St Edward’s Rev. Leroy Owens Celebrates 50 years as a Priest

Submitted by Richard DeSorgher and Colleen Sullivan.

More than 800 parishioners, family and friends of Rev. Leroy Owens packed a standing -room-only St. Edward Church to celebrate a 50th Jubilee Concelebrated Mass, marking Rev. Owens 50th anniversary as a priest. Rev Owens was ordained on February 6, 1964. He was assigned to St. Edward Parish here in Medfield on October 30, 1996, some 17 years ago.

The February 9 celebration centered on the 11:30 Mass concelebrated by several priests including Bishop Christopher Coyne, who had previously assisted Rev. Owens as a visiting priest during weekends at St Edward from 1994-2005. In 2005 Coyne was named Bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.  Following the Mass guests were invited to a reception in the church gymnasium, where they were able to greeted and talked with Fr. Owens in a receiving line, before sitting down to a catered lunch.

Selectmen Richard DeSorgher presented Rev. Owens with a certificate from the town of Medfield congratulating him on his Golden Jubilee and for his active part as a citizen of Medfield. Fr. Owens was a regular at Lord’s counter for lunch and for the past 17 years has been servicing the needs of Catholic and non-Catholic alike in Medfield.  Selectmen DeSorgher also made note of the important role Fr. Owens played with the veterans of Medfield, as a regular at the Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day events at Baxter Park.

About his Anniversary Mass and reception Rev. Owens said; “Truly, these have been the best years. I wish to thank God for all of the many blessings He has bestowed upon me. I wish to thank the people of St. Edward Parish and the people of Medfield for your goodness, for your faith and for welcoming me into your wonderful families. I am most grateful to all who made my 50th Anniversary Celebration of Ordination so magnificent, wonderful and spectacular. Truly, words cannot express my deep gratitude. It will be a memory that will be with me forever.”