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Henry A. Walsh

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Fr. Henry A. Walsh

Henry A. Walsh was an American priest of the Archdiocese of Boston.

Personal life

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Walsh was born in Newton, Massachusetts but moved as a child to East Boston where he attended the Chapman School.[1] He then attended Boston College and graduated in 1883.[1] He attended the Grand Séminaire de Montréal for several years until Saint John's Seminary in Boston was complete.[1] Once it was, he transferred to St. John's and was ordained as a member of their first class.[1]

He had two brothers, Richard L., who was also a priest, and Edward B.[2] Both priests were on the altar when Edward was married.[2]

Ministry

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He was ordained June 25, 1887 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross by Bishop Matthew Harkins.[3] He was well known within the diocese.[4][1]

Walsh's first assignment was to St. Mary's Church in Randolph, Massachusetts.[1][5][6] He remained there for 10 years.[1] Walsh then spent 10 years as an assistant pastor at St. Charles' parish in Woburn, Massachusetts.[1][4][7] In 1902, while saying mass for more than 700 people, a fire was discovered in the church.[1] Walsh alerted the congregation and asked them to calmly leave the church, which they did.[1]

In 1908, Walsh became a pastor for the first time at Sacred Heart Church in South Natick.[1][4] In 1917, Walsh was made the first pastor of a newly created parish in Needham, Massachusetts.[4]

When Walsh was transferred from Needham to St. Mary's Church in Dedham, a public reception was held for him at the town hall.[8] He arrived in Dedham on July 16, 1923.[9][10] As the construction on the church had recently been finished, Walsh was able to focus on the various groups and societies within the parish.[10] His pastorate ended with his death in 1929.[11][10]

Death

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Walsh died on February 2, 1929, at the St. Mary's rectory of pneumonia.[12] As his body lay in state in the church, delegations from various societies took turns standing as honor guards as the public filed by.[12] A mass was said for the repose of his soul at 8 a.m. for the children of the parish, and a solemn Requiem Mass was said at 10 am.[13]

The church, which has a seating capacity of 1,500,[14][15] was not big enough for all those who wished to attend.[13] In attendance were other priests from the Archdiocese, clergy from other denominations, government officials, parishioners, and residents.[13] The priests' choir provided music.[13] The honorary pallbearers came from the ranks of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.[13] He was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "To South Natick". The Boston Globe. January 10, 1908. p. 14. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Walsh-Murray". The Boston Globe. October 25, 1887. p. 5. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "Ordination of priests". The Boston Globe. June 2, 1887. p. 5. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d "Cardinal creates parish in Needham". The Boston Globe. April 26, 1917. p. 8. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  5. ^ Byrne et al. 1899, p. 333.
  6. ^ Sullivan 1895, p. 699.
  7. ^ Byrne et al. 1899, p. 273.
  8. ^ "Needham". The Boston Globe. September 18, 1923. p. 13. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  9. ^ "Dedham". The Boston Globe. July 13, 1923. p. 6. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  10. ^ a b c St. Mary's Church, Dedham, Massachusetts, 1866-1966, Our Centennial Year. Hackensack, N.J.: Custombook, Inc. Ecclesiastical Color Publishers. 1966.
  11. ^ Smith 1936, p. 101.
  12. ^ a b "Hundreds view body of Dedham pastor". The Boston Globe. February 4, 1929. p. 6. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  13. ^ a b c d e f "Rev Henry Walsh of Dedham buried". The Boston Globe. February 6, 1929. p. 13. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  14. ^ "Dedham Catholic Church Dedicated". Boston Evening Transcript. September 8, 1900. p. 38. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  15. ^ "Notable Day for Catholics of Dedham: St Mary's Church Dedicated With Elaborate Ceremonies, Apostolic Delegate--Martinelli Officiating Sermon by Bishop Bradley of Manchester, N H." Boston Daily Globe. September 10, 1900. p. 7. Retrieved March 13, 2015.[permanent dead link]

Works cited

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