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FATHER LEO G. SMYTH
Today we assemble in HolyNameChurch, to celebrate with Father Leo G. Smyth, a mass of thanksgiving, on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee of his Ordination to the Priesthood. As we celebrate this mass of thanksgiving with Father Smyth we also offer up to God, prayers of thanksgiving for allowing us to have a man such as Father Smyth in our midst. We pray that he will have many more years of health and joyful service to God ahead of him.
On 25th April, 1902, Leo Gregory Smyth was born in Port Hood on Cape Breton Island in the Province of Nova Scotia, to Peter Smyth and Mary McNeil. He was the youngest of thirteen children. In 1913 his family moved to Toronto, where they settled in Holy Name Parish and made their home on Browning Avenue. This was the same year that HolyNameSchool first opened, and Leo Smyth was one of the first students to be enrolled in the new school, at which time he also served as an altar boy for the priests of HolyNameChurch.
After graduating from HolyNameSchool he attended De La Salle Bond Street High School and St. Michael’s College. After graduation from St. Michael’s College Leo Smyth left Toronto for his native province where he studied at St.FrancisXavierCollege in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. He returned to Toronto, attended St. Augustine’s Seminary and continued studies for his calling to the priesthood.
On 2nd June, 1928, Father Smyth was the first boy to be ordained from Holy Name Parish. He was ordained by his uncle, Archbishop Neil McNeil at St. Michael’s Cathedral, and he offered his first High Mass in HolyNameChurch.
Following his ordination Father Smyth served as assistant in St. Mary’s Parish in St. Catharines, Ontario until 1933. He then returned to Toronto where he spent a year as assistant in St. Vincent de Paul Parish.
In 1934 he went to St. Mary’s Parish in Barrie where he served until August of 1938, when he was appointed chaplain at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. In August of 1940 he entered the Canadian Armed Forces and served overseas as any army chaplain until 1946.
Following his army service Father Smyth returned to St. Catharines and was the founding pastor of the new parish of St. Denis. He served in this capacity from June 1946 until September 1947.
On 1st October, 1947 Father Smyth returned to Toronto where he accepted the appointment as pastor of his boyhood parish of Holy Name where he has remained for the past thirty-one years as pastor, teacher and friend to the people of his parish community.
Over the years Father Smyth has served God and his people, showing leadership to his people “in a word” teaching and explaining the meaning of scripture.
He has constantly served his parish and community by acting as spiritual director of various parish societies over the years, and attending their various meetings and functions, always taking part in their activities, and giving both leadership and guidance.
Other areas in the community which have benefited from Father Smyth’s participation are the Catholic Children’s Aid Society where he has served as a member of their Board of Directors since 1957, Catholic Parent Teachers Association of East Toronto and the fourth degree Cardinal McGuigan Assembly of the Knights of Columbus where he has served as chaplain for many years. Most recently Father Smyth was a recipient of the Queen’s Jubilee Medal. We extend our congratulations and gratitude to Father Leo Smyth on this joyous occasion of his Golden Jubilee in the Priesthood and we wish him many more years of health and happiness in his service to God.
Pages taken from Reverend Leo G. Smyth – Golden Jubilee of his Priesthood Booklet 1928-1978 and pictures from the parish archival binder.
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