History – West Liberty University Campus Ministry
| The West Liberty Academy was established in 1837, before West Virginia was admitted to the Union. In 1870, after West Liberty Academy had been purchased by the State, the Legislature passed an act to establish a Branch Normal School in West Liberty, and the school opened on May 2, 1870. A normal school was an institution intended to prepare mature men and women to teach and supervise teaching in the public schools of every kind and grade. In 1931, the Legislature formally changed the name of the school to the West Liberty State Teachers College, and in 1943, it was renamed West Liberty State College, reflecting its expanding mission beyond teacher education. In 2009, it achieved university status and was renamed, West Liberty University. |
| Throughout its history, the Catholic population of West Liberty University has been served with the guidance of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston (previously, the Diocese of Wheeling). A Newman Club was established on campus, and the Diocese supported students through the Club. |
| In 1963, then College President Dr. Paul L. Elbin desired to establish a Chapel on the University’s campus, which would serve students of all faiths. The Chapel was to be built using solely private funds, instead of State funds, and Dr. Elbin solicited assistance from the Diocese of Wheeling. Bishop Joseph H. Hodges initially pledged $55,000 of Diocesan funds to support the construction of the Chapel, and eventually, the Diocese contributed a total of $60,000. |
| Having pledged Diocesan funds to support its construction, Bishop Hodges was consulted on the construction of the Chapel. Having just participated in the Second Vatican Council and then implementing its reforms in the Diocese, his participation included, among other things, adjusting the location of the altar, so that Mass could be celebrated by the priest facing the congregation, instead of – as had been the tradition – facing towards the tabernacle. Bishop Hodges was also consulted on the design of a confessional within the Chapel, and he, among other religious leaders, discussed with the College the sharing and use of the space by multiple denominations. Dr. Elbin shared with those leaders his desire that “every denomination represented among our students [have] equal opportunity to follow their students through their college years.” |
| Bishop Hodges celebrated the first Mass in the new Chapel on December __ 1967. His homily from that Mass is available here (link). Bishop Hodges also participated in a Baccalaureate Service in the new Chapel on May __ 1968. His reflection during that service is available here (link). |
| In 1975, the Diocese was able to purchase approximately three acres of land and a home, adjacent to West Liberty University’s campus. The property was conveyed to the Diocese on October 17, 1975. The home on that property was renovated and is now known as the St. Thomas Aquinas Center. It features living and dining room space, as well as recreational space. During the renovations, a portion of the home was reconstructed into a Chapel, where Mass is now celebrated. |
Records of the assignment of priests to the West Liberty University campus ministry date back to 1964. The following priests have been assigned as campus ministers at West Liberty University by the Diocese (dates are approximate):
- Rev. Kenan Ryan, S.T. (1964 – 1981)
- Rev. Henry St. Clair Lavin, S.J. (1981 – 1983)
- Rev. Lewis A. Gaetano (1983 – 1984)
- Rev. Ronald Maupin (1984 – 1987)
- Rev. Patrick A. Condron (1988 – 1992)
- Rev. Michael S. McCormick (1992 – 1995)
- Rev. Anthony Thurston (1995 – 1996)
- Rev. Richard W. Shoda (1996 – 1998)
- Rev. Kevin M. Quirk (1998 – 2005)
- Rev. Walter M. Jagela (2005 – 2008)
- Rev. Peter A. Giannamore (2010 – 2012) (Co-Chaplain)
- Rev. James R. DeViese (2011 – 2012) (Co-Chaplain)
- Rev. Msgr. Paul A. Hudock (2012 – 2014) (Co-Chaplain)
- Rev. Douglas A. Ondeck (2014 – 2016)
- Rev. Thomas R. Gallagher (2016 – 2017)
- Rev. Cody C. Ford (2017 – 2018)
- Rev. Asantha Jude Perera, T.O.R. (2019 – 2024)
- Rev. Gerald Muoka (2024 – Present)
Shirley Carter was appointed the first lay Catholic Minister on campus at West Liberty University in ____. After she was promoted to Director of Faith Formation for the Diocese in 2025, Deacon Jacob Manning was appointed Campus Minister.
