Joseph Mark McShea
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The Most Reverend Joseph Mark McShea, DD (February 22, 1907–November 28, 1991) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was founding Bishop of Allentown from 1961 to 1983.
[edit] Biography
Joseph McShea was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, to Roger and Jeanette (née Beach) McShea. He attended West Philadelphia Catholic High School, and after studying at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood and Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, he was ordained to the priesthood on December 6, 1931, by Francesco Cardinal Marchetti-Selvaggiani. He earned doctorates in philosophy and theology, and taught Latin, Italian, and History at St. Charles Seminary. McShea then served in the Congregation for Oriental Churches from 1935 to 1938.
On February 8, 1952 he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia and titular bishop of Mina. McShea received his episcopal consecration on the following March 19 from Archbishop Amelto Cicognani, with Bishops Eugene McGuinness and William O'Brien serving as co-consecrators. He took as his episcopal motto: Sub Umbra Petri ("In the Shadow of Peter").
McShea was appointed the first Bishop of Allentown on February 11, 1961, fourteen days after its founding by Pope John XXIII. He went on to found Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales, currently known as DeSales University, in 1964, and served in Allentown until his retirement on February 3, 1983. McShea, long ill from diabetes and other ailments, died on Thursday, November 28, 1991.
| Preceded by none |
Bishop of Allentown 1961—1983 |
Succeeded by Thomas Jerome Welsh |
