The Dialog

WASHINGTON — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and has appointed Auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy of the same archeparchy to be apostolic administrator.

Archbishop Soroka, 66, is resigning for medical reasons. Under church law a bishop is expected to submit his resignation to the pope at age 75. His resignation was accepted in accord with Canon 210 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, which allows a bishop to resign before age 75 “due to ill health or to another serious reason.”

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More than 350 people joined Bishop Malooly at the Chase Center on the Riverfront on April 11 to honor the Buccini family at the annual tribute dinner by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington.

Honorees were D. Robert and Bernadette Buccini and their sons, Rob and Chris, winners of the Msgr. Thomas J. Reese award. The award was created in 1989 in memory of Msgr. Reese, community activist and longtime director of Catholic Social Services, the forerunner of Catholic Charities, and recognizes exemplary individuals who have demonstrated a deep commitment to promoting and restoring the well-being of people – Catholic Charities’ mission.

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DOVER — Most school children wouldn’t consider a trip to the hospital as a highlight of their weeklong Easter break.

But Reagan and Payton Garnsey’s April 6 visit to A.I. DuPont Hospital for Children, bearing 50 “Buckets of Love,” was different even for the Holy Cross School students. This time, they were able to present some of the buckets in person. Given privacy guidelines, they were only able to see children go through the gift buckets through video clips, if the children’s families approved. Read more »

WILMINGTON — One never knows where he or she will find the thing that motivates him or her, that sets the course of one’s life.

For St. Mark’s High School senior Michael Robinette, all the inspiration he needs is at his Hockessin home. His sister Christina, three years his senior, has cerebral palsy, and starting out trying to help her, he has found what he hopes will be his life’s path. Read more »

Louis De Angelo and the Diocese of Wilmington shared center stage at the National Catholic Education Association convention in Cincinnati during the first week of April.

De Angelo, superintendent of schools for the diocese, was one of three superintendents nationwide to be named winner of the Lead. Learn. Proclaim Award.

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The Delaware Catholic Advocacy Network is urging people to contact legislators to demonstrate opposition to a physician-assisted suicide bill that could be voted on in mid-April.

“House Bill 160, the so called ‘End of Life Options Act,’ would legalize physician-assisted suicide in Delaware,” according to a statement from the advocacy group. “Some predict that this profoundly troubling legislation could be voted on the week of April 16, 2018. The bill’s sponsor, Representative Paul Baumbach (D-Newark), and advocates for legalizing this practice, claim to be nearing the number of votes required to pass the legislation in the House of Representatives.
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Read more about the 2018 Annual Catholic Appeal:

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This year’s theme is “Disciples of Christ, Witnesses of Faith.” Commitment weekend is April 14-15.

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As part of the Diocese of Wilmington’s 150th anniversary celebration, nine churches in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore have been designated as Official Sesquicentennial Pilgrimage Churches.

These historic churches will be open for additional touring and worship on the first Saturdays of the month during the 150th anniversary year.

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ASTON, Pa. – Sister Elizabeth Doyle, who ministered for 15 years in the Diocese of Wilmington, died April 3 at Assisi House. She was 98 and had been a professed member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia for 77 years.

A native of Baltimore, Sister Elizabeth was the principal at St. John the Beloved School in Wilmington and also a pastoral visitor at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in New Castle. She worked in elementary education in the archdioceses of Washington, Baltimore and Mobile, Ala., and in the dioceses of Raleigh, N.C., and Pensacola, Fla.

Services will be held April 11 at Assisi House, 600 Red Hill Ave., Aston. A Christian wake service is set for 9:30 a.m., followed by a viewing and the Mass of Christian Burial at 11. Burial will be in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery. Donations in her name can be made to the Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, 609 S. Convent Road, Aston, PA 19014.

As the sesquicentennial celebration of the Diocese of Wilmington continues, a group of 133 people from throughout the diocese prepares to launch its 10-day pilgrimage to France and Italy.

The group leaves April 16 for its trip to Annecy and Rome.

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