Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston

09/07/2026

09/06/2026

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Fr. Larry Wrenn on August 31, 2026, in Ireland.
Together we pray this Irish blessing:

May his soul find rest,
May his memory be a blessing,
And may love surround all those he leaves behind.

His official obituary:
Pre-deceased by his parents Con and Ellen Wrenn, his brother Fr. John
Wrenn and his sister Breda (Corbett); Fr. Wrenn passed away peacefully,
while in the care of staff at the Community Hospital of the Assumption,
Thurles.
His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly
remembered by his sorrowing family; nephew Larry, niece Helen, niecein-law Elaine, nephew-in-law Joe, grandnephews and grandnieces Faye,
Quinn, Nell, Ada, Kate, Mai, JJ and Lawrence, cousins, extended
relatives, colleagues in the religious community, neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in Pace.
Funeral arrangements were held September 1st, at the
home of his nephew Larry, with his funeral cortège received into the Cathedral of the Assumption, Cathedral Street, Thurles, followed by interment, immediately afterwards in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Moyne Road,
Lognafulla, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
The extended Wrenn family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time.
Note Please: Family flowers only. Donations in lieu, if desired to Unit B, Community Hospital of the
Assumption, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
Ar dheis

09/05/2026

Weekly Mass From The Cathedral of St. Joseph

09/04/2026

Today we celebrate a true gem in our diocesan family — Jenn Hornyak, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, who marks an incredible 25 years of genuine loving servant leadership in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston!
Jenn is a beautiful person inside and out, whose love and pride for West Virginia is matched by her love for the people she serves.
And yet, if you know Jenn, you know she never seeks recognition or the spotlight. She reserves that spotlight for those she works for — our students, staffs, families, and ultimately, Christ and His Church.
Jenn, you are a blessing to so many, and today we happily turn the spotlight your way!
Congratulations on 25 years, Jenn! Thank you for your joyful “yes,” your servant’s heart, and all you do for Catholic education across West Virginia.

“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” — 1 Peter 4:10

09/04/2026

Bishop Evelio is Known, Respected, and Cherished
- Bishop of Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap.

A Welcome Remembered - Part III:
Editor’s note: “A Welcome Remembered” is FaithInWV Q&A series presented to celebrate our shepherd and reinforce the joy when we the faithful of WV mirror Christ’s love for all. With 29 dioceses represented from across the country, including Washington, DC., NYC, Boston, San Diego, Orlando, Palm Beach, and Kalamazoo; and the globe, including El Salvador, Albania, Guatemala, and the Virgin Islands the Installation Mass for Bishop Evelio Menjívar-Ayala was a glimpse of his friendships, vocation, and mission to let others see Christ in you as, he has stated, “we walk this journey together.”

A native of Colorado Springs, Most Rev. Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap. Bishop of the Diocese of Venice, Florida, grew up playing baseball, basketball, football, and soccer. He made his first profession as a Capuchin Franciscan Brother in Pittsburgh in 1988, celebrated his ordination to transitional diaconate in DC in 1993, and entered the priesthood in 1994 at the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington. He served in the Southern Highlands of New Guinea and then in Cuba, before returning to DC in 2019.
Nine days after his own, Bishop Evelio Menjívar-Ayala was able to attend Bishop Agüero’s installation as bishop of Venice.
How do you know Bishop Evelio?
I have known Bishop Evelio Menjívar-Ayala personally for 7 years. Bishop Evelio is well known to our Capuchin brothers and priests from before he entered the seminary and throughout his ministry as a priest from the Archdiocese of Washington.

Bishop Evelio is known, respected and cherished by the Capuchins who ministered with him in Washington DC, and those who worked in West Virginia. He is known for his wholehearted commitment to Christ, the Catholic Church, and the people. He has maintained his characteristic closeness to the people, both as a priest and as a Bishop.

In Washington DC, he always made time for the people. He made time to come to know their cultures, traditions, and customs, and he grew to love them. The people noted this immediately. In Washington DC, the people felt very close to Bishop Evelio, they felt that he was their bishop and that he loved them.

Why was it so important to be present for this moment?

It was important for me to be present at the installation of Bishop Evelio in Wheeling, to pray and support him personally (as well as be) a representative of all those who could not fit into the Cathedral that day.

What was your experience like in West Virginia and particularly your impression of the people of the diocese you encountered?

I was very pleased to be at the Cathedral in Wheeling. The people seemed excited and happy to have been blessed with such a young, enthusiastic, and hardworking Bishop. It seems to mark a new period.

Insight to share with the faithful of WV?

The Diocese of Wheeling Charleston is genuinely fortunate to have received such a young, enthusiastic Bishop. You will come to know a Bishop who is prayerful, sensitive to the needs of the people, and who will work tirelessly to preserve the Catholic faith intact by expressing the Catholic faith with charity and sure hope.

09/04/2026

Be prepared for Sunday's readings and the week ahead by reading FaithInWV.
This week's page 1 reflection:
A Call to Action Anchored in Love: The only thing we can bring to heaven is each other.
Take a moment to think about that.
Imagine you finally get to heaven, and someone comes running up to you to say, “I’m here because you helped me find my way back to Christ. “
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux wrote about this truly unimaginable joy.
“Who knows whether the joy we shall experience in seeing the glory of the great saints, knowing that by a hidden design of Providence we have contributed to it, will not be as intense—and perhaps even sweeter—as their own happiness?”
This Sunday’s readings emphasize our responsibility on earth is to help others turn away from evil and seek the goodness of the Lord.
Jesus calls us to act alone, personally with someone we see choosing evil.
“Go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one,” Christ said.
Keep your sight and heart on the goal of regaining our brother or sister.
We are accountable to God. Do we love him enough to help others reach him? Are we confident in our love that we can talk to each other from a place of love not anger when all faith seems lost?
It is one of the greatest expressions of love.
Hard? Yes!
Necessary? Yes, when it is guided by love.
It’s not about winning an argument or humiliation. It’s about Christ’s love for all, and we are to share His love without destroying the bond of love and respect for one another. Not staged, not forced, but a compassionate dialogue because we care.
Saint Augustine reminds us to, “Rebuke in love… with an earnest care to amend.”
Act out of your love of God, not to feel superior for selfish reasons.
“If from love of yourself you, do it, you do nothing. If from love of Him you, do it, you do excellently,” St. Augustine said.
One of Pope Francis’s homiles on Matthew 18:15-20 painted a realistic picture for us.
“When we see a mistake, a fault, a slip, in that brother or sister, usually the first thing we do is to go and recount it to others, to gossip. And gossip closes the heart to the community, closes off the unity of the Church.
“The great gossiper is the devil, who always goes about saying bad things about others, because he is the liar who seeks to separate the Church to distance brothers and sisters and not create community.
“Let us make an effort: no gossip.”
He goes on to remind us that our attempts of fraternal correction may fail, but don’t give up. Focus diligently in “silence and prayer for the brother or sister who has made a mistake but never gossip.”
Be confident knowing that every act of loving correction, forgiveness, encouragement, and prayer is a way of helping someone take another step toward heaven.
Refusing to gossip is love, preserving the struggling person’s dignity.
Keep praying for them.
May He make our families and communities places where truth is spoken with love, wounds are met with mercy, and no one is abandoned on the journey home to God.

Editor’s note: The print of Jesus embracing the lost sheep is by Alexander Geworkian of Peaceful Print For You based in Germany and available on Etsy.

09/04/2026

FAIRMONT/Marion County area: if you want to work in the central hub of a faith filled environment then check out this opportunity.