Sandy Hook resident Leo McIlrath was celebrated on May 5, for the 50th anniversary of his ordination, with a party at The Lutheran Home of Southbury, where he has served as the ecumenical and interfaith chaplain for the past nine years.

Rev McIlrath was ordained to the priesthood for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, N.C., on May 19, 1966, at St Patrick Church, in Charlotte, N.C. He has been in a variety of ministries since ordination, including pastor, retreat director (Cursillo, Marriage Encounter, and Charismatic Renewal), chaplain at Duke University, and civilian chaplain to the US Marines, at Havelock/Cheery Point, N.C.

"I have celebrated many memorial services, funerals, and weddings over the past many years, particularly for people who desired a spiritually-based service, without having a connection to a faith-based community," said the Rev McIlrath, who is a member of interfaith communities in Newtown, Danbury, and Southbury/Woodbury.

He earned a license for nursing home administration in Massachusetts, and has served as director of elderly services for the Department of Elderly Services in Danbury; chaplain for Regional Hospice, and health test coordinator for the Western Area Agency on Aging, as well as serving in his current post in Southbury.

Rev McIlrath has also had a pair of teaching positions. He taught Latin and psychology at both Western Connecticut State University and University of Bridgeport.