Deceased Friars

Alcuin Shields, OFM

Alcuin Shields

1911 – 1993

Fr. Alcuin Shields, OFM, was born on Jan. 3, 1911 in Missoula, Mont. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., and entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1929, professing temporary vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1933 and was ordained in 1936.

Fr. Alcuin was one of the original founding friars of Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y. Though his career at Siena was sporadic, he made a lasting impression on students, as he did on the many seminarians he taught in Callicoon. He did graduate studies at Harvard and Oxford universities, and after World war II, hundreds of war veterans sat in awe at the depth and breadth of his learning.

Even during his 20 years of ministry at St. Joseph Parish in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., he kept his hand in literature and writing. Fr. Alcuin served as necrologist for Holy Name Province for many years. Hardworking, courteous and a veritable genius in the fields of literature and drama, he was an exceptional professor.

He died on Feb. 26, 1993 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, N.Y. Fr. Alcuin was 82 years old, a professed friar for 62 years and a priest for 56 years.

Each of us should be called a lesser brother, a Friar Minor. Each one of us should wash the feet of the others.”

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Alcuin Shields, OFM

Alcuin Shields

1911 – 1993

Fr. Alcuin Shields, OFM, was born on Jan. 3, 1911 in Missoula, Mont. He graduated from St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., and entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1929, professing temporary vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1933 and was ordained in 1936.

Fr. Alcuin was one of the original founding friars of Siena College, Loudonville, N.Y. Though his career at Siena was sporadic, he made a lasting impression on students, as he did on the many seminarians he taught in Callicoon. He did graduate studies at Harvard and Oxford universities, and after World war II, hundreds of war veterans sat in awe at the depth and breadth of his learning.

Even during his 20 years of ministry at St. Joseph Parish in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., he kept his hand in literature and writing. Fr. Alcuin served as necrologist for Holy Name Province for many years. Hardworking, courteous and a veritable genius in the fields of literature and drama, he was an exceptional professor.

He died on Feb. 26, 1993 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, N.Y. Fr. Alcuin was 82 years old, a professed friar for 62 years and a priest for 56 years.