Background
Sheldon, Gilbert Ignatius was born on September 20, 1926 in Cleveland. Son of Ignatius Peter and Stephanie Josephine (Olszewski) Sheldon.
Sheldon, Gilbert Ignatius was born on September 20, 1926 in Cleveland. Son of Ignatius Peter and Stephanie Josephine (Olszewski) Sheldon.
He received his early education at the parochial school of Saint Phillip Neri Church, and then attended Cathedral Latin High School. He studied at John Carroll University before beginning his studies for the priesthood at Saint Mary"s Seminary and Graduate School of Theology, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Ohio Consortium of Seminaries.
He was the third Bishop of Steubenville between 1992 and 2002, having previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland from 1976 to 1992. Sheldon was ordained a priest by Archbishop Edward F. Hoban on February 28, 1953. Between 1953 and 1964, he served as an associate pastor at Saint Rose"s Church in Cleveland, Saint Clare"s Church in Lyndhurst, and Steamship Philip and James Church in Cleveland.
He was diocesan director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith from 1964 to 1974.
From 1974 to 1976, Sheldon served as pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Oberlin and episcopal vicar of Lorain County. He also served as chaplain at Magnificat High School, for Serra West, and of the West Park Knights of Columbus.
Cleveland
On April 12, 1976, Sheldon was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Cleveland and Titular Bishop of Taparura by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on the following June 11 from Bishop James A. Hickey, with Archbishop Joseph Bernardin and Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann serving as co-consecrators. As an auxiliary bishop, he was named vicar for Marriage and Family Concerns (1976) and vicar of Summit County (1978).
In 1979, he became vicar of the Southern Region of the diocese, including Summit, Medina, Wayne, and Ashland Counties.
Sheldon was director of missions when the Diocese of Cleveland became the only Catholic diocese in the United States to sponsor a mission in El Salvador. Sheldon faced public controversy in 1984 when he asserted authority over the Bread of Life Community, a religious group which was accused of cultlike practices. After an investigation, he chastised the group for unequal treatment of female members and for its doctrines.
The group"s official ecclesiastical authorization was withdrawn in 1985.
Steubenville
On January 28, 1992, Sheldon was appointed the Bishop of Steubenville by Pope John Paul World War II As bishop, he presided over the newest and most sparsely populated of Ohio"s six Catholic dioceses. After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Sheldon resigned as Bishop of Steubenville on May 31, 2002.
He was succeeded by Father Robert Daniel Conlon, a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
Member of advisory board International Chemical Workers. Member economics advisory board Akron U. Clergy. Member Summit Mental Health Advisory Board.
Member Summit chapter National Cancer Society. Member Goals for Greater Akron. Served with United States Army Air Force, 1944-1945.
Member National Conference Catholic Bishops (administrative board since 1985), American Legion, Catholic War Veterans, Knights of Columbus, Order of Alhambra., Rotary Club Akron and Steubenville.