Statement of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, on the Retirement of Bishop Walsh

Today, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, accepted the retirement of Bishop Gerald Walsh from the office of auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of New York. 

Bishop Walsh has served this archdiocese for 50 years, as parish priest, pastor, Director of Family and Children Services of Catholic Charities, Rector of Saint Joseph’s Seminary, Vicar for Development, and Secretary to Cardinal John O’Connor.    

As required by Canon Law, Bishop Walsh submitted to Pope Francis his letter offering his retirement on the occasion of his 75th birthday this past April.  I am grateful that our Holy Father took his time in accepting his retirement, as I have come to know what my predecessors surely did: Bishop Walsh is one of the finest priests I have ever met, whose sole focus has been, and continues to be, serving Jesus and His Church.   Fortunately, he has assured me that he intends to remain active in his retirement, and I am pleased that he has accepted my offer to reappoint him to his current role as Vicar for Clergy for a term of one year.  
 

FORWARDED PRESS RELEASE FROM THE UNITED STATES CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS

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USCCB News Press Release: Pope Francis Accepts Resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Walsh of New York

September 5, 2017

WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Gerald T. Walsh, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York, for reasons of age. He has reached the retirement age for bishops of 75.

Bishop Walsh’s retirement was publicized in Washington, September 5, by Msgr. Walter Erbi, Chargé d’Affaires at the Apostolic Nunciature in the United States.

Gerald T. Walsh was born April 25, 1942, in New York. He pursued seminary studies at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, New York, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a masters of divinity.  He also holds a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New York on May 27, 1967 and was appointed auxiliary bishop of New York on June 28, 2004.

Assignments after ordination include: serving as Parochial Vicar of Holy Trinity Church in New York, 2004-2012. He also held assignments with the Cathedral Preparatory Seminary, the Ladies of Charity, and the New York Chapter of the Knights of Columbus. In 2012 he also served as Vicar for Clergy and Episcopal Vicar for Rockland, Central Westchester, South Shore, and Yonkers vicariates. In 2007, he was appointed rector of St. Joseph Seminary; and since 1979, he has served as board member for numerous Catholic and community agencies.  Since 2013, he has served as vicar general of the archdiocese.

The Archdiocese of New York comprises 4,683 square miles. It has a total population of 5,872,756 people of which 2,642,740 or 45 percent are Catholic. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan is the current Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New York.

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