St. John the Apostle

Built in 1910

Milford, DE

From the early 1700s, Catholic’s in Delaware’s lower counties attended Mass whenever possible in individual homes whenever Jesuit priests from Maryland would visit.

In 1808, with the established of the then-Diocese of Philadelphia, priests from New Castle would minister in Kent and Sussex Counties.  Then, in 1870, after the Dioceses of Wilmington was erected and Holy Cross was founded in Dover, priests from the new parish cared for the Catholics down state. 

​Under the care of the priests of Holy Cross and until 1909, a monthly Sunday Mass was said at various locations.  On December 8, 1909, Captain George Mahon donated land on what is now Maple Ave to the Bishop of Wilmington for the purpose of building a new church.  On June 26, 1910, the Most Reverend John Monaghan, third Bishop of Wilmington, dedicated Saint John the Apostle church and for two years traveled by train to offer Sunday Mass.

​The first resident pastor was assigned to Saint John in 1912.  With the formation of Dover Air Force Base and an increase in industry in Milford, Saint John’s congregation out grew the church and facility.  In 1952, on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Irwin G Burton, a new church was planned at the corner of Seabury Ave. and School Place.  The dedication took place on November 25, 1954.  During this time, parishioners from Harrington who had been traveling to Milford for Mass completed a new church, Saint Bernadette, which was dedicated on September 6, 1953.  Since then, it has been a mission of Saint John the Apostle.

​A Hispanic ministry was established in the mid-1980’s to serve a growing population.  Today, there are several hundred families in the parish’s Hispanic Community.  In 1990, the parish began an “Oktoberfest” celebration as an annual fundraiser.  It has grown into a community-wide event and attracts people from all over Kent and Sussex Counties.  In 2005, a new Parish Hall was opened which expanded the opportunities for parish and family life at Saint John.  And, as part of the Sustaining Hope for the Future Capital Campaign, plans were made for a new parish Rectory to be built adjacent to the church.  The groundbreaking ceremony was held on March 2, 2017 and it was completed later in 2017.

​At this time, Saint John the Apostle, together with Saint Bernadette, supports close to 1,400 families in lower Kent County and upper Sussex County and is served by two priests and four deacons.