Rev. Michael J. Sheridan

Rev. Michael J. Sheridan, 75, died Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston.

Father Michael was born on November 18, 1948 in Syracuse, N.Y., one of fourteen children to William C. and Catherine (Purcell) Sheridan.

After graduating from St. John’s Academy in Syracuse. Father Michael began his studies for the priesthood at Wadhams Hall Seminary College, Ogdensburg, N.Y. and continued at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Conn. He earned his theology degree in 1975 at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore.

Father Michael was ordained as a priest of the Diocese of Worcester by Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan in 1975.  In the 1970s and 1980s, he was an associate pastor at Holy Family of Nazareth Parish in Leominster, St. Luke’s Parish in Westborough, St. Peter's Parish in Northbridge, St. Mary’s Parish in Southbridge, St. Louis Parish in Webster, and St. Joseph's Parish in North Brookfield. 

Father Michael also ministered in the Diocese of Portland in Maine.  He was a Chaplain at the Maine State Prison in Thomaston before becoming a Pastor for the Passamaquoddy Native American Reservation in Indian Township, Maine. He served several years as pastor of Holy Name Parish in Machias, Maine, before returning to Massachusetts. He then joined the parish staff at St. Anne’s Church in Southborough.  He was Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Dudley before retiring in 2018. 

He leaves his sisters, Marie Feiman and Anne Yager, and his brother, Daniel Sheridan; brothers-in-laws, sisters-in-laws, and many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his brothers Donald, William, Phillip, Patrick and Martin, and his sisters Lenore Sheridan, Eileen Whitham, Catherine Chanley, Margaret DeCerce and Mary Elizabeth Sheridan.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Tuesday, January 23, at 11 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Church, 555 Pleasant St., Worcester.  Worcester Bishop Robert J. McManus will be the Principal Celebrant. Burial will be St. John’s Cemetery, Worcester.

In lieu of flowers, the Sheridan family suggests donations to St. Aloysius Church, P.O. Box 542, Gilbertville, MA 01031-0542.