Days until we Walk for Life on January 25, 2025
This following comes from A Shepherd’s Voice, the blog of Fr. John Malloy, the first chaplain of the Walk for Life West Coast. A Shepherd’s Voice is now maintained by Gibbons Cooney, Fr. Malloy’s secretary at Saints Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco, and his assistant blogger.

 

Happy First Anniversary, Father Malloy!

 

Fr. Malloy receiveing the St. Gianna Molla award at the first Walk for Life West Coast, 2005
Fr. Malloy receiveing the St. Gianna Molla award at the first Walk for Life West Coast, 2005

Today is the first anniversary of the rebirth into eternal life of our dear Fr. John Malloy, SDB.  How can we thank him for all he has done for us and for the Church?

His unheralded 2001 arrival (at age 79!) at Saints Peter and Paul parish in San Francisco introduced an unapologetic champion of Catholic orthodoxy, of life and the family, into the city of St. Francis, which had become ground zero for the culture of death. 

 It was the 2004 rally in defense of marriage, which he hosted as pastor of Saints Peter and Paul, that fired the opening shots in the defense of marriage and family in our City.  Fr. Malloy was not alone in fighting that battle, others worked with him, but as was said of the first Salesian pastor of Saints Peter and Paul, Fr. Raphael Pipierni, he “started the fight when it was hard to start.”  That war to restore sanity to the culture has just begun, and it will continue for generations. 

 The marriage rally galvanized the pro-family and pro-life movement in San Francisco, and gave birth to the Walk for Life West Coast, the best thing going in San Francisco! 

Now our City is blessed with an even more prominent champion of marriage and the family, our good Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone.  Who would have believed that 10 year’s ago? 

Father, we thank you for all you did for us when you were here on earth.  And we know you are still fighting the good fight and praying for us unceasingly in heaven!