FATHER WALTER OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS On Monday, 3rd March, 1958, the hand of death struck very suddenly one of the priests of the little Community of St. Joseph’s Retreat, Cloonamahon, Collooney, St. Sligo. On that day Father Walter had been spending the day with some friends in Sligo. They had come for him in the morning in their car, and at about 9.30 that night returned with him to St. Joseph’s. He got the usual “benedicite” and went to his cell. A few minutes afterwards he left his cell and was proceeding down the corridor, when, suddenly, evidently without warning, he fell dead. From the position of his body it seemed evident that he had been dead before he fell, as both his hands were behind his back as he lay in the corridor. Five of the seven priests of our little Community were absent on Mission work, but, fortunately, I was at his side within a few minutes and absolved him and administered the Sacrament of Extreme Unction. A doctor was immediately phoned, but we knew that only one verdict was possible and that the life of Father Walter on earth had suddenly come to an end. Almost four years previously while he was attending a Gregorian Chant Course in Dublin, Father Walter had had a sudden attack, in the street, of Coronary Thrombosis. He was, fortunately, just outside a chemist’s shop, where he received “first aid” treatment, and was later removed to the Mater Nursing Home in Eccles Street, where he remained for some months. Since then, he had been visiting a specialist in Dublin every six months for a check-up. This specialist wrote to me on 11th July 1956, after one of Father Walter’s visits, and in his letter he said: “Examination shows a marked enlargement of his heart and my impression is that his future outlook is very serious, since he is liable to a further coronary thrombosis, and, possibly, sudden death. I have prescribed for him and have told him to restrict his physical activities to the minimum.” He added “Unfortunately, Father Walter is unfit for anything but light duty and will need to lead the life of a semi-invalid. In my opinion he is not fit for preaching.” Although Fr. Walter did not preach or conduct Church Services, he took his turn hearing confessions and said Holy Mass each day and attended regularly to the Choir Observances except those from which he was dispensed. A few days before his death he did mention that he had had some little heart spasms, but he did not seem to regard these as serious, and seemed to be in good form on the day of his death. In spite of the specialist’s warning, his death came as a great shock not only to the few who were present in the Retreat, but also to those who were absent when they saw the announcement in the daily papers. Nevertheless, God was very merciful to him in allowing the collapse to occur in the corridor, and to grant him the graces of the sacraments, for if he had collapsed in his cell, he would, probably, not have been discovered until the following morning. As there is no cemetery at St. Joseph’s Retreat, the body was taken to Dublin on the day following his death, and after Solemn Requiem Mass sung by the Provincial, Very Reverend Father Fergus, his body was laid to rest in the Religious Cemetery adjoining St. Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus, on Wednesday, 5th March, 1958. May he rest in peace! Known in the world as Charles Ketterer, Father Walter was born in our own parish of St. Mungo, Glasgow, on 3rd June, 1902. He attended the schools of the parish and was an Altar boy in St. Mungo’s. Brought up, as it were, among Passionists, it was not surprising that later on his thoughts turned to the idea of becoming a Passionist himself. Having applied for admission, he was accepted and was sent to the then Alumniate at Holy Cross Retreat, Ardoyne, Belfast. In due time he was sent to the Novitiate in St. Gabriel’s Retreat, Enniskillen, but owing to ill health he had to leave and return home. Later on, when his health had improved, he returned to the Novitiate and was professed on 10th May, 1926. On account of the state of his health he was advised to go to the Province of the Holy Ghost, Australia, which was in great need of men at that time, and after his student course there was ordained on 1st July, 1933. During his priestly life in Australia he conducted many Missions and Retreats. He was appointed Director of Students and later on was Rector of St. Paul’s Retreat, Sydney, and of St. Brigid’s Retreat, Adelaide. Fr. Walter was of a very quiet and retiring disposition, so much so, that apart from the common observances, one might almost forget that he was in the Retreat. Yet, in spite of this trait he had the aptitude of making many friends wherever he went. Although he had left Australia about ten years ago, many of the friends he had made there kept in touch with him by letter to the end of his life. He was considerate and charitable towards others and was very kind and patient with penitents in the confessional. Many of the priests who come to confession here asked for him personally. With all visitors to the Retreat he was affable, kind and patient. Having been in the retreat of St. Joseph longer than most of us, he was very well known to the people around here and in Sligo. Although a sudden death always evokes great sympathy, the number of Mass Cards and letters of sympathy received here – in spite of its isolation – proved that he was more than usually popular among those who frequent this Church and Retreat. After about twenty-two years spent in Australia, Father Walter returned home for a long holiday. During his holiday, early in 1949, he applied to our Father Provincial, Very Rev. Fr. Cronan, to be accepted as a member of the Province of St. Patrick. His application was considered in a Consulta in February, 1949 and he was accepted. He was appointed “de familia” to St. Michael’s Retreat, Dankeith, Kilmarnock, where he remained till August, 1953, when he was changed to St. Joseph’s Retreat, Collooney, where he remained till his death on 3rd March, 1958. Had he lived till 1st July this year, Father Walter would have celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his Ordination, and, on that account, he had received special permission to visit, with some friends, the Shrine of Our Lady at Lourdes. All arrangements had been made for a Pilgrimage during Holy Week in the first week of April, and his case had been packed for the journey. However, he was not destined to visit the Shrine. We hope that he met Our Lady in heaven, before the date of his proposed Pilgrimage. May his soul rest in peace. Signed: Peter Paul of the Seven Dolours, C.P. Rev. Father Walter (Ketterer), C.P. On the evening of Monday, March 3rd, at St. Joseph’s Retreat, Cloonamahon, Collooney, Co. Sligo, death came swiftly to Father Walter (Ketterer), C.P., and in its coming, took from our midst a genial son of St. Paul of the Cross. Born in Glasgow on June 3rd, 1902, he was known in the world as Charles Ketterer. While still very young, he showed a strong desire to enter the Passionist Congregation. Nor did he allow his God-given desire to be frustrated by ill-health. Soon after his reception into the Novitiate, his weak physical condition forced his superiors to advise him to return to the secular state. This he did with a heavy heart for his vocation was strong – so strong that even in the midst of illness he never lost his desire to give himself to God in religion. After a period of rest, he returned to the Novitiate, and, to his great joy, was professed a Passionist on May 10th, 1926, at St. Gabriel’s Retreat, The Graan, Enniskillen. At that time it was decided that the warm climate of Australia would best suit his constitution, weakened as it was by sickness. Having completed his student course in Australia, he was ordained there on July 1st, 1933. During his twenty-three years beneath the Southern Cross, Father Walter gave of his best to God and the Congregation. He was revered by thousands of Australian Catholics as a zealous preacher of missions and retreats. That gentleness of disposition which had endeared him to his fellow novices at St. Gabriel’s remained with him through the years and helped him powerfully in the winning of souls for God. The Catholics of Sydney will remember Father Walter not only as a missioner but as Rector of St. Brigid’s Retreat, Marrickville. IN 1949 Father Walter returned to St. Patrick’s Province, where he remained until his death. During the past few years, his health, never robust, deteriorated slowly. But he had come to terms with pain. He had come to think of it as part of his normal life – part of his quiet apostolate, in which self-pity had no part. Though death came to him “like a thief in the night,” he seemed to have a premonition of its coming. Only a few weeks before the end, he wrote to a friend saying, “These days I am feeling very poorly. However, I hope soon to have lasting peace from this dreadful pain.” Surely the words of a priest who was making ready to meet his Saviour! Following Solemn Requiem Mass celebrated by Very Rev. Father Fergus, C.P., Provincial, his mortal remains were interred in the Community Cemetery, Mount Argus, Dublin. May he rest in Peace. (The Cross, Vol. XLVIII, 1957-58; p. 367.)