Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston
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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States comprised of 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 Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral in the City of Charleston.
The original Diocese of Wheeling was canonically erected on July 19, 1850 by Pope Pius IX. In response to the growth of Catholicism in the state, the ecclesiastical territory became a conjoined diocese and was consecrated with the current diocesan name on August 21, 1974 by Pope Paul VI.
The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston is home to Wheeling Jesuit University, an institution of higher learning administered by the Society of Jesus.
The following men have served as Bishops of Wheeling and Wheeling-Charleston:
Rt.Rev. Richard Whelan, D.D. - 1850-1874
Rt.Rev. John Kain, D.D. - 1875-1893
Rt.Rev. Patrick Donahue, D.D. - 1894-1922
Most Rev. John Swint, D.D. - 1922-1962
Most Rev. Thomas McDonnell, D.D. - 1951-1962, Auxiliary Only
Most Rev. Joseph Hodges, D.D. - 1962-1985
Most Rev. James Michaels, D.D. - 1973-1987, Auxiliary Only
Most Rev. Francis Shulte, D.D. - 1985-1989
Most Rev. Bernard Schmitt, D.D. - 1989-2005
Most Rev. Michael Bransfield, D.D. - 2005-Present
