Wilmington church celebrates 140 years

A Wilmington Catholic school celebrated 140 years with the help of a special guest today.

The Sisters of Mercy helped open St. Mary Catholic School in 1869 with just 36 students.
Friday, about 200 current students celebrated 140 years at St. Mary Catholic Church.

“In celebrating all the blessings that are occurring here and now, we also remember those pillars that made all this possible,” said Michael Burbidge, Bishop of Raleigh.

The Bishop of Raleigh led the mass recognizing the milestone.

“That just validates how important this parish is to the diocese, and all of southeastern North Carolina,” said St. Mary parishioner, Elizabeth Grace.

St. Mary School and its students are now part of a parish that has touched the entire community, regardless of religion.

“They have a wonderful clinic, Tileston Health Clinic, they have a dental clinic, they have so many things that have started here at St. Mary in the last 20-25 years,” said Grace.

St. Mary School is open to students of all faiths and its goal remains the same.

Former St. Mary teacher, Sister mary Perez, said “the education is still continuing, even if it started 140 years ago.”