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Rev Francis Walsh CSsR

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Francis

Middle Names:

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Walsh

Order:

CSsR

Date of Birth:

Place of Birth:

Rutherglen VIC

Country of Birth:

Australia

Date of Ordination:

1936

Place of Ordination:

Ballarat VIC

Country of Ordination:

Australia

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

12-Aug-1950

Place of Death:

Manila

Country of Death:

Philippines

Date of Burial:

Place of Burial:

Country of Burial:

Find A Grave URL:




Biographical Notes

Late Father F. Walsh Month's Mind at St. Mary's, Rutherglen Sun and Chiltern Valley Advertiser, 12 September 1950, p 1, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article268904526:

Last Wednesday, Solemn Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Rev. Father Francis Walsh, C.SS.R., who died recently in the Philippine Islands, was celebrated in St. Mary's Church, Rutherglen. The Church, where the late Father Walsh made his first Holy Communion, was confirmed and served Mass, was thronged to the doors. Included in the congregation were Father Walsh’s revered mother, his brothers and sisters, his old teachers of the Presentation Convent, and many who remembered him as a boy. [...]

The panegyric on the deceased Father Walsh was preached by the Rev. Father Green, C.SS.R., who referred in touching terms to the early life of Father Walsh spent in Rutherglen. Father Green then went on: "Well brought up by his devoted parents, he profited well by the solid education imparted by the Presentation Sisters in their school at Rutherglen. His teachers then noticed his proficiency at languages which he was to put to such good use later in mastering the difficult dialects of the Philippines. Heeding the call of the Divine Master, 'Come, follow me,' like the Apostles of old, the young Francis Walsh left the world and its enticements in order to promote the cause of Christ. After many years of profound study in the Redemptorist Monasteries at Galong, Pennant Hills and Ballarat, at length he was ordained to the priesthood. He was then chosen to be a missionary in the Philippine Islands. He accepted the task joyfully and applied himself to it with all his enthusiasm, energy and ability. He soon became an expert in the language of the Philippine people and wrote many books for them.

"When the Japanese invaded the Islands in the last war, Father Walsh had many thrilling and trying experiences. His cheerful character enabled him to keep up the spirits of himself and of all around him. After the war he returned to Australia for a short time, but once again the mission fields of the Philippines called him and he returned there to labor with all his old vigor to bring the benefits of the Gospel and of civilisation to his beloved Philippines.

"His health broken by wartime privation and incessant labors began to fail him. He received every care and medical attention but his work upon earth was done. Surrounded by his confreres of the Redemptorist Order he died at the early age of forty years. All who knew him have no doubt that he is now receiving the eternal reward promised to the faithful servant by our Divine Master."

At the conclusion of the sermon, the Last Absolution at the Catafalque was given, thus bringing the solemn ceremony to a fitting conclusion.

---

Australian Priest Dies at Manila. Had Prepared Catechism for Natives, Advocate, Melbourne, 14 September 1950, p 21, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article172513971 [includes a photograph]:

Rutherglen-born Rev. Francis Walsh, C.SS.R., who died at Manila, Philippine Islands, recently, wrote an excellent catechism in the Tagalog language and composed many instructional and devotional books for the children of missions under the care of Redemptorist Fathers in the Philippines.

He was one of 10 Australian priests rescued from Los Banos internment camp some five years ago, following the end of the Pacific war. He remained on after the war until his superiors summoned him home for a well-earned rest in 1947.

Fr. Walsh, who was 41 years of age, received his early education from the Presentation Nuns. He was ordained priest at the Redemptorist Monastery at Ballarat in 1936, and soon after left for the islands. His enthusiasm for the missions and his perfect command of the Tagalog language enabled him to do immense good during the 11 years he spent preaching in the towns and barrios of the island of Luzon.

During his short stay in Australia in 1947, he gave a number of retreats to religious and children in the Melbourne Archdiocese and never failed to win interest in and promises of prayer and help for the mission field that was so dear to him.

In 1948 he returned to his "Filipinos" and the last two years of his life were spent in an almost continuous round of missions and retreats.

Early in August this year he was appointed to conduct the annual retreat for the priests of the diocese of Lipa. During the retreat he took ill and after a few days of patient suffering died at St. Paul's Hospital, Manila (conducted by the Maryknoll Sisters).

His loss will be most keenly felt by his mother, brothers and sisters, still living in Rutherglen, and by his sister in Howlong, N.S.W.