About St. Leo · Murray, Kentucky
St. Leo Catholic Church is a culturally diverse Roman Catholic parish serving Murray, Kentucky, and the surrounding Calloway County area. Named for Pope Saint Leo the Great (440–461 AD), a Doctor of the Church, the parish is part of the Diocese of Owensboro and celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish. Located on North 12th Street in Murray — home of Murray State University — St. Leo draws students through its Newman House Catholic campus ministry and serves roughly 450–800 families across western Kentucky.
- Established
- 1933
- Patron
- St. Leo the Great (Pope, c. 400 – November 10, 461 AD), Doctor of the Church
- Rector
- Fr. Josh (Joshua) McCarty
- Diocese
- Diocese of Owensboro
Why belong here
St. Leo is a culturally diverse Catholic community in a college town, where parishioners from many nations — including a sizable Spanish-speaking population — worship side by side at the altar. The parish offers daily and weekly Mass (including a Saturday evening Mass in Spanish), Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays, RCIA, sacramental preparation, an active Knights of Council council, and a vibrant Newman House Catholic campus ministry for Murray State students. With more than 800 families and a recently rebuilt, debt-free sanctuary, St. Leo combines small-parish hospitality with the breadth of ministries you'd expect from a regional Catholic hub.
Mass times at St. Leo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (and by appointment)
- Wednesday: 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM (and by appointment)
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (also by appointment)
- Or by appointment — call the parish office
Adoration times
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 5:45 PM (with Mass at 6:00 PM to follow)
Parish History
St. Leo Parish traces its roots to 1933 and the establishment of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Murray. Catholics had previously traveled to Fancy Farm or Mayfield in Graves County for Mass. After the camp pavilion's roof was destroyed sometime after 1937, the community worshipped at the home of Harry Fenton at 602 Olive Street for about two and a half years. Wartime growth — including a Navy training program at Murray State Teachers College — soon pushed Mass onto the university campus. Harry Fenton and other church leaders acquired land along what became 12th Street, where the first Catholic church in Murray was built and dedicated in the fall of 1943.
- 1933 — Parish mission established alongside the new Civilian Conservation Corps camp
- 1937+ — Sunday Mass moved to the Harry Fenton home at 602 Olive Street
- 1943 — First church building on 12th Street dedicated (still standing, now the parish office)
- 1963 — Second, larger church built just north of the first; served about 80 families
- 2004 — Needs assessment launched under Fr. Mike Williams
- 2010 — Groundbreaking for the major renovation/expansion
- July 2011 — New sanctuary dedicated
- November 2021 — Recognized by the City of Murray
- 2025 — Designated a Jubilee Year pilgrimage site by the Diocese of Owensboro
The 2010–2011 Church Expansion
What began as a parish needs assessment under Fr. Mike Williams grew into one of the most successful capital campaigns in the parish's history. Guided by John Mitchell and the principle of 'equal sacrifice of all members,' parishioners pledged $957,000 toward a one-million-dollar goal. A second campaign completed a project that totaled roughly $2 million. John Clark Construction Co. Inc., a family-owned company of longtime parishioners and relatives of Fr. Mike Clark (pastor of Blessed Mother Parish in Owensboro), led the construction. The rebuilt sanctuary added expanded seating, a large gathering space, a Blessed Sacrament chapel, and a daily chapel; a separate rectory house was purchased nearby to replace the one demolished for the expansion. The congregation paid off all building loans ahead of schedule.
- Expanded seating and a large gathering space
- Blessed Sacrament chapel
- Daily chapel
- New free-standing rectory purchased nearby
- Original 1943 church repurposed as parish office
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Leo offers nine Masses each week, including a Sunday evening option (in Spanish) on Saturday evenings. Weekday Masses are at 12:05 PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, with a 6:00 PM Mass on Wednesdays. The parish's bilingual character is reflected in the Saturday 5:30 PM Mass in Spanish and the diocesan coverage describing St. Leo as a diverse parish with a sizable Spanish-speaking population.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM (English), 5:30 PM (Spanish)
- Sunday: 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM
- Monday–Friday: 12:05 PM (except Wednesday, 6:00 PM)
Sacramental Life
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments and provides clear preparation paths for each.
- Baptism — 3rd weekend of the month; prep class at least one month prior
- First Communion & Confirmation — coordinated through PSR
- Marriage — contact priest at least six months ahead; marriage prep course required
- Anointing of the Sick — upon request; notify the parish office of anyone hospitalized
- Reconciliation — Tuesdays 11:30 AM–12:00 PM, Wednesdays 5:00–5:45 PM, Saturdays 3:00–3:45 PM, or by appointment
- Eucharist to the Homebound — arranged through the parish office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Leo is coordinated by the Pastoral Associate, Megan Bell, and the Parish School of Religion (PSR) Coordinator, Debbra D'Angelo. The parish runs RCIA inquiry sessions each August for adults seeking to become Catholic or be received into full communion.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) for children — Debbra D'Angelo
- Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) — Megan Bell
- Adult faith formation and sacramental preparation
Hispanic Ministry
St. Leo is one of the few parishes in the Diocese of Owensboro to celebrate a weekly Mass in Spanish. The Saturday 5:30 PM Mass draws a sizable Hispanic community, supported by Sr. Esperanza Rivera-Gomez, who coordinates Hispanic Ministry. Diocesan coverage of the parish has highlighted this diversity as a defining feature of St. Leo's identity in a university town.
- Weekly Saturday 5:30 PM Mass in Spanish
- Hispanic Ministry led by Sr. Esperanza Rivera-Gomez
- Spanish-language outreach integrated into parish life
Newman House Campus Ministry
Because Murray is home to Murray State University, St. Leo operates an active Newman House Catholic campus ministry. The mission is staffed in partnership with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) and, as of fall 2021, was engaging roughly 100 students. It serves as the bridge between the parish and the thousands of MSU students — including many Catholics — who call Murray home during the academic year.
- Located at Murray State University
- Supported by FOCUS missionaries
- ~100 students involved as of fall 2021
Parish Staff & Pastoral Council
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Josh McCarty and Parochial Vicar Fr. Santhosh Thomas, assisted by Permanent Deacons Victor Fromm, Joe Ohnemus, and Jose Blanco. Megan Bell serves as Pastoral Associate and Debbra D'Angelo coordinates PSR. Belinda Woods is the Office Manager, and Sr. Esperanza Rivera-Gomez leads Hispanic Ministry. The Parish Pastoral Council is chaired by Mary Haney with Shawn Touney as Co-Chair.
- Parish Pastoral Council: Admin & Finance, Building, Community Life, Faith Formation, Liturgy, Social Justice, Stewardship
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:00 AM–4:00 PM; Fri 8:00 AM–12:30 PM
- Phone: (270) 753-3876
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Mike Williams
Initiated the 2004 parish needs assessment and led the early planning for the major building project before being reassigned before construction began.
- Fr. Jason McClure
Oversaw the actual construction of the new church during his tenure; the new sanctuary was dedicated in July 2011.
- Fr. Joshua (Josh) McCarty
Current pastor; quoted in diocesan coverage: 'Our doors are wide open to visitors.'