Wilmington (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

William Edward Koenig, Bishop
William Francis Malooly, Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Erected: 3 March 1868
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Baltimore
Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
State: Delaware
Country: United States of America
Square Kilometers: 13,916 (5,375 Square Miles)
Conference Region: IV (DC, DE, MD, VA, VI, WV)
Catholic Directory Abbreviation: WIL
Official Web Site: http://www.cdow.org/
Mailing Address: Chancery Office, 1925 Delaware Ave., Wilmington, DE 19806, USA
Telephone: (302)573-3100
Fax: 573-6836

Past and Present Ordinaries

Thomas Albert Andrew Becker † (3 Mar 1868 Appointed - 26 Mar 1886 Appointed, Bishop of Savannah, Georgia)
Alfred Allen Paul Curtis † (3 Aug 1886 Appointed - 23 May 1896 Resigned)
John James Joseph Monaghan † (26 Jan 1897 Appointed - 10 Jul 1925 Resigned)
Edmond John Fitzmaurice † (24 Jul 1925 Appointed - 1 Mar 1960 Retired)
Michael William Hyle † (2 Mar 1960 Succeeded - 26 Dec 1967 Died)
Thomas Joseph Mardaga † (9 Mar 1968 Appointed - 28 May 1984 Died)
Robert Edward Mulvee † (19 Feb 1985 Appointed - 9 Feb 1995 Appointed, Coadjutor Bishop of Providence, Rhode Island)
Michael Angelo Saltarelli † (21 Nov 1995 Appointed - 7 Jul 2008 Retired)
William Francis Malooly (7 Jul 2008 Appointed - 30 Apr 2021 Retired)
William Edward Koenig (30 Apr 2021 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
3 March 1868	Erected	Archdiocese of Baltimore Diocese of Philadelphia	Diocese of Wilmington (erected) (Delaware plus Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne, Talbot, Caroline, Dorchster, Somerset, and Worcester Counties in Maryland and Northampton and Accomac Counties in Virginia)
28 May 1974	Territory Lost	Diocese of Wilmington (Accomack and Northampton Counties)	Diocese of Richmond

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

1948 36,731 484,427 7.6% 62 57 119 308 62 27 38 ap1951

1966 123,619 762,014 16.2% 120 83 203 608 109 394 51 ap1967

1970 126,125 882,875 14.3% 113 84 197 640 110 499 54 ap1971

1976 113,558 807,533 14.1% 116 94 210 540 184 434 53 ap1977

1980 121,500 864,000 14.1% 117 92 209 581 1 135 420 55 ap1981

1990 136,072 1,005,800 13.5% 127 90 217 627 42 126 336 56 ap1991

1999 173,702 1,108,890 15.7% 126 94 220 789 48 33 271 55 ap2000

2000 193,805 1,123,231 17.3% 129 91 220 880 48 116 260 56 ap2001

2001 205,000 1,137,988 18.0% 125 84 209 980 53 108 270 56 ap2002

2002 215,000 1,179,504 18.2% 122 86 208 1,033 72 107 251 56 ap2003

2003 220,000 1,199,701 18.3% 130 86 216 1,018 77 115 251 57 ap2004

2004 225,000 1,215,685 18.5% 114 86 200 1,125 76 115 259 57 ap2005

2010 238,375 1,314,050 18.1% 133 73 206 1,157 107 99 227 57 ap2011

2014 240,338 1,369,080 17.6% 114 59 173 1,389 110 78 201 57 ap2015

2017 245,092 1,482,000 16.5% 106 61 167 1,467 107 75 172 56 ap2018

2020 246,157 1,445,780 17.0% 107 58 165 1,491 112 64 154 56 ap2021

2022 255,000 1,499,682 17.0% 102 55 157 1,624 116 62 120 56 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
1948	36,731	484,427	7.6%	62	57	119	308		62	27	38	ap1951
1966	123,619	762,014	16.2%	120	83	203	608		109	394	51	ap1967
1970	126,125	882,875	14.3%	113	84	197	640		110	499	54	ap1971
1976	113,558	807,533	14.1%	116	94	210	540		184	434	53	ap1977
1980	121,500	864,000	14.1%	117	92	209	581	1	135	420	55	ap1981
1990	136,072	1,005,800	13.5%	127	90	217	627	42	126	336	56	ap1991
1999	173,702	1,108,890	15.7%	126	94	220	789	48	33	271	55	ap2000
2000	193,805	1,123,231	17.3%	129	91	220	880	48	116	260	56	ap2001
2001	205,000	1,137,988	18.0%	125	84	209	980	53	108	270	56	ap2002
2002	215,000	1,179,504	18.2%	122	86	208	1,033	72	107	251	56	ap2003
2003	220,000	1,199,701	18.3%	130	86	216	1,018	77	115	251	57	ap2004
2004	225,000	1,215,685	18.5%	114	86	200	1,125	76	115	259	57	ap2005
2010	238,375	1,314,050	18.1%	133	73	206	1,157	107	99	227	57	ap2011
2014	240,338	1,369,080	17.6%	114	59	173	1,389	110	78	201	57	ap2015
2017	245,092	1,482,000	16.5%	106	61	167	1,467	107	75	172	56	ap2018
2020	246,157	1,445,780	17.0%	107	58	165	1,491	112	64	154	56	ap2021
2022	255,000	1,499,682	17.0%	102	55	157	1,624	116	62	120	56	ap2023