In the 45 years since its birth, 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 1,900+ families embracing more than 5,000 parishioners.
A Parish is Created
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On February 4, 1964, the Most Rev. George L. Leech, Bishop of Harrisburg, announced that the new parish would be canonically established on February 22 and its patron would be St. Leo the Great. The Rev. Edward J. Deller, assistant rector at St. Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg, was appointed parish administrator. (Father Deller was appointed pastor in 1967.) | |
The first Mass was celebrated on February 24, 1964, by Bishop Leech. The Mass was offered in what had become known as the "Rustic Barn" in Silver Spring. The barn had been rented to provide a temporary site at which the new parish would conduct its worship and work.
In June of that year, architects for the proposed convent and school were selected. Contracts for construction of the buildings were awarded on April 14, 1965, and construction began just six days later.
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