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Beloved Msgr. Kenneth Leone to retire from full-time ministry
By John Gleason
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| Photo by James Baca/DCR Jeannie and Russ Englebert watch as their sons, Sam, 8, and Ben, 6, help themselves to Starburst candies from Msgr. Kenneth Leone. |
After a ministry that has encompassed 44 years and seven parishes, Msgr. Kenneth Leone has decided to retire. The current pastor of Risen Christ Parish officially steps down, today, June 15.
He was present at all Masses at the south Denver church over the June 11-12 weekend to say goodbye to parishioners. He told the Denver Catholic Register he is retiring because of health issues.
“This was a difficult decision to come to,” he said. “But I just don’t have the energy I need to run a parish of 3,300 families and 12 nursing homes.”
A Denver native, he was ordained in 1967. Msgr. Leone’s first assignments as assistant pastor were at Our Lady of Fatima in Lakewood; Blessed Sacrament in Denver; Christ the King in Denver; and St. Thomas More in Centennial. As pastor, he was assigned to Spirit of Christ in Arvada, St. Frances Cabrini in Littleton and he has ministered the last six years at Risen Christ. He has served as dean of the Southwest Denver Deanery and as archdiocesan director of youth services.
He was named a monsignor by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.
Father Roland Freeman, archdiocesan director of Special Religious Education, was a classmate of Msgr. Leone when the two attended seminary. He cited the monsignor’s enthusiasm and dynamism, which is particularly appealing to youth, and his deep compassion for all as among his best qualities.
Reflecting on his ministry, Msgr. Leone said he never could have foreseen all that he’s been privileged to be a part of.
“I simply wanted to do whatever the bishop asked,” he said. “I never dreamed I would have done all that I did, especially youth ministry—that just came about accidently. I started helping out with youth retreats and the next thing I know I got appointed youth director.”
Deb Wyatt Jamison has been director of religious education at Risen Christ for 15 years. She said of all Msgr. Leone’s attributes, his joyful presence tops the list.
“He makes everyone feel as though they are his best friend. He always has time for anyone who walks through the door,” she told the Register. “To give that sort of feeling to everyone in a parish this size isn’t something that can be learned—it’s an art. For him it’s always about the individual, so he can help them to know Jesus better.
Msgr. Leone attended St. Catherine of Siena Grade School and Regis Jesuit High School before entering the seminary. He heard God’s call to the priesthood when he made his first Communion. He said that if he hadn’t become a priest, he might have been a band leader.
“We always watched the ‘Lawrence Welk Show’ when I was a kid,” he said. “My father gave me accordion lessons from the time I was young, I think he wanted me to be Lawrence Welk II and have my own band. That didn’t work out, but I still play the accordion to this day.”
The loss to the music world was a blessing for each parish community in which he served.
Trudy O’Connor served as administrative assistant to Msgr. Leone for nine years when he was pastor at St. Frances Cabrini. She said he cares for and loves God’s people—whether they are his parishioners or not.
“He’s an attentive listener,” she said.
It was while he was pastor at St. Frances Cabrini that Msgr. Leone faced one of his biggest challenges.
“It was after the attack at Columbine,” he said. “Three of the students were buried from our church; it was an incredibly sad time. The day after it happened, the archbishop showed up on my door asking what he could do to help me. We got in the car and visited all the parents of these children. We spoke with them and prayed together. It was a very difficult time, but one that God helped us through.”
Although he’ll be free of the day-to-day responsibilities of running a parish, Msgr. Leone said he’ll continue keeping busy. He’ll be working at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary a couple of days a week, offering spiritual direction to seminarians. He will also continue to offer retreats to the faithful, which he’s been doing for years.
“And I’ll be saying daily Mass and hearing confessions at the retirement center where I’ll be living,” he said. “I’ll just be helping out however I can.”
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