The Seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Monsignor Bernard W. Schmitt was born on August 17, 1928, in Wheeling, the fourth of seven sons of Lawrence E. Schmitt and Eulalia R. Schiffer.
Following his graduation from Corpus Christi School in Wheeling and Central Catholic High School in Wheeling, the young Bernard began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland. He later attended St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. Later in life, he pursued a post-graduate degree in guidance and counseling at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
He was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling on May 28, 1955, by Bishop Thomas J. McDonnell. His first assignment was as associate pastor of the Cathedral, while also serving as master of ceremonies to Archbishop John J. Swint. In 1963, he was appointed director of vocations, director of the Propagation of the Faith and director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD), for the Diocese.
In 1966, Father Schmitt was appointed rector of St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary in Parkersburg, where he served until being appointed to his first pastorate at St. Francis of Assisi parish in St. Albans. There, he was actively involved in the education and the formation of the students and families of St. Francis of Assisi Parish School. Father Schmitt was then appointed pastor of St. Michael's parish in Wheeling in 1982. He continued his active involvement in Catholic school education at the elementary and secondary levels.
On May 31, 1988, Pope John Paul II appointed Schmitt as Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Walla Walla on the following August 1, from Archbishop Francis Bible Schulte, assisted by Archbishop William Donald Borders and Bishop Donald William Wuerl.
Schmitt remained pastor of St. Michael's in Wheeling. The following year, on March 30, 1989, Pope John Paul II chose Bishop Schmitt to succeed Bishop Francis B. Schulte as Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia. On May 17, 1989, Bishop Schmitt was installed as the Seventh Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston. During his episcopate, Bishop Schmitt was appointed to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry, the Committee on Marriage and Family and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Committee.
On August 17, 2003, his 75th birthday, Bishop Schmitt submitted his resignation as Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston in accordance with the canon law. Pope John Paul II accepted his resignation on December 9, 2004. Bishop Schmitt was then elected as the diocesan administrator by the college of consultors until Monsignor Michael J. Bransfield was appointed as the Eighth Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston. Schmitt continued to serve the Diocese in his retirement, celebrating confirmations, giving retreats and working with the Serra Club.
Elected to the Wheeling Hall of Fame in 2011, Bishop Schmitt passed away at the Wheeling Hospital early Tuesday, August 16, 2011, one day shy of his 83rd birthday. His body was laid out in state in the Upper Sanctuary of the Cathedral from 1 pm., Saturday to 10 am., Monday. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Joseph at 10.30 am., on Monday, August 22, with Bishop Bransfield as celebrant and homilist. Entombment followed at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Wheeling.
Following his graduation from Corpus Christi School in Wheeling and Central Catholic High School in Wheeling, the young Bernard began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland. He later attended St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. Later in life, he pursued a post-graduate degree in guidance and counseling at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
He was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling on May 28, 1955, by Bishop Thomas J. McDonnell. His first assignment was as associate pastor of the Cathedral, while also serving as master of ceremonies to Archbishop John J. Swint. In 1963, he was appointed director of vocations, director of the Propagation of the Faith and director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD), for the Diocese.
In 1966, Father Schmitt was appointed rector of St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary in Parkersburg, where he served until being appointed to his first pastorate at St. Francis of Assisi parish in St. Albans. There, he was actively involved in the education and the formation of the students and families of St. Francis of Assisi Parish School. Father Schmitt was then appointed pastor of St. Michael's parish in Wheeling in 1982. He continued his active involvement in Catholic school education at the elementary and secondary levels.
On May 31, 1988, Pope John Paul II appointed Schmitt as Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Walla Walla on the following August 1, from Archbishop Francis Bible Schulte, assisted by Archbishop William Donald Borders and Bishop Donald William Wuerl.
Schmitt remained pastor of St. Michael's in Wheeling. The following year, on March 30, 1989, Pope John Paul II chose Bishop Schmitt to succeed Bishop Francis B. Schulte as Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia. On May 17, 1989, Bishop Schmitt was installed as the Seventh Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston. During his episcopate, Bishop Schmitt was appointed to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry, the Committee on Marriage and Family and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Committee.
On August 17, 2003, his 75th birthday, Bishop Schmitt submitted his resignation as Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston in accordance with the canon law. Pope John Paul II accepted his resignation on December 9, 2004. Bishop Schmitt was then elected as the diocesan administrator by the college of consultors until Monsignor Michael J. Bransfield was appointed as the Eighth Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston. Schmitt continued to serve the Diocese in his retirement, celebrating confirmations, giving retreats and working with the Serra Club.
Elected to the Wheeling Hall of Fame in 2011, Bishop Schmitt passed away at the Wheeling Hospital early Tuesday, August 16, 2011, one day shy of his 83rd birthday. His body was laid out in state in the Upper Sanctuary of the Cathedral from 1 pm., Saturday to 10 am., Monday. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Joseph at 10.30 am., on Monday, August 22, with Bishop Bransfield as celebrant and homilist. Entombment followed at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Wheeling.
The Seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Monsignor Bernard W. Schmitt was born on August 17, 1928, in Wheeling, the fourth of seven sons of Lawrence E. Schmitt and Eulalia R. Schiffer.
Following his graduation from Corpus Christi School in Wheeling and Central Catholic High School in Wheeling, the young Bernard began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland. He later attended St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. Later in life, he pursued a post-graduate degree in guidance and counseling at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
He was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling on May 28, 1955, by Bishop Thomas J. McDonnell. His first assignment was as associate pastor of the Cathedral, while also serving as master of ceremonies to Archbishop John J. Swint. In 1963, he was appointed director of vocations, director of the Propagation of the Faith and director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD), for the Diocese.
In 1966, Father Schmitt was appointed rector of St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary in Parkersburg, where he served until being appointed to his first pastorate at St. Francis of Assisi parish in St. Albans. There, he was actively involved in the education and the formation of the students and families of St. Francis of Assisi Parish School. Father Schmitt was then appointed pastor of St. Michael's parish in Wheeling in 1982. He continued his active involvement in Catholic school education at the elementary and secondary levels.
On May 31, 1988, Pope John Paul II appointed Schmitt as Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Walla Walla on the following August 1, from Archbishop Francis Bible Schulte, assisted by Archbishop William Donald Borders and Bishop Donald William Wuerl.
Schmitt remained pastor of St. Michael's in Wheeling. The following year, on March 30, 1989, Pope John Paul II chose Bishop Schmitt to succeed Bishop Francis B. Schulte as Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia. On May 17, 1989, Bishop Schmitt was installed as the Seventh Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston. During his episcopate, Bishop Schmitt was appointed to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry, the Committee on Marriage and Family and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Committee.
On August 17, 2003, his 75th birthday, Bishop Schmitt submitted his resignation as Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston in accordance with the canon law. Pope John Paul II accepted his resignation on December 9, 2004. Bishop Schmitt was then elected as the diocesan administrator by the college of consultors until Monsignor Michael J. Bransfield was appointed as the Eighth Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston. Schmitt continued to serve the Diocese in his retirement, celebrating confirmations, giving retreats and working with the Serra Club.
Elected to the Wheeling Hall of Fame in 2011, Bishop Schmitt passed away at the Wheeling Hospital early Tuesday, August 16, 2011, one day shy of his 83rd birthday. His body was laid out in state in the Upper Sanctuary of the Cathedral from 1 pm., Saturday to 10 am., Monday. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Joseph at 10.30 am., on Monday, August 22, with Bishop Bransfield as celebrant and homilist. Entombment followed at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Wheeling.
Following his graduation from Corpus Christi School in Wheeling and Central Catholic High School in Wheeling, the young Bernard began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland. He later attended St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. Later in life, he pursued a post-graduate degree in guidance and counseling at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.
He was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling on May 28, 1955, by Bishop Thomas J. McDonnell. His first assignment was as associate pastor of the Cathedral, while also serving as master of ceremonies to Archbishop John J. Swint. In 1963, he was appointed director of vocations, director of the Propagation of the Faith and director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD), for the Diocese.
In 1966, Father Schmitt was appointed rector of St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary in Parkersburg, where he served until being appointed to his first pastorate at St. Francis of Assisi parish in St. Albans. There, he was actively involved in the education and the formation of the students and families of St. Francis of Assisi Parish School. Father Schmitt was then appointed pastor of St. Michael's parish in Wheeling in 1982. He continued his active involvement in Catholic school education at the elementary and secondary levels.
On May 31, 1988, Pope John Paul II appointed Schmitt as Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Walla Walla on the following August 1, from Archbishop Francis Bible Schulte, assisted by Archbishop William Donald Borders and Bishop Donald William Wuerl.
Schmitt remained pastor of St. Michael's in Wheeling. The following year, on March 30, 1989, Pope John Paul II chose Bishop Schmitt to succeed Bishop Francis B. Schulte as Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia. On May 17, 1989, Bishop Schmitt was installed as the Seventh Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston. During his episcopate, Bishop Schmitt was appointed to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry, the Committee on Marriage and Family and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Committee.
On August 17, 2003, his 75th birthday, Bishop Schmitt submitted his resignation as Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston in accordance with the canon law. Pope John Paul II accepted his resignation on December 9, 2004. Bishop Schmitt was then elected as the diocesan administrator by the college of consultors until Monsignor Michael J. Bransfield was appointed as the Eighth Bishop of Wheeling-Charleston. Schmitt continued to serve the Diocese in his retirement, celebrating confirmations, giving retreats and working with the Serra Club.
Elected to the Wheeling Hall of Fame in 2011, Bishop Schmitt passed away at the Wheeling Hospital early Tuesday, August 16, 2011, one day shy of his 83rd birthday. His body was laid out in state in the Upper Sanctuary of the Cathedral from 1 pm., Saturday to 10 am., Monday. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Joseph at 10.30 am., on Monday, August 22, with Bishop Bransfield as celebrant and homilist. Entombment followed at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Wheeling.
Inscription
MOST REVEREND
BERNARD W. SCHMITT
SEVENTH BISHOP OF
WHEELING-CHARLESTON
ORDAINED
AUXILIARY BISHOP
A.D. 1988
INSTALLED
BISHOP OF
WHEELING-CHARLESTON
A.D. 1989
RETIRED 2004
BORN 17, AUGUST 1928
DIED 16, AUGUST 2011
R. I. P.
"COME HOLY SPIRIT"
