April 16: Father James O’Shea


April 16, 2002

Father James O’Shea

Father O’Shea was born on October 25, 1931 in County Galway, Ireland. After completing his studies for the priesthood at he was ordained there for the Diocese of Wichita on June 3, 1956. He served as an assistant at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Our Lady of Lourdes in Pittsburg, and at St. Teresa’s in Hutchinson. As pastor he was assigned to Oswego and Chetopa, Frontenac and Capaldo, and Halstead. Father O’Shea was also a chaplain at St. Joseph Medical Center in Wichita, Mt. Carmel Medical Center in Pittsburg, the El Dorado Correctional Facility; and the Hutchinson Correctional Facility. On August 1, 2001 he retired and returned to Ireland where he died on April 16, 2002. Bishop Olmsted was principal celebrant and Msgr. Charles Walsh was homilist at a Memorial Mass for Father O’Shea in St. Elizabeth Chapel at the Catholic Care Center on April 19, 2002. Father Francis Cox was celebrant of his funeral Mass in Mount Bellow, County Galway, Ireland.