Senior Marist honoured by the Pope

Fr Bill Leeming

Fr Bill Leeming , veteran College teacher and parish man, has worked for many years as assistant to the Office of the Nunciature, the papal representative in Wellington. Recently Fr Bill’s health failed somewhat and he had to retire from all ministry.

One of his tasks used to be that he would do the groundwork for papal awards for members of the Church in New Zealand. So it was a great joy for the Nuncio Archbishop Charles Balvo to visit Fr Bill at his home and award him the papal medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.

Fr Kevin O'Donoghue pins on Fr Bill's medal

A large group of Fr Bill’s confreres gathered and some members of his family were present. The Nuncio spoke briefly and then Fr Kevin O’Donoghue, senior Marist in the house pinned the papal medal on Fr Bill.

Fr Bill and the Pro Nuncio, Archbishop Balvo