Fr Chris Sheehy's Sudden Death a Big Loss for Archdiocese
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
9 Aug 2011
Fr Chris Sheehy
Sydney is in mourning the unexpected death of Father Christopher Sheehy who died suddenly on Saturday night, 6 August after suffering a heart attack.
Loved by all who knew him, he was known for his deep compassion, profound love of God and the Church, and his easy down-to-earth approach and ability to touch the lives of people from all walks of life and all ages.
For the past 25 years he was Associate Judicial Vicar and later the Judicial Vicar of the Regional Tribunal of Sydney (NSW and ACT), Director of the Archdiocese of Sydney's Tribunal Office and long-time member of the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand.
He was also parish priest for many at St Joseph's Parish, Rosebery.
Fr Chris, as he was affectionately known, was 63.
"I am shocked and deeply saddened," the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell said when told the sad news in Egypt where he is leading a group of 96 young pilgrims on a tour of the Holy Land prior to World Youth Day in Madrid.
"We were on Mt Sinai waiting for the sun to rise when news came through of the sudden and unexpected death of Fr Chris. All of us immediately prayed for the repose of his soul and later on entering the Holy Land, we remembered him especially at Mass in Nazareth which we celebrated in front of the home of the Holy Mother, Mary. "
Cardinal Pell said the death of Fr Chris was a big loss to the Archdiocese and to all who knew him. "He was a good, hard-working priest who made a deeply valued contribution to his parish and during his long years of work in canon law. He will be sadly missed and we pray that God will bless and reward him for his efforts. May he rest in peace."
Chancellor of the Sydney Archdiocese, Mgr John Usher was also saddened by the news.
"Fr Chris Sheehy was a priest of deep compassion, who brought a wealth of experience to the Regional Tribunal of the Catholic Church. He will be missed by many, especially his parishioners at Rosebery and the staff of the Tribunal. His loss will be greatly felt," he said.
Many other church leaders reiterated these words, saying the death of Fr Chris will not only be a grave loss for all who were lucky enough to know him, but for the Archdiocese where his work with the Tribunal was conducted with such insight, fairness and compassion.
For the staff at the Tribunal, a group he never missed an opportunity to praise describing them as a "wonderful team," his sudden death has been devastating.
Loved by All who Knew Him
Cardinal Pell says death of
Fr Chris a big loss
to the Archdiocese
and the Church
"Fr Chris was loved by all of us who worked for him, as a boss, a colleague and above all as a very dear friend," says Adrienne Connaghan, Administrator at the Sydney Archdiocesan Office and Judge for the Regional Tribunal of Sydney (NSW and ACT) who has worked closely with Fr Chris for the past 25 years.
Like many others, Adrienne is devastated by his sudden death and quotes a fellow canon lawyer who emailed her saying: "It always seemed to me that Fr Chris contributed to the very good atmosphere in the Tribunal office and was admired, respected and loved by all."
Born on 10 June 1948 in Sydney, Fr Chris grew up in Rose Bay, the middle child with a an older brother, Daniel and a younger sister, Deborah. He described his family as "close-knit, happy and strong Catholics." Tragically though, his father Daniel died in 1960 when Fr Chris was just 12 years old, with his mother, Betty suddenly finding herself a single parent with three young children.
His mother, as well as his father before his untimely death, instilled Fr Chris with a passion for social justice. His elder sister Deborah was also a strong influence and they both shared his life-long conviction that all people are equal and fairness for all is paramount.
Educated at Waverly College, when he left school his mother urged him to study law. Enrolling at the University of Sydney. But after completing just one year of law, he decided to enter St Patrick's College seminary at Manly and study for the priesthood.
"I can't say what motivated me to become a priest," he told the Catholic social networking site, Xt3.com in an interview in 2009 as part of the celebrations for The Year For Priests. "For me, there was no Road to Damascus experience. Instead it was just something I felt I had to try," he said.
Aged just over 18 when he entered the seminary in 1967, over the next seven years of study he became more and more convinced that this was what he wanted to do with his life.
Ordained the Day the Opera House was Officially Opened by the Queen
"At first my mother was very much against my decision to become a priest. She thought it was a hard life I had chosen and like most mothers, wanted me to be happy. But once she saw how much I loved this life, her negative feelings about my vocation changed and she gave me their full and unstinting support," he said.
As a member of the baby boomer generation, he says he was always aware of how fast times were changing and in light of his commitment to social justice, it comes as no surprise to learn he was actively involved in the protests over the South African Rugby Tour of Australia in the early '70s when the team comprised only white players as part of South Africa's strict Apartheid policy.
He was proud of demonstrating against such blatant racism and in also delighted when the protests later resulted in the cancelling of a planned all-white South African cricket team tour the following summer.
When Nelson Mandela was finally released from prison in February 1990 and the South African government set about overturning the racist Apartheid policies that had dominated the country for so long, Fr Chris was among the many Australians celebrating this momentous event.
After his ordination on 20 October 1973 at St Mary's Cathedral by Bishop Peter Carroll with Cardinal James Freeman presiding on the same day the Queen officially opened the Sydney Opera House, Fr Chris was appointed assistant priest first to East Granville, followed by Kogarah, Parramatta, Penrith and Mascot. Then in 1982, he became Administrator at St Joseph's, Rosebery and would later be made Parish Priest where he spent the next 21 years.
In addition to administering to the parish and his parishioners in addition to as well as holding down his equally important work at Tribunal.
His first work with the Tribunal, however, occurred shortly after his ordination when in 1975 he was called on to give evidence in a case. Seven years later, he joined the Tribunal and then from 1984 to 1986 spent two years studying Canon Law at St Paul's University in Ottawa, Canada before returning to Sydney and the Tribunal.
Passion for Social Justice, Fairness and Equity for All
For Father Chris, whose passion for social justice was a key element of his character and beliefs, and who would many years later frequently quote from Caritas in Veritate, Pope Benedict XVI's 2009 Encyclical on social justice, the work of the Tribunal resonated with him, particularly with it combination of equity and fairness.
Throughout the ensuing years, he always felt privileged to be given such a role where he could offer comfort, hope and healing for those devastated by the pain of a marriage which has broken down.
But for Fr Chris himself, his work with the Tribunal could be extremely stressful. He kept this largely to himself, but with those close to him he admitted there was an emotional toll listening to the often tragic stories from those whose marriages had broken down, and that sharing their pain had a lasting impact on him.
Marriage Breakdown in today's Society a Reality
While not all petitions are granted, Fr Chris understood that marriage breakdown was a reality in today's contemporary society and offered his wisdom, warmth, compassion and understanding to help couples cope with the breakdown of the sacramental bond.
Helping men and women strive to come to terms with the sadness of a marriage break up, and to begin healing, was something he never took for granted.
A Requiem Mass for Fr Chris will be celebrated by Bishop Geoffrey Robinson, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Sydney Archdiocese at St Mary's Cathedral on Thursday, 11 August at 11.a.m.
A Vigil Mass will be held at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Rosebery will be held tomorrow, Wednesday 10 August at 7pm and will be celebrated by will be celebrated Bishop Pat Power, Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
Bishop Power serves on the Bishops' Commission for Canon Law and has known Fr Chris over many years, and shares Fr Chris' commitment to social justice, and in 2009 was named Canberra's Citizen of the Year for being an advocate and champion for the disadvantaged.
