Rev. Msgr. Patrick R. Leary ’67

Pat went on to work with Vietnamese refugees in the camps of Kowloon City, Hong Kong, and to attend the University of Hong Kong, where he learned Cantonese.  Upon his return to San Francisco, he was appointed the Director of the Paulists’ elementary school in Chinatown, St. Mary’s Chinese Mission, where he was able to use his acquired fluency in Cantonese during his 10 years there.

In 1989, joined the Diocese of Reno-Las Vegas, Campus Ministry.  His ability to connect with the students grew the attendance at the Newman Center there.  During that time, he also served as Chaplain for the Carmelite Sisters Monastery.  In 1998, because of his years of work and dedication to the ministry of the Church, Pat was granted the title of Monsignor by Pope John Paul II.

Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada was Pat’s final assignment, in 2003.  His love of people and his commitment to improving the lives of those less fortunate was vital to creating a successful social service agency for the community of Las Vegas.  When he took over the agency, it was in the red and struggling to stay afloat. Through Pat’s direction, Catholic Charities grew and returned to good financial standing.  He also served on social service boards, and volunteered to help with such issues as rape crisis, homelessness, and the plight of veterans I the Clark County area, where his legacy lives on.

Pat died suddenly on December 7, 2012. He is survived by his brother, Mike; Mike’s wife, Patty; their children, Scott and Beth, and their families; His sister, Lynne George, and her husband, Willy; and their daughter, Elizabeth, and her family. Pat “was the head of our family after our mother passed, and he was wonderful at embracing that role for each generation of our family.  He loved his family and we loved him. We still miss him, but we know he is still watching over us all.”