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 Vicariate
Parkersburg Vicariate
Charleston Vicariate
Beckley Vicariate
Weston Vicariate
Clarksburg Vicariate
Martinsburg 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, Wheeling
Corpus Christi Parish, Wheeling
Immaculate Conception Parish, New Cumberland
Our Lady of Peace Parish, Wheeling
Sacred Heart Parish, Chester
Sacred Heart of Mary Parish (Polish), Weirton
St. Alphonsus Parish, Wheeling
St. Anthony Parish, Follansbee
St. Francis Xavier Parish, Moundsville
St. James Parish, McMechen
St. John Parish, Benwood
St. John the Evangelist Parish, Wellsburg
St. Joseph Parish, Proctor
St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Weirton
St. Jude Parish, Glen Dale
St. Martin of Tours Parish, Cameron
St. Michael Parish, Wheeling
St. Paul Parish, Weirton
St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Wheeling
Holy Family Mission, Beech Bottom
Our Lady of Seven Dolors Mission, Triadelphia [2]
There are 11 parishes and 1 mission in the Martinsburg Vicariate.
Annunciation of Our Lord Parish, Fort Ashby
Assumption Parish, Keyser
Epiphany of The Lord Parish, Moorefield
Our Lady Of Grace Parish, Romney
St. Agnes Parish, Shepherdstown
St. Anthony Parish, Ridgeley
St. James Parish, Charles Town
St. Joseph Parish, Martinsburg
St. Leo Parish, Inwood
St. Mary Parish, Petersburg
St. Vincent De Paul Parish, Berkeley Springs
St. Bernadette Mission, Hedgesville [3]
There are 23 parishes and 7 missions in the Charleston Vicariate.
Ascension Parish, Hurricane
Blessed Sacrament Parish, South Charleston
Christ The King Parish, Dunbar
Holy Trinity Parish, Nitro
Immaculate Conception Parish, Montgomery
Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Wayne
Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Huntington
Our Lady of The Hills Parish, Elkview
Risen Lord Parish, Maysel
Sacred Heart Parish, Williamson
Sacred Heart Parish, Point Pleasant
Sacred Heart Parish, Huntington
Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral Parish, Charleston
St. Agnes Parish, Charleston
St. Anthony Parish, Charleston
St. Edmund Parish, Man
St. Francis of Assisi Parish, St. Albans
St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Logan
St. John Parish, Belle
St. Joseph Parish, Huntington
St. Mary Queen of Heaven Parish, Madison
St. Peter Claver Parish, Huntington
St. Stephen Parish, Ona
Good Shepherd Mission, Coalburg
St. Anne Mission, Clendenin
St. Anthony's Shrine Mission, Boomer
St. Barbara Mission, Chapmanville
St. Joseph Mission, Mason
St. Joseph the Worker Mission, Whitesville
St. Patrick Mission, Bancroft [4]
There are 15 parishes and 2 missions in the Beckley Vicariate.
Christ The King Parish, War
Holy Family Parish, Richwood
Our Lady of Victory Parish, Gray
Sacred Heart Parish, Powhatan
Sacred Heart Parish, Bluefield
Sacred Heart Parish, Princeton
Sacred Heart Parish, Rainelle
SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Oak Hill
St. Catherine of Siena Parish, White Sulphur Springs
St. Charles Borromeo Parish, White Sulphur Springs
St. Francis De Sales Parish, Beckley
St. John The Evangelist Parish, Summersville
St. John the Evangelist Parish, Mullens
St. Patrick Parish, Hinton
St. Peter Parish, Welch
Holy Cross Mission, Pineville
St. Mary of the Greenbrier Mission, Alderson [5]
There are 21 parishes and 3 missions in the Clarcksburg Vicariate.
All Saints Parish, Bridgeport
Holy Spirit Parish, Monogah
Immaculate Conception Parish, Clarksburg
Immaculate Conception Parish, Fairmont
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Stonewood
Sacred Heart Parish, Salem
St. Ann Parish, Shinnston
St. Anthony Parish, Fairmont
St. Augustine Parish, Grafton
St. Elizabeth Parish, Philippi
St. Francis De Sales Parish, Morgantown
St. James the Apostle Parish, Clarksburg
St. John University Parish, Morgantown
St. Luke The Evangelist Parish, Morgantown
St. Mary Parish, Star City
St. Patrick Parish, Mannington
St. Patrick Parish, Salem
St. Peter Parish, Farmington
St. Peter The Fisherman Parish, Fairmont
St. Sebastian Parish, Kingwood
St. Zita Parish, Masontown
Holy Family Mission, Spelter
Mary Help of Christians Mission, Bruceton Mills
St. Edward the Confessor Mission, Terra Alta [6]
There are 11 parishes and 3 missions in the Parkersburg Vicariate.
Christ Our Hope Parish, Harrisville
Holy Redeemer Parish, Spencer
Holy Rosary Parish, Sisterville
Mater Dolorosa Parish, Paden City
St. Francis Xavier Parish, Parkersburg
St. John Parish, St. Marys
St. Margaret Mary Parish, Parkersburg
St. Matthew Parish [7], Ravenswood
St. Michael Parish, Vienna
St. Monica Parish, Lubeck
St. Vincent De Paul Parish, New Martinsville
Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Mission, Grantsville
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Mission, Elizabeth
St. Lawrence Mission, Middlebourne [8]
There are 12 parishes and 5 missions in the Weston Vicariate.
Good Shepherd Parish, Glenville
Holy Rosary Parish, Buckhannon
St. Anne Parish, Webster Springs
St. Boniface Parish, Camden
St. Brendan Parish, Elkins
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Franklin
St. John Bosco Parish, Huttonsville
St. John Neumann Parish, Marlinton
St. Patrick Parish, Weston
St. Patrick Parish, Coalton
St. Thomas Parish, Gassaway
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Thomas
Our Lady of Mercy Mission, Parsons
Resurrection Mission, Huttonsville
Resurrection Mission, Belington
Sacred Heart Mission, Pickens
St. Mark the Evangelist Mission, Bartow [9]
Bishop Donahue Memorial High School, McMechen
Charleston Catholic High School, Charleston
Madonna High School, Weirton
Notre Dame High School, Clarksburg
Parkersburg Catholic High School, Parkersburg
St. Joseph Central Catholic High School, Huntington
Wheeling Central Catholic High School, Wheeling
Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy, Wheeling
St. Francis, Morgantown
St. Patrick, Weston
De Sales Heights Academy, Parkersburg
St. Margaret Mary (Elementary), Parkersburg
St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary, Parkersburg
