By Colleen Rowan

WHEELING—The first five years of Bishop Michael J. Bransfield’s episcopacy have been marked by great achievements for the diocese with his focus on health and Catholic Charities.
Bishop Bransfield celebrated his fifth anniversary of ordination and installation as the eighth bishop of Wheeling-Charleston Feb. 22.

A year and a half after his ordination and installation, Feb. 22, 2005, Bishop Bransfield called for an in-depth focus on health and well-being in West Virginia, promulgating his first pastoral letter, “A Church That Heals,” Oct. 18, 2006. In it, he encouraged the faithful to be responsible stewards of health and challenged communities across the state to heed God’s mission of healing body, mind, heart and spirit.

“Above all, in this pastoral letter,” Bishop Bransfield said following the promulgation of the letter, “I invite you to join me in committing anew to proclaiming the Gospel by curing the sick and working for the health and well-being of one another. This is the way for us to be disciples and to truly be a church that heals.”

Since its inception, parishes, Catholic schools and Catholic organizations across the state have led efforts to raise awareness on health issues through a variety of programs and events, such as a fitness program at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Logan and the annual health fair at St. Vincent de Paul Parish School in Wheeling, among many others.

An additional focus on health care came with the plans for the future Medical Tower 5 at Wheeling Hospital, which is the diocese’s hospital. Tower 5 will be a seven-story, 141,827-square-foot addition that will be larger than the existing hospital and will house expanded services. The tower will be located to the right of the front of the hospital and will feature a new state-of-the-art, 22,000-square-foot emergency room on the first floor and a new pediatrics unit on the second floor. A new intensive care unit and cardiovascular intensive care unit are planned to be on the third level. The new cardiovascular intensive care unit will be almost 10,000 square feet larger than the current unit. Expansion of medical/surgical beds and private patient rooms will be on the fourth floor. The hospital is not adding beds. Rather, it is making it possible for all rooms to be used as single rather than double occupancies. Offices will be on the seventh floor of the tower but plans for the fifth and sixth floors have not been announced. Tower 5 will also feature a helipad on the roof.

“By providing additional services to this region,” Bishop Bransfield said, “Wheeling Hospital will enhance the quality of life for residents and continue as a leader in health care, especially for children and families.”

Ground was to be broken for the project Feb. 25.

Bishop Bransfield has brought a greater focus to Catholic Charities West Virginia (CCWVa) to facilitate a more visible presence in the state than ever before by the organization, beginning with its name change from Catholic Community Services to Catholic Charities West Virginia in 2008.

The organization launched its strategic plan last summer, in which it committed to reorganize, improve services, lead advocacy efforts, enhance visibility in urban areas and increase collaboration with parishes. The bishop dedicated and blessed the new CCWVa building in Wheeling in 2007 and will dedicate and bless new CCWVa offices in Charleston and Martinsburg soon.

CCWVa also held its first “Celebrate the Gift of Caring” dinner in November, which raised funding for the organization. Present for the dinner were volunteers, donors, staff members and religious men and women of the diocese, among others.

Catholic education has also been at the forefront of Bishop Bransfield’s episcopacy. With his support, many schools were able to conduct much-needed renovations to provide an improved learning environment for students. The bishop rededicated and blessed a newly renovated Madonna High School in Weirton Dec. 9. Improvements to the building totaled $4 million. He also dedicated and blessed a newly renovated Central Catholic High School in Wheeling in December 2007. The project included extensive renovations to the school and later included the addition of a new chapel. The project also enabled diocesan offices to be placed on the fourth floor of the school. Throughout the past five years, other schools, such as St. Francis de Sales in Beckley, St. Joseph Grade in Huntington and Ss. James and John in Benwood, also underwent needed renovation work.

Bishop Bransfield also responded to those affected by great tragedies in the state and the country. Almost a year after his ordination, tragedy struck West Virginia as 12 coal miners were killed in the Sago Mine disaster in Upshur County. Bishop Bransfield visited the region and celebrated Mass at St. Elizabeth Parish in Philippi.

To see firsthand the latest advances in coal mine safety and the daily operations of a mine, Bishop Bransfield joined Gov. Joe Manchin and others on a tour of the McElroy Mine near Moundsville in 2007.

Six months after his ordination, he visited displaced survivors of Hurricane Katrina who took refuge at Camp Dawson Army National Guard Post in Kingwood and celebrated Mass for them on the base Sept. 6, 2005.

In recognition of his 25 years of service to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and his service and support to The Catholic University of America in Washington, Bishop Bransfield was presented with the Patronal Medal by both institutions Dec. 8, 2008.

Bishop Bransfield was honored for his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and his more than four years as bishop of Wheeling-Charleston at “An Evening of Marian Music,” which was performed by the national shrine choir at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling Oct. 16.

The 20 members of the choir performed eight pieces written by nationally and internationally known composers, who wrote them specifically as a tribute to Bishop Bransfield.

Last year, Bishop Bransfield was unanimously elected president of the Papal Foundation.

Through Bishop Bransfield’s nomination, Pope Benedict XVI appointed five priests as monsignors—Msgr. Frederick P. Annie, V.G.; Msgr. Kevin M. Quirk, J.C.D., J.V.; Msgr. P. Edward Sadie, V.F.; Msgr. Eugene S. Ostrowski, V.F.; and Msgr. Samuel S. Sacus, V.F.

Also through Bishop Bransfield’s nomination, the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Cross was awarded to Very Rev. Jerome McKenna, CP; Dr. Joanna Roberts; Sister Eileen Catterson, DW, M.D.; Sister Marguerite O’Brien, CSJ; Sister Mary Rebecca Fidler, RSM; Sister Anne Regina O’Leary, CSJ; and Kathleen Hogan Schenk; and James E. Altmeyer Sr. and G. Nicholas Casey Jr. were named knights of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great.