St. Leo

St. Leo's Parish at a Glance

St. Leo's Parish is a Roman Catholic community of approximately 730 families in southwest Grand Island, Nebraska, in the Diocese of Grand Island. Founded June 7, 1973 by Bishop John Sullivan, the parish is named in honor of Pope St. Leo the Great and the much-loved Monsignor Leo Keating. It is served by a pastor, two deacons, an office manager, music and outreach coordinators, and a full Children & Family / Youth & Young Adult Ministry team.

• Founded: 1973
• Families: ~730
• Pastor: Msgr. Mark Huber
• Diocese: Grand Island
• Address: 2410 S. Blaine Street, Grand Island, NE 68801
• Phone: 308-382-4753

Mission Statement

"As a Vatican II Church, we strive to provide uplifting experiences where people gather to be nourished, to be given new hope, to be challenged by the Gospel and to be re-energized so that they can return to the world to fulfill Jesus' mission of loving God and loving humankind."

History of St. Leo's — 50 Years of Faith

From its founding in 1973 through its Golden Anniversary in 2023, St. Leo's grew from 350 charter families meeting in a junior-high auditorium into a thriving parish of more than 700 families. The community built its first church in 1974, dedicated in 1975, added a parish hall in 1981 and a religious-education wing in 1993-94, and completed a major sanctuary renovation in 2003. St. Leo's has produced one diocesan bishop (James Golka of Colorado Springs) and continues to mark key milestones together as a parish family.

• June 7, 1973 — Bishop John Sullivan announces formation of the parish
• First baptism: Kyle Anton Nabity, July 1, 1973
• First marriage: Robert Lee Guenther & Liane Maria Wetterer, August 4, 1973
• Groundbreaking on snowy November 25, 1973
• First Mass in the new church: November 10, 1974 (feast of St. Leo the Great)
• Cornerstone blessed December 31, 1974
• Church dedicated April 6, 1975
• First Confirmation by Bishop Sullivan: October 31, 1976
• Mortgage burning at Stolley Park: September 9, 1979
• Parish hall dedicated November 15, 1981
• Second addition completed June 1994
• Major sanctuary renovation completed October 2003
• 50th Anniversary celebrated June 2-4, 2023

Clergy & Staff

The parish is currently led by Msgr. Mark Huber as pastor, assisted by two permanent deacons and a full lay staff handling faith formation, music, outreach, youth ministry, publications, facilities, and office administration.

• Msgr. Mark Huber — Pastor (ext. 11, [email protected])
• Deacon Bill Buchta
• Deacon Ron Golka (ordained to the Permanent Diaconate, announced 2025)
• Heather Tjaden — Office Manager (ext. 10, [email protected])
• Kristen Schutte — Music Ministry Coordinator (ext. 12, [email protected])
• Jami Kusek — Ministry Scheduler & Assistant Music Coordinator ([email protected])
• Peachis Amadou — Outreach Coordinator (ext. 13, [email protected])
• Jen Golka — Director of Children & Family Ministries (ext. 14, [email protected])
• Rita Hemmer — Youth & Young Adult Ministry (ext. 18, [email protected])
• Colleen Gallion — Publications & Multimedia Director (ext. 20, [email protected])
• Martin Irvine — Superintendent of Building & Grounds ([email protected])

Sacraments

Information and preparation for the seven sacraments are coordinated through the parish office, with Children & Family Ministries handling First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation preparation, and the OCIA team walking adults through Christian initiation.

• Baptism
• First Reconciliation & First Communion (Jen Golka, ext. 14)
• Confirmation
• Marriage
• Anointing of the Sick
• OCIA / RCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) — Thursday nights at 7 p.m.; enroll in summer for fall classes

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Children's faith formation at St. Leo's is organized around Little Disciples, a family-based K-5 catechetical model that gathers families on the parish campus and sends them home with at-home mission activities between meetings. Older youth are served by a separate Youth Ministry program for grades 6-12, and adults have access to OCIA and ongoing Adult Faith Formation groups.

• Little Disciples (Preschool-Grade 5): three-week model with on-campus gathering, at-home mission, and Faith Fun Nights
• First Communion & First Reconciliation preparation
• Confirmation preparation (tweens, teens, and parents)
• Youth Ministry (Grades 6-12) — Rita Hemmer
• OCIA (RCIA) — Thursday nights, 7 p.m.
• Adult Faith Formation group facilitation
• Vacation Bible School (held each summer since 1976)

Liturgy & Music

Worship is supported by a full team of liturgical ministers — greeters, lectors, commentators, Eucharistic ministers, homebound ministers, and altar servers — and by a Music Ministry directed by Kristen Schutte with assistant Jami Kusek, who are also writing and recording original music. A downloadable Worship Aid booklet accompanies the livestreamed Mass on the MyParish App and on the website.

• Music Ministry — Kristen Schutte, Director; Jami Kusek, Assistant
• Lectors, Commentators, Eucharistic Ministers
• Communion to the Homebound
• Altar Servers (Grade 5 and up)
• Hospitality / Greeters
• Laundering of church linens
• Live-streamed weekend & daily Masses on Facebook and YouTube

Parish Life, Service & Outreach

An active Stewardship Council and three standing committees (Parish Council, Finance, Liturgy) keep the parish running, alongside dozens of hands-on ministries. Outreach Coordinator Peachis Amadou leads the parish's efforts to serve those in need both locally and beyond, while long-standing groups like the Ladies of St. Leo's and the Knights of Columbus build fellowship and fundraisers.

• Advisory Committees: Parish Council, Finance, Liturgy, Human Concerns, Stewardship Council, Evangelization Team, Vocation Ministry
• Knights of Columbus #10387 — Grand Knight Casey Campbell; Deputy Grand Knight Justin Brown; Financial Secretary Tim Golka
• Ladies of St. Leo's
• Serra Club (vocations)
• Outreach (Peachis Amadou)
• Habitat for Humanity build help
• Prayer Shawl Ministry & Prayer Chain
• Jail Ministry
• Hospital meals & Transportation help
• Golden Gems (monthly senior gathering)
• Photography, Scrapbooks, Newcomers Welcoming Group
• Flowers / Plants care for the church

Live-Streaming & Communications

St. Leo's live-streams its weekend Masses, daily Masses, and funeral / memorial Masses on Facebook and YouTube, with replays available afterward. A Friday Chat Check-in series is also archived on the MyParish App and YouTube, and Spirit Catholic Radio is broadcast from the parish campus.

• Facebook: facebook.com/saintleos.org
• YouTube: youtube.com/@stleosgi6951
• MyParish App with weekly bulletin, Mass Worship Aid, and check-in videos
• Weekly bulletin downloadable from saintleos.org
• Livestream 24/7 Perpetual Adoration

Getting Involved

The parish lives by the motto "Time, Talent, Treasure = YOU," inviting parishioners to choose a ministry that feeds their soul and share their gifts. Sign-ups, forms, and current openings are published through the parish office and bulletins.

• Pick a ministry from the parish listing (Parish Council to Prayer Shawl)
• Volunteer with Knights of Columbus, Ladies of St. Leo's, or Serra Club
• Help with Vacation Bible School or substitute as a catechist
• Join OCIA inquiry in summer for fall classes
• Support Outreach, Habitat for Humanity, or Jail Ministry

Visit & Contact

Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at St. Leo's Church, 2410 S. Blaine Street in southwest Grand Island, with daily Rosary before the 9:00 a.m. Mass and regular fellowship after weekend liturgies.

• Address: 2410 S. Blaine Street, Grand Island, NE 68801
• Phone: 308-382-4753
• Website: www.saintleos.org
• Email: office via saintleos.org; pastor at [email protected]
• Facebook: facebook.com/saintleos.org
• YouTube: youtube.com/@stleosgi6951