St. Mary of the Assumption
Hockessin, Delaware

St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Hockessin dedicated its 12 new stained-glass windows on September 17, 2017, completing a project that had been a longtime ambition. Seven of the 12 windows present different images from the life of Mary. The most prominent of those is the Assumption. That window has been placed in the choirloft at the main entrance. Other events depicted in the windows include the Annunciation, the visitation, the Nativity, the presentation of Christ in the temple, the finding of Jesus in the Temple, and the wedding feast at Cana. Two other windows honor St. John the Evangelist and St. Patrick, the names of two of the five churches that had served the parish since its founding. One of those is surrounded by smaller windows depicting the sacraments “because the grace from the sacraments flow from the church,” Father Dillingham said.

The group first met about four years ago, and “no one knew quite what to do because we had zero experience.” They selected a vendor, Rohlf’s Stained & Leaded Glass Studio of Mount Vernon, N.Y., and worked primarily with artist Franz Schroeder. Father Dillingham said Rohlf’s Studio captured what the parish was looking for. Franz Schroeder, he said, “captured the image but still had a contemporary look to it. I think we exceeded all of our dreams.”

‘Franz Schroeder stained-glass designs match the contemporary style of the St. Mary’s Church.’

Father Dillingham