church prepare for their new life.  Additionally, OMFL provides enrichment, support and healing to widowed, separated and divorced persons and works with the bishop to celebrate the gift of sacramental marriage through an annual Wedding Anniversary Mass.

The Office for Religious delegate serves as liaison between the Bishop and the religious of the diocese and their major superiors. The ministry relates directly with 221 sisters, 23 brothers and 71 religious order priests representing 42 religious orders of the Church. The office maintains communication with the religious men and women and provides opportunities them to interact with the Bishop and with one another through a number of annual celebrations and meetings. The diocese enjoys a reputation for welcoming the presence and the ministry of religious and continues to attract religious for ministry even if there are no other members of their congregation in the diocese.

The Office of Worship working with the Bishop is charged with the implementation of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. The office develops and deepens the liturgical life of the diocesan parishes and institutions by serving as a resource on liturgical matters such as music, sacramental celebrations, devotional practices and liturgical formation.

The Office of Pro-Life Activities works to promote Catholic teaching on human life issues and to encourage parishes, groups, and individuals to put Catholic teaching into practice.  The Office serves primarily the clergy and pro-life leaders of the parishes but also works closely with independent pro-life groups like A Rose and A Prayer, Delaware Right-to-Life, 40 Days for Life, and the Knights of Columbus.

Ordained Deacons collaborate with the bishop and priests to serve the people of God through their threefold ministry of liturgy, word and charity. Strengthened by the grace of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, deacons serve also as a bridge between the clergy and laity. Ninety deacons currently minister in the diocese and a class of 13 men is presently in its fourth year of formation. An additional 17 deacons are retired. This ministry traces its origin to the earliest days of the Church and its first martyr, St. Stephen, as attested in the Acts of the Apostles.

The Tribunal is an ecclesiastical court established by the Bishop to administer justice according to the Code of Cannon Law of the Catholic Church. Most cases heard relate to the validity of marriage in the Catholic Church. The work of the Tribunal is a ministry of healing for those who seek God’s justice and mercy, especially in terms of marriage in the eyes of God and the Church.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION

Catholic Campus Ministry provides an international faith community which serves as the students’ parish family while in school. It provides weekly Masses, prayer services, retreats, faith formation, leadership and ministry training, service opportunities, ecumenical fellowship, social events, spiritual direction, Confirmation classes, and RCIA training to assist those seeking to be in communion with the Catholic Church.

Our Catholic Schools educate students in the light of Jesus Christ. Formation in Catholic faith and quality academics are complimented by a wide array of extra-curricular, co-curricular and service opportunities. Catholic school students receive an outstanding education with 99% going on to university study.  National achievement testing indicates that students perform well above the national average. Students are invited to value the role of faith in learning and to understand the importance of service to parish, community and the world.

Catholic Youth Ministry is committed to developing Christian values in young people through programs that catechize, evangelize, and promote social justice through service. Programs such as Pitcher and Basin, CHAOS, March for Life, Youth Leadership Team, CYM Sports, and the annual Youth Pilgrimage help parish leaders empower young people for leadership with their peers, in their schools, in the Church and their community at large.

Deaf Ministry is a collaborative effort with Religious from the Philadelphia region who specialize in work with this community. Through the ministry, sacramental and spiritual nourishment for the deaf community is the focus. Each Sunday, an interpreted Mass is held in at least one location in the Diocese. Notably, there are interpreters at each 10:30 Sunday Mass at St. Catherine of Siena in Wilmington. When necessary, the Diocese also helps provide interpreter services to assist deaf children who participate in a religious education program.

Office for Religious Education upholds the ministry of the bishop as the diocese’s chief teacher and supports parishes and schools as they work to proclaim the Gospel and catechize adults, youth, and children in their communities. The office provides training programs and workshops for catechists and guidance to DRE’s, CRE’s including sponsoring of graduate level formation programs and encouraging each parish to strive for excellence in their catechetical ministry. In partnership with the University of Notre Dame, the ORE supports the Echo program to form the next generation of leaders for the Church.  The Office continues its efforts to encourage and support greater partnerships between the parish and school catechetical programs and the households of faith.

Special Needs Ministry offers religious formation programs for children, youth and adults. In addition to overall religious education, these programs help those with special needs prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation. There are currently two parish centers offering religious formation that are staffed by catechists with special training. The Diocese also provides assistance to those parishes who offer special needs programs on their local level. In addition, the Diocese sponsors regular prayer groups for members of the adult Faith and Light community.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Catholic Charities’ Basic Needs Program helps low-income individuals and families to become more self-sufficient.  The program provides eligible clients with financial grants for basic living expenses, budget guidance to enhance financial stability, information about and referrals to additional community services, and case management coordination.  In FY 2011 the program served over 2,600 providing over $1.3 million in financial assistance for rent, mortgage or utility payments.

In FY’11, Bayard House provided a safe, secure residence to 41 homeless, pregnant teens and young women. The only licensed residential program in Delaware providing direct client care service 24/7 to at-risk homeless pregnant and/or newly parenting adolescents and women, Bayard House at the heart of the mission of Catholic Charities.

Bayard House also serves neighboring communities with a Food Cooperative program, and provides education on the realities of teen pregnancy to high school students through its Project Straight Talk program.  Catholic Charities Pregnancy Counseling service, offered at the Bayard House site, allows the expecting mother to carry her child with dignity while making well thought-out decisions.  This service is free to the client.

Located in Milton, DE, Casa San Francisco provides shelter for up to 10 adults for approximately 30 days, as well as a wide range of services aimed at helping low-income residents of Sussex County.  Shelter residents work with case managers to obtain income and find affordable local housing opportunities.  When their stay has ended, residents may be able to continue working with Casa staff for additional support and case management.  Casa also operates two food distribution programs and an emergency food pantry which have seen distributions of groceries double in the last two years. 

Counseling, Substance Abuse, and Domestic Violence Services provides outpatient counseling to individuals and families with mental health concerns.  Counselors help those struggling with such issues as depression and anxiety, as well as substance abuse problems like addiction to alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescription medication and behavioral addictions such as gambling, internet gaming, and sexual addictions.  In Kent and Sussex Counties, seniors can receive counseling treatment at their nursing homes or assisted living facilities.  Likewise, at-risk children in Kent County are able to attend counseling sessions in select elementary schools.  A Spanish-speaking clinician in New Castle County has significantly increased the ability to provide service for Latino clients and families. Domestic Violence and Anger Management programs are also offered through Charities’ Counseling Services.

HIV Services provide emotional, educational, material and financial support and programs for persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families through emergency financial assistance, budget guidance, eyeglasses, medication co-pay assistance, transportation help, and information and referral services.

The Immigration Program assists individuals and families with issues related to their legal status in the United States that are causing, may cause, or have caused family separation and difficulties in personal, social and economic development. The Refugee Resettlement Program provides reception, placement and monitoring services for cases assigned through a contract with the USCCB.

Besides providing safe, affordable housing for seniors and individuals with a disability, Marydale Retirement Village offers supportive and positive assistance to tenants through its pastoral care program.  The pastoral coordinator provides information and referral services, coordinates other social services provided by government or private agencies, and helps tenants access other assistance programs, like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, food stamps, and medical assistance.

Seton Center is a multi-purpose neighborhood community center located in Princess Anne, MD.  As a result of the recent merger of service centers in Maryland, Seton Center now offers a wider variety of programs to local residents, the area’s Hispanic community, and migrant farm workers.  Those in need can now obtain basic needs assistance, mental health counseling, and immigration help in addition to periodic food cooperative distributions, emergency food packages, new and gently used clothing and household goods, health screenings, women’s support groups, and information and referral services.

Operating since the 1930’s, the Thrift Center provides quality used clothing, furniture, appliances, household goods, mattresses, to families with limited income.  The Thrift Center is also home to The Market, a partnership with the Food Bank of DE that provides a low-cost resource for groceries to area residents.

ADMINISTRATION & COMMUNICATIONS

The Office of Public Relations and Media establishes and maintains positive relationships with the secular media. The office distributes news releases, oversees the diocesan website, and produces radio programs with the goal of advancing a greater understanding of the Church, Church teachings, diocesan and parish ministries and services, and the Bishop’s priorities.

The Dialog is the official newspaper of the diocese. Its print and online editions include local, national and international church news as well as features about people who embody Gospel values. The newspaper and its website also run editorials, opinion columns and catechetical articles on matters of faith. The Dialog is the bishop’s chief form of communicating with and teaching the people of the diocese and is distributed through parishes 26 weeks a year to 25,000 parishioners. Its website, www.thedialog.org, is updated daily and the Angelus, The Dialog’s weekly bulletin, and First Friday, its monthly newsletter, are also sent by email to readers.