May 5, 1951
Father Patrick O’Leary
Father Patrick O’Leary was born on July 12, 1884 in Charleville, County Cork, Ireland. He attended the Christian Brothers’ College in Charleville for his elementary education. His philosophical and theological studies were at Carlow College, Carlow; Oscott College in Birmingham, England; and Kenrick Seminary, St. Louis, MO. Bishop Hennessey ordained him on April 28, 1911 in St. Francis Church, St. Paul. His assignments in the diocese were Parsons from1911 – 1913, Mineral from1913 – 1922, Scammon from1922 – 1936, and Kingman from1936 – 1950. He retired in June of 1950 and returned to his native Charleville, Ireland. He visited Ireland several times during his priesthood but was so thrilled by his first trip home by airplane in 1948 that he wrote an article about it in The Advance Register. He died in his hometown of Charleville on May 5, 1951. “Father O’Leary was a favorite among the diocesan clergy.” (The Advance Register, May 18, 1951).