18 Jan

2013

Memorial Mass for Fr. William Shelley

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There will be a Solemn Requiem Mass for the Month’s Mind of Fr. William Shelley at the Church of the Holy Innocents in Manhattan this Monday, January 21st, at 1:00 PM. Fr. Shelley’s funeral was celebrated on December 21st by His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Father William Shelley, who served at several parishes in the archdiocese and was a coordinator of the Courage program for Catholics with same-sex attractions, died Dec. 18 at the Mary Manning Walsh Home in Manhattan. He was 87.

Father Shelley served as parochial vicar at St. Agnes parish in Manhattan from 1973 to 1978 and again from 1979 until his retirement in 2000. He remained active in the parish and also was a senior priest St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

He was pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Harlem, 1978-1979. He served as parochial vicar at St. Malachy’s, The Actors Chapel, 1959-1973; Our Lady Star of the Sea, Staten Island, 1957-1959; St. Martin of Tours, the Bronx, 1952-1957; and Good Shepherd, Rhinebeck, 1950-1952.
He was coordinator of the Courage program in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island. Of his Courage ministry he wrote, “I was active as a priest here in Midtown for 16 years, 1986-1998, almost always helping at (Courage’s) weekly meetings these good people who have dedicated themselves to a wholesome, daily spiritual life.” He was also active in Operation Rescue, and was a frequent presence Saturdays praying at the Eastern Women’s abortion clinic on 30th Street.

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