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Daniel Eugene Sheehan (May 14, 1917 – October 24, 2000) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Omaha from 1969 to 1993. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese from 1964 to 1969.

Biography

Early life

Daniel Sheehan was born on May 14, 1917, in Emerson, Nebraska. He studied theology at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, where he graduated with honors in 1942.

Sheehan was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Omaha by Archbishop James Hugh Ryan on May 23, 1942. After his ordination, Sheehan was assigned to St. Cecilia's Cathedral in Omaha. He then attended the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., receiving a degree in canon law. After returning to Omaha, he served as chancellor and tribunal judge.

Auxiliary Bishop of Omaha

On January 4, 1964, Sheehan was appointed auxiliary bishop of Omaha and Titular Bishop of Capsus by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on March 19, 1964, from Archbishop Gerald Bergan, with Bishops John Paschang and James Casey serving as co-consecrators, at St. Cecilia Cathedral.

Archbishop of Omaha

Sheehan was named by Paul VI as the third archbishop of the Archdiocese of Omaha on June 11, 1969. He was installed on August 11, 1969, the first native son of the archdiocese to become archbishop. During his tenure, Sheehan has earned a national reputation for his support of Catholic education. His campaign for educational excellence raised more than $26 million to improve Catholic education in the Omaha Metropolitan Area. In recognition of his dedication to Catholic schools, the National Catholic Educational Association presented him with the Elizabeth Ann Seton Award in 1992.

In response to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, Sheehan led efforts to establish the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC) in the early 1970s. He gathered representatives from the ranks of the clergy, religious communities and laity to lay the groundwork for a pastoral council that would share in the local church's decision-making process. Due to APC action, emphasis has been placed on improving family life, youth and young adult ministry, evangelization, social and rural life issues and Hispanic ministry. He led large capital campaigns to raise millions of dollars for archdiocesan improvements, including a $4.5 million refurbishment of the St. James Center. His final campaign had a goal of $25 million to pay for the building of Skutt Catholic High School and other capital needs in the Archdiocese of Omaha and its parishes

Retirement and legacy

Pope John Paul II accepted Sheehan's resignation as archbishop of Omaha on May 4, 1993. Daniel Sheehan died in Omaha on October 24, 2000, at age 83 of cancer. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Omaha.

In 2002, it was revealed Sheehan failed to remove Rev. Thomas Sellentin after numerous allegations of sexual abuse.

References

1. Kenrick Seminary Records, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
2. ^ "Archbishop Daniel Eugene Sheehan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
3. the Catholic University of America, School of Religious Studies, list of graduates, District of Columbia, U.S.
4. Archdiocese of Omaha, Archives, Chancery Office, 100 N 62nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
5. ^ "Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011.
6. Omaha World-Herald Newspaper 1987- 1993
7. "Daniel E. Sheehan". Find A Grave Memorial.
8. Omaha World Herald Newspaper 1993 - 1999
9. "Sex Abuse by Priest was Known Priests and Parishioners Say". Bishop Accountability. Retrieved July 12, 2020.

v t e Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha
Ordinaries	Bishops James Myles O'Gorman James O.Connor Richard Scannell Jeremiah James Harty Joseph Francis Rummel Archbishops James Hugh Ryan Gerald Thomas Bergan Daniel E. Sheehan Elden Francis Curtiss George Joseph Lucas
Auxiliary bishops	Daniel E. Sheehan Anthony Michael Milone
Churches	Cathedral St. Cecilia Cathedral Parishes St. Anthony's Church, Cedar Rapids St. Leonard Church, Madison Holy Family Shrine Holy Family Church, Omaha Immaculate Conception Church, Omaha Sacred Heart Church, Omaha St. Frances Cabrini Church, Omaha St. John's Church, Omaha St. Joseph Church, Omaha St. Bonaventure Church, Raeville
Education	Higher education Creighton University College of Saint Mary High schools Archbishop Bergan High School, Fremont Cedar Catholic High School, Hartington Central Catholic High School, West Point Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha Daniel J. Gross Catholic High School, Bellevue Duchesne Academy, Omaha Holy Family High School, Lindsay Marian High School, Omaha Mercy High School, Omaha Mount Michael Benedictine School, Omaha Norfolk Catholic High School, Norfolk Pope John XXIII Central Catholic High School, Elgin Roncalli Catholic High School, Omaha St. Francis High School, Humphrey St. Mary's High School, O'Neill Scotus Central Catholic High School, Columbus V. J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School, Omaha
Priests	Blase J. Cupich William Joseph Dendinger Edward J. Flanagan Joseph G. Hanefeldt Edward Joseph Hunkeler Patrick Aloysius Alphonsus McGovern John Linus Paschang
Other	Boys Town Notre Dame Academy and Convent Mount Michael Abbey Christ the King Priory Immaculata Monastery & Spirituality Center
Catholicism portal

• 1917 births
• 2000 deaths
• People from Thurston County, Nebraska
• Participants in the Second Vatican Council
• Roman Catholic archbishops of Omaha
• American Roman Catholic clergy of Irish descent
• 20th-century Roman Catholic archbishops in the United States