We invite readers to send short stories about the ways in which their lives have been personally blessed by the life and work of priests and religious in our diocese.

By Karina Fabian

Father Daniel Shea has always felt a double calling – to preach and to teach – and as a result has worked at least two jobs most of his priesthood. Of course, he loves it; he said it keeps him out of trouble (for the most part.)

Father Shea was raised in Anaconda, one of eight children born to his parents, John and Mary Shea. He graduated from Carroll College, where he began studying for the priesthood in his junior year. “Back then, that was a delayed vocation,” he joked. He’d had a love for teaching since the third grade, when he taught another student how to diagram sentences.

Immediately after his ordination in 1969, he was given a chance to indulge that love in a big way – as principal of Bozeman Rosary High school. In the seven years he was there (and also serving at Bozeman Rosary Parish), he was principal, director, athletic director, and teacher of Montana history, Latin, religion, and psychology – sometimes at the same time.

“I would have five of seven classes and I was principal,” he said. Yet the toughest assignment was girls’ basketball.

From there, he spent two years in Butte at the Religious Education Center and Butte Central, with weekend duty at St. Ann’s and a year at St. Patrick’s.

In 1978, he was assigned to Carroll College, where he has remained. Again, he has served in a variety of roles, including vice president of student affairs and teaching in five different departments: education, psychology, Latin, Greek, Freshman Seminar, and English as a Second Language. In addition, he is also pastor at Our Lady of the Valley, with a mission in Wolf Creek.

He also used to “substitute preach,” taking some of the distant runs to give other priests relief from a long drive, and filling in for priests sick or on vacation.

Father Shea said his life is a result of the influences of his family. “My father always taught us to be of service. My grandmother was an Irish healer. I grew up in the shadow of the Church and was inspired by the example of faith of the priests and sisters of the community,” he said. Through their example, he learned of people’s goodness and how to love the Church for its wonders and its shortcomings and to sacrifice oneself for faith.

A few years ago, Father Shea had a battle with cancer, but with treatment and prayer, he is in recovery. However, it has caused him to slow down a bit and to depend on the lay leadership of the parish for some projects. (In particular, his parish was busy doubling its size in numbers and recently completed a project to double the size of the church itself.)

“I now only have two jobs instead of two-point-three,” he said. “It’s not perfection, but it’s progress.” He added that the time spent in treatment and recovery gave him time to reflect on his values and his relationship with God. “It got deeper and better.”

In his spare time, he likes to do sudoku puzzles, garden and cook, and listen to country and western music.

He loves his full life as a priest. “All this, and heaven, too,” he said.


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 24, No. 3, March 21, 2008.