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.