About St. Leo the Great *Historic Church · Lewistown, Montana
St. Leo the Great Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish serving Lewistown, Montana, in the high plains of central Montana. Established in 1888 as a small frame mission for French-Canadian, Cree, Red River Indian, and settler families, it is now housed in an architecturally distinguished 1916 church that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The parish is part of the Diocese of Great Falls–Billings and shares pastoral ministry with Holy Family Catholic Church in nearby Winifred. Today it offers daily Mass in both English and Latin, regular confession, Eucharistic Adoration, and a full bulletin of parish life.
- Established
- 1888
- Patron
- St. Leo the Great (Pope St. Leo I)
- Rector
- Rev. Matthew (Matt) Solarz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Great Falls–Billings
Why belong here
St. Leo the Great offers what few small-town parishes can: a magnificent historic church on the National Register, a daily Mass schedule that includes both English and Latin weekdays, multiple weekly slots for confession, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, and a priest who also tends the mission at Holy Family in Winifred. Rooted in the ranching and farming communities of Fergus County since 1888, the parish pairs a settled sacramental life — Saturday Vigil, Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, Adoration on First Fridays — with a connected online bulletin, Facebook presence, and giving options for parishioners near and far.
Mass times at St. Leo the Great *Historic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 8:00am–8:30am
- Tuesday 6:00pm–6:30pm
- Friday 8:30am–9:20am
- Saturday 3:30pm–4:30pm
- After every daily Mass or upon request
Adoration times
- Friday 8:30am–9:30am (after Friday morning Mass)
- 1st Friday of the Month 8:30am–8:30pm
- 1st Saturday of the Month 10:00am–2:00pm
About St. Leo the Great Catholic Church
St. Leo the Great is the historic Roman Catholic parish of Lewistown, Montana, established in 1888 to serve a frontier community of French-Canadian, Indigenous, and settler families. From its opening welcome to its present-day sacramental life, the parish preserves its identity as the Catholic spiritual home of central Montana's ranching and farming country. The parish's stated inspiration comes from Pope St. Leo the Great himself: "No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ."
- Established 1888
- Diocese of Great Falls–Billings
- Mission: Holy Family Catholic Church, Winifred, MT
History of the Parish
St. Leo's began in 1887–1888 as a small frame mission church on the central Montana plains, initially served by visiting priests from St. Peter's Mission, Fort Benton, and Great Falls. The first resident pastor arrived July 4, 1893, and a settled clergy presence followed. By the mid-1910s a booming Catholic population in Lewistown made a new church a necessity.
- 1888 — first frame Catholic church built
- July 4, 1893 — first resident pastor
- 1906 — Rev. Victor J. Van den Broeck becomes pastor
- April 22, 1915 — building committee votes to build
- July 21, 1915 — construction begins
- October 15, 1916 — first Mass in new church
- November 12, 1916 — dedication by Bishop Mathias Lenihan
The 1916 Historic Church Building
The current church, designed by Link & Haire and built by Stanton & Smith, is a regionally unique example of Italian Early Christian style combined with Romanesque motifs. The 95-foot campanile dominates Lewistown's downtown, while the interior reflects decades of careful decorative work, including 1953 installations and a 1991–92 restoration that returned the original tabernacle to use.
- Architects: Link & Haire (J. G. Link and C. S. Haire)
- Contractor: Stanton & Smith (Lewistown)
- Contract sum: $45,787
- Brick from Lewistown Brick & Tile Company
- Style: Romanesque / Italian Early Christian
- Plan: Roman cross
- Bell tower (campanile): 95 ft (29 m)
- NRHP listed May 6, 1982; Central Business Historic District contributing property June 27, 1985
Interior Furnishings and Decorations
Beyond the structural work, successive pastors have enriched the interior. The earliest confessionals are the oldest furnishings and were re-fashioned into the present altar in 1991–92, when the original tabernacle was returned to use. The 1934 mural paintings and the elaborate 1953 Liskowiak Studios redecoration make the interior a layered record of the parish's spiritual history.
- 1934 — interior painted and decorated with murals by Fr. T. O. Rocque
- 1953 — full redecoration by Liskowiak Studios of Milwaukee under Fr. P. J. Treacy: 23-karat gold-leaf gilding; three white oak altars; white oak communion railings; four 5-foot carved German lindenwood statues; carved wooden Stations of the Cross
- 1991–92 — restoration of original tabernacle; earliest confessionals refashioned into the altar
Priests and Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently led by Rev. Matthew (Matt) Solarz, who also serves Holy Family Catholic Church in Winifred as a mission parish and is Director of Second Vocations for the Diocese of Great Falls–Billings. The parish has been served by a documented succession of resident pastors from 1893 onward, with Father Van den Broeck and Father Treacy standing out as the two priests most associated with the parish's built heritage.
- Current pastor: Rev. Matthew Solarz (since July 2024)
- Also serves: Holy Family, Winifred, and Director of Second Vocations, Diocese of Great Falls–Billings
Mission Church: Holy Family, Winifred
St. Leo the Great shares pastoral ministry with Holy Family Catholic Church in Winifred, the next community in the parish's pastoral grouping. Mass is celebrated there on Saturday evening at 5:00pm and Sunday morning at 9:00am.
- Holy Family Catholic Church, Winifred, MT
- Saturday Vigil 5:00pm; Sunday 9:00am
- Pastoral link: served by the pastor of St. Leo the Great
Parish Life and Communications
The parish maintains a printed bulletin, an active Facebook page, online giving, and an annual parish Fair Booth fundraiser. The pastoral team encourages parishioners and visitors to consult the latest bulletin for any time changes, especially around Holy Week and other liturgical seasons.
- Weekly bulletin (printed and available via the website)
- Online giving
- Annual Fair Booth
- Facebook: facebook.com/stleoparish
- Holy Week Schedule posted annually
Visit, Contact, and Address
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by mail, phone, or email. The historic church building sits on West Broadway in downtown Lewistown.
- Mailing: P.O. Box 421, Lewistown, MT 59457
- Physical: 102 W Broadway St, Lewistown, MT 59457 (historic church building at 124 W Broadway)
- Phone: (406) 538-9306
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Victor J. Van den Broeckfrom 1906
Resident pastor who led the campaign to build the present 1916 church; oversaw the building committee and construction by Stanton & Smith.
- Rev. T. O. Rocqueby 1934
Oversaw interior painting and the addition of murals.
- Rev. P. J. Treacypastor in 1953
Commissioned the Liskowiak Studios redecoration with gold-leaf gilding, new white oak altars, communion railings, lindenwood statues, and carved wooden Stations of the Cross.
- Rev. Matthew Solarzfrom July 2024
Current pastor; also serves Holy Family, Winifred, and serves as Director of Second Vocations for the Diocese of Great Falls–Billings.