Michael Sheehan (archbishop of Santa Fe)

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Michael Jarboe Sheehan (July 9, 1939 – June 3, 2023) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church[1] who served as the eleventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe in New Mexico from 1993 to 2015. He previously served as bishop of the Diocese of Lubbock in Texas from 1983 to 1993.


Michael Jarboe Sheehan
Archbishop Emeritus of Santa Fe
Archbishop Sheehan in 2013
ArchdioceseSanta Fe
AppointedApril 6, 1993 (Administrator)
InstalledSeptember 21, 1993
Term endedApril 27, 2015
PredecessorRobert Fortune Sanchez
SuccessorJohn Charles Wester
Previous post(s)Bishop of Lubbock (1983–1993)
Orders
OrdinationJuly 12, 1964
by Martin John O’Connor
ConsecrationJune 17, 1983
by Patrick Fernández Flores, Leroy Matthiesen, and Thomas Ambrose Tschoepe
Personal details
Born
Michael Jarboe Sheehan

(1939-07-09)July 9, 1939
DiedJune 3, 2023(2023-06-03) (aged 83)
NationalityAmerican
DenominationRoman Catholic
Alma materPontifical Gregorian University
Motto"Love one another constantly"
Styles of
Michael Jarboe Sheehan
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleArchbishop

Biography

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Early life

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Michael Sheehan was born on July 9, 1939, in Wichita, Kansas, to John and Mildred (née Jarboe) Sheehan, and raised in Texarkana, Texas. He attended both St. John's High School Seminary and Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, Texas. He then furthered his studies in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he obtained a Licentiate of Sacred Theology in 1965.

Priesthood

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Sheehan was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Dallas-Fort Worth in Rome by Archbishop Martin O’Connor on July 12, 1964.[2] Upon his return to Texas, he served as parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception Parish in Tyler from 1965 to 1968. Returning to Rome, he earned a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Lateran University in 1971. Sheehan served as assistant general secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/United States Catholic Conference from 1971 to 1976, and as rector of Holy Trinity Seminary in Dallas, Texas from 1976 to 1982. In 1982, he was named pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Bishop of Lubbock

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On March 25, 1983, Sheehan was appointed the founding bishop of the Diocese of Lubbock by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on June 17, 1983, from Archbishop Patrick Flores, with Bishops Leroy Matthiesen and Thomas Tschoepe serving as co-consecrators. He selected as his episcopal motto: "Love One Another Constantly."

Following the resignation of Bishop Robert Sanchez, Sheehan became apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe on April 6, 1993.

Archbishop of Santa Fe

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Sheehan was named by John Paul II as the eleventh archbishop of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe on August 17, 1993. He was installed as archbishop on September 21 of that year.

Sheehan became apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Phoenix on June 18, 2003, after Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien resigned. Sheehan resigned as apostolic administrator upon the installation of Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted on December 20, 2003. In addition to his native English, he spoke Italian and Spanish.

On April 27, 2015, Pope Francis accepted Sheehan's resignation as archbishop of Santa Fe.[2]

Views

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Pro-choice politicians at Catholic universities

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In August 2009, Sheehan decried the attacks by some of his fellow bishops on the University of Notre Dame for having President Barack Obama deliver its commencement speech and receive an honorary degree.[3] Sheehan also said the Catholic community risks isolating itself from the rest of the country and that refusing to talk to a politician or refusing Communion because of a difference on a single issue was counterproductive.[3]

Cohabitation and marriage

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Sheehan was an outspoken opponent of cohabitation and its effects on marriage. He released letters to his archdiocese in regards to cohabitation[4] and its effects on children.[5]

Death

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Sheehan died on June 3, 2023, at the age of 83.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Data Bio
  2. ^ a b "Archbishop Michael Jarboe Sheehan [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Roberts, Tom (August 26, 2009). "Bishop decries 'combative tactics' of a minority of U.S. bishops". National Catholic Reporter.
  4. ^ "Archdiocese of Santa Fe website" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 4, 2017. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  5. ^ "Archdiocese of Santa Fe website" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  6. ^ Risen, Matthew. "Former Archbishop of Santa Fe dead at 83". Albuquerque Journal.
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Santa Fe
1993–2015
Succeeded by
Preceded by
First Bishop
Bishop of Lubbock
1983–1993
Succeeded by