The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has appointed an episcopal delegate for matters concerning the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass and has expanded the Latin Mass’s availability within the diocese, the bishop announced on Friday, August 28.

“In an effort to foster greater unity among the Catholic faithful and provide for their various spiritual needs, Most Rev Evelio Menjívar, Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, announced that Very Rev Timothy J. Grassi, V.F., pastor of St James Parish in Charles Town, has been appointed Episcopal Delegate for Matters Concerning the Usus Antiquior in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, effective August 24, 2026,” said Bishop Evelio Menjívar in a message to his diocese.

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston covers the entirety of the state of West Virginia.

“Usus Antiquitor,” said Bishop Menjívar, “refers to the celebration of the Eucharist according to the Missale Romanum promulgated by Saint John XXIII in 1962, otherwise known as the Tridentine Mass or Traditional Latin Mass.”

The bishop said he would be in attendance at a Solemn High Mass at the Priory of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Charles Town on Sunday.

The Priory of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is home to the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem, a group of Augustinian canons. It has a regular celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass.

The naming of the new episcopal delegate and expansion of the Latin Mass 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,” he said.

As the episcopal delegate, Very Rev Grassi “will ensure such celebrations are lawfully permitted according to the universal law of the Church and the dispositions of the Apostolic See,” said Bishop Menjívar, and will “assist the bishop in the coordinated implementation throughout the Diocese of the applicable provisions of universal and particular law concerning the Usus Antiquior.”

Additionally, Very Rev Grassi will “assist in coordinating authorised 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”.

Three other priests were appointed as delegates for different regions of the diocese.

In the Wheeling area of West Virginia, the Latin Mass will now be celebrated at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Mission each Sunday beginning September 20, said Bishop Menjívar. Previously, the Latin Mass was celebrated at that location on the third Sunday of each month.

The existing Latin Masses at St John University Parish in Morgantown will continue each week on Saturdays at 9am and Sunday at 1pm, said the bishop.

And in Charleston, the third region of the diocese, the Latin Mass will be celebrated at a location “to be determined”.

‍