The Diocese of Wilmington, like all dioceses, is organized into smaller regions known as deaneries. A deanery consists of several contiguous parishes and is overseen by a dean, who is a pastor appointed by the bishop. The dean's role is integral to the spiritual and administrative life of the deanery.

A deanery serves to facilitate effective pastoral care and administration within the diocese. The dean is responsible for overseeing the spiritual needs of the priests, being attentive to pastoral issues within the deanery, and coordinating regional pastoral initiatives. This structure ensures that the parishes within each deanery can collaborate and support one another in their mission to serve the faithful.

In accordance with the most recent Code of Canon Law, bishops are authorized to organize their dioceses into smaller geographical groups called deaneries. These groups are led by a vicar forane, often referred to as a dean, who is entrusted with promoting a common pastoral activity and providing spiritual and pastoral counsel to the priests within the deanery.

The deanery operates under the leadership of the dean, who acts as a special representative of the bishop in a designated geographical area. While every priest in the diocese extends the bishop's priesthood to all of God's people, the dean plays a unique role in embodying the bishop's presence and concerns within the deanery.

The dean's primary responsibilities are pastoral. He promotes the Church’s mission of proclaiming God’s Word, celebrating the Eucharist, forming community, and providing service. The dean serves as a unifying force among the priests and the parishes, fostering collaboration and mutual support.

Although the dean exercises leadership with minimal formal administrative structure, he shares the bishop’s task of planning, coordinating, and implementing the work of the Church. The dean communicates the bishop's care, concerns, and guidance to the laity, religious, and clergy of the deanery and keeps the bishop regularly informed about the developments and needs within the deanery.