A first-anniversary Q&A with Bishop Dennis Walsh

• What is the biggest surprise in your first year as a bishop?

“Probably what makes it very challenging here in Davenport is that we don’t have the vast resources that other dioceses do. I think Chicago has a Chancery staff of 500 people. So, we do it here (with 60 people, staff and volunteers) on a real shoestring.  Everybody works hard and I’m grateful for that.”

• What is the greatest challenge you have experienced?

Diocesan headquarters in Davenport is not centrally located to the 22 counties in southeast Iowa that the diocese encompasses, which makes “travel a very big challenge,” Bishop Walsh said. “I was in Riverside on Labor Day for their festival and was glad that I didn’t have anything else on my calendar. I would like to do more of that.”

• What is the most amazing experience?

“I would say the highlight of the year was probably just a couple weeks ago, the dedication of St. Thomas More Church-Coralville was a joyful celebration. I’m happy to be part of that. I’ve been pastor of churches where we had dedications. However, it was my first dedication of a church and the consecration of the altar as a bishop. The excitement of the people gathered and the great sense of joy throughout the celebration” added to its specialness.

• What concerns you most in your role as bishop?

“I’m trying to administer and shepherd a diocese in the midst of a declining number of priests, so there’s a sense of worry about the future. We’re very fortunate that we have so many international priests working in the diocese and I hope the people of the diocese appreciate the efforts that the international priests make. I am very grateful for the senior priests and their willingness to step forward and help. My worry is that in 10 years, 15 years, the number of senior priests that we’ve been drawing upon will be quite limited. So that’s probably the biggest worry and challenge that I face. I’m also concerned about vocations to the priesthood and religious life.”

• What do you appreciate most?

“I appreciate the general sense of affection that people have for the Church. And also really, the affection that has been shown to me personally, that has been delightful.”

• What percentage of your day goes toward administrative duties?

“I would say probably 75% of my weekdays are pretty much administrative, if not more. Just keeping up with correspondence is a challenge.”

• How many parishes have you visited during your first year as bishop?

“That’s a good question. I would say maybe 40. That’s mostly through confirmations… We’ve asked parishes to join neighboring parishes for confirmation to free up some weekends for me to visit the smaller parishes.”

• How many miles have you logged on your vehicle/chancery vehicle?

“On my diocesan car, I probably have done 15,000 miles but on other chancery cars that we use for confirmations, it’s probably 10,000 to 15,000 miles more.

• How do you deal with the “celebrity” status people place on you?

“Well, I’m not terribly comfortable with it, but I appreciate people’s respect for the Office of Bishop. I mean, I’m still Dennis. However, being bishop is life changing. It’s a life-changing vocation. I don’t think anything really prepares you for what you’re about to encounter.”

• Who has or have been your mentors this first year as bishop?

“Bi­sh­op (Daniel) Thomas is probably a mentor. I was on vacation recently and Bishop Thomas and I met for dinner in Ohio and it was just an opportunity to share and to get feedback.” Bishop Walsh said he’s trying to reach out to other bishops in area dioceses. “I had lunch with Bishop (Louis) Tylka for the first time, maybe a couple of weeks ago.”

• How has your prayer life been impacted by your new role as bishop of a diocese?

“I would say it’s probably a little better now that I’m a bishop because of my ability to do a regular holy hour in the morning. I don’t have the morning commitments that a parish priest has … so I have a little more freedom to have morning time for prayer. I usually get up about 5 o’clock and take my dog out. After that, I do a holy hour, the Office (Liturgy of the Hours) and then some meditation time and prayers. I do some Lectio Divina” (a contemplative form of prayer).

• What do you do when parishes or diocesan entities serve you vegetables?

Most parishes serve meat and potatoes, he said, “so either they’ve gotten the message or nobody else likes vegetables!”