Bishop Koenig celebrates Christmas Mass at four churches; Bishop Malooly at two others in Diocese of Wilmington — Photo gallery

Bishop Koenig’s Christmas Mass schedule began at two churches Dec. 24 and continued with two more on Christmas Day.

It was the bishop’s first Christmas as shepherd of the more than 240,000 Catholics who live in Delaware and on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

On his first Christmas in the diocese, Bishop Koenig celebrated the vigil Mass at Church of the Holy Cross in Dover. Later that evening he presided at the Christmas Eve liturgy with parishioners at Mary, Mother of Peace in Millsboro.

On Christmas morning, Bishop Koenig celebrated the Nativity of the Lord at St. Jude the Apostle Church in Lewes. He also joined parishioners at St. John the Apostle Church in Milford.

“In a word, the story of that first Christmas is a story of love,” Bishop Koenig said at St. Jude’s. “The Incarnation, Pope Benedict wrote, gives us a new way of living.”

Bishop W. Francis Malooly, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Wilmington, presided at Christmas Eve Mass at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Wilmington. Bishop Malooly also was celebrant at 10 a.m. Mass on Christmas Day at Holy Cross in Dover.