[NYer]

The Rev. Samuel Leonard (right) readies incense before a Sunday Mass at St. Kilian Church in New Bedford. In this family photograph (left) taken at his wife Mary's bedside six days before her 1998 death, Leonard (back row, center) is joined by the couple's 10 children.

[NYer]

He says he ``absolutely supports'' the church's rule on celibacy for priests. ``Now, if there's a choice between my children and the ministry, I have to choose the ministry,'' he says. ``I belong more to God than I do to my family. I don't know if they understand that, but I pray that they will.''

What a beautiful story! Many prayers for this 'new' priest!

[NYer]

On Saturday March 19, on the solemnity of Saint Joseph in Massillon, Ohio Deacon Samuel Leonard became the first ordained priest from our province. The ordination ceremony was presided by Mons. Thomas J. Tobin, the bishop of Youngstown, Ohio, and took place at 7:00 pm in the parish of Santa Barbara where Samuel had worked for many years before becoming a member of the IVE.

Five hundred people attended the ordination Mass including the IVE House of Formation and the Juniorate of the Servants of The Lord.

Institute of the Incarnate Word

[nickcarraway]

ping

[SuziQ]

God Bless Leonard and his family. May the Lord raise up many more like him!

[old and tired]

I'm going to pray for Leonard's daughter. I'll pray she returns fully to the faith her parents nurtured in her.

Am I the only one who gets a kick out of that picture? I'll bet they're all looking at the antics of a toddler off in the corner who's stealing all the attention away from the camera!

[HarleyD]

"And in 1979, with 10 kids to feed, Leonard quit his sales job to devote himself to religion full time. He did so with his wife's blessing."

This sounds like such a beautiful story until one stops to wonder how it was that Leonard supported himself, a wife and ten kids with no job? While the article says he got some money from various people, most likely the bulk of what little income they had was through government subsidies (welfare, food stamps, etc) that you and I pay for. While Leonard was going to daily mass, you and I were going to work. Even the Apostle Paul was gainfully employed making tents.

[miltonim]

Never too old bump.

[Flying Circus]

I remembered this article today when Fr. Leonard said the noon Mass at OLOP today. He is on his summer vacation and came to visit us. He gave a very good homily.

Made me glad we were too late to get to 10AM divine liturgy at St Basil’s.