Msgr Leonard asks for prayers to be a faithful servant to the people

Sep 14, 2018

By Bernard Anthony
Twenty-five years ago, Msgr Leonard Lexson was ordained a priest with the motto, To serve and not to be served. On August 30, 2018, he celebrated his 25th Sacerdotal Anniversary with the theme Jesus, My Lord, My God. In You I place my trust. All I am is Yours. Do as You will with me.

The Mass was held at the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist. Concelebrating with him were Archbishop Emeritus Murphy Pakiam and 13 other priests.

In his homily, Msgr Leonard, who is also the Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, said, “Today I want to thank God for the gift of life and love in Jesus Christ. St Paul always thanked God for all the graces received. I want to thank God very profoundly for He chose me, despite my limitations and weaknesses, to be one of His priests.”
Msgr Leonard, who is also the parish priest of the cathedral, said priesthood is about thanksgiving to God, about how God had chosen him to be a priest in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Whilst mentioning that his journey as priest these past 25 years could be described as a roller-coaster ride, Msgr Leonard said he always saw the hand of the Lord. “Never once did God abandon me, His presence is so real,” the parish priest asserted.

Msgr Leonard thanked God for the gift of family and for moulding him to be the person he is today. His first faith formation began in the family. “Every Sunday, my family went for Mass and everyday there was Rosary recitation in the home. All these helped me in my journey towards the priesthood.

“The seven years in the seminary was a time of learning and understanding what it means to be a child of God. After 25 years knowing and serving God my wisdom comes from Him, not my own.” Msgr Leonard also expressed his appreciation for the gift of community.

Touching on the day’s Gospel, Msgr Leonard said it was a reminder for him to be a faithful servant unto the Lord and not take his priesthood for granted. He also asked the assembly for their continued prayers for him, so he would be able to live a life pleasing to the Lord.

He then shared on the parishes he had served, including his two years as resident priest in Our Lady of the Assumption in Dublin, during his Post-Graduate Studies in Liturgy and Theology and seven years in Guadalupe Parish in Puchong. Msgr Leonard told the assembly, “Pray that I will be fervent and serve you all well in my capability.”

A Thanksgiving dinner was held after the Mass at the Community Hall. Archbishop Pakiam in his speech praise Msgr Leonard for caring for the marginalised. “When Msr Leonard was in Puchong, he made sure the Sabahan and Sarawakian students were taken care of with the “Adoptive programme”. Guardians would meet these students at the airport and bring them to stay and attend Sunday Mass. "