Bernard William Schmitt

He was born August 17, 1928, in Wheeling, the fourth of seven sons of the late Lawrence E. Schmitt and Eulalia R. Schiffer Schmitt. Following his graduation from Corpus Christi School in Wheeling and Central Catholic High School in Wheeling, he began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Md and later attended St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Wheeling at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling on May 28, 1955, by Bishop Thomas J. McDonnell.

His first assignment as a priest was as associate pastor of the cathedral, while also serving as master of ceremonies to Archbishop John J. Swint. In 1963, he was appointed director of vocations, director of the propagation of the faith, and director of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine for the diocese. In 1966, Father Schmitt was appointed rector of St. Joseph Preparatory Seminary in Parkersburg, where he served until being appointed to his first pastorate at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in St. Albans. There, he was actively involved in the education and the formation of the students and families at the parish school. Father Schmitt was then appointed pastor of St. Michael Parish in Wheeling in 1982.

On May 31, 1988, Pope John Paul II appointed him an auxiliary bishop of Wheeling-Charleston and titular Bishop of Walla Walla. He was consecrated on August 1, 1988, and remained pastor of St. Michael Parish in Wheeling. The following year, March 30, 1989, Pope John Paul II chose Schmitt to succeed Bishop Francis Schulte as bishop of Wheeling-Charleston. On May 17, 1989, Bishop Schmitt was installed as the seventh bishop of Wheeling-Charleston.[2] His resignation on having reached the age of 75 was accepted by Pope John Paul II on December 9, 2004.[1]

Bishop Schmitt died August 16, 2011 at Wheeling Hospital, a Catholic hospital owned by the Diocese. He was one day shy of his 83rd birthday. The chief celebrant and homilist at the funeral was his successor, Bishop Michael Bransfield.