Andrew Shiels was born in Falkirk in 1921. He was educated at Campion House, the Jesuit-run pre-seminary college in Osterley, west London. He then attended Oscott College in Birmingham. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh in 1954.

His first Parish as assistant Priest was Gorebridge where he was placed from 1954 and 1955. He was then transferred as assistant Priest to St Columba's Edinburgh in 1955 where he was to remain for 7 years until 1962. His third Parish was St Mary Magdalane's Portobello in Edinburgh again as assistant Priest from 1962 to 1968.

It was then that he was transferred to St Patrick's Kilsyth in 1968 as assistant Priest to Canon Thomas McGarvie who was Parish Priest of St Patrick's at that time. This move to Kilsyth reunited Fr Shiels with his brother Charles, who was a teacher at St Patrick's Junior High School in Backbrae Street. His time in St Patrick's was to liast until 1971.

Fr Shiels was then transferred as Parish Priest to St Joseph's Kelty in Fife for 9 years from 1971 to 1980. His final Parish was Our Lady and St Bridget in West Calder from 1980 to 1984.

Fr Shiels died in his home town of Falkirk on 12th Oct 1984 at the age of 63. May he rest in peace.