Community Gathers to Honor Fr. Michael Shannon’s Life of Joyful Service
The Funeral Mass of Fr. Michael Shannon, LC, was held on March 24 at St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church in Cumming, Georgia, drawing together brother Legionary priests, parishioners, family, friends, and Regnum Christi members to honor a priest whose decades of ministry spanned continents and touched countless lives. The liturgy offered gratitude for Fr. Michael’s faithful service and enduring witness, which were marked with kindness, humility, and above all, joy.
Born July 4, 1955, in Brooklyn, New York, and raised on Long Island, Fr. Michael discerned his call to the priesthood and entered the Legionary of Christ novitiate in Cheshire, Connecticut, in 1981. He completed his priestly formation in the United States, Spain, Ireland, and Rome before being ordained a Legionary priest on August 20, 1993.
For Fr. Michael, the priesthood was truly an adventure. Throughout his nearly 33 years of priestly ministry, he served around the world, in Europe, Mexico, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and across the United States. In early 2021, Fr. Michael arrived at St. Brendan the Navigator parish, where he had been serving as parochial vicar for the last four years.
Fr. Michael passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 18 at the age of 70.
The Most Reverend Bernard E. Schlesinger III, auxiliary bishop of Atlanta, was the principal celebrant of the funeral Mass. Concelebrants included Most Reverend John Nhan Tran, auxiliary bishop of Atlanta; Fr. Scott Reilly, LC, pastor of St. Brendan’s; Fr. Bruce Wren, LC, superior of the LC community to which Fr. Michael belonged; and Fr. Shawn Aaron, LC, territorial director of the Legionaries of Christ for North America. In all, 33 priests concelebrated the Mass.
In his homily, Fr. Shawn invited the congregation to see Fr. Michael’s passing as a moment in which he continues to speak to and guide those he served.
“Even in his death, he is still preaching, if we will let him; he’s still teaching, if we will open our ears. He’s still communicating, ‘I am not made for this earth, I pass through it, let it not distract me, let it not become an obstacle to the even greater things that I am made for, the impact that I’m meant to have,’”
said Fr. Shawn.
“If Fr. Michael could teach us one more thing, it would be to learn how to use the time we still have.”
“This was the day he said, ‘I will follow where you lead, and I know it will entail a cross. As we go forward, let us too say yes to the demands of love, of faith, and of self-giving, to which we know we are called.”
Book of Condolences
You are invited to sign our book of condolences here. Your prayers and remembrances are deeply valued.
Memorial Donations
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Fr. Michael’s Legionary Community or to St. Brendan the Navigator parish in his honor are gratefully accepted.
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Fr. John Bartunek was ordained in 2003. He has taught moral theology at various ecclesiastical institutions at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has authored many books, including the Gospel companion, The Better Part, and Inside the Passion, the only authorized behind-the-scenes look at the film, for which he provided on-set spiritual support. His online retreat guides are available in multiple formats at RCSpirituality.org. Fr. John currently resides in Atlanta, where he is serving as territorial vicar for the Legionaries of Christ.
