GO OUT AND BEAR FRUIT

by

Father Eamon Walsh

There is so little to say and yet so much to say! I was born a long time ago in the village of Redhills, County Cavan, Ireland. I was a “war baby” in that I was born on 31 August 1940. I was the third child in a family of six, four girls and two boys. Growing up meant attending the local school and working on the farm. I loved sport, so many an hour was spent at play with my brother John and friends.

Sadly on New Year’s Eve in 1951, my mother died. This had a big impact on me as I was very close to her. She was a really kind and gentle person. School of course continued and eventually I found myself “at work”. I worked at various jobs but always with the intention of returning to farming, This was not to be however.

The road to the priesthood beckoned me and I found myself in Saint John’s Seminary just outside Guildford. I was ordained in Southampton on 4 !h June 1977, the weekend of the Queen's Silver Jubilee, That is why she invites me to tea at the palace.

After my ordination I spent five years in Southampton with the wonderful Fr. Pat Murphy O’Connor, the brother of Cardinal Cormac. After this, I headed off to Cameroon in West Africa where I spent an incredible six years, four of these in setting up a new mission. I returned home in 1988 and was appointed to St Edmund Campion in Maidenhead. I was there for five very fruitful years. My next move was to Our Lady of Peace in Reading. I was there for eleven years. What great celebrations we had there, especially the silver jubilee of my ordination to the priesthood, The celebrations went on for a full month!

After my time there Bishop Crispian granted me a sabbatical year. During which I studied scripture for three months in Dublin and I also spent three months on a spiritual course in Wales, including a 30 day silent retreat. The rest of the time was spent having a good time. After my return I was expecting to be allowed to semi-retire but the Bishop was having none of it, he asked me “to do a job for him” in Southampton, which I hope I did for the year I was there.

Now I find myself in Wash Common.