Father Leonard James Downs, a retired priest of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, died Jan. 28. He was 83 years old.

Father Downs was born on Oct. 7, 1940, in Washington, D.C., and began his seminary education at Saint Charles College in Catonsville, Maryland and continued at Saint Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park, Maryland.

He was ordained a priest of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington on May 7, 1966, at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle.

He was first assigned as parochial vicar to Saint Matthias Parish, Lanham, Maryland. In 1969, Father Downs was appointed associate chaplain at the University of Maryland. He served in early 1977 as parochial vicar at Ascension Parish in Bowie, Maryland, and in 1977, he returned to Saint Matthias Parish as parochial vicar while also serving as hospital chaplain at Doctor’s Hospital in Lanham, Maryland.

In 1980, Father Downs was appointed parochial vicar at Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Clinton, Maryland. Then in 1981, he was appointed pastor of Our Lady, Queen of Peace Parish in Washington, D.C. In 1984, he was assigned as parochial vicar to Mount Calvary Parish in Forestville, Maryland, and in 1987, to Saint Bernadette Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland. In 1992, Father Downs was assigned as parochial vicar to Saint John the Evangelist Parish in Clinton, Maryland, and then in 1997, as parochial vicar to Saint Mary’s Parish in Rockville, Maryland.

He retired in 2009, taking up residence in Lewes, Delaware.

Father Downs also served as a Spiritual Director in the Cursillo Movement, and as a Chaplain in the National Capital Area Boy Scouts.

A Vigil for Father Downs will be held Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Saint Mary’s Parish, Rockville, Maryland, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. A Vigil Mass will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Feb. 7, Auxiliary Bishop Juan Esposito will celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial there at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.