About St. Leo · Palmyra, Nebraska
St. Leo Parish is a thriving rural Catholic community in Palmyra, Nebraska, dedicated to Pope St. Leo the Great and part of the Diocese of Lincoln (Plattsmouth Deanery). It shares a combined pastoral team with its mission church, St. Martin of Tours in neighboring Douglas. Mass is offered regularly at both sites—Saturday evening Vigil at St. Leo, a Sunday morning Mass at St. Martin, and another Sunday Mass at St. Leo—with weekday Masses on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in Palmyra and Tuesday and Thursday at St. Martin.
- Established
- 1874
- Patron
- Pope St. Leo the Great
- Rector
- Rev. Robert Johnson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Lincoln
Why belong here
St. Leo offers a tight-knit Catholic community in rural southeast Nebraska with a history stretching back to the 1860s and a church campus anchored by its 1889 building and the 2006 Divine Mercy Hall. Families benefit from a PreK–12th grade CCD program on Wednesday evenings, an Altar Society that keeps the parish furnished and fed, and the chance to participate in weekend Masses at both St. Leo in Palmyra and the mission church of St. Martin in Douglas. With a welcoming pastor and regular weekly confession times, it is a place where newcomers can easily plug into long-standing traditions of faith, formation and fellowship.
Mass times at St. Leo
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 7:30–7:50 AM (St. Leo)
- Saturday: 3:30–3:45 PM (St. Leo)
- Sunday: 9:30–9:45 AM (St. Leo, before 10:00 AM Mass)
- Tuesday & Thursday: 7:30–7:50 AM (St. Martin)
- Sunday: 7:30–7:45 AM (St. Martin, before 8:00 AM Mass)
- Any time by appointment (per parish bulletin)
Adoration times
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: Sundays prior to 11:00 AM Mass (per parish bulletin schedule)
Parish History
Catholic life in the Palmyra area began in 1867 when Fr. Emmanuel Hartig, OSB, offered the first Masses; the first recorded baptism followed in 1874. The first church was destroyed by a tornado in 1876, and the rebuilt structure was visited by Bishop O'Connor in 1880 before being replaced again in 1888 by a larger brick church (torn down in 2023). A new rectory followed in 1889 (built by Fr. Martin Corbett with proceeds from weeklong fairs) and a newer rectory was built in 1913 under Fr. John Reddy.
- 1867 – First Masses offered in the Palmyra area by Fr. Emmanuel Hartig, OSB
- 1874 – First recorded baptism at St. Leo's
- 1876 – First church destroyed by tornado
- 1880 – Bishop O'Connor visits the rebuilt church (54 parishioners)
- 1884 – Bishop urges a larger church; Fr. Eugene Cusson buys four adjoining lots
- 1888 – Larger brick church planned under Fr. Leo Riverie and 75 families
- 1889 – Rectory built via weeklong fairs led by Fr. Martin Corbett ($800 raised)
- 1913 – Newer rectory built under Fr. John Reddy
- 2006 – Divine Mercy Hall constructed on the St. Leo campus
Patron Saint: Pope St. Leo the Great
The parish takes its name from Pope St. Leo the Great (c. 400–461), Doctor of the Church whose Tome of Leo defined Christ's two natures and whose meeting with Attila the Hun helped spare Rome. As a 'combined' parish, St. Leo shares its patron with the mission church of St. Martin of Tours, patron of the Douglas community.
Pastor and Parish Staff
St. Leo is staffed jointly with St. Martin of Tours in Douglas. The current pastor is Rev. Robert Johnson, supported by a parish business manager, parish secretary, and parish assistant who handle bulletins, new parishioner welcome, and Mass stipends.
- Rev. Robert Johnson — Pastor ([email protected]; 402-780-5535)
- Heather Aden — Parish Business Manager (office hrs Tues. & Thurs. 9–2 PM; [email protected])
- Lisa Soto — Parish CCD Coordinator ([email protected])
- Laurie Ketter — Parish Assistant (Bulletins, New Parishioner Welcome, Mass Stipends; [email protected])
- Dennis Drudik — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD)
The parish runs a PreK through 12th-grade CCD program on Wednesday evenings from 6:45 to 8:00 PM, coordinated by Lisa Soto. Classes meet in Divine Mercy Hall on the St. Leo campus, the parish's 2006-built meeting/dining/classroom facility. Online registration and a paper registration form are available, along with a financial assistance application and the current CCD calendar.
- PreK–12th grade CCD classes, Wed evenings 6:45–8:00 PM
- Coordinator: Lisa Soto
- Classroom location: Divine Mercy Hall (built 2006)
- Online registration form and financial assistance form available on parish website
Adult Faith Formation & Becoming Catholic
Beyond CCD, the parish supports adult faith formation through Bible study (including a Women's Bible Study) and the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process for those seeking to become Catholic.
- Adult Faith Formation
- Women's Bible Study
- OCIA / 'Become Catholic'
Altar Society & Parish Life
Saint Leo's Altar Society is a backbone of parish life. As part of the Plattsmouth Deanery's Council of Catholic Women, the local Altar Society hosts coffee and rolls twice monthly, cleans the parish church, hosts a Thanksgiving-themed meal in November, and acknowledges the First Communion and Confirmation classes each year. Over the decades the society has also provided vestments, candles, hosts, sacramental wine and supplies for the rectory and Divine Mercy Hall.
- Hosts coffee and rolls twice monthly
- Cleans the parish church
- Hosts a Thanksgiving-themed meal in November
- Acknowledges First Communion and Confirmation classes
- Provides vestments, candles, hosts, sacramental wine, rectory and hall supplies
- President (Plattsmouth Deanery listing): Gayle Royal
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation and Marriage through its CCD program, OCIA process and by appointment with the pastor. Reconciliation is heard at all scheduled confession times and by appointment; emergency sacramental needs can be reached on the parish emergency line.
Vocations & Parish Legacy
St. Leo's has been instrumental in fostering vocations to the religious life, including Sister Carol Kelly and Sister Barbara Roach, and Fr. Corey Harrison, a son of the parish, who was ordained in 2015.
- Sister Carol Kelly
- Sister Barbara Roach
- Fr. Corey Harrison (ordained 2015, a son of the parish)
Visitor Information
The parish office is located at 330 W. 8th Street, Palmyra, NE 68418 (the church sits at 340 W. 8th Street). All mail should go to the parish office. Masses are also offered at St. Martin of Tours, 125 W. 3rd Street, Douglas, NE 68344.
- Parish Office / Mailing: 330 W. 8th Street, Palmyra, NE 68418
- St. Leo Church: 340 W. 8th Street, Palmyra, NE 68418
- St. Martin Church: 125 W. 3rd Street, Douglas, NE 68344
- Phone: 402-780-5535
- Deanery: Plattsmouth (Diocese of Lincoln)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Emmanuel Hartig, OSB1867–c.1873
Celebrated the first Masses in the Palmyra area; first recorded baptism was 1874.
- Fr. Eugene Cusson
Purchased four adjoining lots in 1884 to accommodate a growing parish.
- Fr. Leo Riverie1888
Worked with 75 families to plan the larger brick church.
- Fr. Martin Corbett1889
Built a new rectory by running weeklong fairs, raising $800 without adding parish debt.
- Fr. John Reddy1913
Supervised the construction of a newer rectory.
- Fr. Corey Harrisonordained 2015
A son of St. Leo parish, fostered as a vocation from the parish.