While the music at his installation Mass on July 2, 2026 ranged from soaring hymns to the patriotic \u201cAmerica the Beautiful,\u201d along with a stirring spiritual and songs in Spanish and Latin, Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, highlighted \u201cTake Me Home, Country Roads\u201d as a song that reflected his life\u2019s journey as a migrant to his new home in West Virginia.<\/p>\n
Speaking in his homily at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling moments after being handed the crozier, the shepherd\u2019s staff, as the new bishop serving all of the Catholics in West Virginia, Bishop Menjivar joked that his homily wouldn\u2019t be a theological dissertation on John Denver\u2019s classic song, but he said its lyrics reflect the yearning of every human heart.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese words express something deeply present in every human heart \u2013 the longing to be at home, the longing to belong,\u201d said Bishop Menjivar, who immigrated to the United States in 1990, escaping the civil war in his native El Salvador. In 2004, he was ordained as a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, and when he was ordained as an auxiliary bishop there in 2023, he became the first Salvadoran bishop to serve in the United States.<\/p>\n
On May 1, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Menjivar to lead the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, and on July 2 he was installed as the 10th<\/sup> bishop of that diocese.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t During his installation as the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, on July 2, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling, Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala (at center) is handed the crozier, the shepherd\u2019s staff, by Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori (at right), as Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia (at left), the apostolic nuncio to the United States, applauds West Virginia\u2019s new bishop. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)<\/p>\n West Virginia\u2019s new Catholic bishop said that the words in \u201cCountry Roads\u201d are woven into the American experience and that state\u2019s history. He pointed out how earlier generations of immigrants there left their homelands \u201cin search of a place to call home, and they settled in these mountains and hollers, building communities and vibrant towns in Appalachia, creating a rich and unique culture marked by deep faith, hard work, unwavering perseverance, and neighborly care and support.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Noting the first words of the song \u201cCountry Roads\u201d \u2013\u201cAlmost heaven, West Virginia\u201d \u2013Bishop Menjivar said, \u201cToday, West Virginia truly feels like almost heaven, as the Church gathers in communion with Christ and with one another.\u201d<\/p>\n Then in a reference to the heat wave blanketing much of the United State that week, he joked that \u201cOf course, outside it feels more like Purgatory.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala gives the homily during his installation as the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, on July 2, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)<\/p>\n On a serious note, he reflected on his journey as an immigrant.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cMore than 35 years ago, the Lord brought me from a distant life in El Salvador, the land of St. Oscar Romero, to this country. I could never have imagined then the path He was preparing for me,\u201d the bishop said.<\/p>\n As an immigrant, Bishop Menjivar worked as a receptionist, in construction, janitorial work, painting and youth ministry before entering the seminary.<\/p>\n \u201cOn this journey, the risen Lord has walked with me,\u201d the bishop said, adding, \u201cWe never make a journey alone.\u201d<\/p>\n And he said that along the way, he learned, \u201cIn ministry and in the Church, everything begins with love.\u201d<\/p>\n Bishop Menjivar said that as the nation marks its 250th<\/sup> anniversary, \u201cMy prayer is we walk together in ministry, not merely along country roads, but along the way of the Gospel, (that) we may continue making this local church, this diocese in West Virginia, a place where everyone feels at home, where every person knows that they belong and are loved.\u201d<\/p>\n The installation Mass began with an ancient ritual, with Bishop Menjivar knocking three times on the door of the majestic cathedral. The bishop then walked to the altar, following a procession of more than two dozen deacons, more than 160 priests, about 30 bishops and two cardinals, as the Diocesan Festival Choir of Wheeling-Charleston led the singing of the hymns, \u201cPraise My Soul, the King of Heaven\u201d and \u201cWith All the Saints.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t Before his installation as the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, on July 2, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling, Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala knocks at the door of the cathedral, an ancient ritual based on a passage from Revelation 3:20: \u201cBehold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door (then) I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me.\u201d (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)<\/p>\n The principal celebrant at the beginning of the Mass, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori \u2013 the metropolitan archbishop of the Province of Baltimore that includes the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston \u2013 praised that diocese\u2019s bishop emeritus, Bishop Mark Brennan, for restoring trust and giving that church a hope-filled future. Archbishop Lori praised Bishop Menjivar as \u201ca shepherd with a big heart.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n On May 1, Pope Leo had accepted the resignation of Bishop Brennan from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which the 79-year-old bishop had led since 2019. <\/p>\n Then-Father Brennan was the director of priestly vocations for the Archdiocese of Washington when Evelio Menjivar, a Salvadoran immigrant who had been working in construction, sought to become a seminarian. They both served as priests of the Archdiocese of Washington after Father Menjivar was ordained to the priesthood in 2004. Bishop Brennan was ordained as an auxiliary bishop of Baltimore in 2017 and then was appointed to lead the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston two years later.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala elevates the Eucharist during his installation as the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, on July 2, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling. Standing behind him, the concelebrants at the Mass included, from left to right, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori; Bishop Mark E. Brennan, the bishop emeritus of Wheeling-Charleston; and Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia, the apostolic nuncio to the United States. In the photo below, Bishop Menjivar serves as the principal celebrant at his installation Mass at the cathedral, which was completed and dedicated 100 years ago, in 1926. (Catholic Standard photos by Mihoko Owada)<\/p>\n At his installation, Bishop Menjivar offered special thanks to his predecessor there, Bishop Brennan, saying, \u201cYou have been an important part of my vocation story from the very beginning, and I am deeply grateful for your kindness and encouragement to respond whenever the Lord calls.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Before he read the apostolic mandate from Pope Leo XIV appointing Bishop Menjivar to lead the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the new apostolic nuncio to the United States, expressed gratitude to Bishop Brennan for his service there and noted, \u201cMany years ago, you helped a young man from El Salvador become a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Washington. Today you welcome him to succeed you as the bishop of this local Church.\u201d<\/p>\n Noting Bishop Menjivar\u2019s service as a parish priest and then as a bishop for the Archdiocese of Washington, Archbishop Caccia said, \u201cYou served in parishes, in archdiocesan leadership, and in pastoral care for communities of many languages and cultures\u2026 Today the Lord entrusts to you these people of West Virginia\u2026 to walk with them, to love and serve them. You will be a bishop for all the people.\u201d<\/p>\n After the nuncio handed the apostolic mandate to Bishop Menjivar, Wheeling-Charleston\u2019s new bishop held the document up for the people in the cathedral to see. Then he sat in the cathedra, the bishop\u2019s official seat, and Archbishop Lori handed him the crozier, the shepherd\u2019s staff, as the congregation applauded the diocese\u2019s new bishop.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t During Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala\u2019s installation as the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, on July 2, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling, Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia (at right), the apostolic nuncio to the United States, reads the apostolic mandate issued by Pope Leo XIV appointing Bishop Menjivar to lead that diocese. In the photo below, after being handed the apostolic mandate signifying that he accepts the bishop\u2019s office for the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, Bishop Menjivar shows the document to the people gathered at the cathedral. (Catholic Standard photos by Mihoko Owada)<\/p>\n Bishop Menjivar then greeted people representing his collaborators in ministry and ecumenical leaders in attendance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t After being installed as the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, on July 2, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling, Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala greets some of the people who will be his collaborators in ministry. He also greeted ecumenical representatives. (Catholic Standard photos by Mihoko Owada)<\/p>\n The concelebrants at the installation Mass included three cardinals \u2013 Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, the archbishop of Washington; Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory, an archbishop emeritus of Washington; and Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Ch\u00e1vez, the auxiliary bishop emeritus of San Salvador, El Salvador; who was a close collaborator of St. \u00d3scar Romero.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t More than 30 bishops, along with three cardinals, participated in the installation of Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala as the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, on July 2, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling. From left to right are: Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia, the apostolic nuncio to the United States; Bishop Mark E. Brennan, the bishop emeritus of Wheeling-Charleston; Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori; Bishop Menjivar; Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Ch\u00e1vez, the retired auxiliary bishop of San Salvador, El Salvador; and Washington Cardinal Robert W. McElroy. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)<\/p>\n Other concelebrants from the Archdiocese of Washington included Washington Auxiliary Bishop Juan Esposito; Bishop Roy E. Campbell Jr., a retired auxiliary bishop of Washington; and Bishop-elect Gary R. Studniewski and Bishop-elect Robert P. Boxie III, who will be ordained as new auxiliary bishops of Washington on July 7.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n During his homily, Bishop Menjivar said he was honored to carry the crozier of Bishop Patrick J. Donahue, an immigrant from England who served as the third bishop of Wheeling from 1894 to 1922. He noted that Bishop Donahue was a \u201ctireless champion of working men and women, immigrants and the poor. He spoke out against antisemitism and fought for just and humane working conditions at a time when many laborers faced exploitation and neglect.\u201d<\/p>\n Bishop Menjivar said that work for justice rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ was championed by Bishop Donahue and continued by his successors, including Bishop Brennan.<\/p>\n Addressing the people of his new diocese, the bishop said, \u201cI come before you as your brother and shepherd, not with all the answers, but with a sincere desire to love you and to serve you the best I can.\u201d<\/p>\n West Virginia\u2019s new bishop said that the mission to make the Church a place where everyone feels at home should include listening to young people \u201cwho often search for meaning, hope and belonging in a rapidly changing world.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t A woman prays during the installation of Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala as the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, on July 2, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)<\/p>\n That mission, he said, includes honoring and accompanying the elderly, \u201cwhose wisdom, faith and sacrifices have laid the foundation on which we stand today.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n And Bishop Menjivar said that mission also includes supporting families who are struggling with addiction and mental health challenges; standing in solidarity with workers and immigrants; listening with compassion to abuse survivors; and helping parents trying to pass the faith on to their children.<\/p>\n Also in his homily, the bishop emphasized that \u201cfreedom comes from no longer living for ourselves but for the Lord,\u201d and he stressed the importance of \u201calways having Christ and the Gospel at the center of everything.\u201d<\/p>\n Noting the call of all Catholics to be missionary disciples, bringing Christ to today\u2019s world, Bishop Menjivar said, \u201cWe must walk together\u2026 Today I say sincerely, I need you all.\u201d<\/p>\n Concluding his homily, the bishop urged his new flock to build bridges with civic leaders, with other faith communities and with all people of goodwill.<\/p>\n \u201cLet us be a Church that resembles the heart of Jesus, that goes forth in mission with humility but without fear, knowing the Lord walks with us,\u201d Bishop Menjivar said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala gives Communion to a woman religious during his installation as the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, on July 2, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)<\/p>\n Prayers at the Mass were offered in English; Spanish; Polish; Shona, a Bantu language from Africa; and Tagalog, a language from the Philippines.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n At the end of the installation Mass, after offering thanks to his family and to the participating bishops, priests, religious and laity at the cathedral, Bishop Menjivar said that as the United States marks its 250th<\/sup> anniversary, \u201cit is fitting to give thanks to almighty God for the many blessings bestowed on this land and on this nation.\u201d<\/p>\n The congregation sang one verse of \u201cAmerica the Beautiful.\u201d Moments later as the choir led the singing of \u201cNow Thank We All Our God,\u201d and the song \u201cSomos El Cuerpo de Cristo<\/em>\u201d (\u201cWe Are the Body of Christ\u201d), the deacons, priests, bishops and cardinals processed down the main aisle, followed by Bishop Menjivar, who smiled as he offered a blessing to the people in his new diocese.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala blessing the congregation as he processes down the main aisle following his installation as the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, on July 2, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)<\/p>\n Following his installation as the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, on July 2, 2026 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling, Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala blesses people from the cathedral\u2019s outdoor pulpit, as people wave to him and take photos of him with their cellphones. (Catholic Standard photos by Mihoko Owada)<\/p>\n At a reception afterward for Bishop Menjivar at Wheeling\u2019s White Palace, some music reflected his original home, including a song in Spanish honoring St. Oscar Romero; and other music reflected his new home, as a bluegrass band played traditional music from the Appalachian region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t At a reception at Wheeling Park\u2019s White Palace following Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala\u2019s installation as the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, on July 2, 2026, youth from St. James the Greater Parish in Charles Town perform a traditional Salvadoran dance for him. Bishop Menjivar, who immigrated to the United States from El Salvador in 1990, became the first Salvadoran bishop to serve in the U.S. when he was ordained as an auxiliary bishop of Washington in 2023. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)<\/p>\n Camila Jones, a grandniece of Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, dances along with youth from St. James the Greater Parish in Charles Town as they perform a traditional Salvadoran dance during a reception for the bishop on July 2 at Wheeling Park\u2019s White Palace following his installation earlier that day. In the photo below, Camila, who is 2 years old, dances as a bluegrass band performs at the reception. (Catholic Standard photos by Mihoko Owada)<\/p>\n The guests at the reception included TamI Alexander, a pastoral associate for liturgy and music at St. Mary\u2019s Parish in Morgantown, West Virginia, who wrote the music for the responsorial psalm sung in English and Spanish at the installation Mass, \u201cPsalm 96: Proclaim His Marvelous Deeds.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Alexander said she was inspired to compose the music for the song after hearing Bishop Menjivar speak on May 1 when he was appointed as the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston.<\/p>\n \u201cI just felt great hope the moment he was introduced. I prayed, \u2018God, give me a song.\u2019\u2026 I sat at the piano, and it just came out,\u201d she said, adding that, \u201cI feel like he\u2019s going to bring us together.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n\t\t\tSuggested reading\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.cathstan.org \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While the music at his installation Mass on July 2, 2026 ranged from soaring hymns to the patriotic \u201cAmerica the Beautiful,\u201d along with a stirring spiritual and songs in Spanish and Latin, Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, highlighted \u201cTake Me Home, Country Roads\u201d as a song that reflected his life\u2019s journey as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2492541,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25179],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2492540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/At-his-installation-Mass-in-West-Virginia-Bishop-Menjivar-says.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2492540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2492540"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2492540\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2492542,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2492540\/revisions\/2492542"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2492541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2492540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2492540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2492540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t![\"Bishop](\"https:\/\/cathstan-1f209.kxcdn.com\/2026\/04\/handing-shepherds-staff_installation-mass-bishop-evelio-menjivar-ayala36.jpg?width=2400&height=1800&fit=contain&crop=smart\")
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t
\n<\/a><\/p>\n Copy Permalink<\/h6>\n
Print<\/a><\/h6>\n