Bishop Gruss welcomes Bishop-elect Jeffrey Walsh to Michigan

Pope Francis has named Reverend Jeffrey J. Walsh as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Gaylord. His episcopal ordination and installation will take place on March 4, 2022. (Read more on the Diocese of Gaylord website.)

Statement from Bishop Robert Gruss, Bishop of Saginaw:

"As the Diocese of Gaylord prepares for the ordination and installation of their new Shepherd, I would like to extend prayerful congratulations and a warm welcome to Bishop-elect Jeffrey Walsh. I look forward to meeting and working alongside him as a Michigan bishop. I invite the faithful of the Diocese of Saginaw to join me in praying for Bishop-elect Walsh as he prepares for his new ministry, pastoral care of the people of the Diocese of Gaylord."

A prayer for Bishop-elect Walsh is available here. 

Photo of Bishop-elect Walsh courtesy of Diocese of Gaylord


Father Walsh Bio (USCCB)

Father Walsh was born on November 29, 1965, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Scranton where he earned his Baccalaureate and completed his ecclesiastical studies at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland and at Marywood University in Scranton, where he obtained a Master of Social Work. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 25, 1994.

Father Walsh’s assignments in the Diocese of Scranton after ordination include: Parochial Vicar of Saint Rose of Lima parish, and Director of Religious Education at Sacred Heart High School in Carbondale (1995); Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of Saint Peter (1996); Pastor of Our Lady of the Lake parish in Lake Winola (1999); Director of Education at St. Pius X Seminary (1999); Director of Vocations (2002); Pastor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Tunkhannock (2004); Regional Episcopal Vicar (2006); Administrator of Saint Rita parish in Gouldsboro (2008); Administrator of Saint Anthony parish in Throop (2009); Secretary for Catholic Social Services (2009); Pastor of Saint John's parish in East Stroudsburg (2010); Vicar for the clergy (2015). Until now, he has been pastor of Saint Rose of Lima parish and of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel parish in Carbondale. Bishop-elect Walsh is also a member of the diocesan College of Consultors and of the Presbyteral Council.

The Diocese of Gaylord is comprised of 11,171 square miles in the State of Michigan and has a total population of 506,623 of which 44,149 are Catholic.