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Fr Leo Edward Hughes

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Fr Leo Edward Hughes

Birth
Death
18 Mar 1966 (aged 73)
Burial
Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Born in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 6, 1893, he received his early education in the schools of his native city and matriculated at Boston College. He entered the Dominican Order at St. Joseph's Priory, Somerset, Ohio, and there made his profession on September 15, 1914. He was immediately sent to Washington where he made his studies at the Dominican House of Studies and where he was ordained on June 17, 1920. He also attended the Catholic University and was sent to the Collegio Angelico in Rome for the lectorate in sacred theology.

On his return from Rome, Father Hughes taught in St. Rose Priory, Springfield, Kentucky, which was then a part of the Studium Generale of St. Joseph's Province. As a student he had manifested outstanding oratorical abilities and a keen interest in all forms of Dominican activities. He was one of the prime movers in initiating "Dominicana", a quarterly review of the Dominican students in Washington. The rapid growth of the Holy Name Society soon brought him to New York as assistant to the national director. He assisted in editing the "Holy Name Journal" and soon became national director of the Third Order of St. Dominic and editor of "The Torch", national director of the Angelic Warfare and Blessed Imelda confraternities, and founder and director of the Blessed Martin Guild which contributed so much over the years to the propagation of devotion to the humble lay brother. He was also director of the Rosary Foreign Mission Society charged with promoting the interests of the missions in China conducted by the Province of St. Joseph.

In 1938, he was appointed pastor and superior of St. Dominic's, Detroit, and on the expiration of his term of office, having become affiliated to the new Province of St. Albert the Great, he was appointed pastor and superior of St. Pius in Chicago. There he was also appointed director of the Shrines of St. Jude Thaddeus and of Blessed Martin de Porres. Through these shrines Father Hughes' charity and compassion exercised a powerful and benevolent influence on the numerous clients of these two Saints who sought his counsel and comfort in interviews and by correspondence.

Father Hughes was twice elected Provincial of the Province of St. Albert the Great (1948 - 1956), a period notable, among other achievements, for an extensive building program and the establishment of missions in Nigeria and Bolivia. In recognition of his accomplishments on behalf of the Province and Order, the Master General conferred on him the degree of master in sacred theology, and Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, honored him with the degree of doctor of laws for his helpful interest in its welfare.

After the completion of his second term as Provincial, Father Hughes remained for four years director of the Shrines of St. Jude Thaddeus and St. Martin de Porres. He was then appointed pastor and superior of St. Dominic's, New Orleans, Louisiana, but in consequence of his failing health he was obliged to relinquish his office a few months before his death. He died in Mercy Hospital, New Orleans, on March 18, 1966, and his body was interred in the Dominican plot in All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinios, where his younger brother, Fr. Vincent Reginald Hughes OP., (1898 - 1965), also lies interred.
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, on March 6, 1893, he received his early education in the schools of his native city and matriculated at Boston College. He entered the Dominican Order at St. Joseph's Priory, Somerset, Ohio, and there made his profession on September 15, 1914. He was immediately sent to Washington where he made his studies at the Dominican House of Studies and where he was ordained on June 17, 1920. He also attended the Catholic University and was sent to the Collegio Angelico in Rome for the lectorate in sacred theology.

On his return from Rome, Father Hughes taught in St. Rose Priory, Springfield, Kentucky, which was then a part of the Studium Generale of St. Joseph's Province. As a student he had manifested outstanding oratorical abilities and a keen interest in all forms of Dominican activities. He was one of the prime movers in initiating "Dominicana", a quarterly review of the Dominican students in Washington. The rapid growth of the Holy Name Society soon brought him to New York as assistant to the national director. He assisted in editing the "Holy Name Journal" and soon became national director of the Third Order of St. Dominic and editor of "The Torch", national director of the Angelic Warfare and Blessed Imelda confraternities, and founder and director of the Blessed Martin Guild which contributed so much over the years to the propagation of devotion to the humble lay brother. He was also director of the Rosary Foreign Mission Society charged with promoting the interests of the missions in China conducted by the Province of St. Joseph.

In 1938, he was appointed pastor and superior of St. Dominic's, Detroit, and on the expiration of his term of office, having become affiliated to the new Province of St. Albert the Great, he was appointed pastor and superior of St. Pius in Chicago. There he was also appointed director of the Shrines of St. Jude Thaddeus and of Blessed Martin de Porres. Through these shrines Father Hughes' charity and compassion exercised a powerful and benevolent influence on the numerous clients of these two Saints who sought his counsel and comfort in interviews and by correspondence.

Father Hughes was twice elected Provincial of the Province of St. Albert the Great (1948 - 1956), a period notable, among other achievements, for an extensive building program and the establishment of missions in Nigeria and Bolivia. In recognition of his accomplishments on behalf of the Province and Order, the Master General conferred on him the degree of master in sacred theology, and Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, honored him with the degree of doctor of laws for his helpful interest in its welfare.

After the completion of his second term as Provincial, Father Hughes remained for four years director of the Shrines of St. Jude Thaddeus and St. Martin de Porres. He was then appointed pastor and superior of St. Dominic's, New Orleans, Louisiana, but in consequence of his failing health he was obliged to relinquish his office a few months before his death. He died in Mercy Hospital, New Orleans, on March 18, 1966, and his body was interred in the Dominican plot in All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinios, where his younger brother, Fr. Vincent Reginald Hughes OP., (1898 - 1965), also lies interred.

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  • Created by: Eman Bonnici
  • Added: May 23, 2011
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70301772/leo_edward-hughes: accessed ), memorial page for Fr Leo Edward Hughes (6 Mar 1893–18 Mar 1966), Find a Grave Memorial ID 70301772, citing All Saints Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum, Des Plaines, Cook County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Eman Bonnici (contributor 46572312).