About St. Leo the Great · Demopolis, Alabama
St. Leo the Great Catholic Church is a historic parish in Demopolis, Alabama, belonging to the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. The current brick Gothic Revival church was built in 1905 to serve a Catholic congregation that traces its roots back to the French Napoleonic exiles of the Vine and Olive Colony who settled Demopolis in 1817. The parish operates as the hub of a three-church cluster that also includes St. Mary in Eutaw and St. Francis in Livingston, and it is one of the oldest Catholic communities in Alabama's Black Belt region. After a major interior renovation guided by liturgical theology, Bishop Steven J. Raica rededicated the church in March 2021.
- Established
- 1936
- Patron
- St. Leo the Great (Pope Leo I, Doctor of the Church)
- Rector
- Fr. George Maniangattu (Parish Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama
Why belong here
St. Leo's is a small but unusually generous parish family that openly says it depends on the time and talents of its members. Weekend Mass is offered at St. Leo in Demopolis on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., at St. Mary in Eutaw on Saturday at 4:00 p.m., and at St. Francis in Livingston on Sunday at 12:15 p.m., giving families across the Black Belt a nearby Catholic home. A deep bench of ministries — from the Choir, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Rosary Group, to CCD religious education, OCIA, Vacation Bible School, youth and young-adult groups, Ladies Auxiliary, Family Life, Hispanic Initiative, Community Outreach, and the Bereavement Committee — gives newcomers many easy ways to plug in. Friday morning Eucharistic Adoration and weekday Eucharistic Services round out a devotional rhythm rooted in tradition.
Mass times at St. Leo the Great
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes prior to each Mass
Adoration times
- Every Friday at 7:00 a.m. (Eucharistic Adoration)
Parish History
St. Leo the Great is one of the oldest Catholic communities in Alabama's Black Belt, with roots in the French Vine and Olive Colony of 1817. The current brick Gothic Revival church was built in 1905 and the parish was permanently established in 1936. A major interior restoration completed in 2021 returned the sanctuary to a coherent neo-Gothic style rooted in traditional Catholic liturgical theology.
- Catholic mission attempted in Demopolis by Napoleonic exiles, 1817
- Listed as a mission of Saint John the Baptist, Tuscaloosa, 1851
- Supported by a parish in Selma beginning 1880
- Current brick Gothic Revival church built 1905; designed by J. A. Gaboury of Birmingham
- St. Leo's Parish permanently established 1936
- Listed on the Alabama Register of Historic Landmarks
- Interior renovated 2020–2021; rededicated by Bishop Raica on March 19, 2021
Architecture & 2021 Renovation
The 1905 brick church retains its Gothic Revival exterior while the 2021 interior renovation restored architectural and liturgical coherence. The work was led by Studio io of St. Louis with decorative murals by Jericho, and includes new gothic-style pews, an altar rail inspired by historic photographs, modified antique reredos, a new altar of sacrifice with an integral marble mensa, a chalice-style ambo, and a gothic confessional built into the base of the bell tower. Custom reclaimed longleaf pine laid in herringbone pattern was installed in the sanctuary with marble borders around the altar and the refurbished baptismal font in the baptistry.
- Architect of record (1905): J. A. Gaboury, Birmingham, Alabama
- Renovation design: Studio io (David Buechlein)
- Decorative murals: Jericho
- New gothic-style pews and altar rail
- New altar of sacrifice with marble Mensa
- Chalice-style ambo and gothic confessional in bell tower base
- Reclaimed longleaf pine herringbone sanctuary floors with marble borders
- Repainted apse with Holy Spirit motif above the altar
Mass & Worship Schedule
St. Leo the Great in Demopolis offers two Sunday Masses, while the parish's sister churches — St. Mary in Eutaw and St. Francis in Livingston — host Saturday evening and noon Masses that round out weekend coverage across the Black Belt. Weekday worship takes the form of a morning Eucharistic Service Monday through Friday, and Friday mornings begin with Eucharistic Adoration at 7:00 a.m.
- Sunday Mass at St. Leo: 8:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.
- Saturday Vigil at St. Mary, Eutaw: 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday Mass at St. Francis, Livingston: 12:15 p.m.
- Eucharistic Service Monday–Friday at 8:00 a.m.
- Eucharistic Adoration every Friday at 7:00 a.m.
- Confessions offered 30 minutes before each Mass
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is shepherded by Fr. George Maniangattu as Parish Administrator, who also serves St. Mary (Eutaw) and St. Francis (Livingston). A small staff keeps the parish office, religious education, music program, and OCIA running.
- Fr. George Maniangattu — Parish Administrator
- Olivia Ochiltree — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Jesse Rios — Director of Religious Education and Campus Ministry
- Manley Blackwell — Director of Music and Organist
- Nikki Rios — OCIA contact
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments of initiation, healing, and vocation. Baptisms are celebrated at any time after a class with Fr. George; First Reconciliation and First Communion are coordinated through CCD; Confirmation requires prior Baptism and First Communion plus parish classes. Adults enter the Church through OCIA, and weddings are scheduled at least six months in advance for marriage preparation.
- Baptism — any time; class with Fr. George at least one week before
- First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion — through CCD
- Confirmation — after Baptism and First Communion plus parish classes
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) — Sundays at 11:30 a.m.
- Marriage — schedule at least 6 months in advance; preparation with priest
- Anointing of the Sick — contact Parish Office at 334-289-2767
- Funerals — Parish Funeral Mass arranged through the Parish Office
Religious Education & Youth Ministry
CCD is open to all children in grades K–12 and meets on Sunday mornings in the St. Leo Parish Hall, with First Communion and Confirmation preparation built into the program. OCIA meets Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and can be arranged around work schedules. The parish also runs a robust youth ministry with separate Middle School, High School, and Young Adults groups, plus Altar Server School and Vacation Bible School.
- CCD (K–12) Sundays beginning September
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation in CCD
- OCIA Sundays at 11:30 a.m.
- Youth Group — 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m.
- Middle School, High School, and Young Adults groups
- Altar Server School
- Vacation Bible School
Ministries & Organizations
St. Leo's maintains a wide range of lay ministries and parish organizations, reflecting a small parish that depends heavily on volunteers. The parish website invites members to share their time and talents across spiritual, educational, social, and outreach roles.
- Spiritual & Liturgical: Choir, Altar Servers, Bible Studies, Children's Liturgy, Eucharistic Ministers, Gift Bearers, Lectors, Prayer Groups, Rosary Group, Ushers/Greeters
- Religious Education: OCIA, Adult Education/Faith Formation, Sunday School, Youth CCD, Vacation Bible School, Altar Server School
- Youth & Young Adults: Middle School, High School, Young Adults
- Family Life
- Ladies Auxiliary
- Hispanic Initiative
- Community Outreach — identifying needs of poor, elderly, sick, and homebound
- Social Activities Committee — Weekday Coffee Hour, Lenten Fish Fry, Annual Parish Picnic, Family Night Out
- Building and Grounds Committee — maintenance, gardening, seasonal planting
- New Member Welcome Committee
- Bereavement Committee
- Altar Care, Seniors' Luncheon, Confirmation Reception
- Volunteer Coordinator
Sister Churches & Cluster
St. Leo the Great serves as the hub of a multi-site parish cluster that extends Catholic worship and pastoral care across rural west Alabama. St. Mary in Eutaw offers the Saturday Vigil Mass, and St. Francis in Livingston offers a noon Sunday Mass, while St. Leo's Demopolis hosts the principal Sunday schedule and parish offices.
- St. Leo the Great — Demopolis (parish hub)
- St. Mary — Eutaw (Saturday Vigil, 4:00 p.m.)
- St. Francis — Livingston (Sunday, 12:15 p.m.)
Visit, Contact & Getting Involved
The parish office can be reached by phone or email for sacraments, Mass intentions, hall rentals, and general inquiries. The parish website lists a bulletin, photo gallery, and downloadable wedding guidelines, and the parish actively welcomes new members and volunteers across every area of its life.
- Address: 309 S. Main Ave., PO Box 937, Demopolis, AL 36732
- Phone: 334-289-2767
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stleo.info
- New Member Welcome Committee for those joining the parish
- Volunteer Coordinator to help match gifts with parish needs
- Facilities Rental Agreement available for Church or Parish Hall
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. George Maniangattupresent
Visiting/parish administrator of St. Leo the Great, St. Mary (Eutaw), and St. Francis (Livingston).
- Very Rev. Justin L. Ward, STLthrough 2021 rededication
Served as Parochial Administrator and Vicar for Sacred Liturgy; led the 2020–2021 interior renovation and rededication.