WILMINGTON — More than 100 years ago, parishioners at St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Church at Sixth and Pine streets on Wilmington’s East Side, exited the building to find pigs in their midst. If those pigs were in the area on May 4 of this year, they would have scattered in another direction as current parishioners of the downtown churches gathered for a little porcine feast to mark the anniversary of that event.
“The pigs, without regard to the piety of the churchgoers, went through the throng, with the result that ‘Merry Widow’ hats were tossed to one side as the pigs plowed their way through the throng,” reads an article from The Morning News on May 11, 1908.
So on Saturday around noon, the unmistakable smell of pork emanated from the doors of the church, which was consecrated in 1858 by St. John Neumann, the bishop of Philadelphia. The church houses a statue of the saint, along with a relic.
Mary Jane Lisansky, a parishioner at St. Mary’s and a member of the social committee, said she found the article recently as she was working on a history of the parish. About six weeks later, she found out the church was hosting the pig picnic.
According to the article, the hogs “consigned to a local abattoir” broke loose and scattered in all directions. They headed from Fifth and Church streets until they reached Poplar Street, “when they were driven back into a more orderly fashion and finally sent to the slaughterhouse.”
Much has changed with Wilmington and St. Mary’s since. There are no more local abattoirs, and St. Mary’s is not the large Irish parish it once was. But, partnered with St. Patrick’s Church and the Cathedral of St. Peter, it is still vibrant, according to Father Joseph McQuaide, who pastors the three churches.
“The church isn’t going anywhere,” he said. “The numbers are down, but partnering with the other two, we’re able to hold our own and to continue to be a witness in this community.”
The menu for the lunch, which took place after the church’s monthly first Saturday Mass, included pulled pork and spare ribs, along with hot dogs, other sandwiches, salad and desserts. There was also a game to guess how many “pigs’ eyes” were in a jar, and several small pigs were placed around the hall, with those who found them and guessed closest on the eyes getting gift cards.
No word if bacon or scrapple will be on the menu next year.
Photos by Mike Lang.
