Rev. Raymond James McLeod

I will never forget you. Never. I still remember my then pre-school children running to you and hiding in the folds of your robe. You were what I imagine God would be like with children. AND....when Father McLeod was doing the homily...no one slept and EVERYBODY listened....even the little ones! Father was like no other priests. He said it like it was and did not care if you liked it or not. He did not skirt around the difficult issues. His sermons were something we were looking...

Father McLeod,
People have already expressed many traits of yours and of your great deeds. However I am not so sure that they know of an aspect of your priesthood that you did that you so loved and were so very much respected and that is in the AA program.
Thank you for all you did as a wonderful "friend" of Alcoholics Anonymous--you have no idea of the thousands both men and women whom you touched with your wisdom and insight Your willingness to share of your own story when doing 5th...

Father McLeod,
Your reputation preceded you! I remember hearing all about you while I was away in 1992 and you started celebrating Mass with, and building the amazing parish community of OLOV. Suffice it to say when I finally did get to meet you I was not disappointed. While I did not always agree with you, I always respected your (strongly expressed!) opinions and admired your deep faith, born of fire and burning bright for all to see.
Jon and I will be ever grateful for you...

Dear Fr.McLeod - Weren't we blessed to have you come to Vernon! You are the reason we have our beautiful church in Coldstream named Our Lady of the Valley. You listened, encouraged and gave us so much help in those early days. You also gave us that gorgeous silver crucifix in memory of your dear mother. Every time it is processed into Mass we are reminded of you. And who could forget those Sunday mornings in the wee chapel at the old Mackie School - when the kitten kept coming in you said it...

Dear Fr.McLeod - Weren't we blessed to have you come to Vernon! You are the reason we have our beautiful church in Coldstream named Our Lady of the Valley. You listened, encouraged and gave us so much help in those early days. You also gave us that gorgeous silver crucifix in memory of your dear mother. Every time it is processed into Mass we are reminded of you. And who could forget those Sunday mornings in the wee chapel at the old Mackie School - when the kitten kept coming in you said it...

Dear Father, you helped our family find and keep God in our hearts. You taught me that yes, there is for sure a Heaven (on the day my Grandma Helen Giroday was buried). You gave me hope and faith in eternal life.

I also remember you teaching your parishoners at Holy Name to 'slow down' when saying the Lord's Prayer. I will always be mindful of this.

Everytime something major was going on in our family (i.e. deaths, emergencies or hospital stays), the phone would ring and it...

We thank God for your stay at Augustine house. Although it was only for a short time,it will long be remembered. Ed Novakowski.

We were so blessed to have known you. You will be missed but you will never be forgotten.
Lorene Vickberg and family

You have touched my heart and the hearts of many. You will be sadly missed but always remembered. Your spirit lives on Father McLeod.