In Memoriam - Shaun McCarty, St
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Shaun McCarty, who was part of the original staff for Shalem's Spiritual Guidance Program (SGP) and who served in that capacity for 15 years, died October 21, 2007, after a long illness.
Shaun was a member of the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity and once served as president of the Diocese of Richmond's Catholic Forensic League. He was a native of Texas but was raised in Elmhurst, Long Island. He attended seminaries of the Missionary Servants and was ordained to the priesthood in May 1956, after which he was assigned to the order's seminary in Monroe, VA, where he taught English and was Director of Studies. In 1971 he began a 21-year association with the Washington Theological Union in Silver Spring, MD, and from 1978 to 1993 was a Shalem associate staff member.
Rose Mary Dougherty, Shalem Senior Fellow for Spiritual Guidance, saw him several times during his final days and talked about the peace that radiated from him. Among Shaun's mementos displayed at his wake was a ceramic cross given to him by the SGP Class of '93. Those who were in Shaun's classes pay tribute to his prayerful, inspired teaching and his delightful sense of humor. His leadership and wisdom continue to be lived out at Shalem as we carry forward the spiritual guidance ministry to which Shaun was so dedicated.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~Shaun's humor and humanity moved me the first time we met. I remember those first-residency nerves that so many are subject to in the program. Shaun was my contact person and he was sitting beside me in the opening circle when we were invited to tell what our hopes and fears might be for the residency. Fresh from writing my Masters thesis on a rather arcane theological point, I said that I was afraid I might be "too cognitive" for the group. Shaun, speaking next and without missing a beat said that he was afraid he might be "too affective." I loved it: the humor and also the humanity that so graciously put me at ease. Shaun's sneakiness also stays with me. When I had finished my Masters and was graduating from seminary, so innocently Shaun asked what I was going to do next. Just as innocently, I said that I didn't really know (but I certainly was not going to be ordained). The next day I was asked to consider joining the SGP staff. Funny, humble, and sly: that's what I remember and what I so enjoyed about Shaun. (Eleanor Abarno, SGP, W92 and SGP staff)
Over the years that I knew and worked with Shaun, I was touched by his many gifts. Let me just single out four of them. The seminars he led were full of insights and careful preparation. He had a wonderful capacity to accommodate a broad range of views, while at the same time holding to the integrity of his own theological convictions. He also had a wonderful sense of humor. No seminar or other gathering was ever without signs of it-in the stories he told, the cartoons he photocopied, and at the program parties. He was very much at home as a Catholic priest and carried out that vocation with a real sense of call and commitment. He also had a heart-felt and steady personal prayer life. I remember a time when we were co-leading a conference and roomed together. One morning, I saw him kneeling over in the corner of the room with his hands together, devoutly wrapped in his morning prayers. He didn't know that I was awake and I never mentioned what I saw, but I have never forgotten the sense of fervent prayer that I felt in him then. My prayer is that Shaun will continue to grow into the One he served so faithfully and that his prayer is alive for us. (Tilden Edwards, Shalem Founder and Senior Fellow)
Shaun was very special to me during my residencies and at various events where we connected over the years. I have two special memories. One was a teaching he gave on the Holy Trinity using three large teardrop-shaped candles of shades of blue. It was so inspiring and informative. The other: he offered Mass early every morning and welcomed me and other non-Roman Catholics openly. We had some nice conversations now and then. His approach to spiritual direction has always stayed with me. God rest his soul. (Joann Nesser, SGP84)
My first experience with Shaun was when I was living and working at Dayspring Retreat Center in the early 80's. Shaun led a retreat centered around a desert plant he called the resurrection plant. He placed one of these plants on a table in the lodge, and throughout the weekend, we retreatants watered it as led. Originally it looked dry, stiff and brown-but with water (and prayer), by Sunday it was green and pliable. I later completed the program and saw Shaun off and on-but the deep experience of this retreat and Shaun's inspired retreat leadership has stayed with me for over 20 years. (Sarah Fershee, SGP90L)
I still use one of his prayers and one of his cartoons! (Joan Yoder Miller, SGP85X)