The calling to the priesthood came late in life for Fr Jim Shelton, yet with the benefit of 60 years of life experience, a keen intellect and an overwhelming love for God and his people, the American born priest demonstrated daily the sense of love and duty that fills the heart of a good and faithful servant.
Born in 1933 in the state of Ohio, Fr Shelton was raised during the Great Depression in one of the hardest hit areas to be effected by the global economic collapse: by 1933, more than 40 per cent of Ohio’s factory workers and 67 per cent of construction workers were unemployed.
Fr Shelton’s childhood was spent during an era when many Americans left the cities to return to farming in an attempt to realise self-sufficiency and people lucky enough to keep their jobs had their rates and hours cut: Fr Shelton was all too familiar with the fallout of a global crisis.
His was the era of Roosevelt’s New Deal and the hardship that Fr Shelton witnessed during his formative years would leave a lasting impact, shaping his views on the necessity of Catholic charity and his firm belief in the power of positive political action.
“Fr Shelton had a tremendous sense of history,” reflected his American friend and fellow priest, Fr Thomas Vander Woude.
“He lived through so many events in our country, he saw our culture change in society and in the Church and he gave a good perspective of events and ideas.
“How many people can say they travelled around the world, literally? Or walked in the funeral procession of Martin Luther King with Bobby Kennedy? Or, took the trans-Siberian railway from Beijing to Europe – when Russia was the Soviet Union?”
During his time in WA, Fr Shelton gave generous and dedicated service in the Archdiocese of Perth, serving at St Mary’s Cathedral, Bassendean Parish and as Chaplain to All Saints Chapel.
He inspired many to embrace devotion to the Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus and, being fluent in Spanish, helped Perth’s Spanish speaking community conduct a range of religious activities.
Fr Shelton returned to the USA in early 2011, as the resident retired priest at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, Virginia, where he assisted by offering Mass in Spanish, the Extraordinary Form of Mass and a number of daily Masses as well as facilitating confessions each week.
“He has been a great help with our various Legion of Mary praesidia throughout the years – always spending time on his talks,” Fr Thomas said.
“Despite various health challenges in recent years, he was as active as he could be in his priesthood.”
Similarly, Fr Shelton served the students of Virginia’s Holy Family Academy for many years, offering Mass at the school and hearing confessions three days a week.
“The students will always remember his generosity, which was illustrated by his desire to continue celebrating Mass even when he had to be helped up and down the steps to the high altar,” shared Holy Family Academy’s Headmaster, Mr Mo Woltering.
“The servers will always remember how special it was to lend their arms to Father while he negotiated the steps and I will always remember how special it was to pick him up and drop him off.
“He was a man of the Church, both as priest and layman, all his life.”
Fr Shelton passed away on 29 July, 2020, Virginia, USA.