Person in this family
Rev. Celestine Leahy, S.A.
7 October or 13 July 1918 (conflicting) – 20 January 2003
Rev. Celestine Leahy, S.A., was born Martin Leahy according to a memorial by a friar of his order and was enumerated as Martin in 1920. The earlier identification of a separate New Jersey birth-index row for Wallace L. Leahy is now doubted and retained only as a questioned alternative. The memorial gives 7 October 1918, conflicting with the index row's 13 July 1918. He entered the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement in 1937, professed vows in 1939, was ordained in 1945, later served in Rome and Vancouver, and died at Totowa on 20 January 2003.
Proved by a record
Rev. Celestine Leahy, S.A., was born Martin Leahy according to a memorial by a friar of his order and was enumerated as Martin in 1920. The earlier identification of a separate New Jersey birth-index row for Wallace L. Leahy is now doubted and retained only as a questioned alternative. The memorial gives 7 October 1918, conflicting with the index row's 13 July 1918. He entered the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement in 1937, professed vows in 1939, was ordained in 1945, later served in Rome and Vancouver, and died at Totowa on 20 January 2003.
Born at Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey Died at St. Joseph's Home for the Elderly, Totowa, Passaic County, New Jersey
Recorded as: Martin Leahy, Wallace L. Leahy (questioned alternative), Brother Celestine
Birth: From our family tree - no record found yet
Death: From our family tree - no record found yet
How is this person related?
Andrew John Leahey’s first cousin three times removed
Gina D. Cacace’s spouse's first cousin three times removed (by marriage)
Abigail Ann Leahey’s first cousin four times removed
Marie C. Fitzgerald’s spouse's first cousin twice removed (by marriage)
Kevin Leahey’s first cousin twice removed
Worked out from the recorded parents and marriages. No sex is recorded for anyone in this archive, so the wording stays neutral.
How this person is related to Andrew:
Rev. Celestine Leahy, S.A. is your first cousin, 3 times removed.
Life
A written life story has not been added for this person yet.
References for this account: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Family
Parents
Siblings · birth order
See this family in the family treeWork and occupation
- Franciscan Friar of the Atonement — by 1942
Brother Celestine of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Graymoor N. Y.
Citation: Leahy — Margaret Murphy paid death notice, 14 May 1942 [3]
- priest; director of the League of Prayer ‘Pro Unione’ — from 1956
The Prayer Association ‘Pro Unione’ (Lega di preghiera), conceived by Fr. Paul Wattson, was formed and directed by Fr. Celestine Leahy.
Citation: Centro Pro Unione — About Us [7]
- parish priest and overseer of the Apostleship of the Sea mission — 1976–1977
By 1976, the Rev. Celestine Leahy, then priest serving St. Paul's parish and overseeing the mission
Citation: Stella Maris Vancouver — Apostleship of the Sea history [9]
- Franciscan Friar of the Atonement — 1937 onward
[COMPILED] entering the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement - Graymoor in 1937. He professed his religious vows in 1939.
Citation: Find a Grave memorial 161358048 for Rev. Fr. Celestine Leahy [12]
- Latin and English teacher, St. John's Seminary at Graymoor — 1945–1947
[COMPILED] he was ordained to the priesthood in 1945 and then spent two years teaching Latin and English at St. John's Seminary at Graymoor
Citation: Find a Grave memorial 161358048 for Rev. Fr. Celestine Leahy [12]
- assistant editor and editor, Graymoor Press publications; Master of Postulants; Vicar — dates not stated
[COMPILED] assistant editor and editor of two publications of the Graymoor Press, as Master of Postulants, Vicar
Citation: Find a Grave memorial 161358048 for Rev. Fr. Celestine Leahy [12]
Where they lived
- 1920: Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey
- 1977:
Use the place list first. The map below is optional.
Places listed on this page
- Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey
- Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey
- Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York
- Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City Cemetery or burial place
- New Jersey
- Ireland
- New York
- Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey Cemetery or burial place
- Stio, Campania, Italy
- United States
- 9 Cottage Street, Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey
- 19 Cottage Street, Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey
The map could not load. The complete place list is above it.
The pins show approximate places. The line only joins them in time order; it does not prove the route travelled. 4 of the places listed above are recorded only as a county or country, so they are not pinned. Cemetery and burial places have red pins.
Images of these addresses and sites
Insurance maps show a historical footprint, while recent street photographs show the site today. A recent view is not proof that the family’s building survives.
Historical insurance map, 1912 — a footprint or site plan, not a photograph.
Building survival: not established by this map.
Credit: Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection. Cropped from sheet 27.
Licence: Public domain
Timeline
Questioned Wallace L. birth-index row
The New Jersey civil birth index has a Wallace L. Leahy row for Bayonne on 13 July 1918, but the row is not independently linked to this family. Two sources identify the matching child as Martin, so Wallace L. is retained only as a questioned alternative and the date remains in conflict with 7 October. [4]
Proved by a record
Conflicting compiled birth date and birth name Martin
[COMPILED] The order-member memorial says 7 October 1918 and states that he was born Martin Leahy. This conflicts with the 13 July index row for Wallace L.; neither date is selected as canonical. [12]
From our family tree - no record found yet
Enumerated as Martin Leahy
The age-matched youngest child in Malachy and Margaret’s household was called Martin, age 1 year 6 months. Together with the order-member memorial saying he was born Martin, this now leads the name evidence; the unlinked Wallace L. index row is a questioned alternative. [5]
Proved by a record
Entered the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
[COMPILED] The memorial biography says he entered at Graymoor in 1937. [12]
From our family tree - no record found yet
Professed religious vows
[COMPILED] The memorial biography dates his profession to 1939. [12]
From our family tree - no record found yet
Brother Celestine at Graymoor
His mother’s paid death notice identifies him as Brother Celestine of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement at Graymoor. It establishes entry into the order by 1942 but not an entry or profession date. [3]
Proved by a record
Studied at St. Peter's Preparatory and Catholic University
[COMPILED] The memorial says he graduated from St. Peter's Preparatory in Jersey City and from Catholic University with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and theology. [12]
From our family tree - no record found yet
Ordained to the priesthood
[COMPILED] The order-member memorial dates his ordination to 1945. [12]
From our family tree - no record found yet
Taught at St. John's Seminary, Graymoor
[COMPILED] He taught Latin and English there for two years after ordination. [12]
From our family tree - no record found yet
Graymoor Press and order leadership
[COMPILED] The memorial names service as assistant editor and editor of two Graymoor Press publications, Master of Postulants and Vicar; it does not date these posts. [12]
From our family tree - no record found yet
Priest in Rome; formed and directed the League of Prayer ‘Pro Unione’
By 1956 he was a priest in Rome. Paul Wattson conceived the prayer association; Celestine formed and directed it, producing the Italian translation, printing and dissemination of texts for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This evidence does not make him founder of the later Centro Pro Unione. [7]
Proved by a record
Audience with Pope John XXIII
An official order caption identifies Fr. Celestine Leahy among the Atonement Friars received by Pope John XXIII. The photograph establishes his presence only; it does not establish any formal Vatican II office, expert role or appointment. [8]
Proved by a record
St. Paul’s Parish and Apostleship of the Sea
By 1976 he was the priest serving St. Paul’s Parish in Vancouver and overseeing the Apostleship of the Sea mission to merchant seafarers. [9]
Proved by a record
Listed among Canadian port chaplains
The contemporary directory lists him for the Archdiocese of Vancouver Apostleship of the Sea at St. Paul’s Parish, 381 East Cordova Street. [10]
Proved by a record
Died at St. Joseph's Home for the Elderly
[COMPILED] The memorial gives Totowa, New Jersey and age 84. [12]
From our family tree - no record found yet
Buried at Friars Cemetery at Graymoor
[COMPILED] Tier 2, Row 4, Grave 14; memorial GPS 41.3482149, -73.9208188. [12]
From our family tree - no record found yet
What the records say
12 records transcribed.
Record exhibit
“Many Clergymen At Leahy Rites” — funeral of Malachy J. Leahy
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Proved by a record
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
Clergymen from as far away as Texas and Italy attend a solemn mass of requiem offered yesterday at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church for Malachy J. Leahy, who died suddenly at Bayonne Hospital on Monday. Celebrant of the mass was the Rev. Celestine Leahy, S.A., a son of Mr. Leahy stationed in Rome, Italy. Mr. Leahy, who was 88 years old, had been a resident of Bayonne since his family moved here from Syracuse, N.Y., in 1880. He was the last of the 18 children of Dennis and Ann Galvin Leahy, who came to the United States from Ireland over 100 years ago.
Record exhibit
“Malachy Leahy Sr.” — death notice
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Proved by a record
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
Malachy J. Leahy of 313 Avenue C died suddenly yesterday at Bayonne Hospital. Mr. Leahy was a retired barge captain of the New Jersey Derby Company. Born in Weehawken, he attended St. Mary's parochial school in Bayonne where he lived for 80 years. Mr. Leahy was the husband of the late Margaret Murphy Leahy. He is survived by three sons, John of the Boulevard Police Department; the Rev. Celestine Leahy, S. A., of the Graymoor Friars, who has been stationed in Rome for the past four years; Malachy Jr., and two daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Ryan, and Miss Margaret Leahy. Also surviving Mr. Leahy are 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Interment will follow in Holy Name Cemetery.
Record exhibit
Leahy — Margaret Murphy paid death notice, 14 May 1942
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Proved by a record
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
LEAHY—On Thursday, May 14, 1942, Margaret Leahy, (nee Murphy) beloved wife of Malachi Leahy and devoted mother of John, Malachi, Brother Celestine, Margaret and Mrs. Elizabeth Ryan. Late residence, 70 Humphrey avenue. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the home of her son, John Leahy, 160 West Ninth street, on Monday, May 18. Requiem High Mass at St. Andrew's Church at 9 a. m. Interment in Holy Name Cemetery, under the direction of Thomas M. O'Brien & Son. 5-15-2t
Record exhibit
New Jersey Geographic Birth Index — Wallace L. Leahy, Bayonne, 13 July 1918
An index is a list that points to where the full record can be found.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
Leahy | Wallace L. | [July] 13 | 38 | 561
Record exhibit
1920 United States census — Malachy and Margaret Leahy household
A census is a government list of the people who were living in a home.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
Leahy Malachy | Head | 48 ... Margaret | Wife | 38 ... John | Son | 14 ... Elizabeth | Daughter | 13 ... Malachy | Son | 10 ... Margaret | Daughter | 5 ... Martin | Son | 1 6/12
Record exhibit
Franciscan Friars of the Atonement — Centro Pro Unione Celebrates 50 Years
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
The League of Prayer ‘Pro Unione’ began in 1956 by Fr. Celestine Leahy.
Record exhibit
Centro Pro Unione — About Us
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
The Prayer Association ‘Pro Unione’ (Lega di preghiera), conceived by Fr. Paul Wattson, was formed and directed by Fr. Celestine Leahy. The League provided the Italian translation, the printing and the dissemination of the texts for the ‘Week of Prayer for the Christian Unity’
Record exhibit
Graymoor Today — Atonement Friars’ audience with Pope John XXIII
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
On the eve of the Second Vatican Council on January 30, 1963, Atonement Friars were received in audience by Pope John XXIII. Left to right: Br. Alfonsus (Angelo) Spitalieri, SA; Br. Denis Sennett, SA; Fr. Raphael Grande, SA; Pope John XXIII; Cardinal Gregory Peter Agagianian, SA; Fr. Germanus (Peter) Tomaino, SA; Fr. Salvator Butler, SA; Fr. Celestine Leahy, SA
Record exhibit
Stella Maris Vancouver — Apostleship of the Sea history
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
By 1976, the Rev. Celestine Leahy, then priest serving St. Paul's parish and overseeing the mission, noted that additional staff was needed to serve the AOS outreach.
Record exhibit
Signal — Canadian port chaplains directory, Spring 1977
A city directory is an old address book that often lists a person's home and job.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
Rev. Celestine Leahy, S.A. ... Archdiocese of Vancouver Apostleship of the Sea Vancouver British Columbia ... St. Paul's Parish, 381 East Cordova St. Vancouver, B.C., Canada. V6a 1 L4.
Record exhibit
St. Joseph the Worker Parish — A New Beginning
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
the three Friars that we are currently blessed with, Father Michael Daniel, Father Celestine Leahy and Father Denis Pringle ... Fr. Michael Daniel, Fr. Denis Pringle and Fr. Celestine Leahy
Record exhibit
Find a Grave memorial 161358048 for Rev. Fr. Celestine Leahy
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
[COMPILED] Rev Fr Celestine Leahy | BIRTH 7 Oct 1918 — Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey, USA | DEATH 20 Jan 2003 (aged 84) — Totowa, Passaic County, New Jersey, USA | BURIAL Friars Cemetery at Graymoor, Garrison, Putnam County, New York, USA | GPS-Latitude: 41.3482149, Longitude: -73.9208188 | PLOT Tier 2 Row 4 Grave14 | Fr. Celestine Leahy, SA, died at St. Joseph's Home for the Elderly, Totowa, NJ on January 20, 2003.Show the full recordHide the full recordFull record, about 200 words
He was 84 years old. | Fr. Leahy was born Martin Leahy in Bayonne, NJ and graduated from St. Peter's Preparatory in nearby Jersey City before entering the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement - Graymoor in 1937. He professed his religious vows in 1939. He graduated from Catholic University in Washington, DC with a Bachelor's degree in philosophy and theology. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1945 and then spent two years teaching Latin and English at St. John's Seminary at Graymoor. Over the years he served in numerous positions at Graymoor, including assistant editor and editor of two publications of the Graymoor Press, as Master of Postulants, Vicar
Historical context
These background articles explain the places, work, and events in this entry.
Bayonne and the Industrial Waterfront, 1870–1920
The Bayonne in these family records was a new city built around water, rails and heavy industry. Bayonne Township was formed only in 1861, uniting older settlements on Bergen Neck; it became a city in 1869. The…
What Sponsors and Witnesses Can Tell Us
Catholic registers often preserve the people standing just outside a family photograph. A baptism normally names the child, parents, date and sponsors or godparents; a marriage normally names the couple and wit…
Reading Irish Civil Registration
The year 1864 is the dividing line in this family’s Irish paper trail. Civil registration began in 1845 for non-Catholic and civil marriages, but from 1 January 1864 the law required registration of all births,…
The Irish Road to Ipswich, Queensland
Most branches on this site point toward New York or New Jersey. The Hickey–McGreevy–McGuire cluster points in the opposite direction, to Ipswich, Queensland. The Australian evidence is uneven: cemetery records …
What we still don't know
- [CORRECTED CONCLUSION] The earlier pass treated Wallace L. as the registered birth name. That identification is now doubted: the order-member memorial says ‘he was born Martin Leahy,’ and the 1920 census independently enumerates the matching child as Martin. Those two sources outweigh one unlinked index row for Wallace L., which remains only a questioned alternative until a birth certificate or baptism resolves identity.
- The undated St. Joseph the Worker parish history identifies him among Atonement Friars serving in Richmond, British Columbia, but does not date that assignment.
- Do not describe him as founder of the Centro Pro Unione or as holding a formal Vatican II role unless new direct evidence establishes those claims.
- [CONFLICT] The memorial gives 7 October 1918; the New Jersey birth-index row for Wallace L. gives 13 July 1918. Preserve both and resolve neither.
- Capture the full memorial biography beyond the truncated Vicar passage and verify the compiled career dates in records of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement.
References
- [1] “Many Clergymen At Leahy Rites” — funeral of Malachy J. LeahyBack to citation 1
- [2] “Malachy Leahy Sr.” — death noticeBack to citation 2
- [3] Leahy — Margaret Murphy paid death notice, 14 May 1942Back to citation 3a Back to citation 3b Back to citation 3c
- [4] New Jersey Geographic Birth Index — Wallace L. Leahy, Bayonne, 13 July 1918Back to citation 4a Back to citation 4b
- [5] 1920 United States census — Malachy and Margaret Leahy householdBack to citation 5a Back to citation 5b
- [6] Franciscan Friars of the Atonement — Centro Pro Unione Celebrates 50 YearsBack to citation 6
- [7] Centro Pro Unione — About UsBack to citation 7a Back to citation 7b Back to citation 7c
- [8] Graymoor Today — Atonement Friars’ audience with Pope John XXIIIBack to citation 8a Back to citation 8b
- [9] Stella Maris Vancouver — Apostleship of the Sea historyBack to citation 9a Back to citation 9b Back to citation 9c
- [10] Signal — Canadian port chaplains directory, Spring 1977Back to citation 10a Back to citation 10b
- [11] St. Joseph the Worker Parish — A New BeginningBack to citation 11
- [12] Find a Grave memorial 161358048 for Rev. Fr. Celestine LeahyBack to citation 12a Back to citation 12b Back to citation 12c Back to citation 12d Back to citation 12e Back to citation 12f Back to citation 12g Back to citation 12h Back to citation 12i Back to citation 12j Back to citation 12k Back to citation 12l Back to citation 12m