By BETTE HARRIS Special to the Palisadian-Post Monsignor Lawrence O’Leary, pastor emeritus of St. Martin of Tours in Brentwood, passed away on May 17 at the age of 85. Archbishop Jose Gomez presided at the funeral mass, concelebrated with Cardinal Roger Mahony, Bishop Edward Clark, and a number of priests. In his homily, Bishop Joseph Sartoris portrayed a priest who had an impact on the lives of those in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, but also the lives of many around the globe. The dynamic trajectory of his life’s work came as a surprise to some who thought they knew this quiet, humble priest. After his ordination in 1953, Monsignor O’Leary held numerous positions of responsibility in nine parishes throughout the Archdiocese, including St. Martin of Tours, where he spent 25 years as pastor before his retirement in 2003. He also worked in the Marriage Tribunal as a notary for nearly six years, working with couples who were unhappy in their marriages Concurrent with his pastoral duties, he was also given responsibilities in the Archdiocese’s Mission Office where among other positions, he directed the Lay-Mission Helpers Association. This organization sent professional men and women with technical, medical and educational expertise to help people in mission countries around the world. Monsignor O’Leary recruited and trained volunteers who in turn trained the local people in these professions. He helped establish and staff schools, clinics and hospitals’a tuberculosis sanatorium in southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), a radio station in Bolivia, even a leper colony in Southeast Asia. In his 25 years with the Lay-Mission helpers association, he was responsible for supervising as many as 130 recruits working in Third world countries, visiting them on location at least once a year, then returning home to his parish duties. He said that traveling the globe in his work for the Mission office gave him ‘an appreciation of different ways of life.’ His objective was ‘not to change the culture, but to improve it’so these people could live a normal lifespan decently through medicine and education.’ When Monsignor O’Leary arrived at St. Martin of Tours in March 1979, he found Brentwood’s only Catholic parish run down and the existing buildings in need of extensive repairs. When lay teachers replaced most of the nuns who had taught at St. Martin of Tours School, the convent property was vacated. Zoned only for residential use, the property could not be used for school purposes, but the Monsignor recognized that a parish center was needed to accommodate church and school programs. He petitioned the Archdiocese and, in June 1980, the Archdiocese agreed to sell the convent property to fund the construction of the parish center, remodel the church and improve the school. After his retirement in 2003, the Monsignor had time to enjoy a slower pace’reading, swimming, and listening to classical music. Health issues and related suffering took a toll throughout his life, particularly at the end, but he was not one to complain. Monsignor O’Leary will be sorely missed, but his indelible mark on the parish will long endure. He is survived by his sister, Sr. Jean O’Leary, C.S.J.
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