# James Patrick Shea > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/James_Patrick_Shea > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/James_Patrick_Shea.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Patrick_Shea > Source revision: 1356232550 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|American Catholic priest (born 1975)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox Christian leader | honorific_prefix = The Reverend Monsignor | name = James Patrick Shea | honorific_suffix = [KCHS](/source/Order_of_the_Holy_Sepulchre_(Catholic)), Ph.L. | image = Rev. Monsignor James Shea.jpg | caption = Msgr. James Shea, President of the University of Mary, delivering the 2026 commencement address at The Catholic University of America | church = [Catholic](/source/Catholic) | diocese = [Diocese of Bismarck](/source/Diocese_of_Bismarck) | ordained_by = [Paul Albert Zipfel](/source/Paul_Albert_Zipfel) | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|3|27}} | birth_place = [Hazelton, North Dakota](/source/Hazelton%2C_North_Dakota), U.S. | ordination = July 3, 2002 | profession = [President](/source/Chancellor_(education)), [University of Mary](/source/University_of_Mary) | alma_mater = {{ubl|[Catholic University of America](/source/Catholic_University_of_America)|[Pontifical North American College](/source/Pontifical_North_American_College)|[Pontifical Lateran University](/source/Pontifical_Lateran_University)|[Pontifical Gregorian University](/source/Pontifical_Gregorian_University)}} }} '''James Patrick Shea''' (born March 27, 1975) is an American Catholic priest of the [Diocese of Bismarck](/source/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Bismarck) who has served as the president of the [University of Mary](/source/University_of_Mary) since 2009. == Early life and education == James Shea was born on March 27, 1975, to Joseph and Patricia Shea.{{Cite news |date=June 11, 1995 |title=Area Students Recognized for Academic Achievements |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bismarck-tribune-area-students-recog/172373699/ |work=The Bismarck Tribune}} He and his seven younger siblings all grew up on their parents' farm outside of [Hazelton, North Dakota](/source/Hazelton%2C_North_Dakota).{{Cite web |title=Monsignor James P. Shea |url=https://catholicprayerbreakfast.com/speaker/monsignor-james-p-shea/ |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=National Catholic Prayer Breakfast |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Kincaid |first=Sara |date=December 6, 2008 |title=Welcome, Fr. Shea Sixth president of U-Mary Selected |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bismarck-tribune-welcome-fr-shea-s/172374404/ |work=The Bismarck Tribune}} He graduated from Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock High School in 1993 and then studied history and English at Jamestown College (now the [University of Jamestown](/source/University_of_Jamestown)) for two years before entering seminary in 1995 and transferring to the [Catholic University of America](/source/Catholic_University_of_America). He earned a [bachelor's degree](/source/bachelor's_degree) in philosophy with honors in 1997 as well as a pontifical [licentiate](/source/Licentiate_(degree)) (Ph.L.) through the [Basselin Scholars](/source/Theodore_B._Basselin) program at Catholic University the following year.{{Cite news |date=June 29, 1997 |title=Shea exits with honors |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bismarck-tribune-shea-exits-with-hon/172375347/ |work=The Bismarck Tribune}} During this time he also taught religion in two [inner-city](/source/Inner_city) elementary schools and worked at a [hospice](/source/hospice) run by the [Missionaries of Charity](/source/Missionaries_of_Charity).{{Cite web |title=North Dakota priest set to become the youngest U.S. college president - Archdiocese of Baltimore |url=https://www.archbalt.org/north-dakota-priest-set-to-become-the-youngest-u-s-college-president/?print=print |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=www.archbalt.org}} He then was sent to the [Pontifical North American College](/source/Pontifical_North_American_College) in Rome and studied theology at both the [Pontifical Gregorian University](/source/Pontifical_Gregorian_University) and the [Pontifical Lateran University](/source/Pontifical_Lateran_University).{{Cite web |title=Msgr. James P. Shea |url=https://primematters.com/contributors/msgr-james-p-shea |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=primematters.com |language=en}} While studying in Rome he was a chaplain at the [Bambino Gesù Hospital](/source/Bambino_Ges%C3%B9_Hospital) as well as for the Rome campus of the Center for Catholic Studies of the [University of St. Thomas](/source/University_of_St._Thomas_(Minnesota)). On July 3, 2002, Bishop [Paul Zipfel](/source/Paul_Albert_Zipfel) of Bismarck ordained Shea to the priesthood for the [Diocese of Bismarck](/source/Diocese_of_Bismarck) at the [Cathedral of the Holy Spirit](/source/Cathedral_of_the_Holy_Spirit_(Bismarck%2C_North_Dakota)).{{Cite news |last=Herzog |first=Karen |date=July 2, 2002 |title=Ordinations to be held Wednesday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bismarck-tribune-ordinations-to-be-h/172376385/ |work=The Bismarck Tribune}}{{Cite news |date=June 27, 2002 |title=Two ordinations set for Wednesday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bismarck-tribune-two-ordinations-set/172376579/ |work=The Bismarck Tribune}} The celebration following for Shea in his hometown of Hazelton was so large that his first Mass was said in his high school gymnasium, with more than 1600 attending. == Priesthood == Shea's first assignment as a priest was as [parochial vicar](/source/parochial_vicar) at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit as well as teaching religion at [St. Mary's Central High School](/source/St._Mary's_Central_High_School). While teaching at St. Mary's, Shea taught a seminar-style class to seniors at the school titled “The Catholic Disciple.” Student participants in the course, which included topics such as the spiritual authenticity of [Johnny Cash](/source/Johnny_Cash), Catholic themes in [Brideshead Revisited](/source/Brideshead_Revisited), and the involvement of Catholics in the [Solidarity](/source/Solidarity_(Polish_trade_union)) movement in Poland, stated that it deepened their understanding of Catholicism and allowed faith to take clearer shape.{{Cite news |last=Herzog |first=Karen |date=May 13, 2004 |title=Learning to think as the Catholic Disciple |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bismarck-tribune-learning-to-think-a/172377168/ |work=The Bismarck Tribune}} During this time, Shea also said Mass in Spanish for the Latino community in Bismarck at the cathedral.{{Cite news |last=Herzog |first=Karen |date=December 11, 2004 |title=Spanish Mass in Bismarck Cathedral reaches out to Bismarck's Hispanic residents |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bismarck-tribune-spanish-mass-in-bis/172377330/ |work=The Bismarck Tribune}}{{Cite news |date=December 8, 2005 |title=Mass to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bismarck-tribune-mass-to-honor-our-l/172377511/ |work=The Bismarck Tribune}} Shea then served at Christ the King church in [Mandan, North Dakota](/source/Mandan%2C_North_Dakota) before becoming pastor of St. Joseph Church in [Killdeer](/source/Killdeer%2C_North_Dakota) and St. Paul Church in [Halliday](/source/Halliday%2C_North_Dakota). Shortly after this appointment, he received an e-mail invitation to meet with [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI) at the [White House](/source/White_House). Believing it was an [April Fools' Day](/source/April_Fools'_Day) prank and spam, he deleted the email, putting it in “the same place I put all the emails with special offers for [Viagra](/source/Viagra)” and thinking nothing of it until he was contacted regarding the meeting a second time.{{Cite news |date=April 15, 2008 |title=Priest thought Pope invite was spam |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bismarck-tribune-priest-thought-pope/172378190/ |work=The Bismarck Tribune}} === President of the University of Mary === In December 2008, the [University of Mary](/source/University_of_Mary) announced that Shea would succeed Sister [Thomas Welder](/source/Thomas_Welder) as the sixth president of the Bismarck university.{{Cite news |last=Assicoated Press |date=December 6, 2008 |title=Mary names new president |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald-mary-names-new-presid/172378760/ |work=The Grand Forks Herald}} Welder, who had been president of the institution since 1978, stepped down due to health issues. This appointment made Shea, then 33 (34 at the time of his inauguration on September 19, 2009), the youngest college or university president in the United States.{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2020 |title=The Path Of Monsignor James Shea {{!}} Fargo INC! |url=https://fargoinc.com/the-path-of-monsignor-james-shea/ |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=fargoinc.com |language=en-US}} Shea oversaw the addition of the university's Rome study-abroad campus in 2010{{Cite news |last=Kincaid |first=Sarah |date=December 11, 2009 |title=U-Mary plans new 'campus' in Italy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bismarck-tribune-u-mary-plans-new-c/172379764/ |work=The Bismarck Tribune}} and the inauguration of an interdisciplinary Catholic Studies program.{{Cite news |last=Herzog |first=Karen |date=February 25, 2010 |title=U-Mary adding Catholic Studies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bismarck-tribune-u-mary-adding-cathi/186835435/ |work=The Bismarck Tribune}} In 2012, he announced a [public-private partnership](/source/Public%E2%80%93private_partnership) between the University of Mary and [Arizona State University](/source/Arizona_State_University) to bring University of Mary courses to Arizona, as the state had no Catholic colleges or universities.{{Cite web |title=ASU, U-Mary collaborate for unprecedented academic endeavor {{!}} ASU News |url=https://news.asu.edu/content/asu-u-mary-collaborate-unprecedented-academic-endeavor |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=news.asu.edu}}{{Cite web |last=CNA |title=Arizona State to offer theology classes through Catholic university |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/24438/arizona-state-to-offer-theology-classes-through-catholic-university |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}} That same year, [Benedict XVI](/source/Benedict_XVI) named him a [Chaplain of His Holiness](/source/Chaplain_of_His_Holiness) with the title of "[Monsignor](/source/Monsignor)."{{Cite news |date=December 21, 2012 |title=Local priest given title "Monsignor" |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morton-county-and-mandan-news-local/172381841/ |work=Morton County and Mandan News}} Shea has spoken at Catholic conferences and other events, including the national SEEK conferences of the [Fellowship of Catholic University Students](/source/Fellowship_of_Catholic_University_Students) (FOCUS), the [10th National Eucharistic Congress](/source/10th_National_Eucharistic_Congress_(United_States)), and the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in 2025.{{Cite web |last=Martinez |first=Molly |last2=Vredenbregt |first2=Leah |date=March 1, 2025 |title=North Dakota monseigneur prays with VP Vance |url=https://www.wrdw.com/2025/03/01/north-dakota-monseigneur-prays-with-vp-vance/ |access-date=May 14, 2025 |work=WRDW |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=CNA |title=SEEK24 continues in St. Louis with an eye to Salt Lake City in 2025 |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256438/seek24-continues-in-st-louis-with-an-eye-to-salt-lake-city-in-2025 |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=Catholic News Agency |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=July 24, 2024 |title=12 Powerful Quotes From the National Eucharistic Congress |url=https://www.ncregister.com/cna/12-powerful-quotes-from-the-national-eucharistic-congress |access-date=May 14, 2025 |website=NCR |language=en}} He serves on the board of directors of [Saint John Vianney Seminary](/source/Saint_John_Vianney_Seminary_(Denver)) in [Denver](/source/Denver), the [Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference](/source/Northern_Sun_Intercollegiate_Conference) of the [NCAA](/source/NCAA), and has served as chairman of the Catholic Identity Committee for the Board of Directors of FOCUS as well as on the National Advisory Council to the [United States Conference of Catholic Bishops](/source/United_States_Conference_of_Catholic_Bishops). For the State of [North Dakota](/source/North_Dakota), he has served on the Governor’s Commission on Education Improvement and the Attorney General’s Task Force on Human Trafficking.{{cite web |last1=National Catholic Prayer Breakfast |title=Speaker - Monsignor James P. Shea |url=https://catholicprayerbreakfast.com/speaker/monsignor-james-p-shea/ |website=National Catholic Prayer Breakfast |publisher=National Catholic Prayer Breakfast |access-date=26 May 2026}} He is also a Knight Commander of the [Order of the Holy Sepulchre](/source/Order_of_the_Holy_Sepulchre_(Catholic)), a [knighthood of the Holy See](/source/Orders%2C_decorations%2C_and_medals_of_the_Holy_See). In 2022, the [Becket Fund for Religious Liberty](/source/Becket_Fund_for_Religious_Liberty) awarded the Canterbury Medal to Shea at a gala event in [Miami](/source/Miami), [Florida](/source/Florida), for his defense of medical conscience rights.https://becketfund.org/about-us/canterbury-medal-gala/past-canterbury-medalists/https://primematters.com/perspectives/who-are-we-where-are-we-going In 2026, the [Catholic University of America](/source/Catholic_University_of_America), his alma mater, conferred on him an honorary doctorate in theology and hosted him as the speaker for commencement. https://catholicvote.org/catholic-university-of-america-announces-msgr-james-shea-as-commencement-speaker/ The university entitled his address, “Endurance vanquishes mediocrity.” https://www.catholic.edu/all-stories/msgr-james-shea-class-2026-endurance-vanquishes-mediocrity == References == {{Reflist}} {{Roman Catholic Diocese of Bismarck|state=collapsed}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Shea, James Patrick}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:People from Emmons County, North Dakota Category:Catholic University of America alumni Category:Pontifical Lateran University alumni Category:Diocese of Bismarck Category:20th-century people from North Dakota Category:21st-century people from North Dakota Category:Catholics from North Dakota Category:21st-century American Roman Catholic priests Category:University of Jamestown alumni Category:Pontifical North American College alumni Category:Pontifical Gregorian University alumni Category:University of Mary --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [James Patrick Shea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Patrick_Shea) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Patrick_Shea?action=history)). 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