Remembering Monsignor Ken Leone: Columbine Pastor, Faithful Friend and Holy Priest
- André Escaleira, Jr.
- Jul 27
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 31
The faithful and holy local pastor is remembered for his compassion, presence and friendship.
Monsignor Ken Leone, a beloved pastor, a faithful friend and a holy priest, entered eternal life on Saturday, July 25, after a long illness.
The Denver native began his faith journey at just one day old, baptized at St. Catherine Parish in Denver on February 25, 1941. A graduate of Regis High School in Denver, he entered St. Thomas Seminary in Denver right out of high school. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Denver on May 27, 1967, at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Pope Benedict XVI named him a Chaplain to His Holiness (Monsignor) in 2009.
In his nearly 60 years of priesthood, Monsignor Leone generously and faithfully served the people of God across Northern Colorado, with assignments as a parochial vicar at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Lakewood, Blessed Sacrament Parish in Denver, Christ the King Parish in Denver and St. Thomas More Parish in Centennial. He then served as pastor of Spirit of Christ Parish in Arvada for twelve years, before being reassigned to St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Littleton in 1993.
Pastor Amid Tragedy
It was there that Monsignor Leone’s heart, so conformed to the Sacred Heart, was placed on full display. Six years into his pastorate, the local public high school, Columbine High School, experienced the deadliest mass shooting at the time, with 16 deaths and 23 injuries. Amid such darkness, pain and suffering, Monsignor Leone pointed to the light of Jesus Christ, reminding his parishioners — both Catholic and non-Catholic alike — of the hope that only he can bring.
“He wasn’t afraid to get into the mess of all of that and just be with us, not necessarily to fix it all, but just to walk with us and support us,” recalled Jim Beckman, a longtime friend of the monsignor’s and co-founder with him of ImpactCenter. “He did that in a very similar way with the entire community when the Columbine shooting happened. What most people look back and remember during those two or three weeks after the shooting, I don’t know if anyone could point to a big thing that Father Ken did or said, but he was doing prayer services every single day. We were serving three meals a day to almost a thousand people. Everybody just came and lived at the parish.”
Monsignor Leone would later bring his pastoral heart to Risen Christ Parish in Denver, where he served as pastor for six years, and as a spiritual director at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver.
‘Lord, you get all the honor and glory’
In his final homily at the seminary, Monsignor Leone shared a heartfelt letter to Jesus, in which he expressed complete trust, profound gratitude and holy joy for whatever he had in store in retirement. That homily sparked the inspiration for Kenny, a documentary on Monsignor Leone’s vocation and life by Blackstone Films.
“Lord, I want you to know my bags are packed; I am ready to go home with you,” he shared in the April 2022 homily. “Thank you. Thank you for the wonderful gift of priesthood.”
When first approached about the possibility of the documentary, Monsignor Leone said he took the film to prayer.
“When somebody said they were going to make a movie, I just went into my heart to where Jesus was, and I said, ‘Lord, you know, you get all the honor and glory for this. I just want people to know that you have done so much — I never would have made it through those 50 years if you hadn’t been there to help me. I wouldn’t have ever made it through the Columbine tragedy and all the things that I encountered if it wasn’t for your help,’” Monsignor Leone recalled before the film premiere.
Looking back on his priesthood at the time, Monsignor Leone couldn’t help but feel grateful.
“I can tell you it is the most fantastic life,” Monsignor Leone said. “I would choose it again in a heartbeat. No hesitation at all. Immediately.”
A Living Witness
Though now in the arms of the Father, Monsignor Leone’s witness and legacy resound throughout the Denver Catholic community.
“With Monsignor, what he did was so simple,” shared John Andrew O’Rourke, the filmmaker behind Kenny, ahead of the film’s premiere. “He rooted himself in prayer, rooted himself in our Lord, and then just loved the people around him. That was it. That’s the secret sauce. It’s very inspiring to see how much of an impact radically following such a simple life plan made. It gives you an idea of not just the reach of one man, but it also gives you an idea of the impact of a priest, what a priest can do when he loves his priesthood and follows his call well. He can have this massive impact that goes beyond the boundaries of three parishes in Colorado.”
“He embodies the person of Christ and the charity of Christ in the way that he interacts with people and serves, loves and walks with them,” Beckman added prior to the documentary release, recalling his long friendship with Monsignor Leone. “He just is available and invites people to come and be together and experience difficult things together.”
“He was my high school counselor, and to this day, I can honestly say he influenced my life more than anyone,” wrote Dean Winter on the occasion of Monsignor Leone’s 50th anniversary of priesthood.
In the weeks leading up to his passing, the Archdiocese of Denver and Denver Catholic invited the faithful to pray for this holy man — and the grateful comments poured in.
“There are so many words that can describe how amazing Msgr Ken is to all of us!! Praying for grace and mercy on his journey to meet Jesus,” wrote Annalise Miller on Facebook in the weeks leading up to his passing.
“God Bless Msgr. Leone and his million-dollar smile! Such a wonderful pastor at Risen Christ, such a strength to the children after the Columbine tragedy and such a mentor and sponsor to my current pastor, Father Rocco,” wrote Laura Brodsky on Facebook. “May your journey home, Kenny, be as joyous as your service. Thank you. I’m praying for you. Please pray for us.”
“Thank you, Monsignor Ken, for your great love and joy for Our Lord Jesus Christ,” Donci Wardell wrote on Instagram. “You helped me and my family in educating us in Catholicism and Our Lord’s love for us. Keeping you in our prayers always.”
“I loved him as a kid at Spirit of Christ. He brought so many people into the church. Bless him, such a treasure,” added Tracy Mitzel-Hogan.
“WE love you, Father Ken, so much! May you have a beautiful meeting with our Lord!” wrote Jill Marie Egan Hall.
“What a gift Msgr. Leone is to so many. God is so good,” added Gina Finocchiaro Warner.
Monsignor Leone is predeceased by his beloved grandmother, Josephine Pace Leone Gabriel; parents, Jerry and Rozella Leone; aunts and uncles, Lucille Leone McCaughey and Fred and Virginia Gabriel; and siblings, John Leone and Donna Leone Overholt. He is survived by Donna Neal Leone, his sister-in-law; Mindi and Kevin Murray; Neala and Mark Daughtery; Chad Leone; Leticia Overholt; Gleneen and Joseph Brienza; Daryl Overholt; LaDonna and Ryan Johnson; Mike Gabriel; Pat and Lou Ellen Gabriel; Peggy Jo Cooper; and John and Laura Gabriel.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver. The funeral Mass will be livestreamed at archden.org/live-events. A vigil and visitation will take place the evening before, Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Littleton at 6:00 p.m. The vigil will also be livestreamed here.
Funeral Arrangements for Monsignor Ken Leone
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Viewing
TIME: 4:30 p.m.
Vigil
TIME: 6:00 p.m.
Reception to follow vigil
LOCATION: St. Frances Cabrini Parish
6673 W Chatfield Avenue
Littleton, CO 80128
Livestreamed here.
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Mass of Christian Burial (Funeral Mass)
TIME: 11:00 a.m.
Viewing: 9:00 a.m.
LOCATION: Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
1530 Logan Street
Denver, CO 80203
Livestreamed at archden.org/live-events.
Committal immediately following Mass
LOCATION: Mt. Olivet Cemetery
12801 W 44th Avenue
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
