Biographical sketches and portraits of the priests of the Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware, from its establishment in 1868 to the present.

The Catholic faith was first brought to the peninsula that lies between the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays in the seventeenth century by Jesuit priests who rode circuit from the Maryland colony, offering Mass and bringing the sacraments to private homes. As the country grew, so too did the Catholic community on Delmarva, and many new churches and missions were founded. From the earliest established church'St. Francis Xavier Mission in Cecil County, Maryland, founded in 1704--to Salesianum School, the first high school in Delaware to be racially integrated, from the involvement in the diocese of American saints John Neumann and Elizabeth Ann Seton to a variety of religious orders and organizations, these honored institutions and remarkable individuals helped to shape the minds and spirits of young and old alike The story of the Diocese of Wilmington, which split off from the Diocese of Philadelphia in 1868, is not just one of church construction dates--it is the story of its people. From the colorful settlement of French exiled after a slave rebellion in Haiti to the New World immigrants of Irish, German, Italian, Polish, and later, Hispanic descent, the Catholic community in the region has been diverse, vibrant, and steadfast in a shared faith. From its humble beginnings, the diocese has grown to serve a population of more than 190,000 members with 56 parishes, 20 missions, and 37 schools and has fostered a strong civic tradition in athletics, theater, and community festivals.

The Catholic faith was first brought to the peninsula that lies between the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays in the seventeenth century by Jesuit priests who rode circuit from the Maryland colony, offering Mass and bringing the sacraments to private homes. As the country grew, so too did the Catholic community on Delmarva, and many new churches and missions were founded. From the earliest established church--St. Francis Xavier Mission in Cecil County, Maryland, founded in 1704--to Salesianum School, the first high school in Delaware to be racially integrated, from the involvement in the diocese of American saints John Neumann and Elizabeth Ann Seton to a variety of religious orders and organizations, these honored institutions and remarkable individuals helped to shape the minds and spirits of young and old alike The story of the Diocese of Wilmington, which split off from the Diocese of Philadelphia in 1868, is not just one of church construction dates--it is the story of its people. From the colorful settlement of French exiled after a slave rebellion in Haiti to the New World immigrants of Irish, German, Italian, Polish, and later, Hispanic descent, the Catholic community in the region has been diverse, vibrant, and steadfast in a shared faith. From its humble beginnings, the diocese has grown to serve a population of more than 190,000 members with 56 parishes, 20 missions, and 37 schools and has fostered a strong civic tradition in athletics, theater, and community festivals.

"The perfect Christmas gift for anyone interested in the historical background behind the birth of Jesus of Nazareth." — Robert J. Hutchinson, author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Bible, The Dawn of Christianity, and Searching for Jesus. "Utterly refreshing and encouraging." — Eric Metaxas, New York Times bestselling author of Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy and Martin Luther "The best book I know about the Magi." — Sir Colin John Humphreys, Ph.D., author of The Mystery of the Last Supper Modern biblical scholars tend to dismiss the Christmas story of the “wise men from the East” as pious legend. Matthew’s gospel offers few details, but imaginative Christians filled out the story early on, giving us the three kings guided by a magical star who join the adoring shepherds in every Christmas crèche. For many scholars, then, there is no reason to take the gospel story seriously. But are they right? Are the wise men no more than a poetic fancy? In an astonishing feat of detective work, Dwight Longenecker makes a powerful case that the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem really happened. Piecing together the evidence from biblical studies, history, archeology, and astronomy, he goes further, uncovering where they came from, why they came, and what might have happened to them after eluding the murderous King Herod. In the process, he provides a new and fascinating view of the time and place in which Jesus Christ chose to enter the world. The evidence is clear and compelling. The mysterious Magi from the East were in all likelihood astrologers and counselors from the court of the Nabatean king at Petra, where the Hebrew messianic prophecies were well known. The “star” that inspired their journey was a particular planetary alignment—confirmed by computer models—that in the astrological lore of the time portended the birth of a Jewish king. The visitors whose arrival troubled Herod “and all Jerusalem with him” may not have been the turbaned oriental kings of the Christmas carol, but they were real, and by demonstrating that the wise men were no fairy tale, Mystery of the Magi demands a new level of respect for the historical claims of the gospel.