Right Rev. Monsignor Walter Burke

Memorial Westport Quay Co. Mayo

Author's Collection

St. Jarlath's College, Tuam, Co. Galway

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tuam_St._Jarlath%27s_College_2009_09_14.jpg

Clovis Theatre USA

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:State_Theater,_Clovis,_NM.JPG

Moterland Tres Pinos photo by Willtron

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Motorland_Arag%C3%B3n._Parking_A._Grada_Tres_Pinos.jpg

Westport, Co. Mayo

U. S. Missionary

A parish hall is his Legacy at St. Columba’s Church, Chowchilla, California.

Walter Burke was born in Westport, Co. Mayo on 4^th March 1902.

Education

Following his early studies in Westport he attended St. Jarlath’s College, Tuam .

Walter Burke studied at All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin (now a section of DCU Campus)

Ordination

His ordination to priesthood occurred on June 16^th 1929 by Bishop Morrisroe of Achonry.

Ministry

Fr. Burke commenced his ministry in the Monterey diocese where he served for thirty years. He served as assistant at Hanford & Watsonville.

Pastor

He was promoted in 1935 to his first pastorate in Clovis. From 1938 to 1945, he was pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, Tres Pinos. During 1945 he entered on his last assignment as Pastor of St. Columba’s Church, Chowchilla, California.

Vicar Forane

Rev. Fr. Walter Burke became Vicar Forane of the Merced Deanery during 1951.

Honour

He was honoured by Pope Pius V1 on 5^th March 1956 when he became a domestic prelate.

Demise

Monsignor Walter Burke’s demise occurred on 18^th July 1959: he suffered a heart attack while on his way to Church.

The obsequies were conducted on 22^nd July 1959 in St. Columba’s Church, Chowchilla: Bishop Willinger Presided with Auxiliary Bishop Harry A. Clinch. The solemn requiem mass was celebrated by Msgr. Thomas Morahan of Los Banos assisted by a diocesan clergy choir. A very large gathering of clergy attended not only from the Monterey diocese but also from surrounding areas.

Tribute

Father Hall in his touching eulogy, referred to the ‘gentle, unassuming, hospitable nature of Msgr. Burke’. According to Fr. Hall ‘No one ever heard Msgr. Burke raise his voice, except in song.’ He also stated that Monsignor Burke offered that baritone voice in praise of God or for the recreation of his fellow priests. He was equally at home singing a lamentation of Jeremias, an Irish ballad, or the beautiful preface of the requiem mass. His favourite piece was the beautiful ‘Justorum Animae.’

Legacy

A Parish Hall commemorates his work for his parishioners at St. Columba’s Church, Chowchilla, California.

Source

http://allhallows.ie/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/1959-1961-Annuals-vol-37.pdf