Father Jerome Leake

 

AURORA—Father Jerome Leake will retire effective June 17.

 

Born in Evanston, Father Leake attended Quigley High School in Chicago, graduating in 1960. He then attended St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, and Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., graduating in 1968.

 

In 1975, he earned a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Loyola University in Chicago.

 

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1968, by Bishop Loras T. Lane at St. James in Rockford.

 

Father Leake began his priestly service as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Aurora (June 1968 to June 1970). He then served at Aurora Central Catholic High School as a faculty member (June 1970 to October 1994), as director of religious education (May 1975 to October 1994), and as assistant principal (May 1975 to October 1994).

 

He also was administrator at Sacred Heart Parish in Aurora (October 1975 to October 1994), and became associate vocation director in September 1990.

 

Father Leake was pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Elgin (October 1994 to June 1997), then began service as pastor of St. Joseph Parish (June 1997 to the present). Additionally, he served briefly (March 1999 to June 2000) as acting superintendent of Aurora Central Catholic High School. 

 

A retirement party for Father Leake is scheduled at St. Joseph Parish in Aurora after the 10:30 a.m. Mass on June 9. The parish requests RSVPs at the office at 630-844-3780.

 

Father Robert McClellan

 

Father Robert McClellan, parochial vicar at St. Peter Parish in South Beloit, will retire with the permission of Bishop David Malloy, effective June 17.