West Virginia bishop appoints episcopal delegate for Traditional Latin Mass to meet spiritual needs of flock
Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Menjívar to serve as the spiritual shepherd to West Virginia Catholics in May.
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The bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, announced Aug. 28 that he has appointed a local priest to serve as episcopal delegate for matters concerning the celebration of the Latin Mass, a role that includes ensuring the celebrations “are lawfully permitted according to the universal law of the Church and the dispositions of the Holy See.”
Bishop Evelio Menjívar appointed the Very Rev. Timothy Grassi, V.F., pastor of St. James the Greater Catholic Church in Charles Town, as the delegate, effective Aug. 24, “in an effort to foster greater unity among the Catholic faithful and provide for their various spiritual needs,” the announcement said.
As Episcopal Delegate, Rev. Grassi “will assist the bishop in the coordinated implementation throughout the Diocese of the applicable provisions of universal and particular law concerning the Usus Antiquior,” which refers to the TLM, according to the diocesan announcement. “Very Rev. Grassi will also assist in coordinating authorized celebrations, locations, calendars, and pastoral provisions; to maintain appropriate communication with the local Episcopal Delegates and other priests appointed for the pastoral care of the faithful.”
Bishop Menjívar appointed three other local episcopal delegates and several locations the TLM is authorized at in these regions. He announced that celebration of the TLM is authorized at Our Lady of Seven Colors Mission in Triadelphia on Sundays at 1:30p.m. starting Sept. 20.
He also designated St. John University Parish, which was founded to serve the community of West Virginia University, in Morgantown, as the location for the local faithful to gather for the TLM. Celebration of the TLM is authorized there on Saturdays at 9 a.m. and on Sundays at 1 p.m.
The location for the celebration of the TLM in Charlestown is yet to be determined, the diocese noted.
The statement concluded, “This is an effort on the part of Bishop Evelio to ensure that the spiritual needs of every portion of his flock are attended to by priests of our diocese.”
Bishop Menjívar previously served as auxiliary bishop of Washington, taking on that role in February 2023, when he became the first U.S. bishop from El Salvador, as Zeale News previously reported. Pope Leo appointed him bishop of West Virginia’s only diocese in May.
