Let us pray in thanksgiving for the life of Fr. Leo P. Cachat, SJ, who died on March 14, 2026 at St. Joseph / Trinity Health Oakland Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan. He was 92 years old. May he rest in peace.
Leo was born on April 27, 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland (1951) and studied for three years at John Carroll University (1951-1954) before entering the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus on September 1, 1954 at Milford Jesuit Novitiate in Milford, Ohio. He became a member of the Detroit Province when it was created in 1955 and became a member of the Patna Province in 1973. Leo was ordained on March 20, 1966 at St. John’s Parish in Kurseong, India, and pronounced final vows on April 22, 1973 at St. Xavier’s School Godavari in Kathmandu, Nepal.
While in the Society, Leo earned a bachelor’s degree in literature from Xavier University (1958), a master’s degree in philosophy from West Baden College / Loyola University Chicago (1960), and a licentiate degree in Sacred Theology from St. Mary’s Theological College in Kurseong, Darjeeling (1967).
During regency, Leo worked at St. Xavier’s School Godavari in Kahtmandu, Nepal (1960-1963). After ordination, he returned to Kathmandu where he ministered for almost three decades. He taught (1969-1970) and was principal (1970-1977) at St. Xavier’s School Godavari. After earning a diploma in spirituality and counselling from Sadhana Institute in Pune, India (1978), Leo served as the director of Godavari Ashram (1979-1985). In 1985, he was missioned to internal governance in the Society of Jesus. He was the superior of the Formation House Kamal Niwas (1985-1991) and regional superior of the Nepal Region of the Patna Province (1991-1997). In 1998, Leo was missioned to be the director of St. Aloysius English Language Institute in Taunggye, Myanmar (1998-2002).
In 2002, Leo returned to the US and was missioned to be a faculty chaplain at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School (2002-2007) before directing retreats at Manresa Jesuit Retreat House in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (2007-2025). In July 2025, Leo was missioned to Colombiere Center in Clarkston, Michigan to pray for the Church and the Society of Jesus.
Leo was a kind and welcoming Jesuit who loved helping others to encounter Christ in their daily lives. He was a missionary at heart and, early in formation, graciously responded to the needs of the people of India. Because of his excellent administrative skills, after ordination he was missioned to be principal of St. Xavier School Godavari. Since all who encountered him recognized Leo’s exceptional cura aposotolica and cura personalis, Leo remained in leadership roles until he returned to the United States in 2002. Indications of the respect that people had for Leo include that he was elected to be a delegate to General Congregation 32 for the Patna Province and that he was the regional superior of the Nepal Region of the Patna Province.
Leo enjoyed life and almost always had a smile on his face. People found Leo easy to be with and an engaging conversationalist. He was interested in people’s lives and often asked about family members and other matters of importance. Those who encountered Leo felt loved and cared for. Leo loved being with others and people loved being with Leo.
Fr. Peter Fennessy, SJ, has this to say about Leo:
Leo was a bigger man than words can describe. After holding many leadership positions in the Orient, once he heard the term “physical fitness trainer” he liked to refer to himself as a “spiritual fitness trainer.” He was certainly a deeply appreciated teacher of prayer and director of souls. His kindness and love, liveliness, humor and humanity made him a delight to be with, a friend, I suspect, to everyone who met him, and the glue that kept our little Jesuit community together. He possessed with humility enormous knowledge and wisdom from his past experiences and extraordinary perception of everything that was going on around him here. His medical difficulties made it increasingly painful for him to get to his office, but he didn’t want to miss any opportunity to be available to those who might seek his spiritual counsel.
Fr. Robert Flack, SJ, shared these thoughts about Leo:
During the time we spent together at Manresa, Leo suffered from pain in his legs that limited his mobility. Despite that, he always had a smile on his face and a cheerful greeting for all of us. “Good to see you,” was a favorite. You always knew that he really was happy to see you.
Fr. Robert Scullin, SJ, has these memories of Leo:
I enjoyed community life with Leo. He had a wide circle of friends. He continually communicated strong interest in our ministries and our projects. We had great fun at suppers exchanging “barbs” with one another. He wore very lightly his rich apostolic past in Asia, but was always ready with great stories. He was a great sports fan (which I am not) but he tolerated well my complete lack of interest in professional sports.
Br. James Boynton, SJ, has this remembrance of Leo:
When Leo was superior of Kamal Niwas, the community for Jesuit candidates, he had a care for the men that went beyond academics and even spiritual care. He truly helped each man in any way he could to be his best self. He did this with a sense of humor and with care. I was part of the house for only three months, but Leo’s pastoral sense made a lasting impression on me. When he came back from Nepal after more than 30 years abroad, he made the cultural adjustment back to the United States and had a second whole career in pastoral and spiritual ministries. He was a model of availability and a great man.
