Salvator Leising, OFM

1888 – 1975

Br. Salvator Leising, OFM, was born on Nov. 7, 1888 in Swormville, N.Y. He was raised on a farm and even as a youth, was genuinely devout. Each day, he would walk two miles to town in order to serve Mass before going to school. His first contact with the friars was Fr. Anselm Kennedy, OFM, guardian of the Buffalo friary.

Br. Salvator was received into the Order as a tertiary brother in 1908 and assigned to the kitchen at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, New York City, when the Provincial Office moved from Paterson, N.J., to New York. He was received into the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, in 1912, professing temporary vows one year later. Br. Salvator made his solemn profession in 1919.

He was sent to Allegany, N.Y., where he assumed responsibility for the farm. Five years later, Br. Salvator was assigned to St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary, Callicoon, N.Y., where he supervised the dairy farm for 32 years. He never missed a day’s work or a community exercise. In 1956, Br. Salvator was transferred to St. Raphael Friary, Lafayette, N.J., to care for the grounds of the new novitiate. Although he went into partial retirement at St. Stephen Friary, Croghan, N.Y., he always remained active and helped with the church, convent and school. In early 1975, he went to the Provincial infirmary at St. Bonaventure University, Allegany.

He died there on March 9, 1975. Br. Salvator was 86 years old, a professed friar for 61 years.