Posted by It is with profound sorrow that Fr. William Owire, SVD, Provincial Superior of the Kenya-Tanzania Province, shared the news of the passing of our esteemed confrere, Fr. Tom Leyden. Originating from IBP, Fr. Tom left us on an early Sunday morning, 26/11/23, at 4:45 am.
Fr. Tom, was born to John Joseph Leyden and Ellen Moran on July 29th, 1935, in Ballinrobe Co. Mayo, lived a life marked by intellectual brilliance and unwavering commitment. Despite the loss of his parents while he was in Flores, Indonesia, and the passing of his sister Maura, he forged a remarkable path.
Having attended Christian Brothers National and Secondary Schools and later studying Science and Engineering at University College Galway, Fr. Tom worked in the UK and Waterford before joining the SVD in 1964. Described as “a highly intellectual young man of reliable character,” he dedicated himself to the ecclesiastical state.
In 1993, Fr. Brendan O’Reilly beckoned him to Kenya, where he spent the remainder of his life, passionately describing the SVD work across 12 parishes between Kenya and Tanzania. Despite challenges like ethnic tension, HIV/AIDS, and limited access to health services, Fr. Tom found joy in the flourishing Catholic faith in Kenya.
A multifaceted individual, Fr. Tom served as a Novice Master, Formator, and Regional. His commitment to Donamon and the wider communities in the West of Ireland, as well as his articulate letters describing the SVD work, left an indelible mark.
Colleagues recall Fr. Tom as one of the most intelligent and authentic individuals, deeply connected to the human condition and scripture. His annual reading of the Bible, coupled with his past as a mathematics professor, showcased his extraordinary intellect and authenticity.
As we bid farewell to this once-in-a-lifetime person, let us remember Fr. Tom Leyden’s legacy with gratitude and may he find eternal rest in the embrace of the God he knew and loved so well.
Go raibh Tom páirteach anois i gcomaoin foirfe leis an Dia a bhi eolas agus grá aige chomh maith.
SVD IBP 