NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The Archdiocese of Santa Fe announced Saturday that a former archbishop has died. Michael Sheehan passed away at the age of 83.
A spokesperson for the church said he dedicated his life to the service of god and his community, leaving a mark on the hearts of those around him.
He became the eleventh archbishop of Santa Fe in 1993 and retired in June 2015.
In 2018, he announced he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. More information will be provided on funeral arrangements at a later time.
New Mexico’s Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, issued the following statement regarding Sheehan’s passing:
“Archbishop Emeritus Sheehan will be remembered for his three decades of steadfast leadership in our state. After he retired as the head of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, his service to New Mexico did not waver as he continued his outreach to communities using his motto of ‘Love One Another Constantly,’ as a foundation for his work. While we did not agree on everything, his leadership on early childhood education and immigration were areas of collaboration that I’m grateful for and I will always be appreciative of his counsel. Archbishop Emeritus Sheehan will be missed. I send my sincere condolences to his family and congregations.”
Michelle Lujan Grisham
