Father John Gerard O’Shea, a senior priest of the Diocese of Yakima, died Thursday, August 27, at Prestige Assisted Living in Richland, following a brief illness. He was 96.

Ordained in Ireland on June 19, 1960 for service as a missionary to the recently-formed Yakima diocese, John O’Shea was born October 31, 1929 in Cork to Maurice and Nora (Hegarty) O’Shea. He received his primary and secondary school education from the Presentation Brothers in Turner’s Cross, Cork, before enrolling in the Cork School of Commerce, graduating in 1948. He then took correspondence courses in the law, and worked for a time at a law office while preparing to be an attorney.

But he had also discerned a priestly vocation while an altar server and Boy Scout. After a year of Latin studies on his own, he attended Mount Melleray Seminary from 1954-1956 and then All Hallows Seminary in Dublin until his ordination. It was there that he and other seminarians, including Fr. Seamus Kerr, a senior priest of the diocese who lives in East Wenatchee, met Bishop Joseph Dougherty, first bishop of Yakima. The bishop was in Ireland with an invitation for young men to consider being missionaries to the diocese, established in 1951.

Thus began a journey to a new land and new culture. The newly-ordained Fr. O’Shea flew to New York to visit cousins before heading west. He recalled darting into stores to escape the summer heat and humidity there, if only for a few minutes. Flying into Yakima, he was driven to his first assignment as associate pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Sunnyside. Seeing a sign for “Quaker State,” he asked the pastor if there were Catholics as well, only to learn that it was an advertisement for an oil company.

After four years in Sunnyside, Fr. O’Shea was named pastor of St. Patrick Parish (now Our Lady of Guadalupe) in Granger, until 1972. Unable to speak Spanish, he had a parishioner translate his homilies for him at the Spanish Mass. He recalled one incident when a bilingual couple in the back of the Church began arguing with the translator, who appeared to be putting his own spin on the homily.

Father O’Shea served at St. Paul Cathedral in Yakima as associate pastor from 1972 to 1978, then in the same role at Holy Family Parish in Yakima until 1980. From 1972 to 1991, he served as director of the English-speaking Cursillo Movement in the diocese. The Cursillo method, with its focused tripod of Piety, Study and Action, as well as ongoing small and large group meetings, was a good fit for his spirituality, and his dry wit was much appreciated. After introducing himself on the initial retreat weekends, he would often note he “lived in a home for unwed Fathers.”

In 1980 Fr. O’Shea began an eight-year assignment as associate pastor at Christ the King Parish in Richland. While he had not wanted to be a pastor again, he accepted Bishop Francis George’s request that he become pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Kennewick. He served there with distinction from 1988 to 2007, then remained in residence as pastor emeritus until moving into assisted living in 2015, first in Kennewick, then to Richland in 2023. Reminiscing about his time at Holy Spirit, he noted that he had administered 507 baptisms, 734 First Communions, witnessed 150 marriages and assisted families with 170 funerals. Another highlight of his priestly career was attending a papal audience and personally greeting a future saint: Pope John Paul II.

He may have left Ireland in 1960, but Ireland never left Fr. O’ Shea. The Bishop asked him not to return home until he had served three years, but after that, he returned each year to visit his family and large circle of friends, until 2019. There was always great excitement on his arrival, and sadness to see him leave. Had COVID not occurred, there is no doubt, even despite his age, that he would have continued to make the long journey home.

After those COVID years, his nephews and nieces came to visit their uncle. Through the years, many letters and recorded cassettes crossed the Atlantic Ocean between Fr. O’ Shea and his family. In later years, regular phone calls were made and he would lovingly and faithfully ask about all his family and friends, and inquire what the weather was like. He eagerly wanted to hear the news from home.

Fr. O’Shea was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Denis O’Shea and his wife, Mary. He is survived by his brother Maurice O’Shea and his wife Carmel and several nieces and nephews and their families.

The Funeral Vigil will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, September 17, at Holy Spirit Parish, 7409 W. Clearwater, Kennewick, WA 99336. The service will be livestreamed on the parish Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/StPaulCathedralYakima and at https://together.oneroomstreaming.com/JJT8LC.

The Funeral Mass will be at 12 p.m. Friday, September 18, at St. Paul Cathedral, 15 S. 12th Ave., Yakima, WA 98902, followed by a luncheon on the Cathedral campus. The Mass will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/@stpaullifeteen8966 as well as at https://together.oneroomstreaming.com/HLQELD. Burial is at 3 p.m. September 18 in the Priests’ Plot at Calvary Cemetery, 1405 S. 24th Ave., Yakima, WA 98902. The service will be livestreamed at  https://together.oneroomstreaming.com/N6C63A.

Memorials in his honor may be made to the Priest Retirement Fund or Seminarian Education Fund of the Diocese of Yakima, 101 S. 12th Ave., Yakima, WA 98902. Einan’s at Sunset Funeral Home in Richland has been entrusted with arrangements. Visit https://www.sunsetgardenstricities.com/obituary/2026/08/john-oshea/ for more information.