Dolores R. Leckey

Dolores R. Leckey (April 12, 1933 – January 17, 2023) was the founding director of the Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women, and Youth, and was at that time one of the highest ranking women in the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. She served in that role for 20 years. In 1996, she staffed the Bishops' Committee on Women in Society and in the Church. In the foreword to the report issued by that Committee on Women, Bishop John C. Dunne, who served as chairman, praised her skill and leadership in guiding the committee's work. From 1998 to 2012 she was a Senior Fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center of Georgetown University, the first woman who served in that role.

Early life and education Dolores Regina Conklin Leckey was born in New York City on April 12, 1933, to Joseph and Florence (Kelly) Conklin. She studied literature and theology at St. John's University and received her bachelor's degree from St. John's University in 1954.

Dolores and Thomas Leckey were for many decades part of a prayer group that was an outgrowth of the Christian Family Movement. In 1986, they and three other couples began studying the Pastoral Letter on Economic Justice issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. This inspired them to work to address the need for affordable housing in Arlington, Virginia. Each couple contributed $250 and they formed the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing (APAH).

Dolores Leckey served as a trustee of St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, the University of Dayton in Ohio, and the Northern Virginia Community College.

Career Although the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) had addressed the role laity in a decree on the apostolate of the laity, Apostolicam actuositatem, it was not until a decade later that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) established a secretariat to address the laity. In October 1977, Dolores R. Leckey was hired as the founding director of the Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women, and Youth.

Mercy Sister Sharon Euart, the first woman to serve as associate general secretary of the USCCB, described Leckey as feeling "called to help the bishops -- to help the bishops understand what the role of laity, family and women were in the Church," noting that, while this was challenging, Leckey did it in a way "that was grounded in the Gospel, and grounded in faith." That lecture became the basis for her book Women and Creativity.

From 1998 to 2012 she was a Senior Fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center of Georgetown University, the first woman who served in that role.

In November 1997, she received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal.

In 2003, Dolores Leckey was recognized with a Person of Vision Award, from the Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women as one of four "Women Pioneering the Future.'

On June 25, 2004, Dolores Leckey was presented with the Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Award by the Catholic Common Ground Initiative. She was its third recipient after the National Council of Catholic Women (2001) and the Most Rev. Harry J. Flynn and the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis (2003).

In 2012, Dolores Leckey received the St. Elizabeth Seton Medal from Mount St. Joseph University, an award established to recognize distinguished women in theology.

Selected works

The ordinary way: a family spirituality (Crossroads, 1982) Journeying together: proceedings of three regional convocations on shared responsibility in America with Caroline Chastain (Office of Publication and Promotion Services, U.S. Catholic Conference, 1985) Laity stirring the church: prophetic questions (Fortress Press, 1987) One body: different gifts, many roles: reflections on the American Catholic laity (Office of Publication and Promotion Services, U.S. Catholic Conference, 1987) Practical spirituality for lay people (Sheed & Ward, 1987) Women and Creativity (Paulist Press, 1991) Winter Music: A Life of Jessica Powers: Poet, Nun, Woman of the 20th Century. (Sheed & Ward, 1992) Seven essentials for the spiritual journey (Crossroads Publications, 1999) Spiritual Exercises for Church Leaders: Facilitator's Guide with Paula Minaert (Paulist Press, 2003) Spiritual Exercises for Church Leaders: Participants Book with Paula Minaert (Paulist Press, 2003) "'Grace Given to Each': Spirituality and Administration" in Called and Chosen: Toward a Spirituality for Lay Leaders edited by Zeni Fox and Regina M. Bechtle, SC (Sheed & Ward, 2005) The Laity and Christian Education: Apostolicam Actuositatem, Gravissimum Educationis in REDISCOVERING VATICAN II, Series Editor : Christopher M. Bellitto (Paulist Press, 2006) "The Church is the Lay Faithful" Chapter 26 in The Many Marks of the Church edited by William Madges and Michael J. Daley (Twenty-Third Publications, 2006) Grieving With Grace: A Woman’s Perspective. (Franciscan Media, 2008) Monika K. Hellwig: the people's theologian with Kathleen Dolphin (Liturgical Press, 2010) Interior Journey: A Spirituality for Contemporary Seekers (Twenty-Third Publications, 2015)