Father John A. Leies, a Marianist priest, is past president, past academic vice-president, former Theology Department Chair, former Head of Campus Ministry, a tenured Professor of Theology and President Emeritus of St. Mary’s University of San Antonio, an institute at which he has spent 37continuous years. He has been named as an Outstanding Faculty Member of the School of Arts and Social Sciences and also of the Graduate School.
He was born in Chicago, attended St. Michael’s High School there, administered by the Society of Mary. He made his novitiate studies in Galesville, Wisconsin, and then completed college studies at the University of Dayton (Ohio). He went on for seminary studies at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, where he was ordained and where he completed a Doctorate in Theology (S.T.D.).
Father Leies has held many assignments at home and abroad for his religious community, the Society of Mary. Before coming to St. Mary’s University, he taught and served as chaplain at three high schools, one of which was in Lima, Peru. In Peru, he also served as the Regional Superior of the Marianist works (1964-68). He too was the first Head of Religious Life for the St. Louis Province of the Society of Mary (1961-64).
He has written and lectured in the area of medico-moral problems, has been an advisor to legal and ethical associations, is a Consultant for the National Catholic Bioethical Center (NCBC), and holds memberships in professional groups such as the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars and Faculty for Life He has been invited to attend the biennial Catholic Bishops’ Workshop on Bioethics for the past 20 years.
He has written well over 200 articles for Today’s Catholic, the San Antonio archdiocesan weekly newspaper, in addition to articles for other publications. He has edited two books for the NCBC: Handbook of Critical Life Issues and Handbook of Critical Sexual Issues, college texts that have been used at St. Mary’s University and a number of other schools. He also co-hosts a weekly news show on Catholic Television of San Antonio (CTSA).
