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    Catholic West Virginia
    Catholic West Virginia
    Catholic West Virginia
    Ebook182 pages51 minutes

    Catholic West Virginia

    By Ryan Rutkowski

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    About this ebook

    Overcoming its tumultuous beginnings, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has matured into a distinguished and active voice for West Virginians. One of the most unique aspects of the diocese's 160-year history is the diversity of the landscape, culture, ethnicity, and dialect that characterizes the state's identity. From Wheeling to Beckley and Martinsburg to Parkersburg, the story of our diocese comes from the individuals who established and nurtured the Catholic faith in their local communities. Without generations of the dedicated faithful, the diocese would not have thrived. Through a variety of images, this book tells the story of the generations that continued striving to give a voice to this unique Catholic community. In addition, professional researchers and local readers alike will find this volume's rare perspective of history through the lived experience of the subjects refreshing.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArcadia Publishing
    Release dateSep 18, 2012
    ISBN9781439626412
    Catholic West Virginia
    Author

    Ryan Rutkowski

    Ryan Rutkowski, director of archives and records for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, compiled Images of America: Catholic West Virginia after collecting photographs for the diocese�s archives. A lifelong Catholic, Rutkowski presents images that reflect the faith, values, identity, and heritage of Catholic West Virginia.

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      Book preview

      Catholic West Virginia - Ryan Rutkowski

      you.

      INTRODUCTION

      The year 2010 marks the 160th anniversary of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. In over a century and a half, the diocese has overcome its tumultuous beginnings and matured into a distinguished and active voice for Catholic West Virginians. One of the most unique facets of the diocese is that it covers the entire state of West Virginia. It mirrors the diversity of the landscape, culture, ethnicity, and dialect that characterizes the state’s identity. From Wheeling to Charleston and Martinsburg to Parkersburg, the story of our diocese comes from the individuals who established and nurtured the Catholic faith in their local communities. Without generations of the dedicated faithful, the diocese would not have thrived.

      From the foundation of the diocese, its story was riddled with struggles and tribulations. As Bishop of Richmond, Richard V. Whelan saw the need to divide the Diocese of Richmond along the natural boundary of the Alleghany Mountains. Eventually, Whelan became the first bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling. However, his practical vision of developing the young diocese was complicated by a shortage of both money and priests. With the dedication of the clergy and the laity that followed him, the diocese was able to grow and establish a successful and vibrant Catholic community. Through images, this book will tell the story of the generations that continued striving to give a voice to this unique Catholic community.

      The images and stories illustrated in this book will cover almost every era and community in the diocese’s history, from the Italian coal miners in the Clarksburg area to opening of St. Michael’s Grammar School in 1930. These hardworking West Virginians contributed to the legacies of their state and nation while they remained committed to their Catholic identity and heritage. These images will depict Catholics involve in their faith, family, community, and work. This book will not only commemorate the 160 years of our diocese but will also honor the men and women who made this diocese possible.

      While the diocese is diverse in many ways, this book will also illustrate what the Catholic community in West Virginia has in common—its values. These values, such as humility and charity forged from humble beginnings, have helped maintain the identity of Catholic West Virginia. Professional researchers and local readers alike will find this book’s rare perspective of history through the lived experiences of the subjects to be refreshing.

      Researchers often come to the West Virginia Catholic Heritage Center’s archives seeking particular materials; they usually make the surprising discovery of the large volume of Catholic presence in West Virginia’s history. For example, the Italian coal miners in Clarksburg are a very interesting study in ethnic, industrial, and regional history. However, many may be unaware that what built the communities of these Italian immigrants and coal miners was their Catholic faith. This book will shed light on that connection and many others, which are still important to the Catholics of West Virginia.

      One

      THE BISHOPS

      Since its inception, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has been under the direction of eight bishops who have overseen the creation and development of the newly created Diocese of Wheeling. From the first bishop, Richard V. Whelan, to Bishop Michael J. Bransfield, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has been lead by men of strong spirit and great integrity. While each of the bishops has come from different backgrounds, they share a common purpose in promoting the continual growth and prosperity of the Catholic community. Whether it was the founding of the diocese or the great mining disaster at Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, these bishops have guided West Virginians through both turmoil and triumph. This chapter highlights who these men are and each of their places in the history of the diocese.

      BISHOP RICHARD V. WHELAN, 1850–1874. Bishop Whelan was the founding father and first Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. As the Bishop of Richmond, Bishop Whelan became convinced that the Diocese of Richmond needed to be divided. Due to the vastness of the diocese, Bishop Whelan believed that the natural barrier formed by the Allegheny Mountains should divide it. So in a papal decree dated July 19, 1850, Pope Pius IX created the Diocese of Wheeling. During his 24 years of service as the Bishop of Wheeling, Bishop Whelan oversaw the building of 42 churches, 9 schools, 1 orphanage, and a hospital. By the time of his death in 1874, the Catholic population had grown to 18,000. (Both, courtesy of Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy Archives.)

      BISHOP JOHN J. KAIN, 1874–1893. As the second Bishop of Wheeling, Bishop Kain worked very hard to eliminate the enormous debt that Bishop Whelan left him. One of the reasons he was able to eliminate the debt was that the Catholic population had only grown 11 percent during his 18-year stay in Wheeling. It had only risen from 18,000 to about 20,000 people, and this lessened the demand for new churches, schools, and other buildings. Another goal

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