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.
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.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.
- Richard Vincent Whelan (1850–1874)
- John Joseph Kain (1875–1893)
- Patrick James Donahue (1894–1922)
- John Joseph Swint (1922–1962)
- Joseph Howard Hodges (1962–1985)
- Francis B. Schulte (1985–1988)
- Bernard William Schmitt (1989–2004)
- Michael Joseph Bransfield (2004–present)
James Edward Michaels, S.S.C.M.E. (1973–1987)Thomas John McDonnell (1951–1961)There are seven vicariates in the Diocese:
Wheeling VicariateParkersburg VicariateCharleston VicariateBeckley VicariateWeston VicariateClarksburg VicariateMartinsburg Vicariate [1]There are 111 Parishes and 23 missions in the Diocese.
There are 18 parishes and 2 missions in the Wheeling Vicariate.
Cathedral of St. Joseph Parish, WheelingCorpus Christi Parish, WheelingImmaculate Conception Parish, New CumberlandOur Lady of Peace Parish, WheelingSacred Heart Parish, ChesterSacred Heart of Mary Parish (Polish), WeirtonSt. Alphonsus Parish, WheelingSt. Anthony Parish, FollansbeeSt. Francis Xavier Parish, MoundsvilleSt. James Parish, McMechenSt. John Parish, BenwoodSt. John the Evangelist Parish, WellsburgSt. Joseph Parish, ProctorSt. Joseph the Worker Parish, WeirtonSt. Jude Parish, Glen DaleSt. Martin of Tours Parish, CameronSt. Michael Parish, WheelingSt. Paul Parish, WeirtonSt. Vincent de Paul Parish, WheelingHoly Family Mission, Beech BottomOur Lady of Seven Dolors Mission, Triadelphia [2]There are 11 parishes and 1 mission in the Martinsburg Vicariate.
Annunciation of Our Lord Parish, Fort AshbyAssumption Parish, KeyserEpiphany of The Lord Parish, MoorefieldOur Lady Of Grace Parish, RomneySt. Agnes Parish, ShepherdstownSt. Anthony Parish, RidgeleySt. James Parish, Charles TownSt. Joseph Parish, MartinsburgSt. Leo Parish, InwoodSt. Mary Parish, PetersburgSt. Vincent De Paul Parish, Berkeley SpringsSt. Bernadette Mission, Hedgesville [3]There are 23 parishes and 7 missions in the Charleston Vicariate.
Ascension Parish, HurricaneBlessed Sacrament Parish, South CharlestonChrist The King Parish, DunbarHoly Trinity Parish, NitroImmaculate Conception Parish, MontgomeryNativity of Our Lord Parish, WayneOur Lady of Fatima Parish, HuntingtonOur Lady of The Hills Parish, ElkviewRisen Lord Parish, MayselSacred Heart Parish, WilliamsonSacred Heart Parish, Point PleasantSacred Heart Parish, HuntingtonSacred Heart Co-Cathedral Parish, CharlestonSt. Agnes Parish, CharlestonSt. Anthony Parish, CharlestonSt. Edmund Parish, ManSt. Francis of Assisi Parish, St. AlbansSt. Francis of Assisi Parish, LoganSt. John Parish, BelleSt. Joseph Parish, HuntingtonSt. Mary Queen of Heaven Parish, MadisonSt. Peter Claver Parish, HuntingtonSt. Stephen Parish, OnaGood Shepherd Mission, CoalburgSt. Anne Mission, ClendeninSt. Anthony's Shrine Mission, BoomerSt. Barbara Mission, ChapmanvilleSt. Joseph Mission, MasonSt. Joseph the Worker Mission, WhitesvilleSt. Patrick Mission, Bancroft [4]There are 15 parishes and 2 missions in the Beckley Vicariate.
Christ The King Parish, WarHoly Family Parish, RichwoodOur Lady of Victory Parish, GraySacred Heart Parish, PowhatanSacred Heart Parish, BluefieldSacred Heart Parish, PrincetonSacred Heart Parish, RainelleSS. Peter and Paul Parish, Oak HillSt. Catherine of Siena Parish, White Sulphur SpringsSt. Charles Borromeo Parish, White Sulphur SpringsSt. Francis De Sales Parish, BeckleySt. John The Evangelist Parish, SummersvilleSt. John the Evangelist Parish, MullensSt. Patrick Parish, HintonSt. Peter Parish, WelchHoly Cross Mission, PinevilleSt. Mary of the Greenbrier Mission, Alderson [5]There are 21 parishes and 3 missions in the Clarcksburg Vicariate.
All Saints Parish, BridgeportHoly Spirit Parish, MonogahImmaculate Conception Parish, ClarksburgImmaculate Conception Parish, FairmontOur Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, StonewoodSacred Heart Parish, SalemSt. Ann Parish, ShinnstonSt. Anthony Parish, FairmontSt. Augustine Parish, GraftonSt. Elizabeth Parish, PhilippiSt. Francis De Sales Parish, MorgantownSt. James the Apostle Parish, ClarksburgSt. John University Parish, MorgantownSt. Luke The Evangelist Parish, MorgantownSt. Mary Parish, Star CitySt. Patrick Parish, ManningtonSt. Patrick Parish, SalemSt. Peter Parish, FarmingtonSt. Peter The Fisherman Parish, FairmontSt. Sebastian Parish, KingwoodSt. Zita Parish, MasontownHoly Family Mission, SpelterMary Help of Christians Mission, Bruceton MillsSt. Edward the Confessor Mission, Terra Alta [6]There are 11 parishes and 3 missions in the Parkersburg Vicariate.
Christ Our Hope Parish, HarrisvilleHoly Redeemer Parish, SpencerHoly Rosary Parish, SistervilleMater Dolorosa Parish, Paden CitySt. Francis Xavier Parish, ParkersburgSt. John Parish, St. MarysSt. Margaret Mary Parish, ParkersburgSt. Matthew Parish [7], RavenswoodSt. Michael Parish, ViennaSt. Monica Parish, LubeckSt. Vincent De Paul Parish, New MartinsvilleJesus Christ Prince of Peace Mission, GrantsvilleSt. Elizabeth of Hungary Mission, ElizabethSt. Lawrence Mission, Middlebourne [8]There are 12 parishes and 5 missions in the Weston Vicariate.
Good Shepherd Parish, GlenvilleHoly Rosary Parish, BuckhannonSt. Anne Parish, Webster SpringsSt. Boniface Parish, CamdenSt. Brendan Parish, ElkinsSt. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, FranklinSt. John Bosco Parish, HuttonsvilleSt. John Neumann Parish, MarlintonSt. Patrick Parish, WestonSt. Patrick Parish, CoaltonSt. Thomas Parish, GassawaySt. Thomas Aquinas Parish, ThomasOur Lady of Mercy Mission, ParsonsResurrection Mission, HuttonsvilleResurrection Mission, BelingtonSacred Heart Mission, PickensSt. Mark the Evangelist Mission, Bartow [9]Bishop Donahue Memorial High School, McMechenCharleston Catholic High School, CharlestonMadonna High School, WeirtonNotre Dame High School, ClarksburgParkersburg Catholic High School, ParkersburgSt. Joseph Central Catholic High School, HuntingtonWheeling Central Catholic High School, WheelingMount de Chantal Visitation Academy, WheelingSt. Francis, MorgantownSt. Patrick, WestonDe Sales Heights Academy, ParkersburgSt. Margaret Mary (Elementary), ParkersburgSt. Joseph Preparatory Seminary, Parkersburg
