Fr. Joseph Thomas Walsh, CSB

Fr. Joseph Thomas Walsh, CSB, died peacefully in Michael Garron Hospital on November 6, 2025 after a brief illness. He was 89 years of age. He was a Basilian for 70 years and served in priestly ministry for 60 years. Joseph Walsh was born in New York City, the son of Joseph Walsh and Madelaine Coffey. He had one brother, the late William Walsh. Fr. Joe will be sorely missed by his beloved nieces and nephews and their families: Monica (Michael) Murray from Inverness, IL, Eileen (Michael) Tarpy from Chicago, IL, John (Lisa) Walsh from Delray Beach, FL and Justin (Kally) Walsh from Arlington Heights, IL.

Joe attended St. Michael’s College School, Toronto and entered St. Basil’s Novitiate, Richmond Hill after graduation from Grade XIII. His first profession as a Basilan was on August 15, 1955, followed by his appointment to St. Basil’s Seminary in Toronto. His university studies were at the University of St. Michael’s College where he obtained a BA from the University of Toronto in 1958. Joe’s theological studies for priesthood took place at St. Basil’s Seminary in Toronto leading to his STB from the University of St. Michael’s College in 1964 and an MA in 1966. Ordained to the priesthood on December 13, 1964, in St. Basil’s Church, Toronto by then-Archbishop George Flahiff, CSB, his first Solemn Mass was in St. Anselm’s Church in Toronto. Fr. Joe attended the Ontario College of Education that prepared him for a very fruitful, Basilian teaching career at the secondary level at St. Michael’s College School in Toronto, Aquinas Institute of Rochester, St. Thomas High School in Houston, Texas, St. Mary’s College in Sault Ste. Marie, St. Charles College in Sudbury and Michael Power High School in Etobicoke. Fr. Walsh was a very popular high school teacher and mentor to countless students and a role model to many of his colleagues. His passion for sports was contagious to his students, confrères and colleagues, and he was often accompanied by students and friends on the ski slopes during Canadian winters.

But it was during his second career as a cherished pastoral minister that Fr. Walsh excelled in parish ministry at St. John the Baptist Church, Amherstburg, Our Lady of the Assumption, Lethbridge, St. Thomas More Parish, Calgary, and Holy Rosary Church, Toronto. He spent hours preparing his homilies and found many creative ways of relating to diverse audiences who delighted in his storytelling skills! Fr. Joe was a treasured companion and animator of the Basilian Lay Associates and served his elderly confrères with generosity, compassion, patience and good humor. His presiding and preaching at daily masses will be missed by his fellow residents at Presentation Manor where he resided since 2018.

Visitation begins at 9:00 am on Thursday morning, November 13, 2025 followed by a concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 am in the chapel of Presentation Manor Residence for Seniors, 61 Fairfax Crescent, Scarborough. A reception will follow. Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Thornhill. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome in Fr. Walsh’s memory to the Basilian Fathers Retirement Fund, 146 Davenport Road, Toronto, ON M5R 1J2.