Former Bishops
Rt. Rev. Richard Vincent Whelan, D.D. Consecrated March 21, 1841, Bishop of Richmond. Made First Bishop of Wheeling in 1850. Died July 7, 1874.
Rt. Rev. John Joseph Kain, D.D. Consecrated May 23, 1875, for the Diocese of Wheeling. Transferred June 15, 1893, to the Titular Archiepiscopal See of Oxyrynchia. Appointed July 6, 1893, Coadjutor cum jure successionis to the Most Rev. Archbishop of St. Louis. Succeeded as Archbishop of St. Louis May 21, 1895. Died Oct. 13, 1903.
Rt. Rev. Patrick James Donahue, D.D. Consecrated April 8, 1894, for the Diocese of Wheeling. Died Oct. 4, 1922.
Most Rev. John Joseph Swint, D.D., LL.D. Appointed Titular Bishop of Sura and Auxiliary Bishop of Wheeling Feb. 22, 1922. Consecrated May 11, 1922. Appointed Bishop of Wheeling Dec. 11, 1922. Appointed Assistant at the Pontifical Throne June 14, 1929. Promoted to rank of Archbishop “ad personam” March 12, 1954. Died Nov. 23, 1962.
Most Rev. Thomas John McDonnell, D.D., LL.D. 4-6 Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of New York June 21, 1947. Consecrated Sept. 15, 1947. Appointed Coadjutor cum jure successionis to the Diocese of Wheeling March 7, 1951. Died Feb. 25, 1961.
Most Rev. Joseph H. Hodges, D.D. Ordained Dec. 8, 1935. Appointed Titular Bishop of Rusadus and Auxiliary of Richmond Aug. 8, 1952. Ordained to the episcopacy Oct. 15, 1952. Appointed Coadjutor cum jure successionis to the Bishop of Wheeling on May 24, 1961. Succeeded to the See of Wheeling on Nov. 23, 1962. Died Jan. 27, 1985.
Most Rev. James E. Michaels, D.D., S.S.C. Ordained to the priesthood Dec. 21, 1951. Appointed Titular Bishop of Verbe and Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Kwangju, Korea, on Feb. 15, 1966. Ordained to the episcopacy on April 14, 1966. Appointed Auxiliary to the Bishop of Wheeling March 26, 1973. Resigned as Auxiliary Bishop to embrace a life of solitude and prayer on the grounds of a Trappist Monastery Sept. 22, 1987.
Most Rev. Francis B. Schulte, D.D. Ordained to the priesthood May 10, 1952. Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia and Titular Bishop of Afufenia June 27, 1981. Ordained to the episcopacy Aug. 12, 1981. Appointed Sixth Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston June 4, 1985. Installed July 31, 1985. Appointed 12th Archbishop of New Orleans Dec. 13, 1988. Installed Feb. 14, 1989. Retired Jan. 3, 2002.
Most Rev. Bernard W. Schmitt, D.D. Ordained to the priesthood May 28, 1955. Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston and Titular Bishop of Walla Walla May 31, 1988. Ordained to the episcopacy Aug. 1, 1988. Appointed Seventh Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston March 30, 1989. Installed May 17, 1989. Retired Dec. 9, 2004.