WILMINGTON — Father John Olson, fresh off a summer assignment as associate pastor at St. Edmond Parish in Rehoboth Beach, is headed to Wilmington. Bishop Malooly has appointed the priest administrator of St. Paul parish, effective Sept. 28.
Father Olson, 44, was ordained by Bishop Michael Saltarelli in 2007 and has served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Fatima, New Castle; Holy Cross, Dover; St. Joseph on the Brandywine, Greenville; Ss. Peter and Paul, Easton, Md.; and St. Michael the Archangel, Georgetown. He spent a year as a missionary service associate with the Neocatechumenal Way.
A Long Island native, Father Olson attended Duke University in North Carolina and served in the United States Air Force. He was stationed in Dover for part of his military service.
Father Olson will replace Franciscan Fathers Rodolfo Ramon and Paul Breslin. The Holy Name Province of the Order of Friars Minor announced in January that they would be withdrawing from the Diocese of Wilmington (among others) this year because of a decline in membership. The Franciscans have had a presence at St. Paul’s for nearly 30 years.