College Bids Farewell to Late Tutor Laurence L. Shields

“Shock, dismay, sadness,” began Rev. Michael Hurley, O.P. (’99), in his homily Saturday at the funeral Mass for Laurence L. Shields, a, 50-year member of the Thomas Aquinas College, California, teaching faculty, who died suddenly on November 11. “The state of mind and heart of the disciples that we hear in todays’ Gospel in many ways reflects our own state of heart as we gather here to mourn our beloved departed.”

The reading, St. Luke’s account of Christ’s appearance on the Road to Emmaus, “does not at first present itself as a funeral reading,” Fr. Hurley explained.  Yet Mr. Shields’ family was wise to select it, he continued. “Notice that the Risen Christ in the Gospel is always encountered by those who are grieving, those who are mourning, those are seeking, and who are searching.”

Those who were mourning and grieving — Mr. Shields’ friends, colleagues, family members, and students, past and present — filled Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel for the morning’s Rosary and Mass. And the “beloved departed” they had come to mourn was famous for always searching. Mr. Shields “was a very gentle soul,” said Fr. Hurley, “but he would ruthlessly search, indomitably seek for the truth.”

The congregation itself was a testament to Mr. Shields and the many people whose lives he has influenced: Serving as pallbearers were his seven sons and sons-in-law. Assisting the priests at the altar were six grandson acolytes. Sixteen granddaughters and a grandniece brough the gifts of bread and wine to the sanctuary. The choir director, most of the singers, the organist, and three of the dozen priests concelebrating the Mass — including Fr. Hurley and the principal celebrant, Rev. Augustine Hilander, O.P. (’99) — were former students.

As the choir filled the Chapel with favorite hymns such as “Spirit Seeking Light and Beauty” and “The King of Love My Shepherd Is,” Fr. Hilander nourished the faithful with the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The community prayed together for the repose of Mr. Shields’ soul, remembering well his cheerful and thoughtful manner, especially his constant willingness to help others in their own search for truth.

“Even though he was often the smartest person in the room, he never made you feel dumb,” said Fr. Hurley. “He followed and imitated his great intellectual hero, Thomas Aquinas.” And just as Christ revealed Himself on the Road to Emmaus by breaking open the Scriptures through conversation, Mr. Shields revealed Christ to his students by helping them make sense of the Scriptures, in countless conversations, whether around the classroom table or over breakfast in St. Joseph Commons.

Following the Mass, the congregation made its way to Santa Paula Cemetery, where Mr. Shields was laid to rest among many other of the College’s other pioneers, including Founding President Dr. Ronald P. McArthur and his recently departed wife, Marilyn; Dr. McArthur’s successor, Dr. Thomas E. Dillon; and TAC co-founder Dr. John W. Neumayr. The group then made its way back to campus for a reception in St. Joseph Commons.

There, as friends enjoyed lunch and a video slideshow of Mr. Shields throughout the decades, several family members and colleagues shared their remembrances. “He's been such a fixture here for 50 years,” said Dean John J. Goyette (’90), who had Mr. Shields as his tutor for Freshman Language and Sophomore Seminar some 35 years ago. “He loved to engage in conversations with his students — he was so dedicated to that.”

Another of his former students, President Paul J. O’Reilly (’84), observed that, like C. S. Lewis, Mr. Shields had four loves: his family, learning, his students, and — most of all — God Himself. “He loved God, not in some abstract way, but very concretely,” said Dr. O’Reilly. “He loved God sacramentally, and that’s why he attended daily Mass and was so active in his parish. And he loved God in Scripture.”

Addressing Mrs. Shields and their family, Dr. O’Reilly concluded, “We thank you for allowing us to mourn with you. We thank you for giving us the privilege of having Larry’s funeral Mass at the College. We will return this thanks by praying for the repose of Larry’s soul and your consolation.”

And in so praying, Mr. Shields’ friends and family members were able to experience, in a tangible way, the very grace that Fr. Hurley had anticipated in his homily only hours earlier, referencing the road to Emmaus. “For all of us gathering together, making our prayers for one another,” the priest said, “we, too, have the opportunity to experience the Risen Lord in our midst.”