Prayer Calendar: Deceased Priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts, 1864–2025, Compiled by Annie Carrett, Diocesan Archivist, 2001, Updated by Gabrielle Saide, Diocesan Archivist, 2023:
Rev William Mason Walsh, died 14 Feb 1908

Born in Ireland, educated at All Hallows, Dublin. Served in Brisbane Diocese including Townsville. In 1867 he emigrated to Buenos Aires after Bishop Quinn expressed dissatisfaction with his work. In 1867 Bishop Quinn was called to give reason, publicly, as to the cause of the sudden departure from Toowoomba and Dalby of Frs Renehan, McGahan, Walsh, Hogan and Devitt. Walsh returned to Townsville in 1878. Father Walsh died unexpectedly in North Sydney in 1908. Pugh's list him as serving in Toowoomba in 1867.
(Ref. Linane W24 and Pugh's)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.

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Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, p 131:
Very Rev Fr William Mason Walsh

William Mason Walsh was born at Ardfinnan in co Waterford Ireland on 27 April 1842 to Edward and Mary (nee Mason) Walsh.

He commenced his education for the priesthood at Mt Melleray seminary. From there William entered All Hallows College in 1858. Because of a severe attack of pneumonia his studies were suspended for a year. He was ordained for the diocese of Brisbane on 30 October 1864.(1)

Arriving in Brisbane, Fr Walsh served first in Ipswich and then at Drayton. Bishop Quinn opened the first Catholic chapel there on 23 September 1866.

Six months later he joined Fathers Renehan, Hogan, McGahan, Devitt and Sheehan, in clashing with Bishop Quinn leaving the diocese for Ireland and later America.

Fr Walsh was posted to St Joseph's parish in Jersey City. Here he came in conflict with a young Sister of Charity who left the convent charging Walsh with inappropriate behaviour. This lady made public charges against Fr Walsh. At the end of 1868 because of potential scandal in anti-Catholic New England the bishop sent Walsh to Buenos Aires in Argentina.

An Irish Catholic community had existed in Buenos Aires for many years. In 1896 there was a population of 25,000 Irish immigrant parishioners in the cathedral parish.

In 1872 Walsh was transferred to the cold and dreary Falkland Islands, the remotest outpost of the Irish chaplaincy. … Walsh was yearning more than ever for a return to sunny Queensland. He wrote letters to Bishop Quinn and Robert Dunne … His pleas must have inspired such genuine pity that even James Quinn's heart began to melt. He recalled Walsh to Brisbane in 1874. He was the only one of the seven departing clergy to return.(2)

In Brisbane at St Patrick's Fortitude Valley he blended some South American influences into the liturgy. His ministry to youth extended to St Kilian's in Leichardt St which was a residential college for country boys attending Gregory Terrace and St James' schools.

In 1878 Fr Walsh was appointed to Townsville where he spent thirty years as the parish priest. During that time he erected St Patrick's Convent on the Strand and the Sacred Heart Church which was to become the cathedral when the diocese was established in 1929.

Bishop Cani, bishop of the new diocese from 1882, trusted Father Walsh more than any other.

Father Walsh served as administrator of the diocese when Bishop Cani died in 1898 and when Bishop Higgins was translated to Ballarat in 1905. Bishop Duhig who succeeded Higgins in 1906 retained Father Walsh as vicar-general.

Father Walsh died at the home of his sister a Mrs Dalton in North Sydney on 16 February 1908. Bishop Duhig officiated at the Requiem Mass and funeral rites of William Mason Walsh who was buried in Sacred Heart Church which he had had erected.

I had done some research into Fr Walsh, but found no better source on information about his life than in Neil Byrne's lecture at the Brisbane Catholic Historical Society. Anyone seeking a fuller knowledge of Fr Walsh priest should read Dr Byrne's paper.

Footnotes
1. Kevin Condon cm, The Missionary College of All Hallows 1842-1891, student no 554, p.311.
2. Neil J Byrne, "Quinn's Departing Clergy of 1867: Part II – The Newark Trio", Proceedings of Brisbane Catholic Historical Society.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.