This coming Thursday, July 11th marks the 116th anniversary of the death of Wilmington’s second bishop, Alfred Allen Curtis. Although he has not been officially canonized a saint, there is no doubt that this spiritual leader of early Catholic Delmarva had a lasting impact on our diocese, including our very own parish of Immaculate Conception.
Born in 1831 in a very rural part of the lower Eastern Shore, Curtis was raised Episcopalian and eventually went on to study for the priesthood in that denomination. He served for many years in this ministry until, in time, his growing love for our Lord’s true presence in the Blessed Sacrament and the truths of Catholicism inspired him to convert. He then went on to serve as a priest in Baltimore for 11 years before being named bishop of Wilmington in 1886. In his short time as our bishop, he was responsible for increasing the number of priestly and religious vocations as well as planting the foundations for many new parishes up and down the peninsula.
Closer to home, it was during Curtis’ episcopacy that the cornerstone of the newly enlarged Immaculate Conception Church on Bridge Street was laid, adding to the original structure that was already 40 years old. On that day, over 1000 people were in attendance for the Liturgy where, according to The Cecil Democrat, “the address of the bishop was a forcible exposition of the claims of the Church he represents and offended many of his Protestant hearers by the boldness of his utterances.”
So why does Curtis matter now in 2024? I believe that the Church and the world are crying out for leaders who serve others in humility and with joy. We look for men and women who will stand up for truth and point the way to living the Gospel values for which Jesus gave His very life.
During this 175th anniversary celebration of the official founding of our parish, let us pray boldly that our Lord will continue to raise up saintly men and women in our Church and world. Nothing would make Bishop Curtis more pleased.