Name Thaddeus Shubsda | Died 1991 | |
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Thaddeus Anthony "Ted" Shubsda (April 2, 1925—April 26, 1991) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Monterey in California from 1982 until his death in 1991.
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Early life and education
Thaddeus Shubsda was born in Los Angeles, California, to Julius and Mary (née Jelski) Shubsda. His parents were Polish immigrants from Sitkowo in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. He received his early education at local public schools, and attended lessons in the Polish language at the Polish Hall on Avalon Avenue. In 1936, he enrolled at Our Lady of Lourdes School. He graduated from Verdugo Hills High School in 1939, and then entered Los Angeles College, the minor seminary of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He completed his studies at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo.
Priesthood
Shubsda was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal James Francis McIntyre on April 26, 1950. He celebrated his first Mass at Our Lady of Bright Mount Church in Los Angeles. He served as a curate at San Antonio de Padua Church and St. Vibiana's Cathedral, and was a member of the matrimonial tribunal from 1964 to 1968. Shubsda was named a monsignor by Pope Paul VI in 1965, and became associate director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in 1968. For thirty years, he served as spiritual director for the Catholic Labor Institute. He served as pastor of St. Paul's Church in Los Angeles from 1971 to 1980.
Los Angeles
On December 20, 1976, Shubsda was appointed auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles and titular bishop of Tragurium by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on February 19, 1977, from Cardinal Timothy Manning, with Bishops John J. Ward and Juan Alfredo Arzube serving as co-consecrators. As an auxiliary bishop, he continued to serve as pastor of St. Paul's and was named regional bishop of the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region.
Monterey
Following the resignation of Bishop Harry Anselm Clinch, Shubsda was named Bishop of Monterey by Pope John Paul II on May 26, 1982. He was widely regarded as an expert on labor issues and social justice, and earned a reputation as an outspoken advocate of farm and factory workers in the diocese. He acted as a mediator in the Watsonville frozen food strikes, and spoke out forcefully for better living conditions for field workers after some had been found living in caves in Salinas. His actions prompted César Chávez to remark, "The church has many flaws, but in many ways it is still the best friend we have." He hosted John Paul II's visit to the Monterey Peninsula in September 1987, and actively promoted the beatification of Spanish missionary Junípero Serra.
Shubsda was diagnosed with melanoma in September 1990, and died seven months later due to complications from cancer at age 66.