Daniel E. Sheehan
Encyclopedia
Daniel Eugene Sheehan was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Archbishop of Omaha
from 1969 to 1993.
, Nebraska
, and ordained
to the priesthood
on May 23, 1942.
On January 4, 1964, Sheehan was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Omaha
and Titular Bishop
of Capsus by Pope Paul VI
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following March 19 from Archbishop Gerald Bergan
, with Bishops John Paschang
and James Casey serving as co-consecrators
, at St. Cecilia Cathedral
.
Sheehan was later named the third Archbishop of Omaha
on June 11, 1969. He was installed
on the following August 11, and was the first native son of the Archdiocese to hold the office of Archbishop. During his tenure, Sheehan has earned a national reputation for his support of Catholic education
. His campaign for educational excellence raised more than $26 million to improve Catholic education in the Omaha Metropolitan Area. In recognition of his dedication to Catholic schools, the National Catholic Educational Association
presented him with the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in 1992.
In response to the reforms
of the Second Vatican Council
, Sheehan led efforts to establish the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC) in the early 1970s. He gathered representatives from the ranks of the clergy
, religious communities
and laity
to lay the groundwork for a pastoral council that would share in the local church's decision-making process. Due to APC action, emphasis has been placed on improving family life, youth and young adult ministry, evangelization, social and rural life issues and Hispanic
ministry. In the late 1980s, he led a campaign to raise funds for archdiocesan improvements, including a $4.5 million refurbishment of the St. James Center.
After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Sheehan resigned as Archbishop of Omaha on May 4, 1993, ending a 23-year-long tenure. He later died at age 83, and is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Omaha
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Archbishop of Omaha
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the midwestern region of the United States. Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss...
from 1969 to 1993.
Biography
Daniel Sheehan was born in EmersonEmerson, Nebraska
Emerson is a village in Dakota, Dixon, and Thurston Counties in the U.S. state of Nebraska. Emerson was named after the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. The population was 856 at the 2000 census...
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, and ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on May 23, 1942.
On January 4, 1964, Sheehan was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Omaha
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the midwestern region of the United States. Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss...
and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Capsus by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following March 19 from Archbishop Gerald Bergan
Gerald Thomas Bergan
-References:...
, with Bishops John Paschang
John Linus Paschang
John Linus Paschang was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Grand Island from 1951 to 1972.-Biography:...
and James Casey serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
, at St. Cecilia Cathedral
St. Cecilia Cathedral
St. Cecilia Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha. Located at 701 North 40th Street in the Gold Coast Historic District, the Cathedral was ranked as one of the ten largest in the United States when it was completed in 1959...
.
Sheehan was later named the third Archbishop of Omaha
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha is a particular church of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in the midwestern region of the United States. Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss...
on June 11, 1969. He was installed
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
on the following August 11, and was the first native son of the Archdiocese to hold the office of Archbishop. During his tenure, Sheehan has earned a national reputation for his support of Catholic education
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
. His campaign for educational excellence raised more than $26 million to improve Catholic education in the Omaha Metropolitan Area. In recognition of his dedication to Catholic schools, the National Catholic Educational Association
National Catholic Educational Association
The National Catholic Educational Association is a private professional educational association of over 200,000 educators in Catholic schools, universities, and religious education programs...
presented him with the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in 1992.
In response to the reforms
Aggiornamento
-Code of Canon law:Originally, the word referred merely to an adjournment of the Code of Canon law, as John XXIII said himself in his 1959 speech. However, the Code of canon law was only completed in 1983, after a long delay of 18 years after the end of the Council...
of the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
, Sheehan led efforts to establish the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC) in the early 1970s. He gathered representatives from the ranks of the clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
, religious communities
Consecrated life (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, the term "consecrated life" denotes a stable form of Christian living by those faithful who feel called to follow Jesus Christ in a more exacting way recognized by the Church...
and laity
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
to lay the groundwork for a pastoral council that would share in the local church's decision-making process. Due to APC action, emphasis has been placed on improving family life, youth and young adult ministry, evangelization, social and rural life issues and Hispanic
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
ministry. In the late 1980s, he led a campaign to raise funds for archdiocesan improvements, including a $4.5 million refurbishment of the St. James Center.
After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Sheehan resigned as Archbishop of Omaha on May 4, 1993, ending a 23-year-long tenure. He later died at age 83, and is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Omaha
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
.