A weekend filled with significant milestones saw the Diocese of Parramatta celebrate the 50th Sacerdotal anniversary of retired priest Fr Kevin Walsh at St John XXIII Catholic Church, Stanhope Gardens.
Formerly a priest of the Passionists religious order, preaching and by walking with today’s “crucified”, Fr Walsh later became a Diocesan priest at St John XXIII, before retiring in 2011.
Fr Walsh’s Golden Jubilee was honoured with a Mass celebrated by Bishop of Parramatta Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv at St John XXIII Catholic College in Stanhope Gardens on Sunday 8 December 2024.
Other significant milestones acknowledged during the Mass included Bishop Vincent’s 40-year anniversary as the first Vietnamese person to profess as a Conventual Franciscan in Kellyville, as well as other priestly anniversaries in the Diocese.
During his homily, Bishop Vincent said, “With great joy we celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Fr Walsh, his sister Genny Walsh and Sisters of Charity, friends and others we have welcomed from the clergy.”
Fr Walsh’s speech brought the full congregation to laughter, as he disclosed he “cannot stand long sermons”.
“Seeing all your faces remind me of many things. You are a microcosm of the community that I have been blessed to be with, here and overseas,” Fr Walsh said.
“I have done three novitiates in my life, Fr Walsh said as he stated the periods he felt he has been a novice.
“The first novitiate was in my family. The second novitiate was with my brother Passionists. And the third novitiate is in this Diocese.”
Fr Kevin Walsh speaks during Mass. Image: Owen Pangcog
A reflection on his service to God and the community
Fr Walsh said he felt “privileged” to have been able to share in the lives of so many people and to proclaim God’s word.
“Being a priest is to humbly lead people in prayer and together in mission to assist in bringing about the kingdom of God.”
Fr Walsh shared why he decided to join the priesthood.
“I became a priest because the influence that assisted my decision was the fact that my mother and father were very much involved in ministry as we were growing up as kids. And hence, priests and religious in our house were a common thing,” he said.
“After seeing so many people that I admired, and particularly, the love of my parents for the poor, it just was a natural response to become a priest.”
Fr Walsh spoke about the Passionists order, a 300-year old congregation founded by St Paul of the Cross that began in Ovada, near Milan, Italy. The first Passionists arrived in Australia in 1843. Central to its charism is the balance of mission and contemplation, with lives divided between solitude and silence, as well as apostolic works in the community.
“I was drawn to the Passionist tradition through the down-to-earth priests that I had met as a child and through attending a number of parish missions given by Passionists. I wanted to be like them,” Fr Walsh said.
“I come from a preaching congregation, so preaching has been number one sort of aspect in our missionary life.”
The priesthood has not always been smooth sailing though, and Fr Walsh mentioned that “understanding other cultures” has been challenging.
“With such a multicultural society in Australia, it is paramount for me and priests to be familiar with the spiritualities and customs of the people and clergy and religious that come to this country. And so, the challenge is to learn and to listen to them in order to work together as a community.”
His inspiration comes from his parents and sister, as well as “many of the priests and religious that have been pastorally very kind to me over the years.”
(L-R) Fr Kevin Hennessy CP, Fr Joseph Dominic CP, Fr David King CP, Fr Ron Davoren CP and Fr Kevin Walsh. Image: Owen Pangcog
Advice for others discerning religious life
Sharing advice to those considering joining the priesthood, Fr Walsh said, “We are joining the priesthood as a foot washer of Jesus.”
“We are called to live a simple lifestyle. We are called to be people of prayer. We are called to be people of compassion. We are called to be people who recognise the brokenness in others through seeing the brokenness in ourselves.”
Although retired, Fr Walsh is occasionally “invited out of the antique shop to administer to the sick and the dying” and is a chaplain at Catholic Healthcare – MacKillop House Norwest in Baulkham Hills.
Fr Walsh now spends a lot of his time with his pooch, Shauna; a cross between a border collie and a foxy.
“She is an angel in fur form, and it is she who must be obeyed,” he said, while enjoying hobbies including gardening, cooking, electronics, astronomy and trains.
Fr Kevin Walsh and his dog Shauna. Image: supplied by Fr Walsh.
Words of support
“Father Kevin Walsh has been a good friend of mine for many years from the time he moved into the Diocese,” said Fr Zvonimir Gavranovic from St Nicholas of Myra Parish in Penrith.
“The maturity and the richness of that 50-year experience comes through, the wisdom and there’s a freedom there, the freedom of the children of God,” he said.
St John XXIII Parish Priest Fr Jolly Chacko MS said, “He is a very kind-hearted and funny man, a good friend. It’s wonderful to celebrate his 50 years of priesthood. A great blessing. Not to him but to the church. Thank God for this wonderful day.”
Older sister Sr Genny Walsh RSC shared her sentiments. “Today was a celebration of someone who has tried to be like Christ in the midst of the people. Jesus was a poor man and Kevin gravitates towards the poor,” she said.
“You don’t have to be poor in clothing, you can be poor in mind, you can be in need, sorrows, passing of relatives or friends. Kevin has always been someone who wanted to be there and that’s what we’re celebrating.”
(L-R) Fr Kevin Walsh, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv and newly ordained Fr Menard Gaspi during Mass. Image: Owen Pangcog
Sr Walsh shared that Fr Kevin has been a good brother, “thoughtful, caring, watchful and great.”
“We’ve celebrated so much. Mum and dad would be so proud,” she said.
St John XXIII parishioners said Fr Walsh left a lasting impression on them.
“I remember when he was at my parish, I was in my early teens. He always had the best homily,” Rebecca Reynolds said.
“When I first moved to the parish in 2010, he was transitioning to another parish,” added Vincent Gracias.
“He was well loved, always very interactive and one-on-one with the people. He left good memories in the initial months that he was at the parish.
“I wish him well for the future.”
