About All Saints · Bridgeport, West Virginia
All Saints Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston located at 317 East Main Street in Bridgeport, West Virginia. Founded in 1946 as a mission of St. Francis Borgia parish, it has grown into one of the larger parishes in north-central West Virginia, today serving more than 800 families. The parish is known for its outreach (including the ecumenical Shepherd's Corner food and clothing pantry), a strong faith formation program from preschool through Confirmation, and a moveable livestreamed Sunday Mass that continued through the COVID-19 pandemic. Its mission statement describes it as "a worshiping community of faith, enlivened by the Holy Spirit, called to serve all people by proclaiming God's love in word and deed as Jesus taught us in the Gospel."
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- All Saints
- Rector
- Rev. Walt Jagela
- Diocese
- Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston
Why belong here
All Saints offers a full Catholic life in north-central West Virginia: weekend and weekday Mass with a livestream option, an active RCIA program for adults seeking the faith, Faith Formation for children preschool through 8th grade, and a two-year Confirmation preparation for older students. The parish is unusually generous in its lay ministry, with more than two dozen opportunities ranging from choir, lectors, and Eucharistic Ministers to landscape care, altar linens, and the Rhema Prayer Group, plus a long-standing ecumenical outreach through Shepherd's Corner, the food and clothing pantry housed in the former convent. With more than 800 families, it combines the warmth of a multi-generational community with the energy of regular parish activities like the All Saints Day celebration, the Parish Picnic, the Women's Club, and a singles group.
Mass times at All Saints
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- After the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Tuesday or Thursday
- By appointment
About All Saints Catholic Church
All Saints Catholic Church is a parish of the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston serving Bridgeport, West Virginia, and surrounding communities in Harrison, Taylor, and Barbour counties. Its mission is to be a worshiping community of faith, enlivened by the Holy Spirit, called to serve all people by proclaiming God's love in word and deed as Jesus taught us in the Gospel.
- Parish Mission Statement: "A worshiping community of faith, enlivened by the Holy Spirit, called to serve all people by proclaiming God's love in word and deed as Jesus taught us in the Gospel."
- Parish Council, Liturgy Committee, Education Committee, Parish Activities Committee, and other committees help guide parish life.
History of the Parish
All Saints was established in 1946 as a mission of St. Francis Borgia parish, grew into the largest church in a six-mission cluster under founding pastor Fr. Charles R. Carroll, and was housed successively in a rectory chapel, a former Methodist Protestant Church (1954), and the present modern complex dedicated in 1992. Its former convent now operates as Shepherd's Corner, an ecumenical food and clothing pantry.
- 1946 — All Saints parish established in Bridgeport with Fr. Charles R. Carroll as pastor.
- 1954 — Diocese purchases the Methodist Protestant Church (Rachel Chapel) and dedicates it as All Saints Catholic Church on May 16, with Bishop Thomas J. McDonnell officiating.
- 1956 — All Saints School opens; Sisters of St. Joseph move from Grasselli to Bridgeport; former parsonage becomes their convent.
- 1965–1966 — Church building renovated, nearly doubling its size.
- 1980 — Fr. Hilarion V. Cann becomes second pastor.
- 1981 — New rectory/administrative office built.
- 1982 — Remaining mission churches closed; members invited into All Saints.
- 1983 — All Saints School merges with St. Mary's Grade School in Clarksburg; former convent becomes Shepherd's Corner ecumenical food and clothing center.
- 1991–1992 — New church complex built on the original 1946 rectory/chapel site; first liturgy at Easter Vigil, April 18, 1992; Bishop Bernard W. Schmitt formally dedicates the building September 27, 1992.
- 1996 — Fr. Harry Cramer becomes third pastor.
- 2012 — Fr. Benedict Kapa assigned as pastor.
- Present — Fr. Walt Jagela serves as pastor.
Building the New Church (1987–1992)
By early 1987 it was clear that the existing facilities could no longer serve the parish's 650 families. The Parish Council began a four-year planning process: Clint Bryan and Associates of Charleston, WV, was selected as architect, Willy Malarcher of Englewood, NJ, as liturgical design consultant, and Brothers Corporation of Fairmont, WV, as construction manager. After parish-wide study sessions and committee reports, Brothers Corporation broke ground in April 1991; the new building was first used at the Easter Vigil on April 18, 1992, and Bishop Bernard W. Schmitt formally dedicated it on September 27, 1992.
Clergy, Staff & Contact
The parish office is staffed by the pastor, a parish nurse, secretaries, a bookkeeper, a Director of Music & Liturgy, a newsletter editor, and a Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Pastor: Rev. Walt Jagela (ext. 13)
- Parish Nurse: Ellen Condron
- Secretaries: Betty Crowley & Angela DeMarco (ext. 10)
- Bookkeeper: Kris Gladden (ext. 12)
- Director of Music & Liturgy: Stephen Pishner (ext. 16)
- Newsletter Editor: Kathy George
- Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation: Rachel Yurkovich
Liturgies & Sacraments
All Saints celebrates a Vigil Mass on Saturday evening, one Sunday morning Mass, and weekday Mass on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on Tuesday or Thursday, or by appointment. (Schedule may vary — check the weekly bulletin; if there is a funeral in the house it replaces the daily Mass, and daily Mass is cancelled when local schools are closed for weather.)
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 10:00 a.m.
- Tuesday: 9:00 a.m.
- Thursday: 9:00 a.m.
- Reconciliation: after 9:00 a.m. Mass on Tuesday or Thursday, or by appointment
- Baptism, First Reconciliation & First Eucharist, Confirmation, and Marriage all celebrated; see the parish website for preparation requirements.
- Livestreamed Sunday Mass on the parish's YouTube channel (begun during the COVID-19 pandemic).
Faith Formation & Youth Activities
Faith Formation at All Saints is offered for preschool through 8th grade on Sundays from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. The parish also runs a two-year Confirmation preparation for students 8th grade and older, a Vacation Bible School (June 8–12, 2026), the All Saints Youth Group, and Kid and Youth Fun and Service events.
- Faith Formation: Sundays 8:45 a.m.–9:45 a.m., Pre-K through 8th grade
- First Reconciliation & First Communion: for children age 7+, usually in 2nd grade; $20 sacrament-prep fee
- Confirmation: every two years for 8th–9th grade or older; monthly classes, reflection, 12 Faith-In-Action experiences, and a retreat; conferred by the Bishop in the fall
- Vacation Bible School (VBS): June 8–12, 2026 — contact Tasha Sabatelli, 304-629-3023
- All Saints Youth Group and Kid and Youth Fun and Service
- Protecting God's Children Touching Safety Program (Safe Environment)
Adult Ministries & Parish Life
Adults at All Saints can join more than two dozen ministries across spiritual life, education, worship, hospitality, music, and parish activities. The parish also runs several ongoing community and prayer groups.
- Spiritual Life: Liturgy Committee, Rhema Prayer Group (Tuesday evenings 7:30 p.m.), Adult Education (Sunday mornings 10:00 a.m., currently suspended)
- Liturgical Service: Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick, Altar Servers (4th grade+), Choir (Monday 6:30 p.m.), Cantors, Hospitality Ministers, Decorating Committee, Altar Linen Care, Nursery Helper (suspended)
- Education: Education Committee, Catechists, RCIA (Sunday afternoons September–April)
- Parish Activities: Parish Activities Committee, Women's Club (monthly), Singles Group, All Saints Day celebration, Parish Dance, Parish Picnic, Parish Receptions
- Stewardship of Property: Landscape Committee (seasonal), Plant Watering Committee
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is designed for adults who, after hearing the mystery of Christ, consciously and freely seek the living God and enter the way of faith and conversion as the Holy Spirit opens their hearts. The parish RCIA team meets on Sunday afternoons from September through April and walks catechumens and candidates through full initiation at the Easter Vigil.
- Those interested in joining the Catholic Church are invited to contact the parish office.
Sacraments at All Saints
All Saints celebrates the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist) as well as Marriage and Anointing of the Sick. Parish membership and regular Mass attendance are required for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage, and sacramental preparation is a central part of parish life.
- Baptism — celebrated during weekend Masses (with private services during the pandemic era); contact the parish office at least one month in advance for the required preparation session.
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — for children age 7+, usually in 2nd grade.
- Confirmation — every two years; preparation spans one full school year plus the beginning of a second; conferred by the Bishop in the fall.
- Marriage — Pastor contacted at least six months in advance; pre-marital preparation required; parishioners should contact the Wedding & Marriage Preparation page for details.
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion for the Sick — by commissioned Eucharistic Ministers to the homebound, hospitalized, or parishioners in need.
Shepherd's Corner & Outreach
After All Saints School closed in 1983, the former convent was converted into Shepherd's Corner, an ecumenical food and clothing distribution center operated in cooperation with other Bridgeport churches. It remains one of the parish's most visible pieces of community service and is part of its long-standing commitment to ecumenical and social-justice outreach.
- Shepherd's Corner — ecumenical food and clothing pantry housed in the former convent.
- Pastoral care for the sick, homebound, and hospitalized through Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick.
- Parish staff and community collaborations with other Bridgeport churches and with Cubby's Daycare (a facility run by three parish families and blessed by Fr. Jagela in December).
Safe Environment
All Saints follows the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston's Safe Environment Requirements, including the Protecting God's Children Touching Safety Program for children in Faith Formation. Parents may opt their child out of any lesson with the form provided at least one month in advance.
- Protecting God's Children Touching Safety Program
- Safe Environment Requirements and parent opt-out form
- Contact: Director of Faith Formation & Youth
Connect & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, email, in person, or through the parish's official Facebook page. The parish also livestreams Sunday Mass on its YouTube channel.
- Address: 317 East Main Street, Bridgeport, WV 26330
- Phone: (304) 842-2283
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
- Website: http://www.allsaintsbridgeport.org/
- Facebook: All Saints Roman Catholic Church, Bridgeport WV
- YouTube: livestreamed Sunday Mass
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles R. Carroll1946–1980 (in region 1933–1982)
Founding pastor of All Saints; built up the cluster of mission churches; ordained 1933; cause for canonization now being promoted by parishioners; died 1993.
- Rev. Hilarion V. Cann1980–1996
Succeeded Father Carroll; oversaw new rectory/administrative office (1981), school merger (1983), and creation of Shepherd's Corner.
- Rev. Harry Cramer1996–2012
Arrived August 20, 1996, from St. Joseph's in Fairmont, WV; born in Williamstown, WV.
- Rev. Benedict Kapa2012–
Assigned to All Saints June 20, 2012, from Fort Ashby and Ridgely, WV; had previously been pastor at St. James in Clarksburg (2004–2010).
- Rev. Walt Jagelacurrent
Current pastor; has served at All Saints for at least seven years as of 2026; previously served in the Diocese of Wheeling–Charleston for 32 years; known for evangelism and social justice outreach.