Columban Fr Leo Donnelly died after a short illness in Lima, Peru, on February 4, 2014, just 13 days short of his 82nd birthday. He was well-known to readers of The Far East magazine through his articles, poems and his support of a young Peruvian artist Martin Varela.
Throughout his priestly life, he was concerned with the dignity of people. His articles in The Far East had a constant theme of the damage that poverty does to the self esteem of people who are at the bottom of society's social scale. Fr Leo attacked this attitude during his life and constantly proclaimed, "We all share the same dignity."
He spent over 50 years of his priestly life as a Columban missionary in Peru, working and living with the people. He was a comforting presence even when life was precarious and dangerous.
He volunteered to go to Huasahuasi in the Andes Mountains in 1988 when the Columbans vowed not to abandon the people to the Maoist terrorist organisation, The Shining Path which was operating there.
During his time in Huasahuasi, Sr Irene McCormack, an Australian Josephite Sister and five residents were murdered. He held Sr Irene's broken body in his hands and stayed in Huasahuasi for a further seven years, in constant fear but with a deep faith in God and the company of local Catechists.
When his friends in Huasahuasi heard of his death, the church bell tolled to acknowledge his passing and the flags flew at half mast.
He was loyal to his friends. One example is Leonides, a deaf-mute who worked with him in the Amazon jungle at Tiamshiacu. When Leo returned to Lima he brought Leonides with him to Holy Spirit parish and later to the Columban Centre house, where Leonides worked mostly on maintenance until his retirement and his death.
Fr Leo was an artist and recognised talent in a young Peruvian boy, Martin Varela who was denied access to Art School. Fr Leo thought it was because he was poor and his response was to use his pension to send this lad to a private university.
On the day Fr Leo died, Columban Fr John Hegerty recounted that Fr Leo removed his oxygen mask and tried to say something that John did not understand at first!
Fr Leo thought for a moment and then held up two fingers together and then horizontally, as if asking for a drink. Then he wagged his fingers indicating, No! Next he held up the same fingers vertically and gave the thumbs up, meaning, Yes, his cup was full. It was enough.
Fr Leo had the wish to be buried in Peru. This was his ultimate commitment to the people of Peru.
Rest in peace, Leo.
Fr Gary Walker
director@columban.org.au
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LISTEN TO: From the Director - My cup is full (Duration: 3.50mins, MP3, 1.75MB) |