Globe trotting, scuba diving photog never has to clean the litter box

Father William “Bill” Shannon, 63, was born and raised in Springfield, Mass., and has one sister, Dorothy Shea. Ordained a Capuchin Franciscan priest on Sept. 11, 1971, in Yonkers, N.Y., Father Shannon worked as a seminary teacher in New England for five years, as an administrator for the Capuchins in White Plains, N.Y., for 11 years, and as a parish priest in upstate New York for nine years. He was assigned to Hawaii in August 1996 and three years later was incardinated into the Diocese of Honolulu. Father Shannon has served at parishes on Oahu and Maui and is now pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Lihue, Kauai.

1. What is your favorite childhood memory?

My happiest childhood memories are of Christmas family gatherings at the country farm houses of both sets of my grandparents.

2. If you hadn’t become a priest, what would you have been?

If I didn’t become a priest, I would probably have followed two of my hobbies, photography and scuba diving, and would have become an underwater photographer. My initial scuba training was in New York State in these mountain top lakes. Later I trained in advanced scuba diving training and underwater photography in the Caribbean.

3. What other hobbies do you have?

My present hobbies include photography and working out at a local gym three days a week.

4. What is your favorite Bible passage and why?

Romans 1:11-13: “For I long to see you, that I may share with you some spiritual gift so that you may be strengthened, that is, you and I may be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith, yours and mine.” It’s the idea of a mutual sharing of faith, something that I know that I have to give and that I know I will receive just as much back from the people whom I serve.

5. Do you have any pets? If so, what kind?

This summer I bought a “robot cat” that breathes and sleeps, operating on a D battery. It looks extremely real. Even other cats and animals will cautiously go and look, and when they see it breathe, they jump back.

6. Who in this world would you like most to meet?

I would love to sit down and have a meal or an informal conversation, one-on-one, with the pope. I guess one of his most admirable points is his intellect. He’s one of the most intellectual popes we’ve had in recent times.

7. What countries have you visited?

I have visited the Holy Land, Egypt, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Canada, various islands in the Caribbean, Guam, Japan, Okinawa, China, Australia and New Zealand. I think the most memorable in many ways was China. The depth of history there was just fascinating.

8. What is the biggest challenge facing the Catholic Church today?

Finding creative and effective ways to reach out to former Catholics and inactive Catholics.