Watermelons, tomatoes, corn and green beans were plentiful among the fresh food distributed at various facilities in the Diocese of Wilmington. Photos courtesy of The Dialog.

Thank You Society of St. Andrew!

Fresh Produce Distributed to Families in Need

The Society of St. Andrew brings people together to harvest and share healthy food, reduce food waste, and build caring communities by offering nourishment to hungry neighbors, according to its website.

By harvesting overflow fruit and produce items from commercial farm fields, the group delivers to and works with partners to distribute the fresh food to those who need it.

Among those partners is Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Wilmington.

Many fresh, farm grown foods, such as watermelons, green beans, corn, tomatoes were distributed by the tens of thousands of pounds to those in need in the Diocese. Among the destinations were the Seton Center, Parishes and shelters along the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware and facilities as far north as Wilmington.

In 2022, through June, Society of St. Andrew has gleaned, gathered, and distributed 7,852,938 pounds of fresh produce in 2,337 events, with 4,939 volunteers.

Food donated by 479 farmers has been distributed to hungry people through

853 feeding agencies.

That’s a total of 31,411,752 servings of fresh food shared this year!

To learn more, please visit EndHunger.org.

Sisters Alice and Lucy Landers arrive for first day of school at Good Shepherd school in Perryville, MD on August 29.

Alice is in 7th grade and Lucy is in 4th grade. Both girls have attended GSCS since Pre-K. Photo courtesy The Dialog.

Warm temperatures and sunny skies, along with refreshed teachers and administrators, greeted students on the first day of 2022-2023 school year, August 29 in the Diocese of Wilmington.

Superintendent Lou De Angelo joined Rachael Casey, first-year Principal at St. Ann’s, and Pastor Father John Mink in welcoming students to the elementary school in Wilmington.

Rachel Casey served two years at Saint Mark’s High School, where she was the Director of Academic Partnerships. Before that, she worked in a variety of positions at St. Thomas More Academy, including Teacher, Dean of Students and Principal.

Diocese of Wilmington Superintendent of Schools, Lou De Angelo set a positive tone for the school year:

“The theme for Catholic education and for Catholic Charities in 2022-2023 is rooted in the message to the Corinthians – One Body in Christ. In education and charitable works, Catholic schools and agencies will focus not only on the ways that each person contributes to the overall work of the Church in forming the Body of Christ, but also that without any one member the Body of Christ would be incomplete.”

Pictured, (L to R), Lou De Angelo, Diocese of Wilmington superintendent of schools, Rachel Casey, principal, and Father John Mink, pastor.

Dear Friends,

In the Spring of this year we were awarded funds from Catholic Charities USA to assist the 11th Street Bridge Long-Term Recovery Group as they continued their response to the community in Wilmington affected by Hurricane Ida flooding in September of 2021.

After spending time to learn about the needed long-term assistance required to help numerous homeowners return to their homes, we decided to bring onboard a Long-Term Disaster Relief Case Manager. A qualified candidate is being vetted and we hope to have them begin in late September/early October. Our funding will allow us to bring this new service to our community. We hope as we learn from this new experience that we will be able to leverage the work and funds to grow Catholic Charities’ ability to continue to provide long-term recovery assistance to other areas effected by future disasters.

The funds we received will also allow us to send up to four staff to the annual Catholic Charities Disaster Relief Training Conference in Baton Rouge this December. This training will also assist us in our continued efforts to add this important service to our work.

— Fritz Jones, Executive Director, Catholic Charities

Registration is Open!

The Bishop's 5K Run/Walk

November 19, 2022

Saint Mark's High School • 2501 Pike Creek Road • Wilmington, DE 19808

Walking either in person or virtual helps keep Catholic Charities and its resources

a viable connection to our community needs, Your involvement is crucial.

Get Your School Team Together Now!

We are sponsoring a team challenge to all Diocesan Catholic Schools

with the highest participants, including family & friends.

Levels of prizes include $1,000 first place, $500 second place, $250 third place! 

You only need 15 supporters from your school to qualify your school to win!

There is Still Time!

Purchase Your Bishop's 5K Sponsorship Today!

Choose from three levels of Sponsorships. Each includes your logo on 5K t-shirt.

For more information, contact Andrea Rotsch at arotsch@cdow.org or call 302-573-3121.

Sponsorships Available:



Believer $1,000

Your logo on our event webpage

Premier Logo on the official Race Shirt

5 Entries to the Event

Mentor $500

Your logo on our event webpage

Logo on the Race Shirt

2 Entries to the Event

Supporter $250

Your logo on our event webpage

Small Logo on the Race Shirt

To download the Sponsorship Form, click here.

We also offer the following Parish Sponsorships:

Parish Believer  $250

Mention on 5K webpage

Parish Name on race t-shirt

Parish Mentor $100

Mention on 5K event webpage

Parish Name on race t-shirt

Parish Supporter $50

Mention on 5K event webpage

Parish Name on race t-shirt

To download the Parish Sponsorship Form, click here.

Thank You 2022 Bishop's 5K Sponsors!

Marydale Retirement Village Food Pantry

The Catholic Charties Marydale Retirement Village, located in Newark, Delaware, provides 108 one-bedroom rental apartments for seniors who qualify as low-income.

Many of our residents struggle to buy food (especially at the end of the month). 

We now have a specialized food pantry to assist when residents are in need. Our focus is on smaller items that can be eaten in one or two sittings, as the residents have a very small kitchen storage area. 

How You Can Help:

Please consider donating cans of tuna, salmon, chicken, small boxes of macaroni and cheese, smaller boxes of cereal, individual or small servings of applesauce, pudding, oatmeal, peanut butter, jams, etc. We also need personal toiletries such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, razors, etc. 

To donate online, click here. Designate Marydale Retirement Village as your preferred ministry.

For more info, contact Cathy Weaver at 302-368-2784 ext.1601 or cweaver@marydalevillage.org.

 September 24 - October 2

National Diaper Need Awareness Week

One in three U.S. families struggles to provide enough diapers to keep a baby or toddler clean, dry, and healthy.

National Diaper Need Awareness Week draws attention to the issue of diaper need in the U.S. The week provides individuals, organizations, communities, and elected officials the opportunity to engage in real talk and simple actions. Working together, we can ensure that all babies have access to clean diapers and other basic necessities required for them to thrive and reach their full potential.  

How You Can Help Locally

Through our Bayard House program, Catholic Charities Diaper Bank provides diaper distributions to families in need with children ages 3 and under. You can rescue a baby from serious health problems by making a donation of disposable diapers, gift cards or cash at any Catholic Charities locations Mon-Fri 9am - 4pm.

Click here for more information about Bayard House and the Diaper Bank.

Click here to donate online. Designate Bayard House as your preferred ministry.

Catholic Charities Diaper Bank is an affiliate of the National Diaper Bank Network.

Educate, Advocate, Housing Rights Matter:

A Delaware Public Town Hall

Join the Delaware Continuum of Care's Racial Justice and Equity Committee and Advocacy and Policy Committee as they shed light on the Housing Crisis in the State of Delaware.

September 28, 2022

12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Delaware State University

1200 N. Dupont Highway, Dover, DE 19901

Across the U.S. there is a major housing crisis taking place. Please join us locally for discussion around this issue in Delaware and to help make our policymakers accountable for change.

The event will include a panel discussion with individuals who have expertise in housing and homelessness with an opportunity for Q&A from attendees. Masks are required.

The Sites and Sounds of Christmas comes alive direct from Carnegie Hall with The New York Tenors. All proceeds will go to Catholic Charities. Join The New York Tenors, Andy Cooney, Christopher Macchio & Daniel Rodriguez for a night that will bring the Spirit and Magic of Christmas into all of your hearts!

4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Salesianum High School Auditorium

1801 N Broom Street

Wilmington, DE 19802

Buy Tickets Online or Call (302) 573-3120

$45 • All Seats Reserved

VIP Post Show Reception Tickets $100

Includes a meet and greet with the NY Tenors and Bishop Koenig, cocktails & hors d'oeuvres.

Click here to download event flyer.

Join the Fight to End Hunger

September is Hunger Action Month

This month, join the fight to end hunger.

Help a neighbor, a friend, community member or a family by making a food donation. Catholic Charities Food Assistance Program provides Emergency Food Pantries and Co-ops to help those in need. Help ensure nobody has to make an impossible choice between food and other necessities like medicine, utilities, or childcare.

To donate online, click here. Designate Food Assistance as your preferred ministry.

If we all come together, we can end hunger.

Thank You Supporters & Partners!

We Would Like to Recognize the Following Catholic Charities Partners:

Save the Date! April 17, 2023

Catholic Charities Annual Tribute Dinner

Each year, Catholic Charities honors outstanding individuals who have demonstrated a deep commitment to addressing the well-being of our communities’ most vulnerable – our own mission. We bestow upon these remarkable persons the Msgr. Thomas J. Reese Award, created in 1989 in memory of Msgr. Reese, a community activist and longtime director of Catholic Social Services, the forerunner of Catholic Charities.

For event or sponsorship information, contact Andrea Rotsch at arotsch@cdow.org or call 302-573-3121.

Catholic Charities serves the most vulnerable in Delaware and the 

Eastern Shore of Maryland, regardless of religion, race, or ability to pay.

For more information about Catholic Charities, click here.

To make a donation to Catholic Charities, click here.

To learn about becoming a Volunteer, click here.

To learn about employment opportunities, click here.

To follow us on Facebook, click here.

Catholic Charities Mission

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington exists to help fulfill the Christian duty to love and serve God's people. Our mission is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The universal and local Church proclaims the Gospel and teaches the recognition of the dignity and sacredness of each human life and the belief that we are called to share our resources with the most vulnerable among us.

It is the mission of Catholic Charities to address human suffering and to promote and restore the well-being of people and society by:

• Providing, as a primary focus, caring service to families and persons in need;
• Coming together with members of the community to become informed about and to take action on critical social issues; and,
• Advocating publicly for social policies which enhance human dignity and safeguard basic human rights.