On this episode of Catholic Forum, after a brief introduction, the Gospel for Sunday, November 6, 2016, a musical selection from John Angotti’s CD, “Testify;” meet Jamey Sturgill, Youth Minister at St. Ann Parish in Bethany Beach, Delaware. Jamey will share with the story of his journey from being a Baptist missionary in South Korea to Catholicism, discuss his work in youth ministry, and talk about the Theology on Tap Eastern Shore program where young adults meet in a pub to discuss God and religion. Also, Michele Harris, Pastoral Associate at St. Francis DeSales parish in Salisbury, Maryland will share a refection.
Catholic Forum, Nov. 20, 2016 – Guest: Mary Ellen Russell
On this episode, after a brief introduction, the Gospel for November 20, 2016 Solemnity of Christ the King, and music from the CD, “Catholic Treasures,” hear an interview with Mary Ellen Russell, Executive Director of the Maryland Catholic Conference. The MCC representatives the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Archdiocese of Washington, and the Diocese of Wilmington to the Maryland General Assembly in Annapolis.
Catholic Forum, Sept. 25, 2016 – Guest: Fr. Brian Lewis
On this episode of Catholic Forum, after a short introduction, the Gospel for Sunday, September 25, 2016, and a beautiful rendition of Ave Maria from Beth Neilsen Chapman’s “Hymns” CD, Fr. Brian Lewis, Associate Pastor of St. Elizabeth Church in Wilmington, Delaware will discuss Marian Devotion and the Diocese of Wilmington’s upcoming Marian Pilgrimage that is taking place on October 1, 2016.
Catholic Forum, Sept. 4, 2016 – Guest: Fr. Paul Schenck
On this episode, after a brief introduction, the Holy Gospel for Sunday, September 4, 2016, and a musical selection from the CD “Let All Creation Sing,” by Paul A. Tate; you will hear an interview with the Director of the Pro Life Office of the Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Fr. Paul Schenck. Father will be in Wilmington on September 17, 2016 to conduct a workshop, preach at a Mass, and give the keynote address at a dinner to benefit 40 Days for Life and Birthright of Delaware.
Catholic Forum, Sept. 11, 2016 – Guest: Joseph Zwilling
On this episode of Catholic Forum, after a brief introduction, the Gospel for Sunday, September 11, 2016, and a brief musical selection from John Michael Talbot’s “The Early Years” CD; Mr. Joseph Zwilling, Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of New York and General Manager of “The Catholic Channel” on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, will look back at the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Building on September 11, 2001 and how the local church responded.
Catholic Forum, Oct. 2, 2016 – Guests: Brenda Burns & Vincent Robinson
On this episode of Catholic Forum, after a brief introduction, the Gospel for Sunday, October 2, 2016, and a short segment of a song from Fr. Stan Fortuna, hear an interview with Ms. Brenda Burns and Mr. Vincent Robinson. The Knights of Peter Claver at St. Joseph Church in Wilmington are celebrating their tenth anniversary. Learn about this great organization and their wonderful work.
Catholic Forum, Aug. 14, 2016 – Guests: Margaret Consiglio & Michael Davidson
On this episode of Catholic Forum, after a brief introduction, the proclamation of the Sunday Gospel by Deacon Hal Jopp, and a musical selection from Paul Tate’s CD, “Let All Creation Sing,” we will learn about the history of the beautiful Cathedral of Saint Peter in Wilmington, Delaware. Margaret Consiglio has been a member of the Cathedral parish since the 1960’s. Michael Davidson has been the Director of Liturgical Music for the Cathedral since the 1980’s. Together they tell the story of this lovely and historic church that has been a part of the City of Wilmington for 200 years.
Catholic Forum, Aug. 21, 2016 – Guest: Dr. Lou DeAngelo
On this episode of Catholic Forum, after a brief introduction, the Gospel for Sunday, August 21, 2016, and a musical selection from the CD, “Catholic Treasures;” we will talk with Dr. Lou DeAngelo, Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Wilmington. It’s back to school time for students, parents, teachers and staff of the 36 Catholic schools in Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Dr. Lou will give us tips to help prepare students to go back to school, plus give us an update on some of the terrific schools in the Diocese of Wilmington.
Bishop William E. Koenig
Most Reverend William E. Koenig, M.S.W, D.D.
Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington
Street Address: 1925 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19806
Phone: (302) 573-3100 Fax: (302) 573-6817
Email: bishop@cdow.org
On April 30, 2021, the Holy See announced that the Reverend Monsignor William Edward Koenig, a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, had been appointed the new bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wilmington. He succeeded the Most Reverend W. Francis Malooly, D.D., who in keeping with canon law offered his resignation to the Holy Father when he turned 75 years of age.
Bishop Koenig was ordained to the Episcopacy by the Most Reverend William E. Lori, Metropolitan Archbishop of Baltimore, and installed as the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington at a Mass on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at St. Elizabeth Church, Cedar and Clayton Streets in Wilmington, Delaware.
At the time of his appointment as Bishop of Wilmington, Bishop William Edward Koenig was the Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York.
Born on August 17, 1956, in Queens, New York, Bishop Koenig grew up in East Meadow, New York where he and his family were parishioners of St. Raphael’s Church. He attended St. Raphael’s Elementary School, St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary in Uniondale, New York, Cathedral College in Douglaston, New York and the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York. After ordination, he also attended Fordham University from which he received a Master of Social Work Degree.
Bishop Koenig was ordained to the Priesthood by the Most Reverend John R. McGann at St. Agnes Cathedral on May 14, 1983. His first assignment as a priest was to the Parish of St. Edward the Confessor in Syosset, New York. After five years at St. Edward’s, he served for one year in the Parish of St. James in Setauket where he also assisted in the Campus Ministry Program at State University of Stony Brook. In 1989, he was appointed the Diocesan Director of Vocations with Residence at the Cathedral Residence of the Immaculate Conception in Douglaston, New York. As a resident, he assisted the staff of four other priests in helping to form seminarians from the Dioceses of Brooklyn and Rockville Centre for the Priesthood as they completed college or Pre-Theology requirements. In 1990, Bishop Koenig was assigned as Diocesan Director of Ministry to Priests while continuing to serve as Diocesan Director of Vocations. Upon the completion of his assignment in 1996 as Directors of Vocations and Ministry to Priests, Bishop Koenig served from 1996 to 2000 as Parochial Vicar at St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, New York. In 2000, he was appointed Pastor of St. William the Abbot in Seaford, New York where he continued to serve until 2009. During his term as Pastor at St. Williams, Bishop Koenig in 2007 was named Chaplain to His Holiness by Pope Benedict XVI. In 2009, he was appointed the Rector of St. Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, New York. His service as Rector concluded in 2020 when he was appointed the Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of Rockville Centre.
In addition to his Diocesan Assignments, Bishop Koenig has served in a number of roles and Boards in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. He has been the Dean of both the Seaford Deanery as well as the Rockville Centre Deanery. He has been a member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors. He as represented the Diocese of Rockville Centre in the Priests Council of New York State. Bishop Koenig has been the Moderator of CYO of Long Island and is a Board Member of Unitas which serves as an investment corporation for parishes and diocesan entities.
In 2022, Bishop Koenig instituted Reconciliation Monday in the Diocese of Wilmington. Held the Monday of Holy Week, every parish church has confessions from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Since it’s inception, over 15,000 people have taken advantage of Reconciliation Monday, many of whom hadn’t received the Sacrament in decades.
In May of 2023, Bishop Koenig published “United in Christ: A Pastoral Letter Introducing Our Pastoral Plan,” followed by “Guided by the Spirit: The Ongoing Efforts of Our Pastoral Planning Initiative, United in Christ, in May of 2024. These documents create the framework for creating vibrant parish communities in the Diocese of Wilmington.
On October 5, 2024, Bishop Koenig convened a diocesan Eucharistic Congress at the Ocean City Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland. This pivotal event, themed “The Eucharist: Source and Summit,” attracted over 2,500 Catholics from across the region and features a keynote address from Archbishop Richard Henning of the Diocese of Providence, just three weeks before he was installed as the Archbishop of Boston. Archbishop Henning shared his insights on the pivotal role of the Eucharist in Catholic life and worship. Attendees attended breakout sessions, participated in Eucharistic Adoration, and received the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The day culminated with Mass.