Father Owen Sharkey, a Passionist priest, theologian, and teacher, passed away at Immaculate Conception Monastery, Jamaica, NY, on March 31, 2011. He was 94.
Father Owen was the son of the late Owen Sharkey and Mary (Nevins) Sharkey and uncle of Mrs. Nancy Saam of Haverford, PA. A native of Philadelphia, Father Sharkey graduated from West Catholic High School. He entered the Passionists, a Roman Catholic religious community of brothers and priests dedicated to the Passion of the Christ, in 1937. He professed his religious vows at Our Lady of Sorrows Monastery, West Springfield, MA in 1938. After completing his philosophy studies at Saint Gabriel Monastery, Brighton, MA and Immaculate Conception Monastery, Jamaica, NY, he received a BA in 1941. He was awarded an MA in theology in 1945 and was ordained a priest in Newark, NJ on May 5, 1945. Father Sharkey did graduate studies in theology at The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. He received his Licentiate in Sacred Theology in 1946 and was awarded the Doctorate in Sacred Theology in 1950.
He served as professor of systematic theology, social ethics, and Church history at various Passionist monasteries from 1945-1965. He taught theology at Saint John’s University, Jamaica, NY from 1967-1988. He held memberships in the American Association of University Professors and The Catholic Theological Society of America. A gifted athlete and man of keen intellectual acumen, Father Sharkey was esteemed by seminarians and college students. Many sought his advice during the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and afterwards, especially those discerning their vocational status. He also studied at the University of Tuebingen in Germany from 1965-1966.
The Catholic University of America Press published his book, Saint Gregory’s Concept of Papal Power, in 1950 and Franklin Press published his book, The Mystery of Man, in 1975. Father Sharkey also contributed articles to various theological journals and encyclopedia. In 1988 he retired from teaching at Saint John’s University and took up residence with Father Thomas Berry, the internationally known ecologist and cultural historian, at the Riverdale Research Center, Riverdale, NY. In 1994 he retired to Holy Family Monastery, West Hartford, CT, and then moved to the Immaculate Conception Monastery in 2010, where he resided until his death.
Visitation will take place at Immaculate Conception Monastery in Jamaica, NY, from 3 PM to 8 PM on Sunday, April 3.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Monastery Chapel at 11 AM on Monday, April 4. Burial will follow in the Monastery cemetery.
Donations can be made in Fr. Owen Sharkey’s memory to the Passionist Retirement Fund, 526 Monastery Pl, Union City, N.J.
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