Msgr. Patrick Joseph "Pat Rev. Leahy
October 6, 1914 ~ April 30, 2009
Leahy, Msgr. Patrick Joseph “Pat”, 94, a retired priest of the Diocese of Dodge City, died April 30, 2009, at the Catholic Care Center in Bel Aire. He was born in Abbeyfeale, Ireland, Oct. 6, 1914, the son of Patrick and Johanna (Ward) Leahy. He was ordained June 19, 1938, by the Most Reverend Thomas Keough at All Hallows College, Dublin. He was elevated to the rank of monsignor on October 14, 1965. He was known for his humor and energy. He used the weekly parish bulletins not only to disperse information, but to spread laughter, interesting historic notes and Church teaching. He came to the Diocese of Wichita long before the active recruiting trips of Msgr. John Cody in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He enjoyed telling the story of a conversation between David Leahy and Bishop August Schwertner. “David Leahy was in his day a Probate Judge in Sedgwick County, also editor of the Wichita Eagle and Wichita Beacon, ” When I was a seminarian in All Hallows, Dave said to Bishop Schwertner, You have no Father Leahy in the diocese, Id like to see one here before I die. A cousin of mine is in a Dublin seminary. Thats the expedient story of my being incardinated into Wichita.” He served at St. Patricks, Parsons, (1938-1942); Sacred Heart, Fredonia, (1942-1945), and St. John the Evangelist, El Dorado (1945-1950). He was pastor at St. John the Evangelist, Hoisington, (1950-1965), when the Diocese of Dodge City was established in 1951. His other pastoral assignments in the Diocese of Dodge City were: Mary, Queen of Peace, Ulysses, (1965-1966); Sacred Heart, Larned, (1966-1969); St. Joseph, Offerle, (1969-1971); Immaculate Conception, Claflin, (1971-1980), and St. Mary, McCracken, (1980-1998). After he retired to the Priests Retirement Center in Wichita, he spent five hours a day in the adjacent Catholic Care Center assisting the residents in wheelchairs to daily Mass and to the dining hall. Vigil for Msgr. Leahy will be Monday, May 4th, 7 pm at the St. Elizabeth Chapel, Catholic Care Center, 6700 East 45th Street North, Bel Aire. Funeral Mass will be Tuesday, May 5th, 11 am, also in the St. Elizabeth Chapel with Bishop Ronald M. Gilmore presiding. Burial will be in Ascension Cemetery, Wichita. Memorials can be sent to the Ann and Virgil Dechant Foundation, P.O. Box 137, Dodge City, KS, 67801. Downing Lahey Mortuary East.
Vigil service, 7:00 P.M., Monday, May 4, St. Elizabeth Chapel at Catholic Care Center
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Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
Uncle Pattie, Your passing is a great loss to our family and to the church. Your good humour, patience and generosity drew people to you and you had great time for everyone, adult and child alike. Your visits home every summer were eagerly awaited because everyone liked to be around you. Now you have gone to your eternal reward and to be reunited with those family members who have gone before you. You are gone but not forgotten. Rest in peace Uncle Pattie. Your Nephew Pat Leahy
I met Msgr. Leahy while he was pastor in McCracken Kansas. My parents were members of the parish and he meant so much to them He even said Mass at their home in the country on the occasion of their 55th wedding anniversary. He will be remembered at a Mass.
Dear Uncle Pattie you will be sadly missed,your wit,your great sense of life,and your humble nature,you brought happiness to everyone you met,and you will be forever fondly etched in our memories,the world is certainly a better place for your tireless and selfeless work for the church and i will miss you greatly.rest in peace uncle Pattie your nephew David Leahy Abbeyfeale
Dear Uncle Patty you will be sadly missed,your wit,your great sense of life,and your humble nature,you brought happiness to everyone you met,and you will be forever fondly etched in our memories,the world is certainly a better place for your tireless and selfeless work for the church and i will miss you greatly.rest in peace uncle Patty. your nephew David Leahy Abbeyfeale
Pat, thanks for being a wonderful brother and I will miss you.
Uncle Pattie, you were much loved and will be sadly missed by all your family.
Fr. married my parents Joe and Blanche Alcott in 1952 in Hoisinton KS. They said many wonderful things about him.