The priests of St. Brendan Catholic Church
We are sharing some of the history and background of priests who have served at St. Brendan.
Father F.C. Haiman, Pastor at St. Thomas Aquinas
Born on June 10, 1827 in Prussia, Germany, Father Haiman was educated at the University of Berlin and drafted into the Prussian Army. He served 8 years in the Coast Artillery and 12 years as a civil engineer. At age 45, he was ordained to the priesthood in Wheeling. He served in Clarksburg and Thomas. It was said, that in appearance, he was dignified and commanded the highest respect. While at St. Thomas Aquinas, he established a mission in Elkins in 1893. In 1896, he purchased land and by March 1897, built the first church on the corner of Park and Randolph Avenues. In 1905, he transferred to St. Joseph Parish in Mason City as Pastor where he died on November 9, 1913 after an extended illness.
Father John J. Daly (1897 to 1924) Our First Pastor
St. Brendan was established as a parish in Elkins in 1897. Bishop Patrick Donahue appointed our first Pastor, the Rev. John J. Daly. He was born on June 17, 1867 In Ireland, the son of John and Nora [Galvan] Daly. He was ordained in Wheeling on November 12, 1895, and served as an assistant to the Rector of St. Joseph Cathedral prior to being assigned to St. Brendan. In 1901, Father Daly completed the construction of the rectory which served the parish for nearly 100 years. In September 1907, a grade school was opened with lay-teacher, Miss Carrie O’Neil. The Dominican Sisters began serving the school in 1918. A new school was opened in 1920 and the adjoining convent was constructed in 1921. In 1907, Father Daly had also purchased the land for the current St. Brendan Cemetery. He died while serving as Pastor on October 13, 1924 at the age of 57 and is buried in the St. Brendan Cemetery.
Father John H. Corcoran (1924 to 1933) Our Second Pastor
Father Corcoran, our second Pastor, was born in 1869 in Fond-du- Lac, Wisconsin, the son of John and Margaret [Moore] Corcoran. He was one of 15 children. He was educated at St. Michael’s College in Toronto, Canada and at the American College in London, England. He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on September 24, 1900. Upon returning to the United States, Father Corcoran was the Pastor of an Italian Catholic Parish in Brooklyn, New York and held Pastorates in Wheeling, Parkersburg, Kingsville, McMechen, and Elkins. He completed the construction of the second church on the site of the original church building on September 30, 1928. Father Corcoran died on March 12, 1933 at the rectory and is buried in the St. Brendan Cemetery.
Father Paul D. Othling (1933 to 1942) Our Third Pastor
Father Paul Othling, our third Pastor and a native of Cincinnati, Ohio was born on April 4, 1884. He attended Valparaiso University from 1908 to 1909, and entered the novitiate for the Paulist Fathers. He was an associate professor at Catholic University where he studied Philosophy and Theology. He was ordained on August 5, 1915 by Bishop Donohue at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Father Othling had a temporary assignment at St. Charles in White Sulfur Springs and was named Pastor of St. Joseph’s in Howesville in 1916. He was assigned to St. Brendan on May 1, 1933 and retired in April of 1942 due to health reasons. Following his retirement, he operated a small poultry farm in Meter, Virginia for 5 years before moving to Cobb Island, Maryland. Father Othling died at the age of 91 on July 28, 1975.
Father Joseph R. Sieber (1943 to 1950) Our Fourth Pastor
Our fourth Pastor, father Joseph R. Sieber, was born on September 30, 1895 in the Bloomfield area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, one of four children of Boniface and Catherine Sieber. He attended St. Joseph Parochial School there and then entered the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio for his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained in the college chapel by the late Most. Rev. Bishop James J. Hartley, D.D., of Columbus, Ohio on May 21, 1921. Father Sieber, who enjoyed the reputation of a splendid administrator and pulpit orator, was assigned temporarily to St. Edward’s College shortly after his ordination. He also filled temporary assignments at Immaculate Conception in Montgomery and St. Philomena in Rowelsburg. He was appointed as an assistant at Immaculate Conception in Clarksburg on October 16, 1922, where he remained until February 20, 1924 when he was assigned to St. Francis Xavier in Parkersburg. Father Sieber was appointed Pastor of St. James the Apostle in the Northview section of Clarksburg on August 6, 1925. He became Pastor of St. Joseph’s Cathedral on June 5, 1934, where he remained until his resignation on January 1, 1942 due to poor health, a kidney disease. During his Pastorate at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, the present high school was built. On February 14, 1942 he assumed the Pastorate of St. Patrick in Hinton and came to St. Brendan on January 23, 1943. Known as “the beloved Pastor of the people,” he added the oak pews and purchased the Wicks organ for the church. He served the parish until his death on March 24, 1950. Father Sieber is buried at the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Pittsburgh.
Father Paul V. Helsley (1950 to 1954) Our Fifth Pastor
Father Helsley was assigned to St. Brendan twice before becoming Pastor. He was first assigned to the parish from February to May 1933 to assist Father Corcoran prior to his death. Again in early 1950, he came to Elkins as an assistant for Father Sieber due to his failing health. He was there to administer the final rites to Father Sieber and celebrated the Solemn Requiem Mass for him. Shortly thereafter, Father Helsley was named our fifth Pastor. He was born in Wellsburg on July 6, 1895, the son of Andrew and Elizabeth [Applegate] Helsley. He began his studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland, St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Sulpician Seminary in Washington D.C. On May 23, 1922 Bishop Swint ordained him. His first assignment was at St. John’s in Clarksburg from 1922 to 1932 after which he was transferred to St. Patrick’s in Hinton. After a brief assignment at St. Brendan, he served at St. Joseph in Howesville from May of 1933 to July 1950. Then after serving at St. Brendan as Pastor from 1950 to 1954, he went on to St. Francis de Sales in Beckley for seven years and St. Zita’s in Masontown from 1962 until his retirement due to illness in 1964. He died on November 4, 1973 in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Father Edward Belanger (1954 to 1956) Our Sixth Pastor
Father Belanger was born on July 17, 1908 in Lonaconing, Maryland, the son of Anthony and Rosalie [Howard] Belanger. He attended St. Joseph Elementary and High School in Huntington. He then attended St. Charles College and St. Mary’s Seminary in Maryland. He was ordained on May 30, 1935 in the St. Joseph Cathedral. He was Associate Pastor at St. John the Baptist Parish in Clarksburg from 1935 to 1942. Then from 1942 to 1948 he was Pastor of St. Catherine Sienna in Ronceverte and was Auxiliary Military Chaplain at the Ashford General Hospital in White Sulfur Springs from 1948 to 1954. From 1942 to 1954, he also served as Chaplain of the Federal Reformatory for Women at Alderson. In 1954, he was appointed to St. Brendan as our sixth Pastor serving until 1956. During his time at St. Brendan, the parish explored the establishment and building of a junior high school since 133 children were enrolled in the elementary school. From St. Brendan, he moved on to be Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul in New Martinsville from 1956 to 1965, Blessed Trinity in Wheeling from 1965 to 1967, and Christ the King in Dunbar from 1967 to 1971. He served as Chaplain of the Welty Home and Good Shepherd in Wheeling until his retirement in October of 1973. He died on August 16, 1988.
Father Eugene Jacobs (1957 to 1960) Our Seventh Pastor
Father Jacobs was born in Montgomery, West Virginia on July 19, 1920. He was the son of John and Barbara [Nader] Jacobs; being one of eight children. He attended St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Sacred Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland and completed advanced studies at Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. Father Jabobs was ordained on June 20, 1946 by Bishop Swint. After ordination, he served as Assistant Pastor at St. Theresa’s Church in Morgantown from 1946 to 1950. After which he served at Immaculate Conception in Montgomery, his hometown parish from 1950 to 1951. He taught at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland from 1951 to 1952, and at St. Mary’s seminary in Baltimore, Maryland from 1952 to 1953. He served as Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Logan in 1953, St. Patrick in Hinton from 1953 to 1956, and St. Vincent de Paul in New Martinsville from 1956 to 1957, prior to coming to St. Brendan in 1957. It was during his tenure that Bishop McDonnell confirmed our largest Confirmation class of 223 on May 3, 1959. After leaving Elkins, he was Pastor of Sacred Heart in Chester from 1960 to 1967, Sacred Heart in Huntington from 1967 to 1974, Assumption in Keyser from 1974 to 1981, Blessed Trinity in Wheeling from 1981 to 1987, and St. Charles Borromeo in White Sulfur Springs from 1987 to 1988. He retired on June 1, 1988 and moved to Loretto, Pennsylvania where he served as Chaplain to the Sacred Heart Sisters in Munster and Cresson; Chaplain to the Prince Gallitzin Chapter of Catholics United for the Faith; Chaplain to the Prince Gallitzin Historical Association of Loretto for a number of years; and Chaplain to the Polycarp Institute, Altoona. Father Jacob died on March 4, 2008 at Garvey Manor in Hollidaysburg.
Father Charles Doyle (1959 to 1968) Our Eighth Pastor
Father Doyle was the 10th of twelve children of Michael and Ann Doyle. He was born in Killaerney in Kerry County, Ireland on July 3, 1896. He was ordained on May 29, 1921, coming to West Virginia and serving as Associate Pastor of St. Patrick in Weston, and had assignments across the mountain state in Weirton, Sistersville, Fairmont, and Huntington. Prior to his assignment to St. Brendan, he was in Montgomery-Boomer for two years at Immaculate Conception and St. Andrew Mission. Father Doyle implemented many of the changes from the 2nd Vatican Council including having the celebrant face the assembly and instituting the Mass in English. He retired on September 1, 1968 and moved to New York to live and travel with his sister Ann. He died on January 10, 1987.
Father Mark Kraus (1968 to 1979) Our Ninth Pastor
Father Kraus was born on July 24, 1911 in Lewis County, the son of Robert and Mary [Moneypenny] Kraus. He had four brothers and two sisters. He attended Crooked Run Grade School and St. Patrick’s High School in Weston. He graduated from St. Charles College and received a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Theology from St. Mary’s University in Baltimore, Maryland. He was ordained on June 3, 1939 in Wheeling by Bishop Swint. He served as an associate at Immaculate Conception in Clarksburg from June 1939 to November 1942 and St. Anthony in Norton, Virginia from November 1942 to November 1945. He was Chaplain at DeSales Heights in Parkersburg until December of 1952 when he became Pastor of St. Joseph’s in Proctor. In September 1968, he was appointed Pastor at St. Brendan, serving here until November 1979. Father Kraus was very active in the community. During his time here, the Catholic School was closed after the Dominican Sisters left. The school was then leased and used for a period of time by Randolph County Schools. He was transferred to St. Patrick in Coalton until his retirement in July 1982. He died following an extended illness on March 22, 1983. Father Kraus was our 9th Pastor and is buried in the St. Brendan Cemetery.
Father Charles Bernard Teufel Jr. (1970 to 1971) Administrator
A Wheeling native, Father Teufel was born May 3, 1935, the son of Charles and Rose Wilhelm Teufel. He graduated from St. Michael School in Wheeling and was a 1953 graduate of Central Catholic High School in Wheeling. Father Teufel made his preparatory studies for the priesthood at St. Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland and St. Mary’s Seminary and the University of Baltimore, Maryland. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1962 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling by the late Archbishop John. J. Swint. Father Teufel served as Associate Pastor of St. Francis Xavier in Moundsville from 1962 to 1964, St. Theresa in Morgantown from 1964 to 1966 and St. Joseph in Huntington from 1966 to 1967. He was also Pastor of St. John the Evangelist in Mullens and Holy Cross Mission in Pineville from 1967 to 1969. In 1970, he came to Elkins to assist Father Kraus and the parish due to Father Kraus’s poor health. In 1972 he moved on as Pastor of St. Thomas in Thomas, and had assignments in Fairmont, Wellsburg, and Wheeling prior to his retirement in 2000. He was active after his retirement helping at Cheat Lake and Monongah in 2006 and 2007. He was also an avid aviator and president of the National Association of Priest Pilots. Father Teufel died on August 13, 2007.
Father William A. Anderson (1979to 2007) Our Tenth Pastor
Father Anderson, was appointed our 10th Pastor November 6, 1979. He served at St. Brendan until his retirement in 2007. He oversaw the construction of our new church, blessing the site of the new church on September 25, 1995. On October 3, 1999, Bishop Bernard Schmitt, Bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, joined by twenty-five ordained priests of the Diocese and close to seven hundred parishioners and visitors celebrated Mass and dedicated our new Saint Brendan Parish home. Father Anderson was born on July 11, 1937 in Brooklyn, New York, the eldest of nine children of Unger and Kathleen [McGrath] Anderson. He attended Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, New York. He was ordained as a Redemptorist priest on June 23, 1963. Then he was assigned to Saratoga Springs, New York where he conducted missions and retreats. Father Anderson came to our Diocese in 1968 and was incardinated October 8, 1970. After coming to the Diocese, he had assignments in Beckely, Preston County, and Wheeling. He is remembered for his insightful homilies. In the fall of 2006, Father Anderson announced his plan to retire from active ministry and he celebrated his final liturgy as Pastor of Saint Brendan on January 31, 2007. That same day, several hundred parishioners attended a celebration honoring Father Anderson's 27 years of dedicated service to the parish. He retired to Jacobs Well near Salem and continues to offer retreats. As an accomplished writer, Father Anderson has had over a dozen books published and for a number of years, published a column in the Catholic Newspaper of the diocese, the Catholic Spirit.
Father Donald X. Higgs (2007 to 2016) Our Eleventh Pastor
Father Higgs was born on June24, 1960 in Parkersburg. He is the son of Henry and Mariellen [Witt] Higgs. He is the 14th of 15 siblings with 11 brothers and 3 sisters. He attended St. Joseph Preparatory High School, the Seminary House of Studies at Wheeling Jesuit University, and St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. He was ordained on May 28, 1988. His first assignment was at Immaculate Conception in Clarksburg. From 1991 to 1993 he served at St. Anthony’s in Follansbee, after which he served concurrently at the St. Patrick in Mannington, St. Peter in Farmington, and Assumption Mission in Littleton until 1998. Father Higgs was supported by the Parkersburg Council of the Knights of Columbus as a seminarian and was a Charter member of the Holy Family Council in Mannington. Prior to coming to St. Brendan, he served at the St. John University and Newman Hall in Morgantown. He was appointed the 11th Pastor of St. Brendan on February 21, 2007. Father Higgs blessed and dedicated our St. Brendan Statue located in the church courtyard in 2009. In May of 2016, Bishop Michael J. Bransfield named Father Higgs Pastor of the Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Charleston, WV where he is Pastor today.
Father Mark T. Gallipeau (2016 to 2017) Our Twelfth Pastor
In May 2016, Bishop Michael J. Bransfield named Father Mark T. Gallipeau as Pastor of St. Brendan. His first day at St. Brendan was on June 15th. Father Mark was born Feb. 15, 1956, in Natick Massachusetts, the son of Mary and Robert Gallipeau and had three brothers and one sister. He also lived in Sudbury, Massachusetts, and Groton, Massachusetts, and graduated from Groton High School in 1974. Prior to studying for and serving as a priest, Father Mark greatly enjoyed his years as a pro ski instructor at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire and at Heavenly Valley, Reno, Nevada. He graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville and then attended St. Vincent’s Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 2006, at St. Joseph’s Cathedral by Bishop Michael J. Bransfield. During his priesthood, Father Mark served the Catholic Parishes of St. Francis Xavier, Parkersburg, St. John Neumann, Marlinton, St. Mark’s Mission & St. Bernard Chapel at Snowshoe Mountain, Immaculate Conception, Montgomery, St. Anthony’s Shrine in Boomer, St. John’s in Belle, Good Shepherd Mission in Colberg, St. Patrick’s in Coalton, St. Brendan in Elkins, Presbyterial Council of Priests, was Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, Elkins Council and Vicar Forane of Weston Vicariate. While Pastor at St. Brendan, Father Mark, together with the Finance Council, worked diligently to reduce the church debt and obtain automatic doors for the handicapped on the worship area level which are in use today. On April 25th, 2017 Father Mark passed away after a short illness. He was well liked and his funeral Mass was celebrated by Bishop Bransfield and priests from throughout the Diocese, family members, and parishioners from both Saint Brendan and Saint Patrick. Father Mark was was laid to rest in the Saint Brendan Catholic Cemetery.
Father John “Chapin” Engler (2017 to 2018) Our Thirteenth Pastor
Born John Chapin Engler Jr. in Evanston, Illinois on June 30, 1962, Father Chapin is the third of four children of John and Peggy Engler. At the age of 10, his family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina. He Graduated from Charlotte Catholic High School in 1980 and then attended the University of Southern California for one year then transferred to the University of Notre Dame where he earned a bachelor’s in Philosophy in 1985. Following graduation, he moved to Chicago and for the next 6 years, he moved through various sales positions and as a stockbroker. Father Chapin attended Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and St. Charles Borromeo in Philadelphia, PA. He was ordained in June 2007 by Bishop Michael J. Bransfield. His first assignment was St. Francis in Beckley under the guidance of Monsignor Samuel S. Sacus, who was buying time on a local radio station. Father Chapin found himself on that station and “Daily Living with Father Chapin” was born. Six months later, the radio show became a TV show that is seen nationwide today. He was named Pastor of the parishes of Saint Charles Borromeo in White Sulphur Springs, Saint Catherine of Siena in Ronceverte, and Saint Louis in Lewisburg. On May 10, 2017, Father Chapin was named the 13th Pastor of Saint Brendan in Elkins and Saint Patrick in Coalton. Father Chapin worked to get new altar server outfits and to increase attendance and members. On June 20, 2018, Father Chapin was appointed by the Bishop Pastor of Christ the King Parish in Dunbar, Holy Trinity Parish in Nitro, and Saint Patrick Mission in Bancroft where he continues to serve as Pastor.
Father James E. O’Connor (2018 to the present) Our Fourteenth Pastor
The Rev. James E. O’Connor, also known as Father Jim, was named our fourteenth pastor by the Bishop effective June 20, 2018. Originally from the Wheeling area, Father Jim graduated from St. Albans High School. Prior to his higher education, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a North Vietnamese linguist and crew member of reconnaissance missions in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Father Jim is a graduate of West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, and of St. Michael’s College of the Toronto School of Theology of the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with a Master of Divinity. While studying in Toronto, Father Jim served as deacon for the Vietnamese Catholic Community of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. After his ordination as a priest on May 29, 1982, Father Jim ministered as an associate pastor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From there he became the pastor of the Marshall Catholic Community, overseeing the operation of the Catholic Newman Center at Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia. He was the pastor of several parishes in West Virginia. His previous assignment, before coming to St. Brendan, was at St. Augustine Church, Grafton, and St. Elizabeth Parish and Newman Center, Philippi, West Virginia. He is a brother of the Sacred Heart Province of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi. Known as a musician/Christian songwriter/vocalist, Father Jim has traveled with his “Rejoicing in the Spirit” trio to more than a hundred United States Catholic churches. In 2000, he was invited to perform and give a musical presentation directing the combined choirs from the United States and Figi battalions of the Multi-National Peacekeeping Forces based in Egypt. In 2007, he was invited to give a musical presentation to United States troops stationed in Seoul, South Korea. Father Jim continues to share his musical talent singing and playing worship songs he wrote using guitar, piano, or singing to his recorded iPad accompaniment during his homilies. Father Jim also occasionally performs religious musical programs for other parishes and groups.
(C)2024 Saint Brendan Catholic Church, Elkins WV