After World War I, Bishop Sheil continued as chaplain at an Illinois prison. This is where a significant change happened in his career. At the time, the State of Illinois not only had capital punishment (the electric chair). He was serving at the prison offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation to a young man who was sentenced to be executed.
He believed the young people being put to death were no different than millions of others young people in their potential. They didn’t have a chance and were victims of broken homes and neglect. He began to dedicate his life’s work to the Christian development of young boys and girls. Bishop Shiel would often say quote the right of children to play is the inalienable right of childhood but their recreation should be wholesome and supervised”
Boxing with CYO
In 1930, with the blessing of the Cardinal, Bishop Sheil founded the Catholic Youth Organization which was better known as the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization). It was in organization to promote catholic youth as a recreational, educational and religious program, unbiased and prejudice against race, Creed or color. The program soon snowballed into an organization that included all sports in practically every means to help young people cope in society.
But these sports activities needed a home. When Bishop Sheil became the pastor of Saint Andrew, the home for CYO became Saint Andrew which would need a bigger gym.
The CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) was just the beginning of an innumerable list of Catholic organizations, foundations, publications in establishments Bishop shield left in his path.
After his arrival in 1935, the parish knew that they would have to share their pastor with the rest of the city and the entire nation. He was certainly a man on the go becoming a world traveler, rubbing elbows with popes, presidents and celebrities.
In 1937 the population of the school continued to outgrow the school building once again, so the apartment building just E of the school was purchased by Bishop Sheil. It was the only building that wouldn’t sell out while the original construction of the school took place in 1926. Under the guidance of the associate priest in a group of loyal parishioners, the building was remodeled into 3 classrooms and living quarters for the visiting clergy and missionaries. The building became known as the school annex.
One of Bishop Sheil’s spiritual accomplishments in the church was the formation of the adoration Guild which drew pub parishioners closer to Christ with the introduction of holy hour period he instituted the practice of novenas every Tuesday and added more masses each week.
When the parish turned 50 years old and one would expect it to hold a Golden Jubilee, the nation was at the height of the Second World War. At the time Bishop Sheil was very busy courting political and celebrity figures around the nation and around the world, especially with the advancement of the CYO. Therefor Father Edward T Boyle served as acting pastor in the bishop’s absence. During the time of war, he supervised numerous projects for the benefit of the men and women in the armed forces.
