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Our Pastor
Father Frederick Walters
Fr. Frederick Walters was born on Thursday, March 17,1955
at 10:20 am at home in the town of Thomondgate, Limerick
City, Ireland. He was the sixth child of 10 for Mary
Murphy and William Walters (deceased). He has 4 brothers
and five sisters, William, Patrick (deceased), Leslie,
Moira, Gwen, Alison, Edna, Louise and Norman. With the
exception of Alison, who lives in Sweden, all of his
family still reside in Limerick City. If this weren't
enough family, Father also has 32 nieces and nephews and 7
grand nieces and nephews. How would you like to go
Christmas shopping for this family?
Father started school at the age of 4 at St. Lelia's
National school. He continued his education at St.
Munchins Grade Schoo land then advanced to Ardscoil Ris
High School in Limerick until he entered St. John's
Theological College in Waterford on September 8, 1981.
Father Fred was ordained six years later on June 14, 1987.
His first assignment was to Moyross, a large inner-city
parish. There, at the bishop's request, he worked with the
youth of the parish. Along with the assistance of
committed lay persons and religious sisters, he managed to
put into place a very active youth organization involved
in all aspects of parish life. They petitioned government
ministers to take a look at the high unemployment rate in
the parish and the consequences this had on the
neighborhood. Today unemployment has been vastly reduced.
In 1990, Father Fred was assigned to the ancient parish of
Bruff in County Limerick. He was there for 2 years. The
parish consisted of 3 churches, Meanus, Grange and Bruff,
which dated back to the 1700's. As opposed to his first
assignment, this parish was in a predominately farming
community. To familiarize himself with the farming
community, Father Fred rolled up his sleeves and worked on
a farm....for a week. For the first time in his life (and
the last) he got calluses.
In September 1992, Father was transferred to the parishes
of Raheen, Crecora & Mungret. Raheen was a white
collar parish and Crecora & Mungret were rural
parishes. This parish was completely different from the
other parishes. It consisted of 2 Catholic schools and a
hospital. While there, Father Fred maintained a heavy
involvement in youth activity. He worked in the liturgical
instruction for the reception of the sacraments of Holy
Communion and Confirmation. Father was a member of the
Board of Management for the local Catholic school. He also
led pilgrimages to Lourdes and the shrines of Italy.
Always concerned with social issues, Father Fred has been
involved with Amnesty International since high school. As
a young person, Father Fred helped develop an exchange
program at his home parish of St Munchin. Through this
program, funds were raised to send young people to Europe
for two weeks a year in exchange for young Europeans to
visit Ireland. This was a reciprocal program with
Cloppenburg, Germany.
In 1997 Bishop Donald Murray graciously granted a
sabbatical to Fr. Fred so he could come here to America.
He had some Irish priest friends in the diocese of
Paterson and so Father looked for a position in our
diocese. At that time Bishop Frank Rodimer appointed him
to St. Francis de Sales.
Father Fred likes soccer, rugby, the theater and all types
of music.
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