Rev Desmond Walker SJ
Title:
Rev
First Name:
Desmond
Middle Names:
John
Preferred Name:
Surname:
Walker
Order:
SJ
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Melbourne VIC
Country of Birth:
Australia
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
Country of Ordination:
Ordination Diocese:
Seminary:
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Melbourne VIC
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
Boroondara, Kew VIC
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Biographical Notes
Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Walker, Desmond
Teacher, pastor, hospital chaplain; born Melbourne, 17 October 1925; died Melbourne, 17 July 1995, aged 69.
Desmond Walker received his secondary education at CBC St Kilda. He later became a teacher and taught at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, before joining the RAAF during the Second World War. He entered the Society of Jesus, 1 February 1952, and completed his Jesuit training in Australia, except for tertianship, which was at Fiesole, Italy, in 1967. He taught physics and chemistry during regency at St Patrick's College in 1961.
Returning from overseas he taught at Xavier College for a short time in 1968 before his appointment as rector at St Louis School, Perth, WA. He remained in that position until the school ceased to be a Jesuit school in 1972. The withdrawal of the Jesuits was a painful period of time for Walker who was responsible for the handover to lay leadership.
After that time, except for 1973 at Xavier College as a teacher, he spent the remainder of his life in the pastoral ministry, as superior and parish priest at St Ignatius Church, Richmond, 1974-77, and again 1983-87; and as superior and parish priest of the Immaculate Conception parish, Hawthorn, 1978-80. His parishioners appreciated his considerable wisdom and kindness.
During 1981-82 he was socius to the provincial and from 1988, chaplain to St Vincent's Private Hospital, Melbourne. In this latter work he became known as 'everyone's priest' and the 'wounded healer', as he contracted lymphoma and was frequently unwell. All during this time he showed his usual sense of humour and delighted all with his many stories. Above all, because of his illness, he showed great understanding for the sufferings of others.
Walker was recognised as a good speaker and a man of very good judgment, able to meet diverse people well. He was an encouraging leader and a good companion in community, held in esteem and affection by his Jesuit brothers.
(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)