By Angela Marshall
The ordination of Paul H. Walsh as an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Rockville Centre was celebrated on May 29 at St. Agnes Cathedral.
When the Litany of Supplication was completed and Walsh was allowed to rise, he knelt before Bishop William Murphy. Murphy and the other bishops in attendance one by one placed their hands on Walsh's head, signifying the invocation of the Holy Spirit.
After receiving the symbols of his new office the Book of Gospels, a ring, miter and staff Walsh fell into Murphy's embrace and a bubble of delighted laughter escaped from the audience, which began clapping and eventually rose to their feet.
Wearing his crown of glory humbly, Walsh embraced each of the 25 visiting bishops and cardinals in turn and then went forth to bless the nearly 900 in attendance.
When he finally took to the pulpit to speak, Walsh said Murphy had advised him to talk about something from the ceremony that had been significant and moving. I found all things significant and moving, he said.
Showing his trademark humility and humor, Walsh thanked Edward Cardinal Egan, archbishop of New York, and my brother, gulp, bishops for attending.
A letter sent by Pope John Paul II encouraged Walsh to fulfill his duties as bishop with great zeal and with all your strength.
Walsh joins the diocese's two other auxiliary bishops, John C. Dunne and Emil A. Wcela. The diocese will be split into three sections, with Walsh serving as vicar of the Western Vicariate, which covers western Nassau County. In addition to his duties as vicar, Walsh will serve as pastor of the Queen of the Most Holy Church in Roosevelt.
Walsh was ordained a priest in 1966 and was first assigned as head chaplain and teacher of moral theory at Providence College in Rhode Island in 1967. He became director of formation for the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C. in 1974, where he was involved with the formation of students preparing for the priesthood. He has also studied moral theology at the Jesuit Weston School of Theology in Weston, Mass.
Walsh became pastor at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in Manhattan in 1978. During his time there, he also served as prior of his community for 2 1/2 years. He served at Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs Church in Centerport before going to St. Patrick's in Smithtown, where he last served.
In 1996, Walsh was named honorary prelate to His Holiness Pope John Paul II, with the title of monsignor.
