News Item: : Fr. Gary Walsh - R.I.P. - 3rd Anniversary
(Category: Torch of The Faith News)
Posted by admin
Monday 05 December 2016 - 12:07:57

May 2012 in New Brighton: Fr. Gary Walsh (SSS) leading prayers during the outdoor Rosary procession in honour of Our Lady of Fatima at the ICKSP Shrine of Ss Peter, Paul and Philomena. 

Of your charity, please say a prayer for Fr. Gary Walsh (SSS) who died three years ago today at the young age of 53. He was known and loved by many Catholics as the Superior at the Blessed Sacrament Shrine in Liverpool. Indeed, Father was an important part of the faith journey of many people in and beyond the city; he was certainly an important part of ours.

When Father died, Brother Timothy McLoughlin (SSS) paid tribute with the words: ''Fr. Gary was very well loved by the people of Liverpool, and he had great devotion to the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary.'' Even the city's mayor Joe Anderson, the Liverpool Echo and local taxi drivers paid tribute to him.

May 2012 in the ICKSP Shrine at New Brighton: Fr. Gary leading the Rosary in the church with Canon Olivier Meney (ICKSP). At that time, they were both the heads of shrines that were dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament on either side of the River Mersey. Fr. Gary was keen to welcome and promote the work of the ICKSP in the area and he gave us his i-phone to take this picture.

We'll always remember Fr. Gary for the long hours he put in - together with his brother priests in the shrine community - every single day in the confessional, his homilies calling the faithful to holiness and ongoing conversion, and his strong public stands against same-sex ''marriage'' and atheistic sex-education in Catholic schools. Fr. Gary also enjoyed giving public witness to the Faith by taking part in the beautiful Marian processions through the central streets of the city.

Fr. Gary told us that he was a reader of this blog; and he asked God to bless our apostolate. It was a great encouragement for us to receive that kind of support from a priest.

May 2012 in Liverpool: Fr. Gary preparing to lead the Marian procession through the streets of the city.

On Fr. Gary's anniversary each year, I reflect on an important question that he once asked a congregation before hearing confessions at the Blessed Sacrament Shrine. 

He asked: ''Am I closer to God today than I was this time last year?''

Perhaps we could all search our hearts with that question again today, as we also pray: Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Gary, dear Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon him; and may he rest in peace. Amen.

St. Peter Julian Eymard - Pray for us!

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