A TRIBUTE
"A Lynn native, Rev. John Francis. Leonard, V.F., was educated at Sanborn,
Lewis, Tracy and Breed schools prior to attending St. Mary’s Boys High School
from which he graduated in 1947. His seminary training was at St. John’s
Seminary in Brighton. He was ordained a Priest on February 2, 1955 in the
Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston.
In June of 1959 he began his Air Force Chaplainry at Lacklad Air Force Base,
San Antonio, Texas. Following assignments were at Patrick AFB, Florida, Hickman
Air base, Hawaii, Lackland AFB again, then across the city to Randolph AFB,
thence to Vietnam (1965-66) and from there to Oxnard AFB, CA then to Hahn AFB
in Germany. Among his service citations are the Air Medal, Bronze Star, AF
Commendation Medal with three Oak Clusters, Army and Navy Commendation, Vietnam
Service Medal, Outstanding Unit Citations and the American Defense Medal. A
life member of the V.F.W. Post 10722 in Pelham, N.H., he was the State Chaplain
of the VFW, a position he held on nine different occasions and was the National
Chaplain for the V.F.W. in 1976-77 and again in 2000-2001. He also served as
Chaplain for the Malden V.F.W. Post 639 and the American Legion Post 69.
Additionally, he was a member of the American Legion Post 72 in Alton, NH and
the American Legion Post 100 in Pelham, N.H.
After13 years in the Air Force, Fr. Leonard was recalled to the Archdioceses
and assigned to Sacred Hearts Church in Malden in January, 1972. In 1977 he
went to Immaculate Conception Parish Newburyport, as Administrator for one year
and Pastor for nine years. In February of 1987, he came to Lynn as Pastor of
St. Mary’s Church. From 1988 to 1992 he was the Pastor at the parishes of St.
Patrick and St. Francis in Lynn; 1988 to 1999 was Vicar Forane for the Lynn and
Salem vicariates; 1992 to 1999 pastor of St. James Parish in Salem; 1999 to
2005 Pastor at St. Ann’s Parish in West Newbury. In 2005 he became Senior
Priest in Retirement continuing to assist with the parishes in West Newbury,
Newburyport, Salisbury, Merrimac, Amesbury and wherever needed. In his
retirement he was Administrator of the Star of the Sea Parish in Salisbury for
a short period and was Co-administrator at the Sacred Hearts parish in Bradford
from 2011 to 2012.
Fr. Leonard was the Vicar for the Salem Vicariate, overseeing 33 parishes and
was an Advocate for the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal, a speaker for the Diocesan
Spiritual Life Program, a confessor/counsellor on Project Rachel, Chaplain for
the Lynn Ancient Order of Hibernians, Chaplain for the Infant of Prague Guild,
member of the Clergy Assoc. of Greater Lynn, and involved with all aspects of
the life in his parishes and a number of civic endeavors. "
Fr. John was a great mentor and an amazing person to look up to while
growing up. Above is only a small glimpse of what he had done during his time on earth. His selflessness will always be something I will admire. He had
accomplished so much in his life time, it’s almost hard to believe. Yet he
stayed humble and always put helping others before his own needs. He saved countless people, both spiritually and physically. The awards and metals he received were meaningless to him , he helped simply because it was the right thing to do; no matter the cost. I remember one story about his time in Vietnam, he risked his life to save a family from the war, granting them the ability to come to the United States unharmed. But by doing so, a bounty of 1million dollars was placed on his head, thus restricting him to return to Vietnam.
He was a man of his word and a wonderful man of God. I will hold the memory of his stories and dinner table jokes dear.
