About St. Leo the Great · San Antonio, Texas
St. Leo the Great Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish located on the south side of San Antonio, Texas, in the 78214 ZIP code near the historic Mission Concepción area. The parish church sits at 4415 S. Flores Street while the parish office and former school campus are at 119 Octavia Place. As a parish of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, it serves a culturally diverse, largely Hispanic community with weekend Masses celebrated in both English and Spanish, weekday devotions, faith formation for children and adults, and a robust set of lay ministries including the Guadalupanos society, the Knights of Columbus, and a teen youth group. The parish traces its origins to 1914–1920 and continues to describe itself, in a statement written in 1989, as a unified Christian community promoting baptismal commitment, lay leadership, and outreach in social services.
- Established
- 1914
- Patron
- St. Leo the Great (Pope Leo I, d. 461)
- Rector
- Rev. Frank Macias (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of San Antonio (Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Antonio)
Why belong here
St. Leo the Great offers a bilingual worshipping home on San Antonio's historic south side, with English and Spanish weekend Masses, Reconciliation every Wednesday afternoon and on first Fridays, and a monthly Mass with Anointing of the Sick. Parishioners can grow through CCD religious education for children in grades 1–12, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for older catechumens, and Adult Confirmation classes, while serving through well-established ministries such as the Guadalupanos society, Knights of Columbus Council 7409, the Flaming Arrows Youth Group for teens ages 13–18, and lectors and Eucharistic ministers. The parish's 1989 mission statement still shapes its identity — a unified Christian community that promotes baptismal commitment, calls forth lay leadership, and provides outreach in social services — making it a faithful option for families seeking both spiritual formation and active parish life.
Mass times at St. Leo the Great
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- First Friday ('Merciful Friday') 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Welcome and Parish Identity
St. Leo the Great Catholic Church greets visitors on its home page with a bilingual welcome and a clear mission statement, 'Stated 1989,' that has guided the parish for decades. The statement envisions the parish as a unified Christian community that promotes a deeper living of baptismal commitment, calls forth lay leadership, and provides outreach in social services. The site also offers practical parish services — registration for donation envelopes, requests for Sacramental certificates (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage at $5 each), altar and tabernacle flower dedications ($75 per arrangement), and a $5 Mass intention request — all coordinated through the parish office at 119 Octavia Place.
- Sacramental certificates available ($5 each)
- Altar / Tabernacle flower dedications ($75 per arrangement)
- Mass intentions accepted ($5 donation)
- Parish registration forms available at the office
History of St. Leo the Great
St. Leo the Great's campus roots go back to 1914, when land was first donated to build a Catholic presence on San Antonio's south side. The first school building was dedicated in 1920 at what is now 119 Octavia Place, the same address that still houses the parish office today. The parish grew around that school, and generations of south-side families were educated and formed in the faith there. By 1989 the parish had grown enough to write its mission statement, which continues to define its self-understanding on the website. In 2023 the Archdiocese of San Antonio announced the closure of St. Leo the Great Catholic School at the end of that school year, citing declining enrollment (115 students the prior year) and financial pressures, while praising the school's 'precious legacy' under Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller.
- 1914 — Land first donated to build the campus
- 1920 — First school building dedicated at 119 Octavia Place
- 1989 — Parish mission statement formally written and adopted
- 2023 — St. Leo the Great Catholic School (pre-K–8) closes at end of school year after more than a century
Sacraments
The parish website explains how to receive each of the seven sacraments at St. Leo the Great. Infant Baptism is celebrated monthly and requires parents and godparents to attend two preparation classes and provide a copy of the child's legal state birth certificate; First Communion is for children in 2nd grade or older through CCD; Confirmation classes are offered for both teens and adults, with Adult Confirmation classes currently in session; and OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) welcomes those unbaptized by age seven, with reception of Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation at the Holy Saturday vigil. Couples must begin marriage preparation with Father Antonio at least six months before their desired wedding date, and the Anointing of the Sick can be requested by calling the parish office.
- Infant Baptism — monthly; two prep classes ($75)
- First Communion — 2nd grade and up via CCD
- Confirmation — teen and adult tracks
- OCIA — registration opens August 2026; reception at Holy Saturday
- Marriage — meet with Father Antonio 6+ months ahead
- Anointing of the Sick — call parish office; also monthly on first Saturday
Religious Education (CCD & OCIA)
Faith formation for children and youth is offered through the parish's CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) program, which is currently in session and open to all students from 1st through 12th grade. Parents are asked to bring a copy of the child's Baptismal certificate and a registration fee of $50 per child, or $100 for two or more siblings. For older seekers, OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) serves anyone unbaptized by age seven and culminates in reception of Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation at the Easter Vigil. Adult Confirmation classes are also currently in session for baptized Catholics who have not yet received First Communion or Confirmation.
- CCD — grades 1–12; $50/child or $100 for 2+ siblings
- OCIA — for unbaptized by age 7; reception at Holy Saturday
- Adult Confirmation — for baptized adults missing sacraments
Parish Ministries
St. Leo the Great has a strong network of lay ministries that support both the liturgy and parish life. Lectors ('Ministers of the Word') proclaim Scripture at every weekend Mass, while Eucharistic Ministers help distribute Holy Communion; both require formation and reception of all sacraments. The Guadalupanos Society is open to men and women over age 12 and gathers on the third Sunday of the month (except June, July, and August). Knights of Columbus Council 7409 fundraises for church projects and meets the first Monday of the month at 10:00 AM in Room 107. The Flaming Arrows Youth Group ministers to teens ages 13–18, meeting on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month to help young people grow as disciples of Christ.
- Ministers of the Word (Lectors)
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Guadalupanos Society (3rd Sunday monthly)
- Knights of Columbus Council 7409 (1st Monday, 10:00 AM, Room 107)
- Flaming Arrows Youth Group (ages 13–18; 1st & 3rd Wednesdays)
Parish Leadership and Staff
St. Leo the Great is currently led by Rev. Frank Macias, who serves as Administrator of the parish. Deacon Robert Ibarra is named in Archdiocesan records as a deacon assigned to the parish. Daily parish operations and ministry coordination are handled through the parish office at 119 Octavia Place, reachable at (210) 533-9108.
- Rev. Frank Macias — Administrator
- Deacon Robert Ibarra — Deacon
- Parish office: 119 Octavia Pl., San Antonio, TX 78214, (210) 533-9108
Visit, Contact, and Practical Information
Worshippers and visitors can reach the church at 4415 S. Flores Street and the parish office at 119 Octavia Place, both in San Antonio's 78214 ZIP code. The parish phone is (210) 533-9108 and email is [email protected]. The parish keeps an up-to-date weekly bulletin available online for download, and maintains an official Facebook page where announcements are also shared.
- Church address: 4415 S. Flores Street, San Antonio, TX 78214
- Office address: 119 Octavia Pl., San Antonio, TX 78214
- Phone: (210) 533-9108
- Email: [email protected]
- Weekly bulletin available for download on the parish website
- Official Facebook page linked from the parish site