Reverend Monsignor Richard J. Shea (1936-2025)

The Parish of St. Catherine of Siena mourns the passing from this life of the Reverend Monsignor Richard J. Shea (1936-2025).  Funeral arrangements will be announced as soon as they are complete.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.  May he rest in peace.  May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.  Amen.  

 Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Msgr. Shea always talked about having an outdoor statue of St. Catherine made, to place somewhere on our parish grounds. He never wanted to buy one out of a catalogue, though; when he selected the statue of the Blessed Mother which is now in our Marian Prayer Garden, he did so because he’d seen a similar statue at the novitiate of a religious community, saw the face, and said, “Finally … that’s it!” 

As a memorial to Msgr. Shea, we will fulfill his wish for an outdoor statue of our patroness, St. Catherine of Siena. When it is complete, it will be dedicated in his memory. 

Cody Swanson, who sculpted the beautiful bronze statue of the Risen Christ in the St. Catherine of Siena Mausoleum at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Trumbull, is one of the most talented sacred artists in the world today. An American, he lives and works in Florence, Italy. Some of his recent work can be found at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in St. Paul, MN, the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Sioux Falls, SD, Tampa Jesuit High School in Florida, and various churches and cathedrals in Italy. 

We have asked Cody to create a custom statue of St. Catherine for our parish campus, and we will place it in a prominent place on our campus, as a permanent memorial to our fourth Pastor. To make a gift toward this memorial to Msgr. Shea, click the link below.