[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 71 (Thursday, June 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1028-E1029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A CELEBRATION OF FORTY YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD: THE REVEREND WILLIAM J. 
                                SHIELDS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT A. BORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 4, 1998

  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay a special tribute to 
Reverend William J. Shields in honor of his forty years of priesthood.
  Father Shields has brought a wealth of knowledge, sensitivity, 
inspiration, and service to all that have encountered his wisdom. He 
was born in the ``Swampoodle'' section of North Philadelphia, near St. 
Columba's Church at 24th and Lehigh. Father Shields likes to remind us 
that he was born in the shadow of the old Connie Mack Stadium.
  The young William Shields was extremely involved in the Parish 
Scouting Troop #22. After graduating from St. Columba's Grade

[[Page E1029]]

School, Father Shields then went to Roman Catholic High School at Broad 
and Vine Streets, the oldest Catholic High School in the nation. He 
graduated from Roman in 1948 and began his college career at St. 
Charles Seminary in Philadelphia. He received his B.A. in Philosophy in 
1954 and then began graduate studies in Theology. He completed his 
Theological studies in 1958 and was ordained to the Priesthood by 
Cardinal John P. O'Hara, Archbishop of Philadelphia.
  The young Father Shields began his priesthood at St. Ambrose Parish 
in Schuylkill Haven. After that a succession of appointments took him 
to Shillington, Hamburg, Shenandoah, Allentown, Catasauqua, and 
Lansford and Reading. He then went to Weatherly, where he spent 22 
years as the Pastor of St. Nicholas Parish. In 1995 Father Shields 
retired and now resides at Holy Family Villa in Bethlehem.
  Father Shields is a man of many interests. The greatest of his 
interests is people. He has a genuine and abiding interest in the 
people around him. He loves his family. He loves Philadelphia and its 
history. He has a great love of church music. He has an appreciation 
and love of architecture as he repeatedly argues, ``Don't look down. 
Look up and see the tops of the buildings!'' He loves Cape May. He 
loves traveling--meeting new people and seeing new scenes. But above 
all, he loves language--words and concepts.
  On Sunday, May 17, 1998 Saint Columbkill Church in Boyertown, 
Pennsylvania, gathered to honor Father Shields on his Fortieth 
Anniversary of his priestly ordination. With great love and admiration, 
his friends and family came to celebrate a good friend, a good priest, 
a good pastor, and a good Christian man. I am proud to extend to him my 
most heartfelt good wishes in honor of his forty year achievement.

                          ____________________