About St. Leo the Great · Omaha, Nebraska
St. Leo the Great Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha, located at 1920 North 102nd Street in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1978 when St. Pius X Parish helped establish a new neighboring parish to serve the rapidly growing number of families in west-central Omaha, St. Leo shares the historic St. Pius X / St. Leo School (founded 1956) at 6905 Blondo Street with its sister parish. The parish's stated mission centers on inspiring and prayerful worship, lifelong religious education, loving service to those in need, and celebrating the great events of parish family life. Under the leadership of Pastor Fr. Craig Loecker and Associate Pastor Fr. Mike Swanton, St. Leo offers a full sacramental life, weekday and weekend Masses, Tuesday evening adoration, Saturday confessions, a robust Religious Education program, and a wide array of parish ministries and outreach efforts.
- Established
- 1978
- Patron
- St. Leo the Great (Pope Leo I)
- Rector
- Fr. Craig Loecker
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha
Why belong here
St. Leo the Great is a midtown Omaha parish that combines a robust sacramental life — four Sunday Masses plus a Saturday Vigil, daily morning Mass, Tuesday evening adoration, and Saturday confessions — with a deeply committed community of lay ministers. Parishioners can grow in faith through the K–8 Religious Education program, OCIA for adults, Vacation Bible School, Bible Study, the Parish Resource Library, and the Faith Discoveries Book Club. Outgoing service runs deep through ministries like the Knights of Columbus, Human Needs Ministry, Siena Francis House meal program, the 'Harvest of Faith' Community Garden, Bereavement and Funeral Lunch ministries, the Respect Life group, and a Prayer Shawl and Prayer Line ministry. As part of the Family of Parishes with St. Pius X and St. Bernard, St. Leo offers both the warmth of a neighborhood parish and the resources of a larger Catholic community.
Mass times at St. Leo the Great
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- By appointment during the week (call the parish office)
- Additional times during Advent and Lent
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
About St. Leo the Great Parish
St. Leo the Great Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha, located at 1920 North 102nd Street in midtown Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1978 out of neighboring St. Pius X Parish, St. Leo exists to offer inspiring and prayerful worship, develop lifelong religious education, provide loving service to those in need, and celebrate the great events of parish family life. The parish is served by a pastor, an associate pastor, three deacons, and a staff of lay ministers handling religious education, music, liturgy, business, and facilities.
- Founded 1978
- Archdiocese of Omaha
- Pastor: Fr. Craig Loecker
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Mike Swanton
- Deacons: Jim Shipman, Randy Landenberger, Trung Nguyen
History
St. Leo the Great was established in the summer of 1978 as a mission of St. Pius X Parish to serve the growing number of Catholic families in the west-central Omaha area. At the same time, the parish grade school — originally founded in 1956 as St. Pius X School — was renamed St. Pius X / St. Leo School, formalizing a partnership that continues today. In 2022, the Archdiocese of Omaha's Journey of Faith process grouped St. Bernard, St. Pius X, and St. Leo the Great into a 'Family of Parishes.' Because St. Leo had originally been created from St. Pius X, which had itself been created from St. Bernard, the move brought the parish family 'full circle.'
Our Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Craig Loecker and Associate Pastor Fr. Mike Swanton, assisted by three deacons and a lay staff covering liturgy, faith formation, music, business, and facilities.
- Fr. Craig Loecker — Pastor
- Fr. Mike Swanton — Associate Pastor
- Deacon Jim Shipman — Deacon & Liturgy Director
- Deacon Randy Landenberger — Pastoral Minister
- Deacon Trung Nguyen — Deacon
- Dina Turco — Executive Assistant to the Pastor
- Rachel Connelly — Religious Education Director
- Angelina Bottoroff — Religious Education Assistant
- Elizabeth Hill — Music Director
- Betsy Bridgeford — Business Manager
- Henry Loecker — Parish Secretary
- Chris Dellamano — Facilities Manager
Sacraments
St. Leo celebrates all seven sacraments on a regular schedule. Parents are required to attend a Baptism Preparation Class before their child is baptized; weddings are scheduled Friday evenings or Saturdays at 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM and require a six-month advance booking through the pastor.
- Baptism — monthly; Baptism Preparation Class required
- Reconciliation — Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM and by appointment
- First Eucharist — through K–8 Religious Education
- Confirmation — in Fall for Junior High students; at the Easter Vigil for adults via OCIA
- Marriage — Friday evenings or Saturday 10:00 AM / 2:00 PM; six-month notice
- Anointing of the Sick — available on request at home or hospital
Formation & Education
The parish's Formation & Education programs cover children, youth, and adults, including sacramental preparation, Vacation Bible School, Bible Study, and a Parish Resource Library. Parish children in grades K–8 attend the parish grade school, St. Pius X / St. Leo School, which is shared with St. Pius X Parish at 6905 Blondo Street.
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
- OCIA process for Children (Grades 3–8)
- St. Pius X / St. Leo School (K–8) at 6905 Blondo St.
- Wednesday Parish Religious Education (6:00–7:15 PM)
- Vacation Bible School (summer)
- Adult Education / Formation
- Bible Study
- Parish Resource Center / Library
- Faith Discoveries Book Club
St. Pius X / St. Leo School
Founded in 1956 and renamed when St. Leo the Great Parish was created in 1978, St. Pius X / St. Leo School is the shared parish school of St. Pius X and St. Leo the Great. Located at 6905 Blondo Street in midtown Omaha, it serves students K–8 from both parishes and across the metro area, with over 6,000 alumni dating back to its first graduating class in 1957. The school's mission is to form students in the Catholic faith to excel in academics and service to others. School office: (402) 551-6667.
- Founded 1956
- Grades K–8
- 6905 Blondo Street, Omaha, NE 68104
- Phone: (402) 551-6667
- Over 6,000 alumni
Groups & Organizations
St. Leo sponsors a variety of social and service organizations for parishioners of all ages and stages of life, from the Knights of Columbus to a seniors' singles group.
- Knights of Columbus (Catholic men, 18+)
- 50's+ Singles Group (widowed, divorced, never-married)
- Young At Heart (ages 55+)
- SP/SL Couples Bridge Club
Parish Outreach
Outreach and service are central to St. Leo's identity. The parish supports direct-aid efforts, hospitality to the homeless, a community garden whose produce funds the Human Needs Ministry, and ministries to the bereaved and the unborn.
- Catholic Social Teaching Ministry
- Human Needs Ministry (utility, rent, food help)
- Siena Francis House meal program
- Harvest of Faith Community Garden
- Bereavement Ministry (Memorial Cross in church, All Souls Day Mass)
- Funeral Lunch Committee
- Respect Life Ministry
Mass Ministries
Lay men and women of St. Leo serve the liturgy as Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Ushers, and Sacristans. Other Mass-related ministries bring the Eucharist to the sick and homebound through the Hospital Ministry and a weekly Sunday 11:15 AM Communion Service rotation at Brighton Gardens Nursing Home, Waterford, Bickford Cottage, Camelot Assisted Living, and Old Mill Rehab.
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC)
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Sacristans
- Hospital Ministry
- Communion Services for Assisted Living, Nursing Homes & Homebound (Sun 11:15 AM)
Prayer Ministries
St. Leo's prayer ministries extend the parish's care beyond its walls through handcrafted Prayer Shawls and a confidential Prayer Line phone tree, in which parishioners commit to daily prayer for the requests they receive.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- Prayer Line Ministry
Family of Parishes
In 2022, as part of the Archdiocese of Omaha's Journey of Faith process, St. Bernard, St. Pius X, and St. Leo the Great were designated a 'Family of Parishes.' The grouping reflects the parishes' shared history — St. Pius X was created from St. Bernard in 1954, and St. Leo the Great was created from St. Pius X in 1978 — and is intended to help the three parishes more effectively bring 'the light of Christ to this part of Omaha and the world.'
- St. Bernard Parish (founded 1905)
- St. Pius X Parish (founded 1954)
- St. Leo the Great Parish (founded 1978)
- Formed as a Family of Parishes in 2022
Contact & Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM (closed 12:30–2:00 PM). Mass is celebrated at the parish church at 1920 North 102nd Street, and the school office is located separately at 6905 Blondo Street.
- Address: 1920 North 102nd Street, Omaha, NE 68114
- Phone: (402) 397-0407
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–5:00 PM (closed 12:30–2:00 PM)
- School Office: 6905 Blondo Street, Omaha, NE 68104 — (402) 551-6667