08/15/2019
The Rev. Patrick J. Sheedy’s desk is about as busy as his hectic schedule. Papers are strewn all over the top and there are two stacks of books, including a worn leather-bound volume that dates back to his seminary days.
The Rev. Patrick J. Sheedy’s desk is about as busy as his hectic schedule. Papers are strewn all over the top, and there are two stacks of books, including a worn, leather-bound volume that dates back to his seminary days. Also displayed are several placards printed with witty sayings and a prized photo of Sheedy’s mother at age 96, taken one year before she died.
As senior pastor at Blessed Trinity Catholic Church for 27 years, Sheedy keeps a dawn-to-dusk schedule as he oversees multiple ministries and outreach programs. Nearly 5,000 people attend mass every weekend, but it doesn’t matter how many people come up those front steps on Sunday morning; Sheedy likes to have face-to-face contact with his parishioners.
“That’s why I stand at the door every Sunday for a half-hour before every mass,” Sheedy said. “If they have anything to ask, that’s when they have the guts to ask. But it works both ways. I can ask them, ‘Hey, do you have anything to do? There’s always things going on.’ ”
This weekend, Sheedy will be honored for 50 years of service since his ordination on June 13, 1965. Also being recognized is his brother, the Rev. Michael Sheedy, who was ordained on the same day in County Clare, Ireland. Michael Sheedy, pastor of St. Senan’s Church in Kilrush, Ireland, will be in Ocala for the celebration.
The two are among 12 siblings, six boys and six girls, all still living. Several siblings and other relatives also are expected to be here this weekend.
“They’ll all have a part in the mass,” Patrick Sheedy said, smiling. “My brother Mike is vicar general of his diocese at Kilrush. He’s a big shot. I’m just a lowly guy on the totem pole.”
In the beginning
The Rev. Patrick J. Sheedy, through the years:
1965: Ordained a priest
1965-55: Resurrection Parish, Bishop Kenny High School, Jacksonville
1966-67: Catholic University, Washington, D.C.
1967-68: Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Father Lopez H.S., Daytona Beach
1968-73: St. Joseph’s Parish, associate pastor, Santa Fe H.S., Lakeland
1973-81: St. Joseph’s Parish, pastor, Lakeland
1981-87: Director of Catholic Social Services, Diocese of Orlando
1984-87: St. Charles Parish, pastor, Orlando
1988-present: Blessed Trinity Parish, pastor
2000-present: Trinity Catholic H.S., school pastor
2007: Distinguished Pastor Award from National Catholic Education Association.
Source: Jim Ross, Trinity Triangle
Golden Jubilee
What: Celebration of the Rev. Patrick Sheedy’s 50 years in ministry. Also celebrating 50 years will be his brother, the Rev. Michael Sheedy, pastor of St. Senan’s Church in Kilrush, Ireland.
When: 7 p.m. Friday, June 12, gala and concert, featuring Irish tenor James Kilbane; 6 p.m. mass, Saturday, June 13; 8:45 a.m. mass, Sunday, June 14; 9:30 a.m. jubilee breakfast sponsored by Knights of Columbus.
Contact: 629-8092
Known affectionately by his parishioners as “Father Pat,” Sheedy admits he wasn’t always priestly material. As a young lad growing up in the Irish countryside, he sometimes looked for ways to skip school, either by rounding up cattle that had escaped from the family’s dairy farm or by dawdling until it was too late to walk the two miles to the schoolhouse.
But calls to ministry seemed to run in the Sheedy family. His father attended seminary but was called home to run the farm when his brother joined the Irish Republican Army. Two of Sheedy’s uncles entered the priesthood, and he had two aunts who became nuns.
At 74, Sheedy can’t pinpoint the exact moment he heard God’s call.
“I grew up wanting to be a farmer,” he said, a bit sheepishly. “But my dad was sharp. He knew I would be a terrible farmer ’cause I couldn’t fix anything. Even before I was called to be a priest, he decided to give the farm to my brother, Dan.”
During his teenage years, Sheedy developed a more serious mindset for the ministry. Out of 44 students at St. Flannan’s boarding school, he was among 22 who chose the priesthood.
While attending seminary, he worked in construction, digging footers during the day, and served drinks in a pub at night.
“I went not for the money as much as to experience life, just to mix with people and see how they lived,” Sheedy said. “I was the only sober one in the bar. We seminarians took a pledge; no alcohol. At 14, I took the pledge for two years. At 16, I took another pledge and I still have it. I’ve never even had a beer.”
As his ordination drew near, Sheedy began to weigh his options.
“It was never a question of what I should be, but where I should go,” he said. “I wanted to go to Africa or South America, but I didn’t like languages. A priest came from Miami looking for recruits. The next guy came from Lake City. I didn’t know anything about Florida, not a thing. He didn’t tell us about the sunshine or the beaches. He told us about the dire need for priests. Four of us signed up at once.”
Since their ordinations were only a week apart, Sheedy and his brother, Michael, who attended a different seminary, decided to be ordained together at the family’s parish in County Clare. Afterward, Michael remained in Ireland and Patrick traveled to the United States.
The Rev. Michael J. O’Keeffe attended the same seminary Patrick Sheedy went to and was ordained in 1968. Like Sheedy, O’Keeffe was drawn to America by recruiters. Now 84, he came to Blessed Trinity about 13 years ago after retiring from a parish in Savannah, Georgia. A priest in residence, he visits nursing homes and the sick.
O’Keeffe remembered Sheedy was “a serious, God-fearing priest, all wrapped up in one person.”
“We had a lot of prayer at 6:30 in the morning, and a lot of studies,” O’Keeffe said. “And we played hurling, soccer and rugby football. It’s not for sissies.”
A new land
After moving to Florida, Sheedy served in parishes in Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Lakeland and Orlando. He came to Ocala in 1988. At that time, Blessed Trinity had about 2,700 members and an elementary school with 222 students.
“He has been amazing from the get-go,” said Fran Harwas, the church’s human resources director and organizer of the anniversary celebration.
“Enrollment was low, and we questioned if we should keep the school open,” said Harwas, who was principal at the time. “He came over to the school and introduced himself. He said he was a big supporter of Catholic education, and if we needed anything to let him know. Under his leadership, we added classrooms to the elementary school. Enrollment today is 1,537, from Angels in Arms preschool through the high-school. He is our overall fearless leader.”
Over the years, Sheedy oversaw the establishment of two mission churches in Marion County, Christ the King in Citra and Our Lady of Guadalupe in west Ocala. Two convent houses were built to house five nuns who serve in various ministries in the community. Sister Concepta, originally from Uganda, is manager of the Brothers Keeper soup kitchen. In addition to O’Keeffe, there are two other full-time priests and a seminary student in residence.
“You couldn’t even begin to estimate the number of lives Father Pat has changed,” Harwas said. “This is an exciting time. He’s excited about his celebration, and so are all of us. Friday night is going to be a fun night.”
Also under Sheedy’s leadership, the church added a balcony to the main sanctuary, expanded the elementary school to include a middle school and gymnasium, erected Trinity Catholic High School at another campus and built an elder care facility.
“It wasn’t so much that we planned buildings,” Sheedy said. “It was that we had a ministry that needed a building, like a high school. It seemed to be a great idea, and, if it’s up to God, it’s going to work. I try not to get in God’s way.”
Being the church
Brothers Keeper, the church’s outreach to the community, provides a soup kitchen, retail sales program and emergency assistance in food, utilities and rent.
Steve Hoesterey, executive director, credits Sheedy for the program’s success.
“A long time ago, we sat on Father Pat’s porch and talked about how we can help the homeless,” Hoesterey said. “He has a great love for the poor and a heart for the homeless. He was one of the original catalysts behind Open Arms Village and Project Hope. When we want to expand or do something to help the poor, we know all we have to do is ask him.”
One of Sheedy’s favorite programs is the Stewardship Way of Life, through which members financially support the church’s various ministries. In return, participating families can send their children to Blessed Trinity schools at no additional cost.
“It’s based on the simple fact that God is the giver of everything,” Sheedy said. “When we realize that, we give back to God our first fruits — time, talent and treasure. As the Bible says, ‘It’s more blessed to give than to receive,’ and, in another place, ‘The Lord loves a cheerful giver.’ ”
In an email correspondence, the Rev. John Noonan, bishop of the Diocese of Orlando, praised Sheedy for his many accomplishments.
“Father Pat Sheedy truly embodies the ministry of priesthood,” Noonan wrote. “He is a humble servant of the Lord who labors in God’s vineyard to enkindle a deeper faith to those he meets. He has a heart for those who are vulnerable and in need, and has established many ministries to extend God’s mercy in our community. His dedication to Catholic education is unsurpassed in our diocese. I pray with gratitude for Father Sheedy as he celebrates his 50th anniversary to the priesthood.”
Though he’ll turn 75 in November, Sheedy has no plans to retire.
“My life is too full,” he said. “When I can’t walk, then I’ll retire.”
As busy as he is in Marion County, Sheedy’s feet have never been firmly planted anywhere. He leads short-term mission trips to third-world countries and takes groups on pilgrimages and trips to the Holy Land. He also regularly visits a sister parish in Uganda, along with its 19 outlying churches, with 11 more planned for construction.
Meanwhile, Sheedy has not neglected his roots. Every year, he returns to his hometown in Ireland.
“I’ll never forget what my mother said when I left for seminary: ‘You won’t be back again.’ ” Sheedy said. “But I said, ‘No. I’ll be back.’ And I haven’t missed a year.”
