About Ft. Leonard Wood · Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
The Catholic community at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri is officially known as Sacred Heart Catholic Community and worships at Soldier Memorial Chapel (Building 450) on the U.S. Army installation. As a military parish, it falls under the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA rather than a geographic diocese, and serves active-duty Soldiers, families, and civilian personnel across the post. Sunday Mass, weekday Mass, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, Confessions, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults), CCD religious education for children, Catholic Women of the Chapel, and a Youth of the Chapel program all center on this chapel and the Main Post Chapel (Building 608). Because chaplains are assigned to the installation on a rotating basis through their home dioceses, the Catholic community is shepherded by whoever currently serves as Catholic Community Chaplain at Soldier Memorial Chapel.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus (the parish is named Sacred Heart Catholic Community)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA
Why belong here
Sacred Heart Catholic Community offers the full rhythm of Catholic parish life within the unique setting of an Army installation — Sunday Mass, daily weekday Mass, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, Confession several times a week, and Holy Day Masses at noon and 1800. Families can enroll children in CCD religious education for K-8th grade and Confirmation, while adults preparing for full communion join the OCIA (formerly RCIA) on Sunday mornings. The parish also supports a Catholic Women of the Chapel fellowship, a Youth of the Chapel program for grades 6-12, and Faith Skills family nights — all geared toward Soldiers, spouses, and children who move frequently and need a ready-made Catholic home wherever they are stationed.
Mass times at Ft. Leonard Wood
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 0830 on Sundays (prior to 0900 Mass) at Soldier Memorial Chapel
- Following the 1200 weekday Mass, Monday through Friday, at Soldier Memorial Chapel
- Tuesdays and Thursdays following the weekday Mass at Soldier Memorial Chapel
- 1st Sundays of the month, 0900-1000 (following Mass)
Adoration times
- 1730 on the 1st Friday of each month at Soldier Memorial Chapel (SMC)
- Sunday 0930-1000 (following Mass), as listed by aggregators
Sacred Heart Catholic Community at Fort Leonard Wood
Sacred Heart Catholic Community is the Catholic congregation serving U.S. Army Soldiers, families, Department of Defense civilians, and retirees stationed at or connected to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Worship centers on Soldier Memorial Chapel (Building 450) at 450 Iowa Avenue, with religious-education classes and many fellowship ministries meeting at the Main Post Chapel (Building 608). The parish is part of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, the nationwide archdiocese that shepherds Catholics in the U.S. armed forces.
- Worship: Soldier Memorial Chapel, Bldg 450, 450 Iowa Avenue
- Religious Education offices: Bldg 608 (Main Post Chapel) and Bldg 6501 (Youth Religious Education Center)
- Religious Support Office: Bldg 340, 573-596-2127
- Catholic Community Chaplain at SMC: 573-596-3913
Religious Education & OCIA
Catholic formation is offered year-round across age groups. The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program serves children from kindergarten through 8th grade and includes Confirmation preparation. Adults preparing to enter or complete full communion with the Catholic Church meet for OCIA (formerly RCIA) on Sunday mornings. A midweek 'Faith Skills' program covers Family, Faith & Fellowship for all ages.
- CCD (K-8th grade + Confirmation) — Sundays 1115-1245, Sep-May, Main Post Chapel, Bldg 608
- OCIA / Adult Religion Class — Sundays 1015, Sep-May, Main Post Chapel; led by Chaplain Stephen Cotter, 573-596-2657
- Faith Skills — Wednesdays 1730-1930, Main Post Chapel; DRE Martha Strong, 573-596-0089, [email protected]
- Warriors 4 Christ (grades 1-5) — meets during the fall Faith Skills session
- Youth Religious Education Center — Bldg 6501, 3307 Indiana Avenue, 573-596-6033
Youth and Family Ministries
Because Fort Leonard Wood families frequently PCS (move to a new duty station), the parish emphasizes ministries that build quick, lasting community. The Youth of the Chapel serves 6th through 12th graders on Wednesday evenings at the Main Post Chapel, sponsored by Chaplain Darrell Burriss and partnered with Club Beyond. The Family Life Center (Bldg 340) coordinates marriage and family-strengthening programming under the Family Life Chaplain.
- Youth of the Chapel (grades 6-12) — Wednesdays 1800-2000, Main Post Chapel
- Youth Coordinator — Patrick Smiley, [email protected], 405-906-9994
- Sponsoring Chaplain — CH Darrell Burriss, 573-596-2695
- Family Life Center — Bldg 340, 573-596-2695
- Catholic Young Adults of the Chapel — Tuesday evenings (currently not meeting)
Catholic Women of the Chapel (CWOC)
CWOC is the women's fellowship of the Catholic community, meeting every other Thursday at 0930 in the Main Post Chapel from September through May. It mirrors the Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC) program that meets Tuesdays. CWOC provides faith formation, friendship, and service opportunities for the spouses and women of the installation.
- When — every other Thursday, 0930
- Where — Main Post Chapel (MPC), Bldg 608
- Season — September through May
- Contact — Emily Jacobs, 224-210-3244, [email protected]
Sacraments
The Catholic chaplain's office (573-596-3913) coordinates preparation for and celebration of the sacraments. Baptisms are scheduled by appointment, with a required Baptism Class held on the 4th Sunday following the 0900 Mass. Confirmation is prepared through the CCD program for school-age youth, and adults receive the sacraments of initiation through OCIA.
- Baptism — by appointment, 573-596-3913
- Baptism Class — 4th Sunday following 0900 Mass
- First Communion and Confirmation — through CCD/Sunday school
- OCIA (initiation for adults) — Sundays 1015
Religious Support Office and Chaplain Roster
The Religious Support Office (RSO) in Building 340 coordinates religious programming across the installation. In addition to the Catholic Community Chaplain at Soldier Memorial Chapel, the office includes the MSCoE and Garrison Chaplain, Garrison Chaplain, Family Life Chaplain, Director of Religious Education, Protestant and Catholic Youth Coordinators, Hospital Chaplain at GLWACH, and unit chaplains for the 14th Military Police Brigade, 1st Engineer Brigade, 3rd Chemical Brigade, and 43rd AG Reception Battalion, plus Marine Corps/Navy Detachment chaplains.
- Religious Support Office — Bldg 340, 573-596-2127
- Garrison Chaplain — 573-596-1043
- Family Life Chaplain — 573-596-2695
- Director of Religious Education — 573-596-0089
- Catholic Community Chaplain (SMC) — 573-596-3913
- Hospital Chaplain (GLWACH) — 573-596-9114
- Protestant and Catholic Youth Coordinators — 573-596-6033
Soldier Memorial Chapel: Building and History
Soldier Memorial Chapel is a 600-seat, modern-style chapel designed in an L-shape with vertical yellow-tinted windows, cut-stone details, and exposed interior wood beams. Built in 1962 during Fort Leonard Wood's Cold War-era expansion, it was originally designed as a multi-denominational worship space with a curtained multi-use altar — a typical feature of post-WWII military chapels. The building served as the main post chapel until a newer post chapel was constructed; it continues to host Catholic worship, weddings, graduations, and other ceremonies, and was determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 for its architectural distinction at the local level.
- Built 1962; eligible for the National Register of Historic Places since 2007
- 600 seats, L-shaped footprint, modern architectural style
- Multi-use altar with curtains for denominational switching
- Yellow-tinted vertical windows and exposed wood beams
- Used for Catholic Mass, weddings, graduations, and ceremonies
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Lukasz J. Willenberg
U.S. Army chaplain, priest of the Diocese of Providence, R.I.; previously stationed at Fort Leonard Wood serving as a chaplain in the Basic Combat Training unit, welcoming new recruits.