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Rev. Walter F. McNicholas, O.S.A. (1926 - 2011)

Rev. Walter F. McNicholas, O.S.A. died March 9, 2011 following a short struggle with cancer. He was 84.

Walter Francis McNicholas, Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1926 to Walter F., Sr. and Helen McNicholas. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Rita Parish, Chicago.

Following graduation from Saint Rita High School, Chicago, Walter studied at Saint Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa and at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. He served in the United States Navy.

Walter joined the Augustinian formation program at the Augustinian Preparatory Seminary, Staten Island, New York, in 1946. He was received into the Augustinian Novitiate December 12, 1946 and professed Simple (temporary) Vows in the Augustinian Order December 13, 1947. He made his profession of Solemn (permanent) Vows December 13, 1950. He was ordained a Priest October 26, 1952.

He earned a B. A. in Philosophy from Villanova University in 1949. He studied Theology at Colegio Santa Monica, Rome, Italy in 1949-50. Continuing his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, he earned his S.T.B. there in 1952 and his S.T.L. in 1954. He later did additional studies in Psychology at DePaul University and Chicago State University, both in Chicago.

After completing his studies in Rome, Father McNicholas was assigned to Saint Rita High School, Chicago, where he served as Chaplain from 1954 to 1960. He then went to Saint Augustine Seminary, Holland, Michigan, where he taught from 1960 to 1964.

Father McNicholas returned to Saint Rita High School in 1964, serving at various times until 1972 as teacher, guidance counselor and Province Vocations Director.

In 1972 he was named Pastor of Immaculate Conception/Saint Henry Parish, Saint Louis, Missouri. Later that same year, he was assigned as a teacher to Austin Catholic High School, Detroit, Michigan. He returned to parish ministry in 1978, first for one year at Saint Mary Parish, Independence, Missouri, and then for four years at Saint Clare of Montefalco Parish, Grosse Pointe Park/Detroit, Michigan.

1983 saw Father McNicholas returning to the classroom at Saint Rita High School, where he remained until 1993. In that year he was assigned to Saint Joseph Parish, Pekin, Illinois. He served there until 1994, when he took up residence at Saint Monica Monastery, Chicago, while serving for one year as a Chaplain at Holy Cross Hospital, Chicago, and then as a counselor at Saint Rita High School. He relocated to St. Rita High School Monastery in 2006.

He continued to serve as a counselor at St. Rita High School until his retirement in 2009. In 2010 he was assigned to the newly established Bl. Stephen Bellesini Friary at Franciscan Village, Lemont, Illinois. In December, 2010 he was diagnosed with cancer. It was discovered that the cancer had spread throughout his body. Father McNicholas entered Hospice care. He died peacefully March 9, 2011 at Mother Theresa Home, part of the Franciscan Village complex, in the company of two of his Augustinian brothers.

Father McNicholas is remembered as an exacting teacher who complemented his teaching with a strong pastoral outreach to his students and their families. Students frequently sought him out to discuss personal issues or for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In his later years, he would stand at the entrance to St. Rita and greet the students as they arrived at school. He knew most of them by name. Whenever there was a death in the family of any St. Rita student, Father McNicholas would always be present at the wake to comfort the family and to offer prayer. Ministering to others was central to his life. He was enthusiastic about being an Augustinian friar, and encouraged many students to consider joining the Augustinian Order.

He is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.

Memorial gifts to Augustinian Guild, 5401 S. Cornell Ave., Chicago, IL 60615-5664 or via Augustinian Guild Secure On-Line Giving appreciated. Augustinian Guild supports the care of elderly and infirm friars and the seminaryformation of young friars.

       » Read “St. Rita legend all ‘about the kids’” story in March 13, 2011 Southtown Star (Opens new window)

       » Read “St. Rita legend all ‘about the kids’” story reprinted in March 15, 2011 Chicago Sun-Times (Opens new window)