Thomas Joseph Shea was born on December 11, 1940, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, son of Thomas J. and Mary E. Shea. He attended St. Kevin Parochial School in Dorchester and graduated in June of 1958 from Cathedral High School in Boston, Massachusetts. Of Canadian background, he became an accomplished organist during his high school years, having been taught by the Sisters of Charity of Halifax, Nova Scotia through the Royal Conservatory, Toronto. While in high school, Thomas applied to Maryknoll College, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, and entered there on September 4, 1959. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy in June of 1962. At Maryknoll Seminary in New York he received his Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1966 and his Master of Religious Education in 1967. He also took summer courses at Manhattanville School of Music in New York and the University of Windsor, in Ontario, Canada. He was ordained a Maryknoll priest on June 10, 1967.

After ordination, Father Shea was assigned to the Maryknoll Mission Region in Tanzania, East Africa. After Kisukuma language studies he was appointed assistant pastor for a short time in the Mwamapalala mission, and then was moved as assistant pastor to the St. Theresa Parish in Wira, in the Diocese of Shinyanga. He became pastor of the parish in 1970. In 1981 at the age of 80 Father Shea's mother came to Africa and spent some time at the parish to the delight of the Christians who could see where "Padri Thomas came from" as they put it!

Father Shea spent most of his mission career in this parish of over 5,000 parishioners among the 80,000 people of Wira. Wira is about the size of Rhode Island with 35 out-stations ranging from 6 to 50 miles from the parish center. His ministry, while pastoral and sacramental, was basically missionary out-reach to traditionalists and catechumens preparing for Baptism. He expanded the physical plant into a center for conferences and retreats for priests and lay people. It became a major center for priestly retreat for both Maryknollers and diocesan personnel and was kind of a center house for Maryknollers. During these years, Tom also helped in the Diocesan Chancery Office and in procuration work for the Diocese. He was involved in programs for the special year of formation for diocesan seminarians. He was at Wira Parish from 1967 to 1992.

During the 1990's, Fr. Shea moved to the Nindo Center of Shinyanga Town Parish where he continues to work at this time.

Thomas's Reflections             Thomas's Ministry

Visit the Maryknollers Currently in Shinyanga, Tanzania