About six weeks ago, a copy of The Catholic Times addressed to Msgr. James Walter was delivered to the rectory where he resides at Lancaster St. Mark Church.

Father Peter Gideon, the pastor at St. Mark, picked up the parish’s four copies and noticed that the address label had changed on his fellow priest’s issue from “Reverend” to “Monsignor.” Not sure what to make of it, Father Gideon asked what was going on.

An error, maybe? 

Actually, it was not. But the new title on the label was added prematurely.

With the cat out of the bag, then-soon-to-be Msgr. Walter had to tell Father Gideon that he indeed would be receiving the honorary title.

“We were sitting down to lunch,” Father Gideon recalled, “and I said to him, ‘By the way, have you looked at your Catholic Times?’ ‘No, he said.’

“I said, ‘It might be a good idea if you did.’ He got up from lunch and went and looked at the label, and said, ‘Well, it’s supposed to be a secret.’” 

That gave Father Gideon the scoop well in advance of the official announcement that was made at the Chrism Mass on Tuesday, April 4 during Holy Week at Westerville St. Paul Church, where Msgr. Walter was officially recognized by Bishop Earl Fernandes.

Bishop Fernandes had submitted a request to the Vatican for the papal honor to be conferred upon Msgr. Walter, citing his holiness and years of faithful service to the Catholic Church and the diocese as a priest.

Msgr. James Walter (second from left) enjoys the moment with Bishop Earl Fernandes (center) and Bishop emeritus Frederick Campbell. At left is Father Paul Keller, OP, interim director of the diocese’s Office of Divine Worship. CT photo by Ken Snow

The official ecclesiastical title conferred upon Msgr. Walter is “chaplain of His Holiness” and the corresponding appellation “monsignor.”

“It completely took me by surprise,” Msgr. Walter said. “To be named a monsignor, I think, is kind of a sign of appreciation for one’s ministry. The fact I’m completing 61 years of work here in May I’m sure is the leading reason.”

The Vatican changed its rules in 2014 and limited the title to priests who have reached the age of 65 and for those who hold certain major offices in the Roman Curia or as a vicar general or chancellor in dioceses.

The monsignor designation is an honor from the Holy Father recognizing long and dedicated service to the Church and its people. There were previously three grades of monsignor until the Vatican’s changes nine years ago when “apostolic protonotary” and “honorary prelate of His Holiness” were eliminated.  

Msgr. Walter, 86, celebrated the 60th anniversary of his ordination in 2022. The humble priest retired in July as pastor of Sugar Grove St. Joseph Church but continues to assist and serve in the Lancaster area.

“It’s an honor to be given recognition,” he said. “A lot of people don’t get much recognition for their work, but we’re not in it to get recognition.

“I hope my other priests are also honored by it, and I also pray that God continues to bless my ministry and my brother priests.

“I’m very grateful to God that I’ve been able to serve and have had good health. … There’s never been a day when I’ve regretted my ordination. I’ve had the grace of the call.”

Born in Columbus, Msgr. Walter was ordained by Bishop Clarence Issenmann at St. Joseph Cathedral on May 26, 1962 after attending Columbus St. Mary Magdalene School and graduating as a valedictorian from Columbus St. Charles College High School.

His assignments over the past 60 years, in addition to his last one before retiring, have included co-pastor and later pastor at Zanesville St. Nicholas Church; pastor at Sunbury St. John Neumann and Lancaster St. Bernadette churches; associate pastor at Lancaster St. Mary, Columbus Holy Name, Grove City Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Marion St. Mary churches and the cathedral; in residence at Columbus St. Augustine, Columbus St. Francis of Assisi, Columbus Our Lady of Peace and Columbus St. Timothy churches; administrator at the Johnstown Church of the Ascension; and a weekend assistant at Westerville St. Paul Church.

He also served as secretary to Auxiliary Bishop Edward Hettinger; was a teacher at Columbus Bishop Watterson and Columbus St. Francis DeSales high schools; a member of the Priests’ Senate; chaplain at Doctors Hospital North and Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus; relief chaplain at the Ohio State University Hospital; and vicar for the Northwest Vicariate.

In the Diocese of Columbus, records indicate that Msgr. Walter is the first priest to be named a monsignor during this century.

In 1999, Msgr. William Dunn and the now-deceased Msgrs. James Geiger, Stephen Hawkins and Edward Kessler were named “honorary Prelate of His Holiness.” Msgr. Robert Noon, who already had the title, was given the additional honor of “apostolic protonotary,” which was then considered the highest rank of monsignor.

Msgr. Stephan Moloney, the diocese’s vicar general who then was also chancellor, was awarded “apostolic protonotary” that year as well after having been made a “chaplain to His Holiness” in 1992.

That same year, 34 priests were elevated to the rank of monsignor as then-Bishop James Griffin honored 143 clergy and laypeople during the diocese’s 125th-anniversary celebration. 

Among those priests still active today are Msgrs. John Cody, Paul Enke, Anthony Frecker, Joseph Hendricks, John Johnson, Frank Meagher and Frank Lane.

Others currently in the diocese are Msgrs. David Funk, John Dreese, Patrick Gaughan, Richard Marchese and Anthony Missimi.