Celebrating 175 Years of Faith, Resilience, and Community
Black Catholic Roots in the Diocese of Wheeling-CharlestonAs the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston continues to celebrate our 175th anniversary and we honor Black Catholic History Month, we look back on a story as enduring as the rugged terrain and this beautiful mountain state. For nearly two centuries, the Catholic Church has found its way into every corner of West Virginia—through narrow coal valleys, across rivers, and into the hearts of believers who built this diocese and their parishes from hope, hard work, and prayer. Among those who helped shape this hopeful Church were West Virginia’s Black Catholics, whose quiet courage and devotion helped the Gospel take root in places where few expected it to grow.
A Mission Parish of Their Own: St. Peter Claver, Huntington
In the late 1930s, a small group of Black Catholics in Huntington attended Mass at St. Joseph Church, often worshipping with deep reverence but not always with full acceptance. Fellow parishioners thought they should have their own church, one they would be “more comfortable.”
Huntington pastor, Msgr. John Newcomb, understood both their pain and their steadfast faith. With his request and Bishop John J. Swint’s blessing, a humble house at 9th Avenue and 15th Street was purchased and became St. Peter Claver Mission—the first Black Catholic parish in West Virginia.
On February 7, 1939, Fr. Leo Landoll celebrated the first Mass. By year’s end, 30 people called St. Peter Claver their home parish.
The upper rooms of the parish house soon transformed into classrooms, where the Pallottine Missionary Sisters taught local children Catholic and non-Catholic until the school closed in 1964.
Saint Peter Claver Mission became a hub of community life. Father Landoll was replaced by Fr. Jerome Wolf, and three years later a new pastor came, Fr. Jerome “Jerry” Hoepf, a beloved carpenter-priest and artist, who left his mark with both his woodwork and his compassion. Later, Father Peter DeMeester guided the parish through the transformative years of Vatican II, forming parish councils, study groups, and societies that empowered lay leadership.
By the 1970s, the parish thrived under Father Patrick McDonough, known for his devotion to the poor and youth. In 1981, Bishop Joseph H. Hodges dedicated the current St. Peter Claver Church. The congregation of 180 parishioners were mostly converts to the faith, and much of the church building was constructed by the dedicated master craftsmen of the parish. It was written, “Each one contributing knew it was a realization of a dream – a new church, and a spacious hall that would remain an ‘open house’ to people of all faiths, young and old, and future generations.
“We look to the past in gratitude for all that God has done for us. We have a vision of the future of many generations finding a sense of peace and joy and salvation with the walls of this church…” – a quote from the St. Peter Claver Dedication Mass booklet from 1981.
Today, St. Peter Claver remains a symbol of steadfast love and inclusion.
Two Additional Parishes to Serve the Faithful
Bishop Swint’s vision extended beyond Huntington. In 1938, St. Augustine’s Parish opened in Bristol, Virginia (then part of the diocese), led by Fr. Urban Landoll, brother of St. Peter Claver’s first pastor. It began with just 32 parishioners. In 1952 it joined with St. Anne’s in Bristol.
A few years later, in 1941, Bishop Swint purchased a former Presbyterian church in Bluefield to serve Black Catholics there. Dedicated as Our Lady of Lourdes, it became a place of shared worship for both Black and White Catholics—decades before integration would become law. Though both parishes closed after desegregation in 1955, they remain important chapters in the diocese’s story of evangelization and unity.
Blessed Martin School: A Legacy of Learning and Love
In Wheeling, another remarkable chapter unfolded when several Black families petitioned Bishop Swint and the Sisters of St. Joseph to open a school for their children. Their pleas—and tears—were not ignored. In September 1942, Blessed Martin School opened in a converted house on 13th and Jacob Streets. At first, attendance was sparse, but by the third day, classrooms filled with eager students and the hopeful plan became a success.
Led by Sister Anne Patricia Whalen and Sister Teresa Fleckenstein, the school quickly expanded into a respected high school. Its curriculum—offering Latin, French, business, and home economics—earned top accreditation from the State Board of Education. Graduates went on to college and respected careers, carrying the school’s values of self-discipline, dignity, and Catholic faith into the world.
Blessed Martin was more than a school—it was a cultural and spiritual hub. The basketball team traveled across the state to play other Black schools or small schools like Cameron; its cheerleaders spread spirit and pride; and the school hosted Wheeling’s first Girl Scout Troop for Black girls.
When desegregation came in 1955, Blessed Martin’s 150 students integrated into public and Catholic schools across the area. Though its doors closed, its spirit remained alive in its students, staff, and families—a testament to faith overcoming barriers.
A Living Legacy
The story of Black Catholics in West Virginia is not one of numbers, but of heart. It is the story of men and women who built parishes when they were told they did not belong, who educated their children when resources were scarce, and who kept faith burning in coal towns and city streets.
Their legacy—rooted in perseverance and hope—helped shape the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.
As we celebrate our 175 years of faith, we honor not just our founding bishops and parishes, but also those unsung heroes—teachers, parents, and parishioners—who carved out spaces of worship, education, and belonging for future generations.
The Church in West Virginia stands today “tested by an unstable economy, lack of employment opportunities, and challenged by vast distances, we are a determined and family-oriented people of God nurtured by a land of remarkable beauty and abundant resources.” Our foundation was and remains one of faith that conquers hardship, love that transcends race, and unity that reflects the very heart of Christ.
