Our Cathedral Parish
About the Cathedral Parish
The Cathedral of St. Joseph is the Mother Church of the Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which comprises the entire state of West Virginia. The Cathedral is home to Wheeling’s oldest Catholic community, dating to 1822. It has been the liturgical heart of the Diocese of Wheeling (originally) since the Diocese’s erection by Pope Pius IX in 1850 and is an architectural and artistic treasure in both the city and state.
Our Mission
The Cathedral of Saint Joseph Parish is called to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ as a community. We are committed: to our urban neighborhoods, to being the Cathedral of the Diocese, and to fellowship, formation, sacrament, and prayer.
Our History
The present Cathedral is the second to be located on the site. In 1847, the Cathedral was moved from its former location further south to the corner of Eoff and 13th Street, and the Church was titled to Saint James the Apostle. In 1850, St. James became the Cathedral of the Diocese, with Bishop Richard V. Whelan as the first bishop of Wheeling. Read more about our history.
Our House of Worship
The Cathedral is an architectural and artistic treasure in both the city and state.
The cathedral is a Lombardi Romanesque structure with a modified basilica floor plan that is cruciform in shape. Design inspiration came from several churches in Italy, namely, the church of San Pietro in Toscanella and the Cathedral in Prato, near Florence.
Our Patron Saint
Saint Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus Christ and spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, stands as a model of humility, faith, and obedience to God’s will. Though little is recorded of him in Scripture, his actions reveal a man of deep faith and profound trust in God’s plan. His life of quiet service and devotion to the Holy Family continues to inspire many around the world. Read more about St. Joseph.
