| Rt Rev. Richard Vincent Whelan | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Wheeling | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| See | Wheeling |
| In Office | July 23, 1850 – July 7, 1874 |
| Predecessor | none |
| Successor | John Joseph Kain |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | May 1, 1831 |
| Consecration | March 21, 1841 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 28, 1809 Baltimore, Maryland |
| Died | July 7, 1874 (aged 65) Baltimore, Maryland |
| Previous post | Bishop of Richmond (1841–1850) |
Richard Vincent Whelan (January 28, 1809 – July 7, 1874) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Richmond, Virginia (1841–1850) and Bishop of Wheeling, West Virginia (1850–1874).
Whelan was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and at age 10 he enrolled at Mount St. Mary's College in Emmitsburg, where he studied the classics.[1] Following his graduation with the highest honors in 1826, he completed his theological studies at the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, France. He was ordained to the priesthood in Versailles on May 1, 1831.[2] Following his return to the United States, he returned to Mount St. Mary's as a member of the faculty and business manager, and was named pastor of Harper's Ferry, also attending neighboring missions of Martinsburg, Winchester and Bath.[3]
On December 19, 1840, Whelan was appointed the second Bishop of Richmond, Virginia, by Pope Gregory XVI.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on March 21, 1841 from Archbishop Samuel Eccleston, P.S.S., with Bishops Benedict Joseph Fenwick, S.J., and John Joseph Hughes serving as co-consecrators, at Baltimore.[2] Since there were only six priests in Virginia at this time, Whelan appealed to the Societies for the Propagation of the Faith in Paris, Lyon and Vienna to increase the diocese's clerical ranks.[3] He also established on the outskirts of Richmond a seminary college, where Whelan himself resided and taught, as well as several parishes, missions and schools.[3]
At Whelan's request, the Holy See divided Virginia into two dioceses, Richmond and Wheeling, on July 19, 1850.[4] Four days later, on July 23, Whelan was named Ordinary of the new Wheeling Diocese.[2] His resources consisted of only two churches and two priests, but by the time of his death the diocese had 48 churches, 29 priests, three religious congregations of women, six schools for girls, a school for boys, an orphanage, and a hospital.[1] From 1869 to 1870, he attended the First Vatican Council, where he opposed papal infallibility because he thought such a declaration would be untimely.[3]
He fell ill in 1874 and was taken to St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, where he later died from liver disease at age 65.[3]
| Preceded by Patrick Kelly |
Bishop of Richmond 1841—1850 |
Succeeded by John McGill |
| Preceded by none |
Bishop of Wheeling 1850—1874 |
Succeeded by John Joseph Kain |