The Holy Father Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Mark E. Brennan from leading the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and named Most Reverend Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, currently Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, as his successor, according to a May 1 announcement by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.
Menjivar-Ayala will become the tenth bishop of the diocese. He is set to succeed Brennan, who will remain as apostolic administrator until July 1. The Mass of Installation for Menjivar-Ayala is scheduled for July 2 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling.
Bishop-designate Menjivar-Ayala was born in Chalatenango, El Salvador and migrated to the United States in 1990. He became Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Washington in 2023 and is noted as the first Salvadoran bishop in the country. His academic background includes a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami and a master’s degree in theology from Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.
His service within The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington has included assignments at several parishes and leadership roles such as dean, vicar general, member on various boards including Catholic Charities and Catholic Relief Services, and involvement with national church committees. In addition to English, he speaks Spanish and Italian.
Brennan said he believes that Menjivar-Ayala’s appointment is an answer to prayers: “Many faithful across the diocese and I have prayed to God for a true shepherd of the people to lead our diocese into the future. I truly believe God has answered our prayers with the appointment of Bishop Evelio Menjivar.”
Brennan’s tenure since August 2019 included efforts toward broader lay participation within diocesan structures such as pastoral councils and finance councils; increases in vocations; support for Catholic education; advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations; defense for rights including those related to unborn children, women, children’s protection, immigrants’ rights; and expansion within diocesan schools.
