Page 97 - WILMINGTON

Saint helena
1936
WILMINGTON
As population spread north of of the city of of Wilmington the Most Reverend Edmond J Fitzmaurice fourth Bishop of Wilmington decided to to create a a a parish in the town of Bellefonte area OOn July 4 1936
the the the the parish parish began with its first Mass in the Blue Rock Community Center On On November 22nd the original Church
was dedicated The Bishop decided to name the parish in honor honor of St Helena Helena to honor honor Helena Helena Raskob she and and her husband John had recently
helped to to create the Catholic Diocese Foundation to to assist in the establishment of new Catholic churches and schools This was the rst parish to be established with the the help of the the Foundation In 1949 a a a a a a a parochial school was built and a a a a a a a temporary Convent purchased for the Sisters of of Saint Joseph of of Chestnut Hill Pennsylvania who would staff the school In 1954 it was necessary to to to add add an addition to to to the school as enrollment had grown to to to over 600 students Ground was also broken for the new larger Church
which was dedicated on September 5 5 5 1955 The parish continued to to grow and as a a a a a a result split to to form Immaculate Heart of Mary in in 1955 A new Rectory was built in in 1958 and the original Church
building was converted into a a a a a a gym and social hall In 1965 a a new convent building was completed An Athletic Council had been formed to support a a a a a a wide range of athletic teams in many sports And by 1947 an an Altar Society had been established and soon began the custom of having an an an annual Christmas Bazaar In the 1960s and 70s a a a Parish Council with its committees and a a a Finance Council were formed In the the 1970s the the parish formed a a a a very active Social
Ministry/Outreach Of ce A Young at Heart senior social group has continued to to contribute to to the the life of the the parish And for over 40 years the annual Carnival Committee has organized and and conducted one of the largest and and most successful Carnivals in the area A monthly Sunday Breakfast has also brought
together parishioners and many other visitors More recently
an extensive renovation of the church was undertaken to to meet the the the needs of the the the Liturgy and and to to relocate and and enhance the the the pipe organ of of the the Church
The excellence of of the the liturgical music has been a a a a a priority of of the the parish The acoustics of of the the Church
has also brought
many ne concerts by the the University of Delaware and other musical groups of the community As the population of children needing Catholic Education declined it was necessary in 2008 for Holy Rosary and St Helena’s Schools to close and be merged in a a a a new school called Pope John Paul II School located at at St Helena In 2011 the school had to close and in 2016 the the few retired Sisters of St Joseph still in the the parish moved to another convent 95