Father William Shelley

Father William Shelley, who served at several parishes in the archdiocese and was a coordinator of the Courage program for Catholics with same-sex attractions, died Dec. 18 at the Mary Manning Walsh Home in Manhattan. He was 87.

Cardinal Dolan celebrated his Funeral Mass Dec. 21 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The homilist was Father Kazimierz Kowalski, pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Manhattan and a longtime friend.

Father Shelley served as parochial vicar at St. Agnes parish in Manhattan from 1973 to 1978 and again from 1979 until his retirement in 2000. He remained active in the parish and also was a senior priest St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

He was pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Harlem, 1978-1979. He served as parochial vicar at St. Malachy’s, The Actors Chapel, 1959-1973; Our Lady Star of the Sea, Staten Island, 1957-1959; St. Martin of Tours, the Bronx, 1952-1957; and Good Shepherd, Rhinebeck, 1950-1952.

He was coordinator of the Courage program in Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island. Of his Courage ministry he wrote, “I was active as a priest here in Midtown for 16 years, 1986-1998, almost always helping at (Courage’s) weekly meetings these good people who have dedicated themselves to a wholesome, daily spiritual life.” He was also active in Operation Rescue, and was a frequent presence Saturdays praying at the Eastern Women’s abortion clinic on 30th Street.

At St. Agnes, Father Shelley also ran the soup kitchen for many years. During his years at St. Malachy’s he came to love theater and could often be found backstage at Broadway and off-Broadway performances meeting and ministering to the actors. He set up an actors’ club that met on matinee days. He was the spiritual director of the Legion of Mary in three parishes, St. Martin of Tours, Our Lady Star of the Sea and St. Malachy’s, because he considered the Legion of Mary “the prime spiritual organization of any parish.”

“He was very generous with his time and all around,” Father Kowalski said. “He went out of his way for people.” Father Kowalski also said that Father Shelley was known for his organization and attention to detail. “He had a saying,” he recalled, “proper preparation prevents poor performance.”

Born in New York City, he attended Cathedral College before entering St. Joseph Seminary at Dunwoodie. He was ordained in 1950.

Burial was at St. Raymond’s Cemetery, the Bronx.