The Dominicans Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Br. Leo John Haggerty, OP

Some of the most faithful people are also the most forgotten and hidden, for they truly show the hidden life of Christ.  Such a brother was Br. Leo.  He is remembered in a letter regarding the house in Portland.  Other than that, he has no personal records, but only house appointments.

Fr. Vincent Lamb tells us that Br. Leo came from Los Angeles, California and that he was a Section Boss on a railroad track.  After he came to Benicia, California for his formation, he went to St. Dominic's in San Francisco.  Br. James Fahy, OP served the friars of this house with him.  In 1897 he moved to Portland, Oregon lasting through the turn of the century.  He moved back to Benicia, staying there from 1902 to 1909.  In 1909 he served Seattle with only one other friar, Fr. Pius Driscoll, OP with other friars coming the next two years.  His last move was back to Portland.  At this time we can see the appreciation of the sisters who taught in the parish school.  The sisters had to walk three miles to the school from their home, often through pouring rain.  Br. Leo had a blazing fire waiting for them when they got to the school.  He served in Portland for nineteen more years.  During these years at Holy Rosary he made the hosts at Communion.  When radios became popular, he made them for the fathers.  He was an all around handyman.

Date of Birth

Date of Profession

Date of Ordination

Date of Death

July 19, 1858

December 8, 1891

NA

June 2, 1928

XII: 73