Curtis retired in 1896 due to poor health and Leo XIII appointed John Monaghan of the Diocese of Charleston as his replacement. When Monaghan became bishop, the diocese had 25,000 Catholics, thirty priests, twenty-two churches and eighteen missions, twelve seminarians, eight religious communities, three academies, nine parochial schools, and three orphanages. During his tenure, Monaghan established seven parishes, seven missions, and eight schools. He also was instrumental in the establishment of the Oblate Fathers' Salesianum School for boys in Wilmington, St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, and a home for the elderly.Monaghan retired in 1925 and Pope Pius XI replaced him with Edmond Fitzmaurice from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
