PITTSBURGH - April 25 was one of the happiest days in the life of the Very Rev. William J. Waltersheid.
On that Easter Monday a week ago, he was ordained as the new auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
But the Locust Gap native says God makes every day wonderful.
"I've never had an unhappy day in my life," Waltersheid said. "Certainly never had one in my time as a priest. God has taught me that life is good, and no matter what challenges you face, God doesn't fail us."
A priest for less than two decades, Waltersheid, 54, says he has applied his coal region upbringing to his calling, and daily living.
"Growing up with St. Joseph's Church in Locust Gap, being there instilled my absolute trust in God, and my parents instilled the work ethic of this area into me," he said in a telephone interview Friday. "My father never missed a day of work. That I keep with me always."
Hometown support
Waltersheid noted the support of his hometown at his ordination last week at Saint Paul cathedral in Pittsburgh. A busload of folks, led by Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel pastor the Rev. Francis Karwacki, were among the hometown supporters in attendance.
"That was absolutely amazing and touched my heart so," Waltersheid said. "Father Karwacki is a schoolmate of mine and I was so grateful that they all came down."
Waltersheid had other connections to his hometown during the ceremony. The vestments he wore that day were made by the Carmelite Nuns of the Carmel of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in Elysburg.
Also, "Close to my heart, I wore a pectoral cross, once owned by Pope John Paul II, that my very best priest friend, Leszek Harasz, of Poland, gave to me, and a holy card from Our Lady of Czestochowa, who I have great devotion for," Waltersheid said.
From nurse to priest
After high school, Waltersheid's first vocation involved helping people, but not as part of the clergy. He was a registered nurse. While working at that field, he was still active at St. Joseph's and taught CCD classes in neighboring parishes as an adult.
But the calling to serve God became too strong, Waltersheid said, and he enrolled in the Diocese of Harrisburg seminary formation program, graduating from St. John Seminary College in Brighton, Mass. before studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
He later earned a bachelor's degree in theology and a licentiate in dogmatic theology from Pontifical Gregorian University.
On April 30, 1992, in Rome, he was ordained a deacon, and then a priest in Harrisburg on July 11, 1992.
After teaching stints in Rome and pastoral assignments in Carlisle, he was appointed Diocesan Secretary for Clergy and Consecrated Life for the Diocese of Harrisburg, before being appointed auxiliary bishop by Pope Benedict XVI.
Despite the new title, Waltersheid said his duties have remained unchanged since the first day of the priesthood.
"I look forward to preaching the Gospel and bringing Christ to others," he said. "In this day in age, people find that they have everything they need materially, but are often suffering spiritually. They don't always see that God is with them."
With the new appointment, Waltersheid becomes only the fourth priest from the Diocese of Harrisburg to be elevated to the level of bishop.
Pittsburgh like home
For now, Waltersheid is in the process of moving into his new home in Pittsburgh, but he doesn't feel out of place there.
"Pittsburgh is very much like the coal region," he said. "Everyone that I've talked to is very strong with their faith and their ethnic background. I feel very much at home here."
With his new position, Waltersheid said he wants to reach out to young and old.
"At my ordinations as a bishop, I said that this was a great desire, because it allows me to do the most good, and work to bring the most souls to Christ," he said. "Everyone here has been very welcoming and I want to jump in right away."
Asked if Pittsburgh could take the place of the coal region, and whether perhaps he might retire there, Waltersheid was philosophical.
"I see myself doing whatever God wants me to do, leading me to wherever I can do as much good as I can to help others," he said. "And I can be happy and at peace with that." Bio Box
Name: The Most Rev. William John Waltersheid.
Age: 54
Hometown: Locust Gap.
Family: Son of the late William F. Walterschiet, and Margaret M. (Deane) Walterscheid.
Education: 1974 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School, 1983 graduate of the Pottsville Hospital School of Nursing; bachelors' degree in liberal arts with concentration in classical language, St. John Seminary College, in Brighton, Mass. Bachelor's degree in Sacretology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1991, licentiate in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1993.
Currently: Auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Pittsburgh; serves as diocesan Episcopal Vicar for Clergy and Secretary for Clergy.
Hobbies: Love to read historial novels, hiking, watching old movies, cooking, listening to Eastern European folk music, and spending time with friends.