In the 1936 edition of Medieval Francis in Modern America, the Rev. Adalbert Callahan, OFM, wrote: “Until the advent of Father Leo, St. Joseph’s Parish in Winsted showed few signs of healthy progress. The energetic friar set about immediately in bringing it up to the standard of a thoroughly organized parish..."

Father Leo, whose labors will never be forgotten, served as pastor here for 33 years. He was responsible for the construction of the monastery (1866), St. Anthony School (1887), and St. Margaret’s Convent (1876, pictured above but no longer in existence). The monastery through the years has served as the home to the priests and as the parish rectory. For many years, during the day of Father Leo, the monastery was the designated place for the annual retreats of the Diocesan clergy. For some years it was also used as a house of studies for seminarians preparing for the Franciscan Order. In 1887, the completion and dedication of school building was a dream come true for Father Leo. It afforded large and spacious quarters for the children under his care. In 1876, the conven was completed to house the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, New York. The Sisters arrived in 1865 to teach the children of Winsted.

The Hartford Archdiocese's archival records also credit Father Leo for having been the driving force behind the construction of Goshen's church. The archival text reads as follows: "Falls Village pastors celebrated Mass periodically in Goshen until December 1, 1873, when St. Columcille passed to St. Joseph, Winsted. Father Leo Rizzo da Saracena, O.F.M., built a new church that opened on December 8, 1877. The mission was named for St. Thomas of Villanova at the request of Bishop Thomas F. Galberry."

Father Leo's memory lives on today. Many are the stories which are told of him: of his leading civic parades seated on his white horse, of his visits and shopping tours conducted by horse and wagon, of his self appointed office as truant officer roudning up the errant children who were skipping school.

He was a well-known, highly-regarded New England pastor. Connecticut Governor Lorris A. Cooke had said: “An Italian by birth and training, he was broad and great enough to include in his sympathies and friendships everybody. He was loyal to his adopted country and intensely patriotic in his feelings and public acts... a good man.”

An article in the Winsted Evening Citizen said: “During his pastorate he baptized over 3,500 children and married 600 couples... best known Catholic Priest in Connecticut”

Another article in the same paper written by Thomas F. Fitzgerald on June 29, 1921 said: “Father Leo was a man of positive convictions. He was a man of unusual ability and a doer of deeds. In consequence, he sometimes encountered obstacles and met with difficulties. He was a type of the old-fashioned priest who was an intimate associate and almost a member of every family in his parish.

The success of anyone of his people who was doing right was a source of personal pleasure to him. The failure or disgrace which might be the lot of any St. Joseph’s folks he felt most keenly. He was a strict ruler of the younger folks, for to him they were in a sense his children. He had officiated at the marriage ceremonies of the fathers and mothers of most of the children, and had baptized them when they were born. So he felt that his part in their upbringing should be a large one, and he did not shirk that which he felt to be his duty.

When trouble would come upon any of his people, he was the ‘sagarth aroon’ (the priest of my heart), and out of his deep wisdom and with his great and wide spread influence there would often times be found a way to smooth out the trouble...“