Photo courtesy of J. Lampart	Our Parish Re-Mission was presented by Fr. Daniel Francis C.Ss.R. During the third session of the mission, Fr. Dan Francis presented this beautiful print of Our Mother of Perpetual Help to our parish. Shown here are Father Sullivan (left) and Father Dan.
Monday, November 15, 2004	A Time of God's Favor Are you happy? Have you discovered that things do not make you happier, and that more things just make you hungrier? Where does help come from in a frenetic world that often seems uncaring? When it seems that nothing is going your way, discover a God who is The Way and who favors us with presence, a real presence. Renewal of Baptism "What are you looking for?" (John 1:37)
Tuesday, November 16, 2004	A Time of Forgiveness When Jesus rose from the dead, instead of a halo he showed them wounds. We all have them and perhaps some still bleed. But what Jesus does is offer them peace. Forgiveness is not so much about the past as it is for the future. We can’t be perfect, but we will be forgiven. Reconciliation "Peace I give you." (John 20:21)
Wednesday, November 17, 2004	A Time of Hope What Mary teaches us about hope is so real, even if it is difficult to see at times. If you are hungering for happiness and floundering for faith, let a Mother bring you back into her arms, where Jesus is, where peace may be found and where perpetual help means enduring hope. Eucharist "Behold your Mother." (John 19:27)

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Pictoral Directory

A parish pictorial directory has been produced as an integral part of celebrating our first forty years.  Each family/parishioner who sat for a portrait will receive, free of charge, an 8 x 10" picture plus a copy of the directory, whether or not they purchase any pictures for their personal use.  Parishioners who did not yet receive their directory are asked to pick-up their copy in the parish office.

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Forty years ago, St. Leo's Parish was established.  Its humble beginnings started in a barn with used pews, vestments, and baptismal font.  We have come a long way during these 40 years from raising cattle, pigs and crops.  Great sacrifices were made in those beginning years, and are still being made.  You, the families of St. Leo's, can stand proud of a respected parish school, an exemplary religious education program and a parish deeply committed to spiritual opportunities and works of social awareness.

It is time to celebrate the accomplishments of the past and to renew ourselves as we plan for our parish's future.  A great deal of planning has taken place, and we will formally begin with the opening of our year of celebration in November 2003.  We will end one year later on November 21, 2004 with a prayer service and buffet dinner.

All our parish endeavors are listed and explained on this web site and in a book that was mailed to all parishioners. Refer to them to aid you and your family in taking advantage of the varied events planned during our 40th anniversary year.  A wealth of opportunities for our spiritual, educational, and social lives are listed chronologically and described to assist you in choosing your involvement in our parish.

We have invited the highly recommended Father Scott Seethaler, O.F.M., Cap., to kick off our Renewal Mission in November 2003.  The theme is: "Life is Difficult but God is Good".  Father's evening talks will deal with:
Sunday:  "A Christian Response to Stress"
Monday:  "Finding True Happiness"
Tuesday:  "Celebrating Marriage and Family Life"

Closing our year of celebration will be Father Daniel Francis, C.Ss.R., who has shared his spiritual insights with us in the past.  We look forward to Fr. Dan's closing of our 40th anniversary year on November 15 - 17, 2004.  His theme will be:
"A Time of God's Favor"
"A Time of Forgiveness"
"A Time of Hope"

I encourage each of you to grasp these opportunities to grow and extend yourselves during this year of grace and blessing.

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Dear Parishioners:

In the recent document, "Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us" the U.S. Bishops write: "we the Catholic Bishops of the United States, call the Church in our country to a renewed commitment to adult faith formation, positioning it at the heart of our catechetical vision and practice."

In response to this call from our bishops and from our own parish's strategic plan, a faith formation team was established in May 2002.  The members of the team were chosen because of their expertise in areas of marketing, finance, adult and family counseling, healthcare and theology as well as having expressed an interest in this area on our parish's volunteer commitment form.  It is not a closed committee and is open at anytime to new members.

The members of this committee have met regularly during the past year to study the Bishop's document, as well as to determine what type of programs will help to lead our parishioners to the development of a strengthened personal relationship with God.  Our hope is that this will lead us to a deeper appreciation of the Gospel and its power to guide and transform each of us... and to enable us to express our faith in service to one another.

The information on this web site and in the book mailed to all parishioners are the result of our first year's planning efforts.  We have also included the activities of other parish ministries.  We welcome any suggestions or input from you that will help us to serve you.

If you have any questions concerning any of the offerings, please call the Office of Religious Education at (717) 394-7354 or contact us via email at psr@stleos.org.

Sincerely in Christ,
S. Dorothy Wilkinson

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The Church of St. Leo the Great has grown from a small but dedicated parish celebrating Mass in a Silver Spring barn, to a thriving faith community of 1,700 families embracing 5,000 parishioners. In February of 1964, the Most Rev. George L. Leech, Bishop of Harrisburg, formed the parish from Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Lancaster.  The Rev. Edward J. Deller was initially appointed parish administrator and was later appointed as pastor in 1967. The "Rustic Barn" in Silver Spring served as the temporary site at which the new parish conducted its worship and work.  The parish moved quickly to build more permanent facilities, and in September 1965, the first through sixth graders began classes in the still unfinished school.  For twenty-six years, Mass was celebrated in what is now the school's gymnasium.

June 1981 marked the passing of the torch at St. Leo's, when the Rev. William J. Sullivan was appointed to assume leadership of our parish community, a role in which he continues today.  After 17 years of dedicated service, the founding pastor, Father Deller, was given the title of Pastor Emeritus. Committees formed in the mid-1980's studied facility needs for the parish, and by the end of 1987 that work had resulted in concrete plans for the building of a new church.  After much preparation and fundraising, groundbreaking for the new building was held in August 1990.  Masses began in the new sanctuary in October 1991, and the Most Rev. Nicholas Dattilo, Bishop of Harrisburg, celebrated a formal dedication on November 3, 1991.  The new facility provided much needed space for meetings and parish ministries.  The Weber Activities Center, primarily intended for use by our Youth Ministry Program, was dedicated in 2003. St. Leo's is a vital parish that is continuously changing, growing and renewing itself.  The best way to understand this community of God is to become a part of it and see the faith of its members in action. Visit our History page to read a detailed history of our parish.

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