St. Jude prepares for major expansion project

The Extending Our Arms, Expanding Our Hearts campaign to nearly double the size of St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church is underway, with a goal of raising $6.2 million.

In just the first five weeks of the campaign, parishioners have pledged $3.5 million.

Father Brian Lewis points out that significant population growth in the area has meant an equally significant increase in church membership. There are so many new members that many masses – particularly in the summer – are standing-room only.

Currently, the church, which has stood on the 14-acre parcel along the northbound lanes of Route 1 in Lewes since 1960, has a seating capacity of 450. When the expansion is completed, that number will increase to 850.

St. Jude’s parish has grown from 941 families to a current registration of more than 2,700 households.

While some people may not be pleased about the dramatic growth in the area, Lewis said it’s a blessing. “They all need spiritual help,” he said.

He noted that the Lewes-Rehoboth area had been singled out as the No. 1 spot to retire.

But it’s not just retirees who are joining the church. “We are seeing many more young families with children,” he said. “They are not just coming here for the surf and sun, but they are also looking for the son of God.” 

To accommodate the overflow large crowds during the summer, the church offers a livestream in its Parish Life Center adjacent to the sanctuary. As many as 200 people can view the service there, and it’s also livestreamed online.

“We are separating the parish family when we are called on to be united. This is a temporary solution. We want all the masses in one place at one time,” he said.

The capital campaign has set goals: The Faith Goal of $4.2 million, with the addition of St. Jude’s existing savings, would allow the parish to accomplish the project without any debt; the Hope Goal of $5.2 million would mean the project would be completely paid off while retaining $1 million in savings; the Love Goal of $6.2 million would allow for the capital campaign to fund the project while reserving savings for future needs.

The building project

Once the project gets underway, it’s expected to take up to 18 months to be completed. Lewis said the construction will take place with minimal impact on the congregation.

“We will not disrupt parking,” said St. Jude business manager Bob Hearn. “We have parking space for all to come.”

When the church walls are taken down to connect the two new side wings, some services may have to be moved to the Parish Life Center.

The plan calls for an expansion of 6,000 square feet, which will nearly double seating capacity and accommodate anticipated future growth. Work also includes upgrades to meet Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines and create a new Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord room for parents with young children. A new covered drop-off area will also be added.

One of the highlights of the project will be a new, 14-foot-tall, 30-foot-wide stained-glass window above the entrance. Artist Edward Graney’s design features the patron saint, St. Jude, a medallion of hope, symbolic religious items and depictions of local marine life.

“It will be backlit at night as a beacon of welcome,” Lewis said.

All other stained-glass windows lining both sides of the sanctuary will be removed, taken apart, releaded and cleaned, then installed in the new wings of the church.

St. Jude’s plan overview includes:

• Expand seating capacity from 450 to 850 by adding transepts off both sides of the sanctuary
• Include restrooms in the transept areas
• Refurbish the narthex with upgraded and accessible restrooms
• Refurbish the choir loft and widen its stairway
• Renovate the church front by adding a covered drop-off and installing a redesigned stained-glass window to the choir loft area
• Refurbish the existing stained-glass windows and allow for the addition of new stained-glass windows in the transepts
• Add confessionals so the Sacrament of Reconciliation may be celebrated in the church
• Install a fire suppression system.

St. Jude since 1960

St. Jude has a long history of serving Catholics in the Lewes area. It was first established in 1960 as the Shrine of St. Jude, a mission church of St. Edmond Parish in Rehoboth Beach, and was only used for weekend masses during the summer.

Growth over the next several decades necessitated more masses until St. Jude became a separate parish on Nov. 30, 2002, with Bishop Michael Saltarelli presiding over the ceremony.

The Parish Life Center and Christian Formation Center buildings were opened in 2007. Sanctuary enhancements were made in 2012 and 2018, and in 2022, new pews, kneelers and carpeting were installed.