Catholic Diocese of Wilmington Bishop W. Francis Malooly has appointed the Rev. Steven P. Hurley as the new chancellor for the diocese.
The appointment is effective May 17. Hurley replaces the Most Rev. John O. Barres, who served as diocesan chancellor from July 1, 2000 until he was installed as the fourth Bishop of Allentown on July 30, 2009.
As described in Canon Law, the chancellor is a diocesen administrator who is responsible for gathering, arranging and safeguarding important documents regarding the spiritual and temporal affairs of the diocese. He is also responsible for matters delegated to him by the bishop and serves as the bishop’s administrative assistant.
The chancellor is also a resource person to parish priests and supervises the Chancery Office of the diocese.
“I am very pleased to appoint Fr. Hurley as our new diocesan chancellor,” Malooly said Thursday, May 6. “He has the spiritual and organizational leadership abilities to be an asset to our diocese and to me personally.”
Hurley, 40, was born in Leonardtown, Md. He attended Salisbury University where he earned degrees in computer science (B.S.) and business administration (M.B.A).
In 1991, he began his career as a police officer with the Ocean City, Md. Police Department where, by 1996, he had risen to the rank of detective. In August of 1998, he resigned from the police department and began his seminary studies for the Diocese of Wilmington at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore.
He recently earned his Licentiate Degree in Theology from St. Mary’s.
Hurley was ordained to the priesthood by the late Bishop Michael Saltarelli on May 24, 2003. He served as associate pastor at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in New Castle from June 2003 until June 2007. Since then, he has served as associate pastor of St. Ann’s Parish in Wilmington, a position he will retain in addition to his duties as diocesan chancellor.
Hurley is a member of the Diocese of Wilmington Vocation Board and a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus. He often serves as liturgical Master of Ceremonies for Malooly and served Saltarelli in the same way.
