The Dialog

Dialog Editor

Diocesan pilgrims will stop at Annecy, Rome, Assisi

Frankly speaking, the Diocese of Wilmington’s 150th Anniversary Pilgrimage to Annecy and Rome next spring will be all about Francis. Four leaders of the church named Francis, that is, will highlight the journey — Bishop W. Francis Malooly of Wilmington, Pope Francis, St. Francis de Sales and St. Francis of Assisi.

Bishop Malooly will lead the diocesan pilgrimage from April 16-26 next year starting in Annecy, France, where Francis de Sales, the patron saint of the diocese, ministered. Read more »

LODI, N.J. – Felician Sister Jean Marie Odachowski, a native of Wilmington, died June 11 at the Immculate Conception Convent infirmary in Lodi, N.J. She was 102 and had been a Felician for 85 years.

Sister Jean Marie was formerly known as Sister Mary Fulginette. Born Mary Odachowski, she was a graduate of St. Hedwig School in Wilmington before attending the Felician Sisters’ High School Aspirancy in Lodi. Read more »

Father Edward J. Storck, a retired priest of the Diocese of Wilmington, died June 12 at the age of 91.

Born in Baltimore, Father Storck entered the Third Order Regular of the Franciscans in 1943 and was ordained a priest while a member of that congregation in 1952. As a Franciscan, he was a pastor, military chaplain and teacher before becoming treasurer of St. Francis College in Loretto, Pa., in 1959. Read more »

Dialog Editor

$8 million renovations of 108 housing units for elderly to be completed this year

In 1981, it cost $3.1 million to build Marydale Retirement Village, the 108-apartment retirement community off Salem Church Road in Newark.

Thirty-six years later, a complete renovation of the 18-acre complex, managed by the Diocese of Wilmington’s Catholic Charities through Catholic Ministry to the Elderly Inc., costs more than $8 million.

The renovation project, a complex operation that’s been underway for the past 12 months, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Read more »

ST. ELIZABETH HIGH SCHOOL

St. E’s graduates 101

WILMINGTON — St. Elizabeth High School graduated 101 students in commencement exercises held at the St. E Center on June 5. Bishop Malooly presided.

The class was accepted to 123 colleges and universities and received offers of scholarships and grants totaling $10.5 million. Read more »

For The Dialog

In a world bedeviled by terrorism and often focused on differences between nations, religions and peoples, a group of people along the Delmarva Peninsula’s Atlantic coastline are improving international relations one meal at a time.

They provide dinners for the International Student Outreach Program (ISOP), an organization that began at St. Mary Star of the Sea/Holy Savior Parish in Ocean City 18 years ago and expanded to Rehoboth Beach. The program is known for free weekly dinners for students who come to the United States each summer to fill seasonal jobs at the beaches. Read more »

Salesianum senior attack Mike Drake, who scored two goals in the Sals’ championship-game win on June 3, has been named the 2017 state boys lacrosse player of the year. Drake will continue his athletic career at the University of Notre Dame.

He is one of six players from Catholic schools who earned first-team honors. The selections were announced June 5 by the state lacrosse coaches association. Read more »

For The Dialog

DOVER – Second-seeded Salesianum’s lacrosse team won its third straight title with a 13-5 win over fourth-seeded Cape Henlopen on June 3 at Dover High School. The Sals got a goal by Patrick Drake 15 seconds in and never trailed in winning their sixth title in the last seven years and ninth overall. Read more »

Dialog reporter

SMYRNA – Middletown entered the girls’ Division I state championship girls soccer match with Padua already without the Delaware player of the year, Alyssa Poarch, and shortly before halftime, the Cavaliers lost goalkeeper Taylor Wolf to an injury. But an early goal by Alexa Rodriguez held up, thanks mainly to the play of emergency keeper Mary Warren, and the top-seeded Cavaliers ended No. 2 Padua’s five-year reign as state champions with a 1-0 win June 3 at Smyrna High School.

Each team had to play a half staring into a setting sun at Charles V. Williams Stadium, and Rodriguez took advantage in the 13^th minute. The Pandas had controlled possession until then, but they had few opportunities to beat Wolf. The momentum swung Middletown’s way, and when Rodriguez found herself with the ball and a bit of space about 25 yards from the net, she struck. Her blast just eluded the outstretched fingers of keeper Katie Szczerba – who had a bright sun in her face – and tucked under the crossbar for the game’s lone tally. Read more »

Dialog reporter

WILMINGTON – St. Mark’s baseball team put three runners on base and scored once during the first inning of their state semifinal game vs. second-seeded Caravel on June 1, but the Spartans struggled on offense the rest of the afternoon in a 6-1 defeat. The loss brought the team’s season to an end with a record of 14-7.

The day began well enough for the Spartans, the sixth seed. Chris Ludman doubled down the left-field line, and the next batter, Brian Gilardi, singled to right, bringing in a run. Gilardi took second on the throw home, but despite a walk to Eric Ludman, Caravel pitcher Joe Silan was able to escape further trouble. Read more »