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Reverend Walter Timothy McInerney

Pastor, Divine Providence, June 27, 1956 to December 31, 1975

Father was born December 4, 1907 to Timothy and Delia Moloney Mclnerney. He was baptized and attended grammar school at Our Lady of Good Counsel, at 36th and Hermitage, on the near southwest side. Upon graduation in 1922, he enrolled at Quigley Preparatory Seminary. Only the north side seminary existed then. Following his graduation from Quigley, he progressed to the major seminary, Saint Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Illinois.

During those school years, his summer vacations were given to a variety of jobs undertaken to supply part of the cost of his education. One of his first employers was Evergreen Country Club on far South Western Avenue. He caddied, worked in its greenhouse and flower shop, and as July Fourth approached, he manned its stand selling fireworks, which were legal and very popular at that time. One summer he was a messenger for Columbia Engraving, a downtown firm. His daily trips to all corners of the city may account for his lasting and exceptional familiarity with most neighborhoods, thoroughfares, and landmarks.  Later he was employed as a tree trimmer by the City of Chicago, and one of his last pre-ordination summers was spent as a life guard at Rainbow Beach.

He completed his seminary work, earned his M. A. degree and was ordained to the priesthood on April 22, 1933, by George Cardinal Mundelein.

His first assignment, from July 1933 to January 1941, was to Saint Margaret Mary Parish on the far north side. That was the CYO's most active period, and Father was the organizer and leader of the many youth activities in that parish.

In January, 1941, he moved to Saint Matthew Parish on the near west side. Those were war years, and to regular parish work were added the occasions to counsel and comfort those who personally felt that disaster's impact. The parish is located in the midst of several hospitals and furnished chaplains to them. Though time and energy consuming. Father Mclnerney always welcomed opportunities to employ his priestly office to comfort the ill, as he continues to demonstrate even today.

From Saint Matthew s he moved, in May of 1945, to Saint Barbara Parish in Brookfield. The postwar population explosion and rapid shift of people from city to suburbs was beginning.  Participating in resolving the resulting administrative problems regarding school enrollment explosion, construction and financing, was a good apprenticeship for the pastoral responsibilities in his future.

Father Mclnerney came to Divine Providence Westchester in 1956.  A few of his many achievements are:

• The overseeing of the completion of the first building in 1958

• The dedication of the church and school in 1959.

• The addition of four classrooms to the north side of the Mayfair Room in 1959.

• The addition of four more classrooms to the southwest side of the building in 1960.

• The completion of the rectory-administration building and permanent convent in 1976.

When he was named Pastor Emeritus at the end of 1975, he retired to his residence in Mayslake Village, the Franciscan community in nearby Oak Brook, Illinois. He continues to be a frequent, welcome visitor to the parish and village.