Bishop Malooly to head Wilmington diocese

Bishop W. Francis Malooly, western vicar, was named bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington, Del., July 7 by Pope Benedict XVI. He will be formally installed in a Sept. 8 ceremony.

Bishop Malooly had served as auxiliary bishop of Baltimore since 2001.

The appointment of the 64-year-old bishop was announced at a 10 a.m. press conference at St. Anne’s church in Wilmington.

Bishop Malooly will replace Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli, who is retiring after 12 years as bishop of Wilmington.

Bishop Malooly served as western vicar for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, overseeing 46 parishes in the following Maryland counties: Howard, Carroll, Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett.

Bishop Malooly also was vicar general and moderator of the curia, overseeing activities at the diocesan center.

The Wilmington diocese consists of the state of Delaware and Maryland’s eastern shore counties.

According to official statistics, there are 216 priests serving in the Wilmington diocese, 123 of whom are diocesan. There are 57 parishes with a Catholic population of 230,000, or about 18 percent of the total population of the area.

There are 39 Catholic elementary and high schools with 14,742 students enrolled. There is one Catholic hospital.

Bishop Malooly was ordained a priest May 9, 1970 and was elevated to bishop March 1, 2001.

He has also served as director of the Monsignor O’Dwyer Retreat House in Sparks, director of clergy personnel and chancellor.

He attended St. Ursula Elementary School in Parkville, St. Charles College Seminary and St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park.

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