Rev. Leonard Fischer, S.J.

Father Leonard John Fischer died on Sunday, November 10th 2013 at Pickering, Ontario in his 97th year of life and 78th year of religious life. Father Leonard Fischer, the son of George and Magdalen (Dietrich) Fischer and brother of Father Clair Fischer, S.J., (died: May 2010) was born in Preston, Ontario, on February 26, 1917 and was baptized there in St. Clement’s Parish. Leonard entered the Society of Jesus on August 14, 1935 in Guelph, Ontario, and remained as a Junior until the summer of 1939. He was then assigned to study Philosophy at the Jesuit Seminary, Toronto, for the next three years. In the fall of 1942, he was sent to Regiopolis College, Kingston, Ontario, for two years of Regency, after which he went to West Baden College, in West Baden Springs, Indiana, USA, for four years of Theological studies. After the third year of theology, he was ordained to the priesthood on June 18, 1947, by Bishop Paul Schulte of Indianapolis. Immediately following his fourth year of theology, he was assigned to Tertianship beginning in the fall of 1948 at Mont-Laurier, Quebec, under the Tertian Director, Fr. A. Papillon. For the next 16 years, he was to reside at Ignatius College, Guelph, both as Assistant to the Master of Novices (for 7 years) and as Master of Novices (beginning in 1956 for 9 years). It is estimated that 40% of the Jesuit Province met Len in either capacity during those years. Following this, he had a year of studies in Paris where he was given some original writing of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin by members of Teilhard’s family. He used this material as a basis of theological studies at St. Paul’s University, Ottawa and while there for four years was assistant secretary of the Canadian Religious Conference. His next assignment was to St. John’s, Newfoundland, where he was parish priest at St. Pius X Parish for 12 years and where he built the new parish church. Beginning in 1982, at the age of 65, he began a new ministry among the Native Peoples of Ontario. He began to learn the local, native language. He worked as a parish priest in Sturgeon Falls and Garden Village, West Bay, Espanola, Sagamok and Massey, Ontario. This continued until 1996 when he moved to the Halifax Jesuit Community and where he was pastor at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Shad Bay, N.S., and then to St. Catherine of Siena Parish Halifax. In 2003, he became an Associate Pastor at Holy Rosary Parish, Guelph, Ontario. He joined the Pickering community in 2012. Len worked at all these tasks with German determination. He was very faithful to the Church and the Society of Jesus and read theology throughout his life. He underwent several major changes during his life, leading him to view himself and the world in different ways. He became more compassionate as the years went on. Len was musical, played the mouth organ and had perfect pitch. He delighted his parishioners by singing during his homilies. He was personable and he was open to learn and take on new ministries. Len has a large family: he is survived by 6 nephews and 5 nieces; 6 grand-nephews and 4 grand nieces; 20 grand, grand nephews and 15 grand, grand nieces. Would you please offer the usual suffrages of the Society (two Masses by the members of the Pickering Jesuit Community, one Mass by other members of the Province) for the repose of his soul.

SERVICES

Wake: Funeral Mass: Burial:

Tuesday, November 12 Wednesday November 13 Wednesday, November 13

7:00-9:00 p.m. St. Ignatius Chapel, 10:30 a.m. Holy Rosary Parish, Guelph 1:00 p.m., Jesuit Cemetery

Manresa Retreat House, Pickering ON followed by a reception Guelph ON

(Wake service at 8:00 p.m.)

9:30-10:30 a.m., Holy Rosary Church

Guelph ON

NEXT OF KIN

Mr. Roger Fischer

634 Frederick Street

Cambridge, ON N3H 2A3

REST IN PEACE