Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary
Wilmington NC
28401
Who we are
St. Mary Church and Parish has long been a fixture in Wilmington.
The parish history started at the beginning of the nineteenth century when Bishop John England (1786-1842) from Charleston made regular visits to Wilmington celebrating Mass in private homes and sometimes in Protestant churches to a small group of believers. On New Year’s Day 1845 England’s successor, Ignatius Aloysius Reynolds founded the official parish. The community flourished and Father Thomas Murphy (1806-1855) was appointed the first full-time priest in 1845. Two years later he organized construction of the Gothic Revival style Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle at 208 Dock Street.
In 1868, James Gibbons (1834-1921), took up residence as Vicar-Apostolic of North Carolina and the church was designated a Pro-cathedral. He brought the Sisters of Mercy to Wilmington in 1869. Their first convent was at the corner of 2nd and Nun Streets. He bought property on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Ann Street. A convent and school were built on the property. They were later torn down to make was for the new church.
In the 1890’s, Msgr. Christopher Dennen (1855-1939) pastor of Saint Thomas Church, encouraged the formation of a new parish. Ground was broken for the building at South Fifth Street and Ann on the twentieth of May, 1908. Abbot Leo Michael Haid (1849-1924) O.S.B., Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina, laid the corner stone. The first service was held on the seventeenth of December, 1911. Cardinal James Gibbons dedicated the building as Saint Mary Pro-Cathedral on the Twelfth of April, 1912. When the Diocese of Raleigh was created in 1924, the Pro-Cathedral was renamed the Saint Mary Church.
Mother Catherine Drexel, Mother Superior of the Blessed Sacrament Sisters in Philadelphia, gave money to but Saint Thomas the Apostle Church in 1912. A school was established nearby and Saint Thomas Church became the first church for Wilmington’s black Catholic community. In 1916, the Josephite fathers took over the church and remained there until 1966 when a fire destroyed the church causing it to close. Today, the restored structure is known as Saint Thomas Preservation Hall of the Arts.
The parish history started at the beginning of the nineteenth century when Bishop John England (1786-1842) from Charleston made regular visits to Wilmington celebrating Mass in private homes and sometimes in Protestant churches to a small group of believers. On New Year’s Day 1845 England’s successor, Ignatius Aloysius Reynolds founded the official parish. The community flourished and Father Thomas Murphy (1806-1855) was appointed the first full-time priest in 1845. Two years later he organized construction of the Gothic Revival style Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle at 208 Dock Street.
In 1868, James Gibbons (1834-1921), took up residence as Vicar-Apostolic of North Carolina and the church was designated a Pro-cathedral. He brought the Sisters of Mercy to Wilmington in 1869. Their first convent was at the corner of 2nd and Nun Streets. He bought property on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Ann Street. A convent and school were built on the property. They were later torn down to make was for the new church.
In the 1890’s, Msgr. Christopher Dennen (1855-1939) pastor of Saint Thomas Church, encouraged the formation of a new parish. Ground was broken for the building at South Fifth Street and Ann on the twentieth of May, 1908. Abbot Leo Michael Haid (1849-1924) O.S.B., Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina, laid the corner stone. The first service was held on the seventeenth of December, 1911. Cardinal James Gibbons dedicated the building as Saint Mary Pro-Cathedral on the Twelfth of April, 1912. When the Diocese of Raleigh was created in 1924, the Pro-Cathedral was renamed the Saint Mary Church.
Church Website
Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary on Social Media
Leadership
Leader Name:
Very Reverend Robert J. Kus
Leader Position:
Rector
Phone:
Fax:
910-762-9664
Leader Email:
Click here to contact Very Reverend Robert J. Kus
Administration
Admin Name:
Sharon Marren
Admin Position:
Business Manager
Phone:
Admin Email:
Click here to contact Sharon Marren
Mailing Address
412 Ann Street
Wilmington, NC
28401
Wilmington, NC
28401
Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary Mass Times
Holy Week 2016 – Worship Schedule
March 20, 2016 – Palm Sunday – Holy Week begins
Regular Mass schedule
March 22, 2016 – Tuesday of Holy Week
7:30 a.m. – Communion Service
2:00 p.m. – Chrism Mass – St. Michael the Archangel, Cary, NC
March 24, 2016 – Holy Thursday
7:00 p.m. – Mass of the Lord’s Supper – (Bilingual)
Reception of the holy oils & Washing of the Feet
8 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Adoration in Tileston Center
March 25, 2016 – Good Friday
12 Noon – Church open for silent meditation
2 p.m. – Veneration of the Cross; Passion; Communion Service – English
5 p.m. –Vía Crucis – Hispanic Community
7 p.m. – Veneration of the Cross; Passion; Communion Service – Spanish
March 26, 2016 – Holy Saturday
10 a.m. – Blessing of Easter food baskets
No 5:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. Masses
Easter Vigil Mass – 8 p.m. – Begins with Blessing of the New Fire – Bilingual
March 27, 2016 – Easter Sunday
6:30 a.m. – Mass in English
8 a.m. – Mass in English
9:30 a.m.* – Mass in English – *Satellite Mass in SMS Cafeteria (9:40am)
11:00 a.m.* – Mass in English – *Satellite Mass in SMS Cafeteria (11:10am)
12:30 p.m. – Mass in Spanish
Regular Weekend Masses
Saturday
5:30 pm (English)
7:00 pm (Spanish)
Sunday
8:00 am (English)
9:30 am (English)
11:00 am (English)
12:30 pm (Spanish)
Daily Mass
Mon., Tues., Thu.
7:30 am
School Mass
Friday
8:30 am
Communion Service
Wednesday
7:30 am
Monstrance Hour
Thursday
8:00 – 9:00 am
It's been more than 8 years since the last mass times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm mass times.
Please contact the church to confirm Mass Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
March 20, 2016 – Palm Sunday – Holy Week begins
Regular Mass schedule
March 22, 2016 – Tuesday of Holy Week
7:30 a.m. – Communion Service
2:00 p.m. – Chrism Mass – St. Michael the Archangel, Cary, NC
March 24, 2016 – Holy Thursday
7:00 p.m. – Mass of the Lord’s Supper – (Bilingual)
Reception of the holy oils & Washing of the Feet
8 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Adoration in Tileston Center
March 25, 2016 – Good Friday
12 Noon – Church open for silent meditation
2 p.m. – Veneration of the Cross; Passion; Communion Service – English
5 p.m. –Vía Crucis – Hispanic Community
7 p.m. – Veneration of the Cross; Passion; Communion Service – Spanish
March 26, 2016 – Holy Saturday
10 a.m. – Blessing of Easter food baskets
No 5:30 p.m. or 7 p.m. Masses
Easter Vigil Mass – 8 p.m. – Begins with Blessing of the New Fire – Bilingual
March 27, 2016 – Easter Sunday
6:30 a.m. – Mass in English
8 a.m. – Mass in English
9:30 a.m.* – Mass in English – *Satellite Mass in SMS Cafeteria (9:40am)
11:00 a.m.* – Mass in English – *Satellite Mass in SMS Cafeteria (11:10am)
12:30 p.m. – Mass in Spanish
Regular Weekend Masses
Saturday
5:30 pm (English)
7:00 pm (Spanish)
Sunday
8:00 am (English)
9:30 am (English)
11:00 am (English)
12:30 pm (Spanish)
Daily Mass
Mon., Tues., Thu.
7:30 am
School Mass
Friday
8:30 am
Communion Service
Wednesday
7:30 am
Monstrance Hour
Thursday
8:00 – 9:00 am
It's been more than 8 years since the last mass times update. Please make sure to contact the church to confirm mass times.
Please contact the church to confirm Mass Times or SUBSCRIBE to updates below
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Sunday School / Children and Youth Activities
Under 18s:
The mission of St. Mary Youth Ministry is to develop middle and high school individuals spiritually, socially, intellectually into mature Christians practicing and sharing their Catholic faith, and to encourage and help youth build their faith in God through prayer, scripture, sacraments and community.
GOALS OF YOUTH MINISTRY
Encourage and empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today. Drawing young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the faith community. Volunteers help foster the personal and spiritual growth of each young person through assistance with service in the many opportunities Youth Ministry offers.
· Faith Formation Classes
· Sacrament of Confirmation and Prep
· Monthly Events and Lock-Ins
· Ministry Projects
· State Convention and Retreats
· National Conventions
GOALS OF YOUTH MINISTRY
Encourage and empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today. Drawing young people to responsible participation in the life, mission and work of the faith community. Volunteers help foster the personal and spiritual growth of each young person through assistance with service in the many opportunities Youth Ministry offers.
· Faith Formation Classes
· Sacrament of Confirmation and Prep
· Monthly Events and Lock-Ins
· Ministry Projects
· State Convention and Retreats
· National Conventions
Other information
Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary History
"Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Christian on his knees."William Cowper
Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary listing was last updated on the 25th of March, 2016
