Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Wheeling was the first community mausoleum in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. On Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, the diocese celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the dedication of the chapel that was held on Oct. 3, 5.

According to diocesan Archivist Jon-Erik Gilot, it is recorded the first step toward the realization of the mausoleum was made in a letter from the diocese to Marble & Granite Company, New Orleans, inviting them to send representatives to meet with the advisory committee of Mt. Calvary Cemetery. On the strength of their presentation and letters of recommendation received from several dioceses, in which Acme had erected mausoleums, the contract with Acme was signed in October 1972, and ground broken in March 1974. Plans for the number of crypts expanded from 500 to 1,624.

Gilot further noted, on Oct. 4, 1975, Bishop Joseph H. Hodges presided over the blessing and dedication of Resurrection Chapel Mausoleum.

From the moment the doors opened to the large crowd that gathered at its dedication, the Mausoleum remains a place of beauty and permanence. The polished marble interior and granite exterior present a stately building where visitors step respectfully into a space encouraging prayer and respect in peaceful silence for their loved ones.  The entrance area is framed in Ashlar Spanish Rose Granite, with large white Luna Pearl Granite Cross insets on either side of the entrance. The floor of the Mausoleum is of terrazzo.

In 1977, a breathtaking stained-glass window was added and installed by Hunt Stained Glass of Pittsburgh. The image is of the Risen Savior based on a design by Rev. Msgr. Frederick J. Schwertz, P.A., a longtime chancellor of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.

The mausoleum is located on the edge of the Resurrection Shrine section of the cemetery, and within sight of the Calvary Shrine marking the priests’ plot.

Additional history, it was Bishop Richard Whelan who purchased the 39-acres of land four miles east of Wheeling on National Road in 1872, for the Catholic cemetery. Bishop Whelan personally oversaw the Mount Calvary Cemetery’s layout and design. The Bishop’s Chapel was built in 1879, and a house for the sexton (caretaker for the graveyard, chapel, and any other buildings on the grounds) was added in 1883.

Photos from Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston Archives.

A vintage illustration shows the entrance gate of Mount Calvary Cemetery with people walking nearby and a steam-powered streetcar passing in front of the gates. Trees and a small building are visible in the background.
Architectural illustration of a modern church with angular roofs, stone and glass facade, and two large crosses on the exterior walls; trees and grass surround the building.
A large group of people, including clergy in religious robes and officials in ceremonial attire, gather outside a building for what appears to be a formal ceremony or service. Many are holding papers or programs.
A stained glass window with vibrant yellow, orange, and red geometric patterns radiating outward, featuring a central figure of Jesus on the cross with outstretched arms. Light shines through, creating a glowing effect.
A modern chapel interior with rows of chairs facing an altar, featuring a large geometric stained-glass window with radiating lines and tree branches visible outside. Walls and floor are made of reflective stone.
A black-and-white portrait of an older man wearing glasses and clerical clothing, including a Roman collar, looking directly at the camera with a neutral expression.