Monday, February 25, 2008

The Rev. James M. Shea, SJ, Named New Provincial of Maryland Province

Father James M. Shea, SJ, pastor of Holy Trinity Parish in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., has been appointed by Father General Adolfo Nicolas, SJ, as the next provincial of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). The appointment takes effect July 31, 2008.

Father Shea, 61, succeeds Father Timothy B. Brown, SJ, and will serve a six-year term of office.

“Though I will greatly miss the parish and parishioners of Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown, I consider it a great honor to be called by our Father General to serve my brother Jesuits of the province and their lay partners in carrying out the ministries and mission of the province,” said Father Shea.

A native of Waterbury, Conn., Father Shea entered the Jesuits in 1964 and was ordained a priest in 1975. He earned his bachelors degree from Boston College, his Masters of Divinity from Weston School of Theology and has a doctorate in pastoral care and counseling from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

Before coming to Holy Trinity in 2003, Father Shea was director of medical center ministry at Georgetown University Medical Center from 1996 to 2003 and was director of pastoral care at the Georgetown hospital from 1989 to 2003. Previously, he was director of clinical pastoral education at the University Hospital at St. Louis University Medical Center, director of pastoral field education at Weston School of Theology and coordinator of clinical pastoral education at St. Paul Medical Center in Dallas.

Noted for his work in clinical pastoral care education, Father Shea has served parishes and health care professionals in the areas of pastoral theology, medical ethics, spirituality and pastoral care and counseling throughout the United States and in Asia.

Father Shea sits on the boards of trustees of the Washington Jesuit Academy and the Georgetown University Medical Center and is a member of the Archdiocese of Washington Priests’ Council.

“In Father Shea, we have a remarkably astute, very personable and spiritually centered Jesuit who comes with an excellent administrative background,” said Father William Watters, acting provincial. “The Maryland Province is greatly blessed to have him as our visionary leader for the next six years when we will continue to face many challenges but also great opportunities to serve the Church in an ever-changing world.”