Former Sacred Heart Associate Pastor Rev. Michael J. Walsh, 89

PALOS HILLS, IL — A former associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Palos Hills has passed away. Rev. Michael J. Walsh passed away on Dec. 31. He was 89.

Walsh was born on March 26, 1930, in Chicago. He attended St. Francis de Paula Grammar School and Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.

Walsh was ordained to the priesthood on May 1, 1956, by Samuel Cardinal Stritch and celebrated his first solemn Mass at St. Francis de Paula Parish in Chicago on May 6 of the same year.

After ordination, Walsh was assistant pastor at the following parishes: St. Ambrose Parish on 47th Street, Holy Name of Mary Parish on 112th Street, both in Chicago; Santa Maria Del Popolo Parish in Mundelein, Our Lady of Lourdes Parish on Ashland Avenue in Chicago and St. Helena of the Cross Parish on Parnell Avenue also in Chicago. He then served as associate pastor at St. Richard Parish in Evergreen Park, and Sacred Heart Parish in Palos Hills.
He retired from the priesthood in 2000.

Rev. Jim Kinn, pastor emeritus of Santa Maria del Popolo Parish, remembered Walsh as a “wonderful priest who served for so many years on the South Side of Chicago, always in great spirit and with great dedication to the priesthood.”

Visitation will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 5, with a vigil service at 6 p.m., at Sacred Heart Church, 8245 W. 111th St., Palos Hills.

Another visitation is set for 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9, followed by the fuenral Mass at 11 a.m., at Holy Family Villa, 12220 S. Will-Cook Road in Palos Park. Kinn will be the main celebrant and Rev. Francis Schouten will be the homilist.

In addition, there will be a visitation on Sunday, Jan 5, 2020, from 4 to 6 p.m., with a vigil service at 6 p.m., at Sacred Heart Church, 8245 W. 111th Street in Palos Hills. Interment will be at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip. Arrangements are entrusted to Heeney-Laughlin Funeral Home of Chicago Ridge.

Memorials to Holy Family Villa, 12220 S. Will-Cook Road in Palos Park, IL 60464; or Priests Retirement and Mutual Aid Association (PRMAA), 1400 S. Wolf Road., Hillside, IL 60162 are most appreciated.

~ Via Archdiocese of Chicago