Joy, laughter, priests, religious, dignitaries, and five generations of parishioners packed the church for a Faith-Family Mass of Thanksgiving to honor Msgr. Walter’s 40th Ordination & 25th Pastorate Anniversaries!
Processing into Mass were representatives from the 1,016 Baptized by Msgr. while at St Matthew; 2,252 First Communicants; 1,599 young adults he prepared for Confirmation; and 407 Couples who received the Sacrament of Matrimony.
“It is you who inspires me….the Old Testament Sirach said, ‘A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter. He who finds one, finds a treasure, a life-saving remedy.’ And when I gather together with you, I know I am with family. Brothers and sisters created in the image and likeness of God.
I’ve spent more than a third of my life here at St Matthew. There has never been a day or week when one of you hasn’t come up to me with a prayer, word of support or a hug. It’s meant the world to me.
It is you who inspires us. It is you who makes us a better priest. It is you who fills us with your great spirituality that you possess in the community of St Matthew. 40 years of priesthood has been a magnificent gift; I am blessed by you. 25 years and I have never felt alone – you have been there every step of the way. All of the great people of St Matthew. It is you who make this place work. And I am grateful to God for you. God will take care of you, trust me.”
At the end of Mass, Norwalk Mayor Harry W.Rilling and Lucia Rilling presented Msgr. with a City of Norwalk, CT Proclamation and Senator Bob Duff, Senate Majority Leader presented a CT General Assembly Citation recognizing Msgr’s milestone service contributions to the community. Thank you, Mayor, Mrs. Rilling, and Senator Duff for your presence!