SANDUSKY, Ohio — Ruth Guendelsberger shares this reflection about then-Father Dennis Walsh from his time serving as parochial vicar at St. Mary Parish (1998-2002):
“As I reflect on the time Father Dennis was here at St. Mary, I have only positive thoughts about him. He was congenial, practiced a simple lifestyle and had a good sense of humor. His homilies were short and to the point. He was a good example of how to incorporate spirituality into daily living,” said Guendelsberger, who served as part-time bookkeeper at the parish until her retirement in 2014. “His style of ministry was to observe and listen before acting. He was conscientious about fiscal matters and gave willingly of his time and many talents to benefit the parish.”
Guendelsberger found Father Walsh to be kind and patient. “When he celebrated monthly Mass at a local nursing home, he came early to visit with the residents. They enjoyed the personal attention he gave them and the opportunity to attend Mass.”
“I particularly like his willingness to give God credit for working in his life. With humility, (Bishop-elect) Walsh will do his best to lead the Diocese of Davenport. I will continue to pray for him!”
Photo by Anne Marie Amacher/graphic illustration by Lindsay Steele
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
Bishop-elect Dennis Walsh loves movies and often references them in his homilies. “It can help people focus in on the Gospel and the message that I want to deliver,” he told reporters during a June 25 press conference announcing his appointment as 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Davenport.
The bishop-elect especially enjoys historical dramas and miniseries. More than once, he has referenced a scene from the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers. In that scene, the “Easy” Company (part of the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne) is assigned to capture the German-occupied town of Foy, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge in 1945. The company is stuck hiding behind a hay mound just outside of town, vulnerable to enemy forces whether they choose to advance, retreat or stay put. “You have Captain (Richard) Winters screaming from the back, ‘you have to keep moving forward.’” SPOILER ALERT — The troops continue and accomplish their goal.
Though most people won’t find themselves in the thick of battle, the scene illustrates something universal: the challenge of leaving one’s comfort zone. “You can’t tuck down and hide away even though that would be the easier choice sometimes. We just have to keep moving forward,” Bishop-elect Walsh said. “I used that example quite a bit during COVID with my school personnel, when we would get bogged down.”
Movie references like these help Bishop-elect Walsh connect with the people he serves. “I think people are able to relate to these images.”
Father Jacob “Jay” Livecchi was unaware that the priest he chose to vest him for his ordination to the priesthood June 22 in the Toledo Diocese would be ordained a bishop three months later for the Davenport Diocese.
He first learned of Bishop-elect Dennis Walsh’s episcopal appointment the day the Vatican announced it in Rome, June 25. Friends began texting Father Livecchi, asking him, “Isn’t that the guy who vested you? He’s going to be a bishop!” The Vatican wanted to make the announcement a week earlier, but the future bishop did not want his appointment to overshadow the ordinations of the diocese’s two new priests.
Father Livecchi recalled the mindboggling news during an Aug. 15 interview with The Catholic Messenger. Bishop-elect Walsh was Father Livecchi’s mentor during his pastoral year at the three parishes the future bishop led in northwestern Ohio — St. John the Evangelist in Delphos, St. John the Baptist in Landeck and St. Patrick in Spencerville.
Father Livecchi described Bishop-elect Walsh as a “really good mentor” who provided his mentee with a balance of guidance and independence and conveyed a good sense of humor. When Father Livecchi asked permission to lead a family faith-formation event, his mentor consented, giving him full responsibility for managing it from start to finish. “It went very well, but there was learning involved,” Father Livecchi admitted.
Lindsay Steele Bishop-elect Dennis Walsh takes questions from diocesan staff June 25 after his introduction as the new bishop for the Diocese of Davenport.
Bishop-elect Walsh’s financial and administrative acumen were evident to Father Livecchi, who learned to read parish financial spreadsheets and gained insights about being a pastor of multiple parishes who also leads a Pre-K-12 school. Bishop-elect Walsh impressed on Father Livecchi the importance of having “long-term vision, to have a long-term goal in mind.”
His mentor’s humility also made an impression on Father Livecchi. “Nothing he ever did was showy,” the young priest said. Bishop-elect Walsh advised him to make time in his priesthood for private prayer and demonstrated that commitment by beginning his early morning with the Lord.
“Humility and obedience are two principle goals I learned from him,” Father Livecchi said of Bishop-elect Walsh, who persists in obedience to the Lord even in challenging times but also conveys his joy for the priesthood. “I picked Father Dennis (to vest me) because he embodied those virtues of a priest that I would want to embody in my own priesthood,” Father Livecchi said.
He is grateful for the year he spent with Bishop-elect Walsh, which provided him with insights for his current, temporary assignment serving Epiphany of the Lord Parish in Toledo. This fall, Father Livecchi will return to the Pontifical North American College in Rome to complete his degree in dogmatic theology.
Mixed feelings of sadness and gratitude over Bishop-elect Walsh’s appointment aside, Father Livecchi said, “He’s a great priest and a great friend. I’m also very happy for the Church. He’ll be a good bishop.”
They’ll stay in touch, added Father Livecchi, who quipped that he’ll be taking a vacation to Davenport!
