Fr. James D. Hreha (PASTOR)

REV. JAMES HREHA was born in Darby, Pennsylvania. He received his early education at St. Pius X School and Devon Preparatory School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, Philadelphia, PA. Upon graduation he pursued a career in law enforcement as a Correctional Officer at the Chester County Prison. He returned to his studies for the priesthood for the Diocese of Wilmington. He completed theological formation at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland and was ordained on November 7, 1987 at St. Peter’s Cathedral, Wilmington, Delaware by Bishop Robert E. Mulvee.

He was first assigned as associate pastor at St. Elizabeth Church, Wilmington, Delaware. In 1990 he was transferred to be the associate pastor at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Wilmington, Delaware. In 1992 he was appointed chaplain to the Delaware Correctional Center in Smyrna, Delaware and in 1997 he was assigned as associate pastor to St. Peter the Apostle Church, New Castle, Delaware. In June 2000 he was assigned as associate pastor at St. Edmond’s Parish in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware with special Pastoral Care of St. Jude Mission.

On November 30, 2002 St. Jude Mission was erected as St. Jude The Apostle Parish by Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli and Rev. James Hreha was appointed the founding pastor where he served until being assigned to St. Polycarp Parish in Smyrna, DE in June of 2015. Rev. James Hreha was appointed pastor of St. Dennis, Galena, MD., effective Sept. 8, 2017. This appointment is in addition to his ministry as pastor at St. Polycarp Parish, Smyrna. Please introduce yourself to Fr. Jim.

Fr. Pedro Manuel Chalacan Guerrero

Fr. Pedro Manuel Chalacan Guerrero is our new priest here at St. Dennis. Fr. Pedro was born on May 16, 1984 in Los Andes, Ecuador. Fr. Pedro did his studies at the Our Lady of Hope Major Seminary and was ordained by Most Reverend Valter Dario Maggi on June 25, 2011. Fr. Pedro served in 4 parishes with the last one being Nuestra Senora de Altagracia (Our Lady of Grace). Some of the pastoral work in which he engaged during this time was mission in small communities, sewing workshops, educational projects, parish medicine cabinet project, along with his work with the Diocesan Catechetical Commission.

Fr. Pedro will be ministering to the parishioners in Galena and Cambridge. Currently Fr. Pedro only a few words of English but he is working hard to learn the language. We welcome with open arms and hearts to St. Dennis and will do all we can to help him feel at home.