‘Sunday Sit-Down’ With The Most Rev. Mark Brennan, Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston

WHEELING (WV)
The Intelligencer – Wheeling News Register

September 1, 2019

Editor’s note: The Most Rev. Mark Brennan, ninth bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, has been busy visiting with schools, parishes and everyday people in Wheeling since his installation late last month –a marked change from his predecessor. Brennan comes in at a pivotal time for the diocese, as the actions and spending by the former bishop, Michael Bransfield, remain an open wound. Brennan has been tasked with healing that wound, and he discusses that and more as he joins us in the Sunday Sit-Down.

Q. What are your initial thoughts on the state of Catholicism in West Virginia?

BRENNAN: I really have to get to know the people and places. … My initial impressions are that there are a lot of really good people who have suffered and yet have kept their faith, have kept doing the things I mentioned in my homily on Thursday, that parents kept training their children in the faith, in good Christian living, teachers have kept showing up each day in the Catholic schools, religious education programs have continued in the parishes, Catholic Charities workers are helping people afflicted with opioids or whatever else they needed. The perseverance in their faith — I think recognizing that the turbulence above doesn’t mean that the base of their faith is cracking open.

Upset about what went on, what was revealed, that’s understandable. I feel the same way. But my initial impression is good people who hopefully can work with me to go forward and offer the kind of witness to Christ that we’re supposed to be offering here in this state.

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