Pope Francis is urging everyone to pray the Rosary every day during the month of May, for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic. He has offered several prayers to help us: https://
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UPDATED: Effective August 1, 2020
All parish facilities (including the parish office) will remain closed until further notice.
The only activities in the church will be:
Other church activities such as choir practice, lecturing, ushering, cantoring, etc. remain suspended for the present.
The Summer Religious Education program scheduled for the week of August 3 - 7 has been canceled.
All other on-site meetings, organizational events, sports activities, social events, etc. are suspended until further notice.
If you have questions, please contact the Facilities Management Office at kduffy@sjbde.org.
June 25, 2020: Our parish hall will remain closed to all activities until August 1. The only activities in the church will be:
Other church activities such as novenas, First Saturday devotions, etc. remain suspended for the present. All other on-site meetings, organizational events, sports activities, social events, etc. are suspended until at least August 1st. If you have questions, please email the Facilities Management Office.
To reschedule a canceled event, please use the MIDAS reservation system by going to sjbde.org. Click on the "ABOUT" tab. Click on "Facilities & Maintenance" in the drop-down box and follow the directions there.
ALL ACTIVITIES AT ST. JOHN THE BELOVED are SUSPENDED at this time.
This means:
This suspension of activities may be extended depending on circumstances and CDC recommendations. This webpage will be updated weekly. If you have any questions, please CALL the parish office. Click here for additional information from the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, titled "Looking Ahead: What to Expect When We Are Back in Our Churches."
May 20, 2020 — (Wilmington, Delaware) — The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington has announced that its 56 parishes in Delaware and on the Eastern Shore of Maryland may once again be open to worshipers in the near future now that the governors of both states have issued safety guidelines for communities of worship.
Provided a parish is equipped to follow guidelines issued by the Diocese of Wilmington and government officials, the following dates have been announced:
In both states, attendance at any liturgy or event in the church is limited to 1/3 of the fire marshal approved maximum occupancy and shall not exceed state-mandated requirements. Pastors may determine a lower capacity if they feel it necessary for their community’s safety. Additionally, attendees are required to wear proper face coverings, maintain a minimum of 6 feet separation from those who are not a part of their household, and follow their pastor’s direction for the reception of Holy Communion.
“The size, location, and make up of our parishes vary widely and one-size-fits-all approach is not possible and not every situation or issue can be anticipated,” the diocese pointed out in a document released today. “Pastors may choose to implement additional and more restrictive rules for public worship than those permitted as they take into consideration vulnerable members in their respective parishes and other issues specific to their communities.”
The Most Reverend W. Francis Malooly, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington said, “We are happy that we are able to open our churches to the faithful who hunger to once again receive the Sacraments. However, the safest thing for people to do is to stay home and participate in the Mass via live-streaming. This is especially true for those who are older, have health issues, or are caregivers to vulnerable individuals.” Another option would be for parishioners to attend a less-crowded daily Mass, the Bishop suggested.
In March, the bishop dispensed the Sunday Mass Obligation for Catholics in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. That dispensation will remain for the foreseeable future. Parishes are encouraged to continue to live-stream Masses.
On March 15, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and at the advice of government officials, and medical professionals, Bishop Malooly canceled all public Masses, confessions, prayer services, marriages, baptisms, funerals, etc. in the Diocese.
The Catholic Diocese of Wilmington was established in 1868 and comprises 56 parishes, 18 missions and 36 schools serving the State of Delaware and the nine counties of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. More information on the diocesan effort to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic is available at www.cdow.org/cornoavirus.
St. John the Beloved's annual church carnival, scheduled to run Monday, June 1, through Saturday, June 6, 2020, has been canceled to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Our highest priority is the health and safety of all; our volunteers, vendors, and the SJB community who have supported our carnival for more than 50 years.
The carnival is being rescheduled for September. We will keep you posted on specific dates. It is our hope that the carnival will be back and stronger than ever in Fall 2020.
Please look for updates and additional information to follow. We appreciate your understanding. Know our prayers are with you all during this trying time. Thank you.
Click here to pray the Coronavirus Novena. While we face the coronavirus pandemic, let us turn to the face of God in prayer and ask for His healing, His help, and His protection. Let us also turn to and ask for the intercession of our Most Blessed Mother Mary, our hope in times of crises and of all the saints.
Psychologists have coined the term “COVID Stress Syndrome” to describe the pandemic’s impact on emotional health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released some recommendations to cope with our present situation:
This is a uniquely stressful time for all of us, but with good sense, God’s grace and the support from the people we love, we can make it through this journey together.
Gratefully,
Father Joe Piekarski
As we face this unprecedented time of economic instability and a global public health crisis, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression. You do not have to face the fear of unemployment, safety for yourself and your family, on your own. You can access real help through Catholic Charities’ Behavioral Health Services, which is currently accepting new clients.
How do you begin? Phone the Catholic Charities office — Wilmington, Dover, Georgetown, or Eastern Shore — closest to your home. Speak to the Counseling Services intake support staff. The intake worker will conduct a brief, confidential phone interview so you can describe your problem and ask questions. During the phone interview, we will gather the necessary information so we can begin your admission to the program. We are able to accept most third-party insurances, as well as Medicaid and Medicare. If you do not have insurance, we have a sliding fee scale to make counseling affordable. Currently, all services are provided remotely, and safely, via video-link.
We also welcome calls if you have questions or concerns about a family member. Sometimes the person who needs help the most is the most reluctant to make that first call. It can be helpful to reach out and have your questions about cost, counselor availability, and treatment expectations, answered in advance, so when the potential client calls to make an appointment, it is an easier call for that person to make.
For additional information and to find your closest office, please visit our website at www.cdow.org/charities and click on “Behavioral Health Services” from the “Programs” drop-down box at the top of the page.
A message from Bishop Francis Malooly of the Diocese of Wilmington, Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Following the best guidance of the scientific community and the legitimate restrictions on public life placed by our state governments, our churches are closed and we do not have access to the sacraments at this time. I am not going to take any unnecessary risks to this mandate by making exceptions. I have to be a good citizen, and I have to follow my conscience and not put anyone in danger.
Today, we are being invited to lean all the more into our faith to draw strength and peace from Christ our Savior. Jesus has never abandoned his Church, and he is not doing so now. God’s grace, certainly present in the sacraments, is not bound by them. God can—and does—come to us by grace when we are unable to receive him sacramentally.
Though for different reasons, this is not new to this area. When Catholicism first came to our area, many of our communities would have to wait weeks, if not months, for a priest to come to baptize, witness marriages, hear confessions, and say Mass.
Today, we are waiting for the day when we can return to our parishes and celebrate the sacraments, but we can take comfort in the knowledge that by staying home, we are fulfilling the second great commandment—to love our neighbor—by doing all we can to slow the spread of this disease and protect the most vulnerable among us. In this Holy Week, we are reminded that every suffering and longing—including our longing for the sacraments—will be followed by the glory of Easter. Please join me in praying for the Lord’s blessing and a quick end to this disease so that we can return to our churches.
March 25, 2020 - At the advice of government officials, and after consultation with medical professionals, Bishop Francis Malooly has canceled all public Masses in the Diocese of Wilmington until further notice. This effort is designed to help safeguard the public and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. “We do not take this action lightly and without prayerful consideration,” Bishop Malooly said. “We must put the health and well-being of our parishioners first. I invite the faithful to stay connected to their parish community electronically, and to participate in Mass via television and the Internet, during this challenging time.”
Additionally, all diocesan and parish Catholic schools and religious education programs, in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore are canceled. E-learning remains in effect for the remainder of the school year at St. John the Beloved School. All CYM Sports events have been canceled until further notice.
March 24, 2020 - The Chancery Office is now closed to the public. Until further notice, our offices at 1925 Delaware Avenue and 1626 Union Street, are closed to the public. With only a few exceptions, our employees are working from home and will be conducting business Monday through Friday. Voicemail and email messages will be returned as soon as possible. Your patience and understanding are appreciated.
March 12, 2020... Until further notice, the Diocese of Wilmington’s Office of Communications will be recording the Sunday Mass from the Cathedral of Saint Peter. The recording will be available online each Saturday afternoon. It can be viewed online at cdow.org and on the diocesan YouTube Channel www.YouTube.com/DioceseOfWilm.
Additionally, televised Sunday Mass is available in New Castle County on WPVI-TV (Channel 6) at 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Also, Sunday Mass is available on EWTN at 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. EWTN is available on cable, satellite and online at ewtn.com/tv/watch-live.
The diocese has set up a webpage, www.cdow.org/coronavirus, to provide information and special announcements of interest to the Catholic community and the public.
For information from the State of Delaware, click here.