Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary - Wilmington, North Carolina

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Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary Wilmington NC

Name: Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary
Address: 412 Ann Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28401, United States
Telephone: 910-762-5491 ext 111

28401

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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.

Street Address

Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary

412 Ann Street

Wilmington, NC 28401

United States

Phone: 910-762-5491 ext 158

Fax: 910-762-9664

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Church Pastor

Very Reverend Robert J. Kus

Rector

412 Ann Street

Wilmington, NC 28401

United States

Phone: 910-762-5491 ext 111

Fax: 910-762-9664

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Denomination

Roman Catholic

Affiliations

Church Website

http://thestmaryparish.org

Basilica Shrine of Saint Mary on Social Media

Leadership

Leader Name:

Very Reverend Robert J. Kus

Leader Position:

Rector

Formal Title:

Leader Address:

Phone:

910-762-5491 ext 111

Fax:

910-762-9664

Leader Email:

Click here to contact Very Reverend Robert J. Kus

Leader Bio:

Very Reverend Robert J. Kus on Social Media:

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Administration

Admin Name:

Sharon Marren

Admin Position:

Business Manager

Admin Address:

Phone:

910-762-5491 ext 158

Fax:

Admin Email:

Click here to contact Sharon Marren

Mailing Address

412 Ann Street
Wilmington, NC
28401

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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

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ICAL

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Sunday School / Children and Youth Activities

Under 12s:

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