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My name is Father Andy Switzer. I am a Roman Catholic priest, ordained for 15 years and a native of Morgantown. I want to thank the local ministerial association for inviting me to write about issues that are dear to my heart.
The installation of Bishop Evelio on July 2, 2026, gives me great hope this Labor Day weekend. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” We are called to help bend that arc.
I am convinced that the Lord has called Bishop Evelio to shepherd the Church in West Virginia at this critical moment in our history. I first met him on a pilgrimage to El Salvador to learn from the prophetic Church there. Few spiritual experiences have moved me more deeply than witnessing the faith, resilience, and courage of the Salvadoran people. I encountered a Church that stood with the people and accompanied them in their struggles.
During Bishop Evelio’s installation, when Bishop Brennan mentioned St. Óscar Romero, the cathedral erupted in applause. Many of us in Appalachia recognize Romero’s extraordinary witness. He gave his life for the people of El Salvador and stood courageously against injustice in the name of the Gospel. I believe Romero’s intercession helped bring Bishop Evelio to our mountain state. We need a bishop who can boldly proclaim the Gospel with humility and courage.
In his opening homily, Bishop Evelio said, “The Church is at her best when she stands with those on the margins, defending the dignity of every human person, working tirelessly for justice rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
The theme of his homily was “home.” Although he said he would not give a theological dissertation on “Country Roads, Take Me Home,” he spoke movingly about a longing present in every human heart.
His own life story reflects that theme. Bishop Evelio came to this country as an immigrant, earned his GED, attended college and seminary, became an Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, D.C., and has now come home to serve as Bishop of West Virginia. His story reminds us of the American Dream.
West Virginia’s Catholic Church is, in many ways, a Church of immigrants. It was fitting that Bishop Evelio chose to carry the crosier of Bishop Donahue, another immigrant bishop who became a champion of working people and a voice for the voiceless.
Recently, I spoke with Denise Giardina, whose historical fiction offers some of the finest reflections on the story of Appalachia. Denise, an Episcopal deacon and longtime advocate for justice and ecumenism, told me that, knowing the history of West Virginia, she believed Bishop Evelio was the perfect bishop for our state. She also noted that El Salvador and West Virginia share many similarities and that Bishop Evelio is the type of bishop West Virginia needs.
Having walked the country roads of El Salvador with Bishop Evelio, I agree. The mountains reminded me of home. Both places have experienced the exploitation of their resources and people by powerful outside interests. Yet both also have histories of resilience, faith, and hope.
That connection is why Romero’s witness resonates so strongly in Appalachia. He stood for the dignity of every human person against systems that sought to exploit the vulnerable. His ministry reminds us that faith and justice belong together.
I believe Pope Leo XIV understands that tradition well. By taking a name associated with Pope Leo XIII, the great advocate for workers and Catholic social teaching, he highlights the Church’s commitment to human dignity and the rights of labor. Here in West Virginia, worker-priests, religious sisters and lay leaders have long carried forward that same mission.
The film “Matewan” offers another window into our history. It tells the story of immigrant workers who came together to organize for justice. They understood that those with wealth and power often sought to divide them and that solidarity was essential if they hoped to build a society rooted in human dignity. The struggle for justice in Appalachia echoes many of the same themes found in the history of El Salvador and the ministry of Archbishop Romero.
As we mark Labor Day weekend, let us remember all those who worked and sacrificed to build a world founded on justice, equality and the dignity of every human person. I am grateful for the ministerial association and for all who continue that work today.
We need heroes who inspire us. I think of Dorothy Day, Óscar Romero and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Their examples remind us that lasting change requires courage, faith and perseverance.
This Labor Day, let us remember that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. More importantly, let us recommit ourselves to helping bend it.
Father Andy Switzer, Delegate for Ecumenism and Social Justice and Liaison of Catholic Community of Appalachia, is writing as part of the Morgantown Faith Leaders Network.