Father James Wehner graduated in 1991 from Duquesne
University while attending Saint Paul Seminary in
Pittsburgh. He continued studies for the priesthood
at the North American College in Rome and was ordained
at Saint Paul Cathedral by Bishop Donald W. Wuerl
on June 24, 1995. He served as Bishop Wuerl’s
personal secretary and master of ceremonies before
returning to Rome, where he received a doctorate
in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian
University in 2001. Father Wehner returned to Pittsburgh
and was appointed rector of Saint Paul Seminary and
director of the diocesan Department for Pre-Ordination
Formation. He also served as Director for the Office
of Vocations, the Office for the Diaconate and the
Office for Evangelization. In 2008, Father Wehner
assumed duties as pastor of St. Thomas More Parish
(Bethel Park, PA).
Father Wehner has served on numerous community boards
and diocesan boards, including the Priesthood Candidate
Admissions Board, the Institute for Ministries Board,
and the Post-Ordination Formation Board. An adjunct
faculty member at Duquesne University, he is part of
the teaching faculty at Saint Paul Seminary and is
on the Board of Trustees for Carlow University.
“I am most humbled that the Congregation for
Catholic Education and His Eminence, Cardinal Zenon
Grocholewski, would appoint me to the venerable institution
that has prepared men for ordination for well over
a century,” said Father Wehner. “Bishops
expect that their seminarians are receiving only
the best. From what I have already learned, the Pontifical
College Josephinum has already achieved these standards,
and my contribution will be to build on what has
been established.”
As the 15th Rector / President of the Pontifical
College Josephinum, Father Wehner succeeds Rev. Monsignor
Paul J. Langsfeld, STD (Archdiocese of Washington
DC), who has held the position since 2003. “I was delighted
to learn of Father Wehner’s appointment as Rector,” said
Msgr. Langsfeld. “He brings much experience
in priestly formation and administration to his new
ministry. I offered him congratulations on behalf
of the Josephinum community, and assured him that
the faculty, students and staff would give him a
warm welcome.”
Father Wehner will assume leadership of the Josephinum
on July 1, 2009; inaugural festivities will be held
in the fall.
