Rev. Howard V. O’Shea OFM
Rev. Howard V. O’Shea, O.F.M., Franciscan priest and Catholic chaplain at Brown University from 1967-1994, died on March 26th in Wyckoff, New Jersey. He was 88. He is survived by the members of his Franciscan community, loving cousins, nieces and nephews, and is remembered by hundreds of friends.
Born William Francis O’Shea in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the second son of Edward and Mary O’Shea, he grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts with his late brothers, Edward and Robert, and attended Phillips Academy Andover before joining the US Army in 1945. He studied Japanese at Yale University in preparation for deployment in the Pacific before the end of World War II. After leaving the army, he graduated with a degree in English from Harvard College in 1949, and worked as a reporter for United Press International, before he found his lifelong calling in the Franciscan Order, where he was ordained a priest in 1958, taking the name Howard Vincent. He taught philosophy and theology at Saint Joseph’s Seminary, Saint Francis College, and Holy Name College, before being named the first full-time Catholic chaplain at Brown, where he served as a source of inspiration, strength, and wisdom for thousands of students for 27 years.
During decades of change in American Catholic life beginning with the transformation of the Church spurred by Vatican II and the turbulent 1960s campus protests, Fr. O’Shea was a beacon of compassion and an energetic advocate of spiritual renewal. A supporter of greater ecumenical understanding, he was known for his passionate activism and broad-minded generosity. He loved working with students and was himself always young at heart. Throughout his ministry, he bore witness to Saint Francis’ commitment to peace and to love for all those seeking God’s mercy.
Fr. O’Shea left Brown in 1994 and served as Chaplain for Foreign Students in the Archdiocese of Aix-en-Provence in France, taking daily bike rides around the countryside. During summers, he provided relief for overworked priests in need of vacation by running parishes in England and Sweden, and he touched each new community with his gentleness and joy. Fr. O’Shea retired from full-time ministry in 2011 and lived at Saint Anthony Shrine in Boston until 2015. Even in his last months, he continued to befriend those around him, and he found strength and peace in his faith.
Visiting hours at Saint Anthony Shrine, First Floor Chapel, 100 Arch Street, Boston, Wednesday 4-7 PM with a Wake Service at 7PM. A Con-celebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Anthony Shrine, Second Floor Chapel, Thursday March 31 at 10:00 AM. Interment Saint Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury.
Guestbook Entries
I was a student at Brown University from 1983 to 1987. Father O’Shea welcomed me to the school and Catholic Community with open arms and a great smile. I will never forget him or his homilies. May he rest in peace.
I too will never forget Fr. O’Shea! What a blessing to have been part of his little flock at Brown for a time. I remember the homily in which he earnestly imparted this most important heartfelt teaching: Never, never stay away from mass. I am so grateful to (and for) Fr. O’Shea, and to all the Shepherds who have worked so hard and with such love to help us grow, and remain, close to Christ.
I still tell my children about the wonderful chaplain (Fr. O’Shea) we had when I was at Brown from 1978 – 1982. He always gave a wonderful sermon about love on Valentine’s Day, and in March threw the very best St. Patrick’s Day party on campus. I believe his goal was for his party to be shut down by campus police – and many years it was! He was loving and supportive, and gave thought provoking homilies. He will be missed, but not forgotten. Rest in peace, Fr. O’Shea…
Even though I didn’t know you personally, I do know how much you were loved and respected by your family members. Praises to you! I hope you were warmly greeted by departed loved ones as you were welcomed into God’s kingdom. In my heart, I know that you are in a better place with the Lord. May you rest in peace in the ever after. Glory \O/
Father O’Shea was a kind and gentle man, and I’m proud to have called him my friend
I was at Brown University from 1977 to 1981. I remember Father O’Shea with great fondness. He was welcoming and kind, and was always willing to engage students in intellectual discussions about faith, including those who challenged his beliefs. Rest in peace, dear Father, and know that you brought comfort and joy to many, many people.
Fr. Howie tried to give me my first paid gig as a budding conductor — with Vatican II encouraging congregational singing, he asked me to lead (and direct) the hymn singing for the Catholic services. I ended up turning him down as I was already very much involved in singing with three different groups. He struck me as a very caring and gentle person, and I felt bad turning him down.
Dear God– Fr. O’Shea was a grace-filled figure throughout my adult life, from the time I met him at a chaplains conference before freshman week at Brown, through med school there, when he presided at my first marriage, baptized my second child, and counseled me when it was necessary to leave that marriage. I saw him at multiple reunions and the last time we talked about the controversial Catholic ideas, as always. I am from Boston originally (now live in Mississippi) but am not surprised to learn he had such an amazing education. However, as someone who now works at a VA hospital it is wonderful to know he was also a Veteran. I know the cemetery where he will be buried, as well as the St. Anthony Shrine. I will be at his service in my heart and with prayers as a chorus of angels welcomes him into heaven.
Father O’Shea, you have made significant difference in lives of many! Glad to have crossed path with you at Brown and benefited from your wisdom.
A life long friend. Honored to have been such. He was a Prince among men, a one-of-a-kind. His passing leaves a crater in my heart. It was
such a joy to be in his presence. Heaven must be rejoicing at his arrival.
Only a few years ago our dear friend Bill, as we called him, visited us in our home in Cras a tiny hamlet in south west France. The village church was rarely used as a single priest covered a vast area with numerous churches and Cras was too small to bother with. Bill offered to hold a mass on the Sunday morning and the village turned up to see this strangely named priest from America. Bill won them in a single sentence as he opened the service. He said in perfect French, ‘ My name is Irish and I was born in America but my heart is in France’. He had the true spirit of St Francis and spread his word at every opportunity. We will miss him terribly but the truth is he is in our hearts and souls for ever. Thank you so much dear Bill from all your european friends but especially from Alan and Pat and your soulmate our dog Heuly.
Father O’Shea was a very special man and an integral part of my experience at Brown (1971-75). I will always remember his kind heart, joyous smile, sense of humor and, of course, Midnight Mass.
My deepest condolences to his family and friends. Father Howard will live forever in my memories.
I was at Brown 69-73 and, as Phyllis H recorded above, met Howard at the chaplain’s conference. Howard’s friendship, caring, humor, advice, and support throughout my life has been so important. My happiest reunion memory is our last with Howard, Phyllis, and I having coffee in Faunce House, sharing personal stories, seeking advice, questioning, debating, and, of course, laughing. I am reminded of St. Brigid’s vision of heaven as a lake of beer, filled with hospitality and joy. The angels and saints are welcoming Howard into that great party and eternal happiness.
Howard Married Julie and I at Manning Chapel on July 26, 1980. He was a wonderful man who made a difference in many lives including ours.
I am heartbroken to learn of Howard’s passing. We were friends for 30 years, incl my time as a Brown undergrad, Class of 1990. He made everyone feel so special, and he had thousands of friends. I shall never forget his sermons, counsel, parties, and joie de vivre. I kep in touch over the years, visiting him in France, inviting him to preside at my marriage, and lunches in Boston. He was so smart and modest and selfless, a true Franciscan saint. Pax et bonum, dear Howard.
What a gracious, intelligent, kind-hearted man. A true spiritual guide and wonderful Catholic leader, And those eyes! He will be remembered fondly and with great admiration by everyone he came in contact with.
Howard was much loved as a volunteer at St. Francis House, by staff and by other volunteers. My deepest condolences to his friends and family.
I knew Fr. O’Shea as the Catholic chaplain at Brown from 1982-1986. He was impossible not to love for his compassion, kindness, generosity, and sense of fun. These qualities were like a magnet to spiritually starved students of all religious orientations as well as non-believers. What a life well lived! I am saddened by his passing, but so happy to have known him.
Father O’Shea was a kind and compassionate and modest chaplain during my years at Brown from 1972-1976. He brought many non Catholics to midnight mass during those years, followed by beer and donuts! All were welcome at Manning Chapel on Saturday nights, and all came. He was also focused on the students, never on himself. I really had no idea about his background until I read this obit. But he was supportive of me long after I left Brown, and I am grateful that he was a part of my faith life. Condolences to his family.
I made an appointment with Fr. Howard on a slushy, February, weekday afternoon around 1972 in his office overlooking Waterman Street. We chatted for about 30 minutes about the problems I was having in my life. He made a suggestion at the end of our talk on something he thought might be helpful for me to do. It took me a year to act on the advice and it turned out to be the beginning of a life changing process. Thank you Fr.Howard and you are in my thoughts and prayers.
In 2005, When I met Fr. O’Shea at Uncle Ralph Burns 100th birthday party in Belmont (old pals from Our Lady of Mercy church there) my husband Phil O’Hara, Dir. of Student Activities at Brown, had a grand time reminiscing with him as Belmont was my home town…Fr. O’Shea, a lovely, special man………..Our sincere condolences…..
Pat Hetherington O’Hara and Phil O’Hara
I met Fr. O’Shea in 1963 when I was a freshman at Brown. Not being particularly religious, I was something of a challenge for him, but he was never pushy, never insistent. He knew I had a Catholic background and was ever hopeful it would reassert itself in an active way. We stayed in touch and he officiated at my and Fran’s marriage in 1980, sneaking us under the radar of the church authorities. He must have done something right because we are still happily married. We saw him in Boston shortly before his death. Diminished as he was then I still had a hard time when he passed away. Friends for over 50 years, a kind man who always saw the best in others and whose example has helped me be a better person.
Father Phil one of the holiest and kindest priests I ever met
Going to him in confession saved my life more than once
His compassion was so genuine his wisdom was divine and his sense of humor was life saving
You walked into the confessional feeling like hell warmed over
He got you laughing making it easy to confess your sins and you walked out with a smile on your face feeling like you have been renewed and enabled to follow Jesus all over again
How many souls are in heaven because of the good work you did down here Father Phil God only knows. God bless you and thank you.
You were a saint down here on Earth and no doubt you are a saint in heaven now!