Rev Richard Vincent O'Shaughnessy SM

Richard was born in St Louis, Missouri, to Richard and Anna (Cosgrove) O'Shaughnessy on May 29, 1918. He was one of 12 children. Richard left a preparatory seminary in his junior year of high school and transferred to Southside High School (now St Mary's High School), where he met the Marianists. "I loved every minute I spent at that place, and it became a second home to me," Richard said. "I became very friendly with the brothers and looked for excuses to spend more time with them." After encouragement from several brothers, Richard entered the postulate at Maryhurst in Kirkwood, Missouri, on July 19, 1936 and entered the novitiate a year later at the same location. He professed first vows on August 15, 1937. After earning a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Dayton in 1940, he began his long career as a Catholic educator at Holy Redeemer High School in Detroit, where he spent four years. Richard then entered the seminary at the Benedictine Monastery of St Meinrad in southern Indiana and was ordained on May 27, 1947.

After his ordination, Fr. Richard says he became "the gypsy of the Province." Between 1948 and 1967, he taught at five St. Louis area high schools: Chaminade College Preparatory School, McBride High School, Maryhurst Novitiate, St Mary's High School, and Central High School (later Assumption High School) in East St Louis IL. Fr Richard taught English, history and Latin and earned a master's degree in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1962.

Fr Richard taught at Villa St Jean in Fribourg, Switzerland, from 1967 until 1968. Upon his return to the United States, he taught three years at Roncalli High School in Pueblo, Colorado, before taking a break from teaching to serve as a chaplain at the second novitiate in New Haven, Missouri, and then at the novitiate in Galesville, Wisconsin. He spent the mid-1970s teaching at Chaminade and Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth, Texas, before returning to New Haven. To many, Fr Richard was affectionately known as "Fr Osh." Between 1977 and 1985, Fr Richard served as a teacher and chaplain at Gross Catholic High School in Omaha, Nebraska, and Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, Texas. Outside the classroom, Fr Richard moderated the drama, speech and mothers' clubs, as well as the school newspaper. He authored articles for religious magazines, directed retreats and served as a confessor to religious women. He also was known for his cooking abilities.

Fr Richard settled in at St Mary's in 1984 and with the exception of a brief period in Ireland, served there until 2008. Fr Richard had wanted to live in Ireland, the land of his ancestors, and although he loved the country, he missed his family and returned to St Louis to teach at St Mary's after two years abroad. In his later years, he was limited to teaching a single college credit course, but was still committed to the classroom. In September 2008, the St Mary's High School community gathered for an all-school Mass to honor Fr Richard and his years of service to the school and the mayor of St Louis proclaimed the date as Fr Richard O'Shaughnessy Day. As part of the celebration, the school dedicated the "Father Richard O'Shaughnessy Center for Faith Formation." The garden in front of the school contains a pedestal with a plaque that bears Fr. Richard's picture and words of praise for his long service. "May his guiding spirit always be with us," the plaque reads.

Fr Richard founded a Lay Marianist group of faculty, staff and parents at St Mary's, a vibrant group he enjoyed working with. "The Lay Marianist movement at St Mary's was Fr Richard's idea, his inspiration," Kevin Hacker said. "The program lives on because of Fr Richard. It's keeping the Marianist charism alive. He was a perfect example of the Marianist charism." In 2007, Fr Richard wrote: "I have discovered how hungry people are for spirituality, and working with them, I find myself more conscious of God in my life."

Rev Richard O'Shaughnessy, priest of the Marianist Residence (San Antonio), died in the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary on June 29, 2011 in San Antonio TX, at the age of 93, with 73 years of religious profession. Interment took place at Maryhurst Cemetery on St John Vianney High School grounds (1311 S Kirkwood Rd, Kirkwood MO 63122).

Rev Richard Vincent O'Shaughnessy SM

Richard was born in St Louis, Missouri, to Richard and Anna (Cosgrove) O'Shaughnessy on May 29, 1918. He was one of 12 children. Richard left a preparatory seminary in his junior year of high school and transferred to Southside High School (now St Mary's High School), where he met the Marianists. "I loved every minute I spent at that place, and it became a second home to me," Richard said. "I became very friendly with the brothers and looked for excuses to spend more time with them." After encouragement from several brothers, Richard entered the postulate at Maryhurst in Kirkwood, Missouri, on July 19, 1936 and entered the novitiate a year later at the same location. He professed first vows on August 15, 1937. After earning a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Dayton in 1940, he began his long career as a Catholic educator at Holy Redeemer High School in Detroit, where he spent four years. Richard then entered the seminary at the Benedictine Monastery of St Meinrad in southern Indiana and was ordained on May 27, 1947.

After his ordination, Fr. Richard says he became "the gypsy of the Province." Between 1948 and 1967, he taught at five St. Louis area high schools: Chaminade College Preparatory School, McBride High School, Maryhurst Novitiate, St Mary's High School, and Central High School (later Assumption High School) in East St Louis IL. Fr Richard taught English, history and Latin and earned a master's degree in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1962.

Fr Richard taught at Villa St Jean in Fribourg, Switzerland, from 1967 until 1968. Upon his return to the United States, he taught three years at Roncalli High School in Pueblo, Colorado, before taking a break from teaching to serve as a chaplain at the second novitiate in New Haven, Missouri, and then at the novitiate in Galesville, Wisconsin. He spent the mid-1970s teaching at Chaminade and Nolan Catholic High School in Fort Worth, Texas, before returning to New Haven. To many, Fr Richard was affectionately known as "Fr Osh." Between 1977 and 1985, Fr Richard served as a teacher and chaplain at Gross Catholic High School in Omaha, Nebraska, and Central Catholic High School in San Antonio, Texas. Outside the classroom, Fr Richard moderated the drama, speech and mothers' clubs, as well as the school newspaper. He authored articles for religious magazines, directed retreats and served as a confessor to religious women. He also was known for his cooking abilities.

Fr Richard settled in at St Mary's in 1984 and with the exception of a brief period in Ireland, served there until 2008. Fr Richard had wanted to live in Ireland, the land of his ancestors, and although he loved the country, he missed his family and returned to St Louis to teach at St Mary's after two years abroad. In his later years, he was limited to teaching a single college credit course, but was still committed to the classroom. In September 2008, the St Mary's High School community gathered for an all-school Mass to honor Fr Richard and his years of service to the school and the mayor of St Louis proclaimed the date as Fr Richard O'Shaughnessy Day. As part of the celebration, the school dedicated the "Father Richard O'Shaughnessy Center for Faith Formation." The garden in front of the school contains a pedestal with a plaque that bears Fr. Richard's picture and words of praise for his long service. "May his guiding spirit always be with us," the plaque reads.

Fr Richard founded a Lay Marianist group of faculty, staff and parents at St Mary's, a vibrant group he enjoyed working with. "The Lay Marianist movement at St Mary's was Fr Richard's idea, his inspiration," Kevin Hacker said. "The program lives on because of Fr Richard. It's keeping the Marianist charism alive. He was a perfect example of the Marianist charism." In 2007, Fr Richard wrote: "I have discovered how hungry people are for spirituality, and working with them, I find myself more conscious of God in my life."

Rev Richard O'Shaughnessy, priest of the Marianist Residence (San Antonio), died in the service of the Blessed Virgin Mary on June 29, 2011 in San Antonio TX, at the age of 93, with 73 years of religious profession. Interment took place at Maryhurst Cemetery on St John Vianney High School grounds (1311 S Kirkwood Rd, Kirkwood MO 63122).