Rev. Msgr. Richard Shea
Deceased: 2025-01-22
Diocese: BRIDGEPORT
ICTE Fall: 1992
Rev. Msgr. Richard J. Shea, age 88, of Shelton, fell asleep in Christ on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Bridgeport. Born in Brooklyn, New York on April 25, 1936, he was the son of the late Richard and Margaret Mary (Kelly) Shea. He studied at Resurrection – Ascension Elementary School in Rego Park, Brooklyn, New York, Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, and St. John’s University. Having discerned a call to the priesthood, he studied for the then-newly-established Diocese of Bridgeport at Our Lady of Angels Seminary Niagara, New York.
Father Shea was ordained to the Priesthood at the Cathedral of Saint Augustine in Bridgeport on May 20, 1961, by the Most Reverend Lawrence J. Shehan, the first Bishop of Bridgeport. He celebrated his First Mass the following day, Pentecost Sunday, at his home parish of Resurrection – Ascension in Rego Park, Brooklyn.
After his priestly ordination, he served briefly as Parochial Vicar of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Stamford, before teaching at Notre Dame Boys’ High School in Fairfield, and at Notre Dame Girls’ High School in Bridgeport. During this time, he earned graduate degrees in counseling and school psychology from Fairfield University. In 1966, he became Director of Guidance and Counseling at St. Joseph High School, Trumbull, and served in that role until 1976, when he became Principal.
During his 15-year tenure as Principal of St. Joseph High School, Father Shea significantly strengthened the school, saving it from near closure. Through a major fundraising campaign, he added a new three-story addition to the school, built a new football field, and repurposed acres of land behind the school for much needed playing fields, which are still in use by St. Joseph High School’s students today. On weekends, he often assisted with Masses at St. Mark Parish in Stratford.
He was named a Chaplain of His Holiness, with the title of “Monsignor” by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1986. In 1991, Msgr. Shea was named Pastor of the Parish of Saint Catherine of Siena in Trumbull. His 23-year pastorate was a time of enormous expansion and improvement at St. Catherine’s. In 1997, he significantly upgraded the interior and exterior of the church building. He built the Halloran Pastoral Center in 2002 and the McClinch Family Center in 2005. He celebrated countless baptisms, weddings, and funerals, and was a mentor, friend, and spiritual father to numberless people through the years, both in the Trumbull community, and well beyond.
Following his retirement from active ministry in 2015, Msgr. Shea assisted with sacramental ministry in local parishes for as long as his health permitted. On the occasion of his 80th birthday in April, 2016, Msgr. Shea returned to Saint Catherine’s for a celebratory Mass, during which the Marian Prayer Garden on the church grounds was dedicated in his honor. In retirement, Msgr. Shea resided first at Oronoque Village in Stratford, and, more recently, at BrightView Senior Living in Shelton. He is survived by his sister, Joan M. Shea of Shelton, as well as cousins in Ireland.
The body of Msgr. Shea will be received at Saint Catherine of Siena Church, 220 Shelton Road, Trumbull, at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, January 27. Visitation and prayer will continue at St. Catherine’s until 7:00 p.m. when a Vigil Mass in the presence of the body will be celebrated by the Most Reverend James Massa, Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn.
On Tuesday, January 28, visitation and prayer will again take place at Saint Catherine’s beginning at 9:00 a.m. and continuing until the Funeral Mass, which will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. by the Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport. Interment will immediately follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Trumbull. The Vigil Mass and the Funeral Mass also will be livestreamed at stcathtrumbull.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parish of Saint Catherine of Siena, Trumbull, for an outdoor statue of Saint Catherine which will be dedicated in his memory.
Reminiscences may be left at St. Joseph High School’s tribute page for Msgr. Shea: sjcadets.org/msgrshea.
Arrangements in care of the Cyril F. Mullins Funeral Home, 399 White Plains Rd., Trumbull, CT. For more information, please visit www.mullinsfh.com.
