Parish Administration and Staff
| His Excellency, Most Reverend W. Francis Malooly, D.D. Bishop of Wilmington |
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| Bishop W. Francis Malooly was installed as the ninth bishop of the diocese on September 8, 2008 at St. Elizabeth Church in Wilmington, Delaware. A Maryland native, he served as Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore, Moderator of the Curia, Vicar General and Western Vicar (for Garrett, Allegany, Washington, Frederick, Carroll and Howard counties) He was born on January 18, 1944 in Baltimore, Maryland. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 9, 1970 and was ordained a Bishop on March 1, 2001.His ecclesial motto: Rejoice in the Lord |  |
| Reverend Joseph J. Piekarski Pastor |
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| Father Joe was installed as the twenty-second pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in June, 2003 after he served as associate pastor and administrator for one and a half years. Father Joe was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. He graduated from St. Hedwig Elementary and St. Elizabeth High School. He worked in the pharmaceutical field before entering St. Mary University & Seminary in Baltimore where he earned his B.A. and M.A.Father Joe was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wilmington on November 15, 1986. 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 for six years. Father Joe has also served the diocese on the Bishop’s Pastoral Committee, Priest Council, College of Consultors, Vocation and Marian Committees. |  |
| Reverend John T. Solomon Associate Pastor | |
| Father John Solomon is the middle child of seven born in Alexandria, Virginia. At the age of two he moved to Wilmington, St. John the Beloved parish, where he has lived ever since. He attended grade school at St. Matthew’s as well Seton Home Study School and Aquinas Academy. For the first two years of high school he attended Aquinas Academy and then homeschooled again for the last two years. He graduated from Seton Hall’s College Seminary, St. Andrew’s Hall and then was sent to the Pontifical North American College in Rome for four years where he earned an S.T.B. in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and an M.A. in Dogma from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in the City (Angelicum). Father John Solomon was ordained on June 18th by Bishop Malooly and this is his first assignment. |  |
| Mr. Joseph Kosman Permanent Deacon |
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| 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. |  |
| Mr. Michael Truman Permanent Deacon |
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| Deacon Mike was ordained on May 9, 2009. Roberta (Bobbie) and Mike met at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were married in the school’s chapel on July 6, 1974. After a 30-year career, Mike retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons in August 2008. This career took them to Wisconsin, Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Maryland, New Jersey and back to Maryland. Their adult daughter lives and works in New Jersey. Mike has a B.S. (Psychology) and M.S. (Corrections) from Xavier University and an additional M.S. (Criminology) from Florida State University. Mike’s ministry is to the sick and homebound. |  |
| Mrs. Mary Kirkwood School Principal |
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| Mrs. Kirkwood holds both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Delaware. Her 28 years in education include experience as a high school teacher, elementary school teacher, and administrator. She appreciates the children, families, faculty and staff of Immaculate Conception School who make her ministry most rewarding. Mrs. Kirkwood also cherishes family time with her three daughters. |  |
| Sr. Grace Andrew Jeffery, OSF Director of Religious Education |
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| 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 30 years serving as Director of Religious Education in various parishes within the Diocese. Sister Grace has just completed 16 years of ministry at Immaculate Conception Parish. |  |
| Ruthie Patterson Youth Ministry Coordinator |
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| 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. She has also served on the Diocesan Youth Ministry Advisory Board and Athletic Advisory Board. Ruthie and her husband, Mahlon, have been married since 1981 and have two sons, Mahlon and George. |  |
| Peter Solecki Director of Music Ministries |
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| Peter Solecki is a second-year graduate student at the University of Delaware and will graduate in May with a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting. There, he sings in the acclaimed University of Delaware Chorale and Chamber Singers and is an assistant director to both those groups. Prior to UD, Pete attended Immaculata University in Chester County, PA, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education in May, 2010.
Growing up in Hackettstown, NJ, he was involved with music ministry at his home parish, St. Mark the Evangelist, as a children’s choir member, a teen choir member, and eventually accompanist and choir director. He’s also accompanied cantors and directed choirs at churches throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland. He is an active member in the National Association of Pastoral Musicians and in the American Choral Director’s Association.
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| Parish Support Staff | |
| Plant Manager: Joseph Bench Business Manager: Peg O’Donnell Parish Secretary: Pat Rush Parish Secretary: Paula Amberg Religious Education Office Manager: Vickie Eichler Immaculate Conception School Secretary: Cathryn Harjung Evening Receptionist: Janie Leitner Outreach Coordinator: Dottie Fritz |
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