Fr. Simon Shaner, OSPPE

In this great season of joy, we are very happy to share an interview with Fr. Simon Shaner, OSPPE, who recently joined our Corpus Christi family as Assistant Pastor. Named for St. Simon the Zealous, Fr. Simon brings to us a special love for God and a fervent desire to serve His people.

Before coming to Buffalo, Fr. Simon had the challenging task of establishing a new parish community in Summerfield, Florida, called St. Mark’s. With the population increasing in that area the congregation grew rapidly, and Fr. Simon requested permission from the Diocese to build a church to accommodate the expanding flock. His energetic parishioners joined him in a very successful fund-raising campaign, and within a few years a beautiful new church was erected. The dedication took place on January 30, 2010, just days before Fr. Simon arrived to take up his duties at Corpus Christi. 

Ordained in 1996 for the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey, Fr. Simon entered the Pauline Order in 1999. He knew of the Doylestown Shrine having gone there as a child, and later visited as a Diocesan priest. Attracted by the orthodoxy and devotion of the Paulines, he has been happy serving God as a Religious, finding he “can be a priest anywhere.” “Priests are needed in everything. I have always enjoyed my priesthood, even with its sorrows and thorns; it is a wonderful privilege to celebrate the Mass every day.”

“It’s important to live a life of faith wherever we go. We live in a transitory society, in a culture always moving on and discovering new territory. It’s important to go forth in faith.” Fr. Simon finds joy in seeing people moving on in their spiritual journey, making progress, and even being called to sacrifice at an old age – as are many at St. Mark’s and at Corpus Christi. “I am inspired especially by St. Polycarp, who at the age of 86 had the privilege of giving his life for Christ.”

Another saint who has made a difference in Father’s life is his patron, St. Simon. Little is known about this apostle, whose feast day is celebrated on October 28, together with St. Jude Thaddeus, “saint of the impossible.” “St. Simon is St. Jude’s back-up,” Father Simon muses, “when he gets too busy handling all those requests.”

Father Simon is already in action here at Corpus Christi, responding to the needs of people every day. We are blessed to have him, and with his guidance and support we look forward to fulfilling the mission God has given us. As Father said, “We people of Corpus Christi have an opportunity to create something wonderful and fruitful for God. We need the Holy Spirit, good will, and lots of help – but most of all, we need patience. We will not accomplish much without all of that. Let us be patient with one another and with our plans for a future together.”