William J. Waltersheid
Encyclopedia
William John Waltersheid (born November 18, 1956) is an American Catholic bishop
. He was appointed auxiliary bishop
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
on February 25, 2011, and consecrated a bishop on April 25, 2011.
on November 18, 1956. After his high school graduation, Waltersheid worked in healthcare, graduating from the Pottsville Hospital School of Nursing in 1983. He entered seminary in 1985, graduating from St. John Seminary College in Brighton, Massachusetts. He went on for theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University
, receiving a degree in Theology and a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology in 1991.
Waltersheid was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Harrisburg
on July 11, 1992. He remained in Rome for further studies until 1995, after which he was appointed vicar at a parish in Steelton
. Returning to Rome, he served on the faculty of the Pontifical North American College
until 2003. He served as Diocesan Secretary for Clergy and Consecrated Life in Harrisburg starting in June 2006.
Waltersheid was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh with the titular see
of California on February 25, 2011. On March 11, 2011, the Diocese of Pittsburgh announced that Bishop David Zubik would appoint him Episcopal Vicar for Clergy and Secretary for Clergy. Waltersheid was consecrated on Easter Monday, April 25, 2011, at St. Paul's Cathedral
in Pittsburgh.
His episcopal motto is Ecce Mater Tua (Latin for Behold thy mother, from ).
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. He was appointed auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh is a Roman Catholic diocese. It was established in Western Pennsylvania on August 11, 1843. The diocese includes 211 parishes in the counties of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence, and Washington, an area of with a Catholic population of 719,801...
on February 25, 2011, and consecrated a bishop on April 25, 2011.
Biography
William John Waltersheid was born in Ashland, PennsylvaniaAshland, Pennsylvania
Ashland is a borough in Schuylkill county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, 12 miles northwest of Pottsville. The Borough lies in the anthracite coal region of eastern Pennsylvania. Settled in 1850, Ashland was incorporated in 1857, and was named for Henry Clay's estate near Lexington, Kentucky....
on November 18, 1956. After his high school graduation, Waltersheid worked in healthcare, graduating from the Pottsville Hospital School of Nursing in 1983. He entered seminary in 1985, graduating from St. John Seminary College in Brighton, Massachusetts. He went on for theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
, receiving a degree in Theology and a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology in 1991.
Waltersheid was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Harrisburg
Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg covers 15 counties of South Central Pennsylvania: Adams, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder, Union and York. The seat of the bishop is in St...
on July 11, 1992. He remained in Rome for further studies until 1995, after which he was appointed vicar at a parish in Steelton
Steelton, Pennsylvania
Steelton is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, three miles southeast of Harrisburg. In 1900, 12,086 people lived here; in 1910, 14,246 people lived here; in 1920, 13,248 people lived here; and in 1940, 13,115 people lived here. The population was 5,858 at the 2000 census...
. Returning to Rome, he served on the faculty of the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
until 2003. He served as Diocesan Secretary for Clergy and Consecrated Life in Harrisburg starting in June 2006.
Waltersheid was appointed auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh with the titular see
Titular see
A titular see in various churches is an episcopal see of a former diocese that no longer functions, sometimes called a "dead diocese". The ordinary or hierarch of such a see may be styled a "titular bishop", "titular metropolitan", or "titular archbishop"....
of California on February 25, 2011. On March 11, 2011, the Diocese of Pittsburgh announced that Bishop David Zubik would appoint him Episcopal Vicar for Clergy and Secretary for Clergy. Waltersheid was consecrated on Easter Monday, April 25, 2011, at St. Paul's Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Paul in Pittsburgh
The Cathedral of Saint Paul is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States...
in Pittsburgh.
His episcopal motto is Ecce Mater Tua (Latin for Behold thy mother, from ).