Fr. Thomas Walsh passed away Nov. 21 at Blessed Sacrament rectory in Scottsdale. He was 98 years old.
Fr. Walsh was born Sept. 30, 1916 in San Francisco, Calif. and ordained to the priesthood June 13, 1942 for the same archdiocese. He was incardinated to the Diocese of Tucson in 1962 and served at St. Cyril in Tucson and Sacred Heart parish in Nogales.
He spent the rest of his priestly life in the Diocese of Phoenix serving as director of the Newman Center at Arizona State University from 1963 to 1969 and shepherding parishioners of St. Thomas the Apostle in Phoenix and St. Maria Goretti in Scottsdale.
Fr. Walsh offered counseling at Catholic Charities Community Services and the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale. He continued to serve God’s people in retirement, most notably at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Scottsdale where he resided.
He will be missed by many for his dedication and sense of humor, especially his self wit, a letter from the Vicar of Priests office read. In 2005 Fr. Wash was quoted in the Arizona Republic as saying, “I read the Bible every day, but tell people I don’t need to because I’m so old I was there for most of it.”
Fr. Walsh was a priest who wanted to be available for his people.
See the parish’s tribute:
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Funeral services for Fr. Walsh
Visitation and prayer services will be held at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Scottsdale, 11300 N. 64th St.
Visitation: noon Nov. 24
Divine Mercy: 3 p.m. Nov. 24
Vigil: 7 p.m. Nov. 24
Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Nov. 25
Burial will be at Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Phoenix.[/quote_box_center]
