Retired priest Father Greg Leach serves parishes and community

July 16, 2024

by Ryan Johnson

Sitting idle is not something Father Greg Leach does well. Instead, he remains active, even during his retirement as a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Des Moines.

Born and raised in Des Moines, Father Leach has served the diocese for 43 years a priest.

Before being ordained, he developed a hobby of umpiring baseball games. He’s been umpiring behind the plate for 46 years.

When he’s not on a baseball or softball field, he regularly helps at St. Augustin Catholic Church in Des Moines, where he has been celebrating Mass for the past four years.

“I was baptized there, so I’ve gone full circle,” he said. “Most of my life has been up and down 42nd Street and Beaver Avenue [in Des Moines].”

Father Leach attended minor seminary at Loras College in Dubuque. After completing his undergraduate studies, he moved on to major seminary at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. After taking a brief break from seminary, he finished his studies at Sacred Heart Seminary in Milwaukee and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Des Moines. This September will be his 44th ordination anniversary.

Why Umpiring?

Father Leach’s dad, Vern, was an avid New York Yankees fan, and Father Leach grew up enjoying sports. His challenge was not being good enough to play competitively.

^{Father Greg Leach and his father at a baseball game}

“I enjoyed the game and knew I did not have the skills to be a good player,” he said. “Instead, I worked at being a good umpire.”

He belongs to the Greater Des Moines Umpire Association, and he regularly umpires Little League games in Johnston in April and May. When that season ends, he moves on to high school umpiring, which he’s done for 39 years.

You can find Father Leach umpiring games four to five nights a week. He avoids weekend games because he’s busy presiding over Mass.

Volunteer Firefighter

If he wasn’t busy enough as a young priest, he also spent 23 years as a volunteer firefighter. His first assignment as pastor was at St. Joseph Parish in Earling. There, he was talked into joining the local volunteer fire department. He continued serving as a volunteer firefighter throughout his priestly assignments in the Diocese, including for nine of his 10 years as pastor at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Parish in Ankeny.

“When I was [assigned] in Ankeny, I averaged 400 to 600 calls a year,” he said.

Like other firefighters, he was required to complete the physical requirements to maintain his status as a firefighter. That included putting on 50 pounds of gear and completing simulations.

He gave up serving as a firefighter when he moved to St. Mary of Nazareth Parish in Des Moines.

“That’s more for the 20-year-olds than the 60-year-olds,” he said.

Today, Father Leach is still a chaplain for the Des Moines Fire Department. He said serving as a Catholic priest and a firefighter had similarities.

“You get invited into people’s lives at critical times,” he said. “As priests, we’re involved in the baptisms, weddings, funerals … the significant times, you get invited into these people’s lives. Life and death, literally.”

What does a 75-year-old priest do to stay in shape for umpiring dozens of games each spring and summer: 20,000 steps a day. Nearby trails provide the perfect opportunity for him to get his steps in and enjoy Iowa’s four seasons.