Sister Mary Doretta Leonard, M.M.

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Sister Mary Doretta Leonard, M.M., who served primarily as a catechist in China, died Nov. 27 at Maryknoll Sisters Center in Ossining. She was 93.

Sister Mary Doretta most recently did pastoral ministry and volunteer work in Macau and Hong Kong, 1992-2005, when she retired. She was a parish team member in Ha Kwai Chung, Hong Kong, 1980-1989. She did catechetical work in Hong Kong, 1970-1977.

In 1948, she received her first overseas mission assignment to China. She did language studies for a year before beginning catechetical work. The political situation in Wuchow required her transfer to Hong Kong, where she continued to serve as a catechist until 1968.

Born in Manhattan, she entered the Maryknoll Sisters novitiate in 1945 and professed final vows in 1951. She held a bachelor’s degree in adult education from Mary Rogers College at Maryknoll.

A Funeral Mass was offered Nov. 30 at Assumption Chapel at Maryknoll Sisters Center. Burial was in the Maryknoll Sisters Cemetery.

Sister Mary Doretta Leonard, M.M.