WALTERS FATHER HILARION, C.P. Passed to his eternal reward at St. Paul of the Cross Apostolic Center, Quezon City, Philippines, on Sunday, July 7, 2013. Cause of death was congestive heart failure. Born Thomas Walters on December 21, 1918 on Pittsburgh's South Side. He was the son of Louis Walters and Barbara (Norkus) Walters. He was 95 and was Dean of the Passionists of North America and Asia. He is survived by four sisters, Sr. Frances Walters O.S.F., Sr. Marianne Walters O.S.F., both of the Sisters of St. Francis of Divine Providence, Whitehall; sister, Mrs. Helen (Regis) Sherry of Whitehall and Mrs. Ann (Edward) Dombroski of Erie, PA; also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews. In 1940, he was professed a Passionist in Pittsburgh, taking the name of Hilarion of Mary Immaculate. In 1947, after completing his philisophical and theological studies, he was ordained a priest on April 28, 1947 at St. Michael's Monastery in Union City, New Jersey. The following year he went to China. Other Passionists accompanied him, along with four Sisters of St. Joseph of Baden, PA. In 1949, under the threat of violence, the entire group was expelled by force from Beijing, where they were studying Chinese language and culture. Father Hilarion was a native of St. Casimir Parish and was fluent in Lithuanian. He conducted parish spiritual exercises in that language, as well as in English. He also served as Director of Seminarians in Union City. This helped prepare him for future missionary work. His language skills in Tagolog made him a natural to be a founding member of the Catholic missions in Cotabato and Mindinao. In 1958, he was then among the first commissioned American missionaries to that part of the world. He served there consistently until the time of his death. With the exception of a few assignments to Rome, where he participated in the canonical establishment of the Diocese of Marbel. Besides serving as a parish priest, he was a formation director for both Diocesan and Religious seminary students. He is thought to be the longest serving Passionist missionary ever. His Funeral Mass and burial were held at Holy Cross Church, Calumpang, General Santos City on July 18. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 3 at the Mother House Chapel of the St. Francis Sisters of Divine Providence, 3603 McRoberts Rd., Pittsburgh, PA 15224. The celebrant will be the Very Rev. Gerald Laba C.P., the homily will be delivered by the Rev. Jerome-Michael Vereb, C.P., and the Very Reverend Robert Joerger C.P., Major Superior of the Province of St. Paul of the Cross will preside over the services. Condolences can be sent to Sr. Marianne Walters, O.S.F., c/o St. Francis Sisters of Divine Providence, 3603 McRoberts Rd., Pittsburgh, PA, 15224. Arrangements entrusted to JOHN F. SLATER FUNERAL HOME, 412-881-4100, 4201 Brownsville Road, Pgh., PA 15227. Send condolences at post-gazette.com/gb
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