Immaculate Conception Parish
Administration
His Excellency, Most Reverend W. Francis Malooly, D.D.
Bishop of Wilmington

Motto: Rejoice in the Lord Bishop W. Francis Malooly was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Baltimore at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen on March 1, 2001. Cardinal William H. Keeler, Archbishop of Baltimore, appointed him at that time to the concurrent position of Western Vicar for the 38 parishes and six missions in Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, and Washington counties in Maryland. He also retained appointments as Moderator of the Curia and Vicar General.

Bishop Malooly was born in Baltimore, Maryland on January 18, 1944. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore by his uncle, the late Bishop T. Austin Murphy, at the St. Ursula parish church on May 9, 1970.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Malooly to be the Ninth Bishop of the See of Wilmington. His formal installation took place on September 8, 2008.
Reverend Joseph J. Piekarski
Pastor
Father Joe is ordained a priest for twenty-two years. Born and raised in Wilmington, he graduated from St. Hedwig Elementary and St. Elizabeth High School. He worked in the pharmaceutical field before entering seminary. He earned his B.A. and M.A. from St. Mary University and Seminary in Baltimore. He ministered as Associate Pastor at St. Elizabeth's, Corpus Christi and St. Peter Parishes in Wilmington and three years in Ocean City, Maryland. He was pastor of his home parish of St. Hedwig. Father Joe came to our parish, first, as an associate in January of 2002 and was named our pastor in 2003. Father Joe has also served the diocese on the Bishop's Pastoral Committee, Priest Council, College of Consultors, Vocation and Marian Committees.

Father Stanislao Esposito
Associate Pastor
Father Stanislao was born and raised near Naples, Italy. He moved to Rome after graduating from high school and worked for a Catholic magazine. When he decided to become a brother with the Congregation of Holy Cross, he moved to Austin, Texas. Since then, he has lived in Colorado Springs, Adel, Georgia, and the Bronx before he was assigned to teach at St. Edmunds Academy in Wilmington, DE. After teaching for a couple of years, he left the Congregation. since he was discerning his call to priesthood. He taught a few more years at St. Peter's in New Castle, and then went to Catholic University of America in Washington, DC for his seminary studies and formation. Father Stanislao was ordained in 2003. He was named associate paster of our parish in June 2007. Father Stanislao maintains a website http:www.heavenwards.org where he posts his homilies, thoughts, and other informative materials.

Mr. Joseph Kosman
Permanent Deacon
Deacon Joe Kosman was ordained November 17, 2001 He and his wife Pat have been members of the parish since 1993 after moving to Bear, Delaware from Cleveland, Ohio. They have two grown daughters Christine and Mary. Joe and Pat have been involved in various ministries in the Church throughout their married years. The ministry that they have been involved in for the longest time is helping engaged couples prepare for marriage. Joe has a Master's and Doctorate degree in chemistry and is currently an analytical chemist for a local firm. Joe along with his wife Pat, are members of the Liturgy Committee and directors of RCIA.

Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council is a consultative body to the Pastor. It is the coordinating and unifying structure of the Parish Community. Its function is to develop a deep personal and communal commitment to and maximal participation in the total life of the parish by its members. The Parish Pastoral Council is a body of elected and appointed representatives of the whole parish community, and serves as a means of communication, cooperation, and growth. The Council's mission is to work in collaboration with the local pastor and his associate priests in planning, encouraging, guiding and directing all aspects of parish life. In living out this mission, the Council must discover and define the parish needs, formulate policy and goals based upon identified needs, monitor and evaluate programs to meet stated needs.

Members: Father Joe Piekarski, Father Stanislao Esposito, Ed Cole, Executive Officer; Rosalinda McWilliams, Recording Secretary; Linda Rowe, Corresponding Secretary; Bernadette Sniadowski, Dan Speakman, Tom Magner, Ed Banas, Narcy Zionkowski, Mike Venters and Bill Green.

Finance Council
The Parish Finance Council is a consultative body of lay persons established to advise the Pastor in matters pertaining to the financial affairs of the parish. The Council assists the Pastor in the prudent planning and administration of all parish financial matters and in the setting of policy and establishing procedures to provide effective management of parish assets.

Members: Connie Fairer, Executive Officer; Raymond "Chick" Hamm, Bill Green and Peg Callahan, Business Manager; Fr. Joseph Piekarski, Pastor.



Parish Professional Staff
Mrs. Mary Kirkwood
School Principal
Mrs. Mary Kirkwood received her B.A. in secondary education and a Master's in Administration from the University of Delaware. She has 24 years of experience as a high school teacher, elementary school teacher and administrator, having "retired" for 12 years to raise her daughters, Katie, Amy and Rebecca. Mrs. Kirkwood enjoys busy school activities and peaceful moments with her family.

Sr. Grace Andrew Jeffery, OSF
Director of Religious Education
Sr. Grace Andrew is a member of the community of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. With her siblings, Sister was born and nurtured by her parents in Philadelphia, PA. With the exception of 1 year, her ministry has been served in the Diocese of Wilmington. Having received her BA from Our Lady of Angels College (now Neumann) in Aston, PA and her Master in Religious Education from Catholic University, Sister brings to the ministry 10 years of experience as a teacher in Catholic Elementary schools as well as 26 years serving as Director of Religious Education in various parishes within the Diocese. Sister Grace has just completed 12 years of ministry at Immaculate Conception Parish.

Ruthie Patterson
Youth Coordinator
Ruthie is a lifelong member of Immaculate Conception Parish. She is a graduate of Immaculate Conception School, Elkton High School and the University of Delaware. She worked at the University of Delaware for 18 years and while working earned her B.A. degree in English. Ruthie has been active in youth ministry through our parish athletic association for nine years, serving five years as president. She has also served on the Diocesan Youth Ministry Advisory Board and Athletic Advisory Board. Ruthie and her husband, Mahlon, have been married for 25 years and have two sons, Mahlon and George.

Deacon Mike Truman
Ministry to the Sick and Homebound
Bio coming soon.

Mike Bareham
Director of Music Ministries
Bio coming soon.

Parish Support Staff
Plant Manager: Joseph Bench
Business Manager: Peg Callahan
Parish Secretary: Pat Rush
Parish Secretary: Paula Amberg
Religious Education Office Manager: Vicki Eichler
Immaculate Conception School Secretary: Dolores Smith
Office of Worship & Music Ministry Secretary: Natalie Cooper