Father Michael Walsh

Fr Michael was born in Bury on November 22, 1944, and was baptised at St Joseph's RC church. He attended Thornleigh Salesian College in Bolton and St Bede's College in Manchester. He trained for the priesthood at Ushaw College, in Durham, before being ordained at Guardian Angels parish, Bury, on March 1, 1969. Over the years he served as a priest at parishes across Greater Manchester, including St Peter's in Middleton, St James's in Pendleton and Our Lady and St Paul's in Heywood. He also served as chaplain to Xaverian College as a priest at St Joseph's parish in Longsight, before moving to St Willibrord's parish in Clayton. In 1991, he moved to St Paul's parish in Guide Bridge and was to remain there for 17 years. He became Dean of the Ashton under Lyne deanery in 1994. It was about the time Fr Michael moved to St Paul's that he became press officer for the Salford Diocese - a position which he held until his death. He was chairman of the national diocesan communications officers' panel. He wrote regularly for religious newspapers and had a regular Sunday show on Radio Manchester. In the diocese, he was also involved in child protection and was the bishop's representative on the Council of Christians and Jews Manchester branch. His Requiem Mass will be held at St Paul's church at 11am on November 19 and is expected to be led by the Bishop of Salford, Terence Brain.