A priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for 56 years, Father Walter Sochacki, died Feb. 8 at St. Therese Care Center in New Hope. He was 81.
Father Sochacki grew up as a member of Sacred Heart in Robbinsdale, where he also attended the parish school. After one year at then-Benilde High School in St. Louis Park, he entered Nazareth Hall Seminary in St. Paul. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1968.
His ministry at eight parishes in the Twin Cities area included 13 years as pastor of Immaculate Conception in Columbia Heights, from 1981 to 1994, and 11 years as pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Roseville, from 1994 to 2005. He was pastor one year at Visitation in Minneapolis before he retired from active ministry in 2006.
Father Sochacki’s ministry also included being an assistant priest at Good Shepherd in Golden Valley in 1968, assistant priest at Annunciation in Minneapolis (1968-1971), assistant priest at Holy Trinity in South St. Paul (1971-1976). He was associate pastor and parochial administrator of St. John the Baptist in New Brighton (1976-1978) and co-pastor of St. Mary of the Lake in Plymouth from 1978 to 1981.
In retirement, Father Sochacki provided liturgical support to the pastoral care teams at St. Therese Senior Communities in New Hope and Brooklyn Park. He enjoyed gardening and working out in the fitness center. For many years, he spent winters in Lake Havasu, Arizona.
Father Sochacki was known for making guests feel welcome in the parishes he served and for keeping his homilies positive, short but sweet, according to his obituary posted on the website of Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapels.
His funeral Mass was Feb. 12 at Sacred Heart in Robbinsdale, with a private burial. Archbishop Bernard Hebda presided and Father James Burns, president of St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona was the homilist.
