Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston

Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston
Dioecesis Vhelingensis–Carolopolitanus
Location
Country United States
Territory State of West Virginia
Ecclesiastical province Baltimore
Metropolitan Baltimore
Statistics
Area 24,239 sq mi (62,780 km2)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		 (as of 2014)
1,958,000
116,500 (5.9%)
Parishes 110
Information
Denomination Catholic Church
Rite Roman Rite
Established July 19, 1850 (166 years ago)
Cathedral Cathedral of Saint Joseph (Wheeling)
Co-cathedral Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Charleston)
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Bishop Michael Joseph Bransfield
Metropolitan Archbishop William E. Lori
Archbishop of Baltimore
Map
Website
www.dwc.org

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston (Latin: Dioecesis Vhelingensis–Carolopolitanus) is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States comprising the state of West Virginia. It is a conjoined diocese with two centers of worship, one day expected to be split into two separate entities. The diocese is led by Bishop Michael J. Bransfield who serves as pastor of the mother church, Cathedral of Saint Joseph in the City of Wheeling. He is also pastor of the Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in the City of Charleston.

History

The original Diocese of Wheeling was canonically erected on July 19, 1850, by Pope Pius IX. Its territory was taken from the Diocese of Richmond. In response to the growth of Catholicism in the state, the ecclesiastical territory became a conjoined diocese and its name was changed on August 21, 1974, by Pope Paul VI.[1][2]At the same time, its boundary was shifted to coincide with the state of West Virginia.

The Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston is home to Wheeling Jesuit University, an institution of higher learning administered by the Society of Jesus.

Bishops

Ordinaries

  1. Richard Vincent Whelan (1850–1874)
  2. John Joseph Kain (1875–1893)
  3. Patrick James Donahue (1894–1922)
  4. John Joseph Swint (1922–1962)
  5. Joseph Howard Hodges (1962–1985)
  6. Francis B. Schulte (1985–1988)
  7. Bernard William Schmitt (1989–2004)
  8. Michael Joseph Bransfield (2004–present)

Auxiliaries

Coadjutors

Vicariates

St. Joseph Cathedral
Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart

There are seven vicariates in the Diocese:

Parishes by Vicariate

There are 111 Parishes and 23 missions in the Diocese.

Wheeling Vicariate

There are 18 parishes and 2 missions in the Wheeling Vicariate.

Martinsburg Vicariate

There are 11 parishes and 1 mission in the Martinsburg Vicariate.

Charleston Vicariate

There are 23 parishes and 7 missions in the Charleston Vicariate.

Beckley Vicariate

There are 15 parishes and 2 missions in the Beckley Vicariate.

Clarksburg Vicariate

There are 21 parishes and 3 missions in the Clarcksburg Vicariate.

Parkersburg Vicariate

There are 11 parishes and 3 missions in the Parkersburg Vicariate.

Weston Vicariate

There are 12 parishes and 5 missions in the Weston Vicariate.

High schools

Former schools

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston". Catholic-Hierarchy. Retrieved 2013-06-06.
  2. ↑ "Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston". Giga Catholic. Retrieved 2013-06-06.

Coordinates: 40°04′13″N 80°41′55″W / 40.07028°N 80.69861°W / 40.07028; -80.69861

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