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Father Leo Clifford, O.F.M., who was engaged in preaching ministry in the metropolitan New York area for half a century, died Feb. 16 at Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J. He was 89.
He became known for his preaching at retreats for religious, parish missions and days of recollection. He was stationed at St. Francis of Assisi Friary, Manhattan, 1954-1955; St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., 1955-1967; and St. Stephen of Hungary Friary, Manhattan, 1967-2003.
Born in Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland, he entered the Order of Friars Minor there in 1941. He professed final vows in 1945 and was ordained to the priesthood for the Franciscans in 1946 in Dublin.
He served in Limerick, 1947-1950; Manchester, England, 1950-1951; and Dublin, 1951-1954. He developed an extensive preaching ministry and was engaged in radio work. In 1954, he was given permission to come to the United States to continue this ministry.
In 1993, he formally transferred from the Franciscan Province of Ireland to Holy Name Province based in Manhattan. Videos of his talks have been featured for many years on EWTN.
In 2003, he retired to St. Anthony Residence in Boston, Mass. In 2010, he transferred to Holy Name Friary in Ringwood for health reasons.
A Funeral Mass was offered Feb. 20 at St. Anthony’s Church in Butler, N.J. Burial was in God’s Acre Cemetery in Ringwood.
