Reverend William Dominick O'Shea DayPROCLAMATION
VILLAGE OF NORTH PALM BEACH
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
REVEREND WILLIAM DOMINICK O'SHEA
WHEREAS, William Dominick O'Shea was born on July 31, 1932, to the parents of Timothy
and Mary O'Shea in a country of spectacular coastlines and endless swells of emerald hills, County
Cork, Ireland; and
WHEREAS, studying at the prestigious St. Patrick's College in Thurles County, Tipperary, Ireland
William Dominick O'Shea was ordained as a priest in the beautiful Assumption Cathedral on June 19, 1962; and
WHEREAS, arriving in Miami's sub -tropical paradise in 1962, Father O'Shea began his priesthood and
was appointed to St. Patrick's Church by Archbishop Thomas Morris of Cashel, Ireland celebrating
Mass, conducting baptisms, presiding in marriages, anointing the sick and taking a leadership role in the
Church; and
WHEREAS, serving two parishes from 1968 through 1983, Father O'Shea tended to his flocks at Our
Lady of the Holy Rosary in Miami and St. Mark's Catholic Church in Boynton Beach; and
WHEREAS, in 1983, Father O'Shea was assigned by Bishop Thomas Daily from the Diocese of Palm
Beach to St. Clare Catholic Church in North Palm Beach, overseeing the operations of St. Clare Catholic
Church and School and many of the Parish's milestones and accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, Father O'Shea celebrated the 50th Anniversary of his Ordination and is now
celebrating the 60th Anniversary of his Ordination; and
WHEREAS, in the fall of 2005, Hurricane Frances and Jeanne devastated North Palm Beach, causing
major damage to both the school and parish hall, affecting the close knit community of St. Clare causing
it to fracture into three separate campuses; and
WHEREAS, under Father O' Shea's leadership, renovations were done and the school reopened earlier
than anticipated allowing the May graduation ceremonies to commence on schedule; and
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2007, Father O'Shea was honored as North Palm Beach's Hometown Hero
for his selfless acts of service to our community and humanity; and
WHEREAS, throughout his remarkable tenure at St. Clare over the last 39 years, Father O'Shea has
performed 1259 Baptisms, joined together 222 couples in Holy Matrimony, given First Holy
Communion to 2233 children and adults, presided at 1790 Confirmations and celebrated 1068 Funeral
Masses; and
WHEREAS, on June 26, 2022, St. Clare Catholic Church will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Father
O' Shea's Ordination into the Priesthood, humbly tending to the spiritual welfare of all of his parishioners
and the extended community of North Palm Beach, Florida;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Deborah Searcy, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the
Village of North Palm Beach, do hereby recognize.
REVEREND WILLIAM DOMINICK O' SHEA
on this occasion of this outstanding achievement of 60 years in the priesthood, and be it further resolved
that the Village of North Palm Beach hereby thanks Father William Dominick O'Shea for his many years
of service and for providing hope and inspiration to countless members of his congregation and
community.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the Village of North
Palm Beach to be affixed this 9th day of June, 2022.
Deborah cy, Mayo