Father John – Always On Call – Waiting For Us
Father worked hard to make TSU Newman Hall a refugee for us – a place we could escape to -- a safe house – a warm haven. Our home away from home and sometimes even better than home because the only demand made of us at Newman was to keep it down and to study hard.
It must have been a little odd to see us—grown adults- all come in laden down with books feeling more like elementary school children instead of law students. Trekking in out of the sun into the coolness of Newman where Father John was always on call; at attention-- waiting for us to come in check in touch base as we moved ahead in our day.
And he waited….in his messy little office, where the walls were covered with snap shots of “his other ones” –those who he had served before. The dozens of photos testament to how many lives Father had touched before us.
Father John always available to administer the exact thing we each needed - a blessing before exams, a corny joke, a dollar in change, a pep talk, a reprimand, a loan, a pat on the back or a bit of wisdom. Wisdom was something which we needed so as we attempted to meet the challenges which law school presented us on a daily basis.
It was common for us to feel overwhelmed trying to make use of the precious time we did not have much of. I’ll always remember what his response to my question regarding what was a better use of time prayer or study. He would say, “Pray as if you hadn’t studied and study as if you didn’t know how to pray.” How wise and practical he was – he had the genius of always knowing what to say even if it was not exactly what we wanted to hear.
Father’s day started early in the morning at Newman always with a strong pot of coffee and a bit of day-old sweet bread and at lunch time every day he was there to offer nourishment in the way of a $1.25 lunch served up with a side of Father’s gruff love on a floppy paper plate.
The love Father had for each one of us inspired camaraderie and affection among us and a desire to serve.
Father John – always on the job at Newman from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm --or as long as you needed him to be there -- in his cramped little office watching a baseball game –munching on chocolate – while we studied – always on stand by --waiting until we were ready.
Thank you Father John - may your spirit live on in our own lives and in the work we do. We know that you are still on stand by, waiting for us to be ready.
Tom's Memory : Once upon a time ( how I wish I could I forget ) , Father John called and asked in a solemn voice that should not be denied, " Hello Tom, could you do me a favor ? "...." Father, of course ! "...." Some very special friends want me to do a Memorial Mass for them at St. Thomas More but I need your visual help to read and whisper the Mass behind me. See you at 1:00 PM. " What could I say, " Father, what's after the sign of the cross ? " God was good, we did well after all.
To add to Fr. Phil, "patience and strong belief" doesn't say it all about Father John. He's also one of the most clever persons I've ever met my whole life! Often Fr. John would share stories of life's many ironies with me and the one conversation I can never get over is this:
When Father John was about 85 years old, and his vision impairment was testing every fiber of his virtuous being, he told me over the phone that he has found God's one flaw. Incredulous with this bold statement, I responded with great indignation thinking, very foolishly at the time, that I can rebuff his whimsical idea. "Father John, I can't imagine God having any flaws, tell me what it can possibly be!" And with a very calm voice he said, "While I was shaving, this thought came to me; why in the world would God have men loose the hair they have on their heads and then to place it on their face and ears?!” This statement brought a roar of laughter from my end of the phone; can you come up with a more clever answer than that?
Even in his old age, Fr. John always found the humor in life, and used it to bring out laugher in others, helping often to smooth out the sharp edges of life. As difficult as old age and blindness made life for him, I've never known Fr. John to complain. Instead, he would constantly find ways to get around anything and everything that would hinder him from living a full life. He braved his later years more courageously and with more patience than I, his spiritual friend, can ever hope to become. He and I could never understand why God allowed our paths to cross, but after years of watching him age, I know now why we met. Fr. John had to teach this simple girl how to live and love God with the same kind of unwavering faith that he had. I am forever indebted to my beloved friend, Fr. John Walsh, C.S.Sp.
Father John not only helped me deal with my marriage ending, moving to a new town, my mother passing away, my father rebuilding his life with another woman (who is the greatest), but he helped me try to be a more godly wife. I shared his wisdom and wit with everyone in my life. His love and counsel will be sorely missed not just by me but by my blood and career family as well as friends. Joyce Diaz (Snelling) Logue
I spent two years with Fr. John at our seminary house in Houston. During that time we had some great conversations about life and sports. He was always delightfully strong in his opinions. I remember taking him to old Enron field for baseball games. He had a special eye device which made it easier for him to view the game. In one game when his Astros were playing my Diamondbacks, I remember consoling him when the Diamondbacks pulled ahead in the game. He simply said "The game is not over yet." And he was right. The Astros came back to win the game. As we drove home after the victory by the Astros, he simply said " With age comes patience and strong belief."
Fr. Phil
