The Rev. John A. Walsh

The Rev. John A. Walsh, a resident of Minneola, Fla., died on Thursday, April 19.

Father Walsh, son of the late Harold E. and Kathryn Walsh, was born in Scranton on Jan. 26, 1934. He graduated from Central High School, attended the University of Scranton and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from St. Mary's College, Baltimore, in 1958. He was awarded a Licentiate degree in Sacred Theology from St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland in 1961 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 2, 1961, in St. Peter's Cathedral, Scranton, by the Most Rev. Jerome D. Hannan, D.D., late Bishop of Scranton. Father Walsh also received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Mo. in 1981 and pursued graduate studies in Psychological Counseling in New York City in 1984.

Father Walsh's first assignment was an assistant pastor at St. Mary of the Mount Parish, Mount Pocono. In September of 1968 he was appointed as a professor at St. Pius X Seminary, Dalton, and he served as Rector from 1983 to 1985. Father Walsh was appointed as pastor of St. Patrick's Parish in Nicholson in 1985. During his years as a professor at St. Pius X Seminary, Father Walsh also taught at the University of Scranton's Department of Theology and Religious Studies. Father Walsh was appointed as the first occupant of the Pius X Teaching Chair of Theology at the University of Scranton. He also served as Director of Campus Ministry at Lackawanna Community College.

Father Walsh relocated to Florida in 1986 when he was appointed to full-time ministry at the International House of Affirmation in Clearwater, Florida. In addition to his work at the House of Affirmation in Clearwater, Father also helped out at parishes in the area on weekends, which eventually led to his additional appointment as assistant pastor of St. Michael's Parish in Port Richey, Fla., by the Most Rev. W. Thomas Larkin, Bishop of St. Petersburg. In 1988, Father Walsh moved to the Diocese of Orlando and was appointed Director of the House of Affirmation in Maitland, Fla., where he also ministered on weekends at St. John Vianney Parish, Orlando. As the Orlando area grew St. John Vianney Parish divided into two parishes, thus Holy Cross Parish was founded in 1990. Father Walsh continued his ministry in the new parish and was named its Senior Priest. Father continued his ministry there until his recent illness.

Father Walsh is survived by a sister, Margaret (Peggy) Bullock, Winston-Salem, N.C.; a brother, Edward Walsh and his wife, Marymargaret, Winston-Salem, N.C.; and a sister-in-law, Adrienne Walsh, Scranton. He is also survived by six nephews and four nieces; several grandnephews and grandnieces; and several great-grandnephews and great-grandnieces.

He was also preceded in death by a brother, Francis.

The funeral Mass was held April 24 in Holy Cross Catholic Church, Orlando, with the Most Rev. Bishop John Noonan of the Diocese of Orlando officiating. Burial, private at the San Pedro Center in Win ter Park, Fla.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at Fatima Renewal Center, Dalton, by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, on Friday at 11 a.m.