Vincent Hayes was born on the 10th October 1881, the youngest of six brothers, three of whom, Fr Bernard, Fr Benedict and himself, were educated at Ampleforth and joined the community. He received the Habit as Brother Leo in September 1902, and was ordained to the priesthood in May 1910.
Almost exactly a year later he was sent on the Mission, first to St Mary's, Cardiff; in 1915 to St Peter's, Liverpool; in 1924 to St Mary's, Warrington; in 1926 back to Liverpool, this time to St Anne's. In 1927 he was put in charge of St Mary's, Merthyr Tydfil, where he remained until the parish was surrendered to the diocese in the autumn of 1930. Then he was sent to work under Fr Philip Willson at St Mary's, Brownedge, where he began to be troubled by a numbness and loss of strength in his right knee, the beginning of a long purgatory.
In October 1933 he was sent to take charge of Warwick Bridge, and remained there for ten years, gallantly struggling against his increasing disability. Then, with one leg completely paralysed, the other failing, and ominous weakness appearing in his right arm, he had to retire from work, to spend his days during the last ten years of his life in a chair.
He was devotedly tended by his sister-in-law, in small return, as she described it, for his help to her when she suddenly became a widow. After her death in 1950 he was cared for at Ampleforth and became something of an institution here, sitting in front of the monastery or by the cricket ground. A specially built electric motor was provided for him, but he failed, neither surprisingly nor regrettably, to pass his driving test.
Towards the end of January of this year he suffered a stroke from which, although it did not seriously aggravate his disabilities, he never looked like recovering. He died gently on 23rd February.
To anyone paralysis for twenty years would be a grievous trial: to few, more grievous than to Fr Leo. He was so full of zest for life and work. Although his talents were no more, and perhaps less, than average, he took pains to cultivate them methodically. In his youth he practised and played games with vigour, not to say violence. He was the centre of fun in the community. No group or gathering was dull if he was in it. He read widely and appreciatively, with a special interest in ecclesiastical art. Not content with study alone, he designed and made vestments which showed his sober good taste. He loved his monastery and all his brethren, and entered eagerly into discussions of plans for development. To his work as a master in the School, and most of all to his priestly studies and work he brought the same lively thoroughness, ever faithful to routine and at the same time ready to welcome new ideas.
Suffering came to soften his impetuous, often volcanic, character. It first struck him through those he loved, especially his favourite brother and constant companion, Fr Benedict, who died after a lingering and distressing illness; and it revealed in him a gentleness and patience, that had not been suspected. Then he himself was humbled and sanctified by the need to be helped, by inaction, by (as he wrongly thought) uselessness. His manifest and hard but successful struggle to accept and to go on accepting God's Will was a source of encouragement and edification to us all, and it cannot be doubted that he won many blessings for his house as well as for himself. He died in his 72nd year. May he rest in peace.
VINCENT LEO HAYES 23 February 1953
1881 10 Oct Born Liverpool
1894- Jan Educ Ampleforth
1902 3 Sep Habit
1903 29 Nov Simple Profession Belmont Prior Cummins
1904 22 May Minor Orders Belmont Bishop Hedley
1907 12 Dec Solemn Vows Ampleforth Abbot Smith
1908 25 Mar Subdeacon Ampleforth Bishop Lacy
1909 9 May Deacon Ampleforth Bishop Cowgill
1910 1 May Priest Ampleforth Bishop Lacy
1911 5 May Assistant at Canton
1915 8 Oct Assistant at St Peter's Liverpool
1924 May Assistant at St Mary's Warrington
1926 Mar Assistant at St Anne's Liverpool
1927 Aug Parish Priest at Merthyr Tydvil until parish relinquished by EBC
1930 Nov Assistant at Brownedge
1933 Oct Parish Priest at Warwick Bridge & Chaplain to Holme Eden
1943 Dec Retired as an invalid & nursed privately
1951 May Returned to Ampleforth
1953 23 Feb Died at Ampleforth