The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-05-21
BRIEF and INTERESTING HISTORY OF
THE WHEELING CATHOLIC DIOCESE

The diocese Of Wheeling. which Is
under the jurisdiction Of Et. Kew
Bishon F. J. Donahuc ~. l.. comprises
i, the state Of West Virginia, with the
exception OF the following counties:
Pendieton. Grant. Mineral, Hardy lamp
shire, Morgan. Berkeley and Jefferson
which arc in Richmond Va. diocese
also the counties Of Lee, Scott. Wise.
Dickinson, Buckhannon. Washington
Iusse Graysou. SmYth. TaZelwcl. CaT-
roll, Wythc. Beard. Floyd, Pulaski. Mont
somcry, Giles and portion Oh Craig
county in Virginia.
The diocese OF Wheeling was FORMED
from the diocese Of Richmond by apos-
tolc letters dated July - 1917. NJ
Rev. Richard Thelan. d. D.. at that time
bishop of Richmond. was transferred 10
Wheeling as the first bishop OF the new
" created sec. He had been Consecrat-
cd the second bishop of Richmond March
II. 1871. The earliest record preserved
in the Wheeling chancery sets forth that
Rev. Francis Rolf was appointed pastor
of Wheeling in 1929. He records bap-
ism performed by him on November s.
I 1928. There is evidence fpricsts nav
| ing visited Wheeling at an earlier dale
Wheeling was established as town
| in 1875. and one vague tradition has IL
that it took its name from certain
! Father Whclan. a Catholic priest. who
came occasionally TO minister 10 the
! spiritual wants Of the members Of his
! flock.
! From February. 1888, to January. 1874.
! Rev James Hocrner was III charge OF
; the Catholics in the Wheeling district.
lie was succeeded by Rev. Eugene Com
crford. who was in Wheeling until the
arrival of Rt. Rev. Bishop Whclan.
bishop Of Richmond. in November. lS46.
The bishop took charge Of the mission
airy work in the Wheeling portion Of
the Richmond see until he was trans
: fcrred as the first bishop Of the new do
! cesc of Wheeling.
Planned Present Cathedral.
Bishop Whclan. for period Of "a
! years. laborcd with utmost zeal. The
! present. Wheeling cathedral was planned
by him and built under his supervision.
He was architect and supervisor. and did
I much Of the actual work in building the
edilce He also established a seminary
| Of which he took personal charge, Ind
| some of the priests who were educated
/ by him are still laboring in the diocese.
Ri. Rev Bishop Whelan was succeeded
| by Rt. Rev. John Joseph Kahn. d. D..
who was consecratcd the second bishop
Of Wheeling on May %. 1875. In 1898
he was appointed coadtutor 10 the arch
| bishop of st. Louis. Mo-. and became
archbishop Of that see May 81, 1895. He
died on October Is. 1908. He devoted
his talents and energies to the increase
| Of clergy, establishing new missions
building Of churches and parochial
schools.
Conservation Of Bishop Donahue.
Ri Rev. P. J. Donahue. D. D.. WIS
consecrated tho third bishop Of Wheel
ing April 8. 1894. AT the time Of his
appoin t1nent he was rector Of the caulc'
dral at Baltimore. During the % years
Of BISHOP Dunahne's administration the
number Of ctergy has been morn th...,
doubled, many new missions established
! and the following institutions founded II
the diocese:
Home of Che~Good Shepherd. situated
near Wheeling, where 200 hayward anG
homeless girls are provided for. The
sisters In charge conduct large laun'
dry and sewing school.
The Manual Training school near Elm
Grove, W. Va, SIX miles east Of Wheel
ing. conducted blythe Navcrian Brothers
st. Edwards Preparatory college
Huntington. w. Va. in charge OF the
secular clergy OF the diocese, of which
the Rev. John W. "crnlnger is the ITS
president.
Besides these institutions. two large
additions h,rve been built to the Wheel
ing hospital and nc worphanage rol
bows at Elm Grove, w. v, large nd
dition to st. vincent's home at Elm
Grove, W. Va, and st. Mary's hospita
AT harrisburg. W. Va. have been erect
order OF priests. the Capucmn Fathers
and three religious orders Of women, tn
Sisters Of st. Joseph. Visitation Sisters
and Sisters Of Divine Providence. since
thc, III, Marist and Benedictine Father:
have been introduced as also the Coco
Shephcrd Sisters Sisters Of ST. Franco:
and tho Feliclan Sisters. There arr
academies for girls at Mount d" Chanta
1near wheelins), Parkersburg. Wrthc
Vile, Wheeling and ClarksburE: Thor
is a Catholic high school at N.h"rl'nf
and sixteen parochial schools IN 'h'