By McDonald H.R. No. 777
74R12094 T
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The calling to the priesthood is perhaps one of the
1-2 most blessed and rewarding experiences in a young man's life; much
1-3 dedication, strength of character, wisdom, and gentleness of heart
1-4 are needed to embrace this challenging vocation; and
1-5 WHEREAS, For four wonderful years, the parishioners of St.
1-6 Austin's Catholic Church were privileged to walk with Paulist
1-7 Broderick Matthew (Rick) Walsh as he made his transformation from
1-8 seminarian to ordained Roman Catholic priest; and
1-9 WHEREAS, The youngest of seven children, Fr. Walsh was born
1-10 on July 7, 1961, to Michael and Ellen M. Walsh in Weymouth,
1-11 Massachusetts, and spent most of his young life at the Bay State
1-12 until, upon completion of his undergraduate studies at St. John's
1-13 Diocesan Seminary in Boston, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in
1-14 Philosophy, he took the first steps in answering that unique and
1-15 special calling to the priesthood; and
1-16 WHEREAS, In the early 1980s, he entered the novitiate of the
1-17 Congregation of St. Paul, better known as the Paulist Fathers, an
1-18 American Roman Catholic order of priests whose chief mission of
1-19 evangilization, reconciliation and ecumenism attracted his
1-20 energetic spirit; and
1-21 WHEREAS, During his formative years with the Paulists, this
1-22 fine young man prospered in his preparation, having spent his time
1-23 in the Paulist centers of New York, Los Angeles and New Jersey,
1-24 studying, growing and discerning; and
2-1 WHEREAS, In May, 1991, this dedicated seminarian came to the
2-2 Paulist Center of St. Austin's Catholic Church in Austin, Texas,
2-3 to complete his journey to the priesthood; and
2-4 WHEREAS, The young Paulist's willingness to serve others, his
2-5 wisdom and his pleasant, cheerful demeanor quickly won the esteem
2-6 and love of both parishioners and staff alike; and
2-7 WHEREAS, On February 16, 1992, several months after he
2-8 arrived, seminarian Rick Walsh, CSP, was ordained Deacon Rick
2-9 Walsh, CSP, by the Most Reverend John McCarthy, Bishop of the
2-10 Diocese of Austin, in the presence of the St. Austin's community;
2-11 and
2-12 WHEREAS, Now as Deacon Rick, he took a more active role in
2-13 his ministry, giving close care to those who are most vulnerable in
2-14 our society, the infirmed, the poor, the homeless and the young;
2-15 during his diaconate, he revived the parish's Hospital Communion
2-16 Ministry, a program designed to provide outreach and spiritual care
2-17 to parishioners and other Catholics who were confined to hospital
2-18 care; he devoted much time and effort to the St. Vincent De Paul
2-19 Society, an arm of the Church that takes care of the needs of the
2-20 poor and the homeless; and he was named chaplain of St. Austin's
2-21 School, where he gave spiritual guidance to the children; and
2-22 WHEREAS, After nearly three months as a Deacon, on May 9,
2-23 1992, in the presence of his mother, siblings, fellow Paulists and
2-24 friends, he was ordained a Priest by the Most Reverend John Roach,
2-25 DD, Archbishop of St. Paul-Minneapolis, in the Paulist mother
2-26 church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City; Fr. Rick Walsh's,
2-27 first assignment upon being ordained to the Order of Presbyter was
3-1 to return to St. Austin's Catholic Church as Associate Pastor; and
3-2 WHEREAS, Since his ordination, Fr. Walsh has been an
3-3 indefatigable source of energy and spiritual guidance for his
3-4 community, being active in nearly every facet of the parish, from
3-5 spending time with the small children who constantly run up to him
3-6 after Mass, to ministering to the needy; and
3-7 WHEREAS, On top of his primary ministerial duties as a
3-8 priest, this generous individual also gives of his time at
3-9 Christopher House, being an enormous resource to its staff by
3-10 conducting courses for them on death and dying and lending them a
3-11 willing ear when one is needed; he can often be seen visiting
3-12 patients and consoling families and his obvious skill in relating
3-13 to others has helped support many individuals so they could die
3-14 with peace and dignity; he has taken his work one step further at
3-15 St. Austin's by founding the parish's AIDS Care Teams Ministry; and
3-16 WHEREAS, He remains faithful to his primary calling, to
3-17 spread the Good News of the Gospel; through his carefully crafted
3-18 and inspirational homilies, his informative catechetical classes,
3-19 his patient manner with those needing spiritual guidance, and his
3-20 prayerful presence at Mass, Fr. Walsh has touched the lives of many
3-21 of the people who have come in contact with him; and
3-22 WHEREAS, It was with great sadness that the parishioners of
3-23 St. Austin's Catholic Church learned that this fine young priest,
3-24 having completed his tenure at their parish, would soon be
3-25 transferred to another area of the country where the Good News
3-26 needed to be heard and lived; and
3-27 WHEREAS, Although it is with sorrow that St. Austin's watches
4-1 Fr. Rick Walsh leave, it is grateful that, even for a short time,
4-2 they were blessed with his presence and his gifts; now therefore be
4-3 it
4-4 RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives, 74th
4-5 Legislature, hereby commend Rev. Broderick Matthew (Rick) Walsh,
4-6 CSP, for his outstanding four years of service to the parishioners
4-7 and staff of St. Austin's Catholic Church, and wish him many
4-8 blessings and much success as he ventures forth to his new
4-9 assignment; and be it further
4-10 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
4-11 prepared for Fr. Rick Walsh as a token of the highest esteem by the
4-12 Texas House of Representatives.