About St. Leonard · Centerville, Ohio
St. Leonard Faith Community (SLFC) is a small, approximately 250-household Roman Catholic faith community that operates as a quasi-parish on the grounds of the St. Leonard Senior Living Community in Centerville, Ohio, in the Dayton suburbs. Founded in 1990 inside the chapel of a former Franciscan seminary, SLFC shares in the heritage of the Franciscan Friars Minor of St. John the Baptist Province in Cincinnati and welcomes all—regardless of ethnicity, language, citizenship, orientation, or marital status. A freely formed Catholic community, it is open to the public for its principal 10:30 AM Sunday Mass while also sharing Saturday Vigil and weekday Masses with the residents of the surrounding continuing-care retirement community operated by CHI Living Communities (CommonSpirit Health). It falls under the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and is led day-to-day by a lay Pastoral Administrator alongside a part-time priest chaplain/moderator team.
- Established
- 1990
- Patron
- St. Leonard of Port Maurice
- Rector
- Fr. Tom Shearer and Fr. Terry Meehan (Chaplain/Moderator team, beginning July 2024)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Why belong here
St. Leonard Faith Community is ideal for Catholics in the Centerville/Washington Township area who want a small, warm, mission-shaped parish with deep Franciscan roots and a particular openness to newcomers of every background ('All are welcome here, no matter what your ethnicity, language, citizenship, orientation, or marriage status'). Members enjoy an intimate 10:30 AM Sunday Mass with fellowship (coffee and donuts), formation through RCIA, youth ministry and religious education, robust outreach (respite bags for the unhoused, legislative advocacy), and the special grace of being situated on the campus of a continuing-care retirement community — making pastoral care, visits to the homebound, and anointing of the sick living parts of parish life. Those considering joining the Church will find a multi-month RCIA process leading into full communion, and those seeking sacramental care can arrange baptism, anointing, weddings, and confessions by contacting the parish office.
Mass times at St. Leonard
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment (per SLFC website)
- Fridays after Mass (St. Leonard CHI Living Communities main chapel)
- First Saturday of the month at 3:30 PM (St. Leonard CHI Living Communities main chapel)
- By request
Adoration times
- Holy Hour — First Wednesday of the month at 3:00 PM (St. Leonard main chapel)
About St. Leonard Faith Community
St. Leonard Faith Community (SLFC) is a small, freely formed Roman Catholic community of approximately 250 households located in Centerville, Ohio. Founded in 1990 inside the chapel of a former Franciscan seminary, it shares in the heritage of the Franciscan Friars Minor of the St. John the Baptist Province in Cincinnati and operates as a quasi-parish of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. SLFC describes itself as committed to creating a spiritual environment that opens the community up to the life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit, and reaches out through ministries to the needs of others with love. The community is open to all 'no matter what your ethnicity, language, citizenship, orientation, or marriage status.'
- Freely formed Catholic community sharing in Franciscan heritage
- Approximately 250 households
- Quasi-parish of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati
- Located on the campus of CHI Living Communities St. Leonard
- Welcomes all regardless of background or status
History of the St. Leonard Campus
The 240-acre wooded campus south of Centerville/Washington Township was purchased by the Franciscan Friars Minor of St. John the Baptist Province in the 1950s. By 1959, the College of St. Leonard was training young men for the priesthood. With vocations dwindling, the seminary closed in the early 1980s. In 1982 the Friars and local citizens (Dr. Brian Forschner, Sister Rose Wildenhaus, and Richard McBride) formed St. Leonard, Inc. to repurpose the buildings for elderly housing; the St. Leonard Center opened in June 1983. The Friars donated the building and 52 acres in 1985 to the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, who subsequently purchased the remaining 184 acres and sponsored the community from 1985 to 2000. Sponsorship then passed to the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania (officially 2001) and Sylvania Franciscan Health; in 2014 it became part of Catholic Health Initiatives, and in 2018 CommonSpirit Health. Out of the former seminary chapel, the St. Leonard Faith Community itself was founded in 1990.
- 1950s: Friars purchase 240 wooded acres
- 1959: College of St. Leonard opens for Franciscan seminarians
- 1981: Friary/seminary closes
- 1982: Formation of St. Leonard, Inc. (Dr. Brian Forschner, Sr. Rose Wildenhaus, Richard McBride)
- 1983: First resident moves in (June)
- 1985: Friars donate building + 52 acres to the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor
- 1990: St. Leonard Faith Community founded
- 2001: Sponsorship transfers to Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania (Sylvania Franciscan Health)
- 2014: Becomes part of Catholic Health Initiatives
- 2018: CHI merges with Dignity Health to form CommonSpirit Health
Sacramental Schedule and Access
The Parish Office arranges all sacraments by appointment. Reconciliation is available by appointment, after Mass on Fridays in the Main Chapel, on the first Saturday of the month at 3:30 PM, and by request. Anointing of the Sick is offered twice a year and upon request; funerals may be held in the Main Chapel for residents who prefer it to their former parish.
- Confession by appointment through the Parish Office
- Confession Fridays after Mass and by request
- First Saturday of the month at 3:30 PM
- Anointing of the Sick — twice a year and upon request
Parish Staff and Leadership
SLFC is led by a Pastoral Administrator (Grace Beene, since January 2024) and a rotating chaplain/moderator team of Archdiocese of Cincinnati priests. As of the May 2024 bulletin, Fr. Tom Shearer and Fr. Terry Meehan were welcomed as the new chaplain/moderator team beginning July 2024, succeeding Fr. Ted Cassidy who had been presiding. The community is also served by Deacon Ray Lyons, a Director of Religious Education/Youth Minister (Donna Leddy), a Music Director (Kevin Woeste), and an Office Manager (Tracie Laughlin). The Community Council and Finance Council provide lay governance.
- Pastoral Administrator: Grace Beene
- Chaplain/Moderator team (from July 2024): Fr. Tom Shearer and Fr. Terry Meehan
- Deacon Ray Lyons
- Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry: Donna Leddy
- Music Director: Kevin Woeste
- Office Manager: Tracie Laughlin
- Community Council chaired by Steve Cartwright; Vice Chair Prudence Hopkins
- Finance Council chaired by CeAnn Chalker; Treasurer Bill Byrne
Faith Formation, RCIA and Youth Ministry
The Faith Formation ministry provides prayer and program opportunities designed to enrich spirituality and deepen understanding of Catholic faith. Adults exploring Catholicism join the multi-month Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), culminating in full communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil. Donna Leddy serves as Director of Religious Education and Youth Minister, organizing religious education classes for children and youth ministry events.
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
- Adult Faith Formation
- Youth Ministry
- Religious Education Classes
- Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry: Donna Leddy
Justice and Service
The Justice & Service ministry performs works of charity and service for the poor and actively advocates for just laws and policies affecting human rights and dignity. It focuses on three areas — education, action/service, and legislative advocacy — and prepares respite bags for the unhoused. The committee also sponsors special events and projects.
- Education
- Action / Service
- Legislative Advocacy
- Respite bags for the unhoused
- Special events and projects
Pastoral Care
Caring for community members in times of illness or loss through support and sacraments is a defining ministry of SLFC, given its location on a continuing-care retirement campus. Members of the committee visit members who are confined to their homes or in care facilities and offer prayers, the Eucharist, and companionship to those in need. The spiritual care staff of St. Leonard CHI Living Communities — including Mary Houston (Director of Mission Integration) and Bob Jackson (Spiritual Care Manager) — coordinates these efforts and oversees the campus chapels and service schedules.
- Visits to the homebound and to care-facility residents
- Bringing the Eucharist
- Companionship and prayer
- Coordination with St. Leonard CHI spiritual care staff
Community Life and Membership
The Community Life ministry unites members through social interactions for various age and interest groups, promoting fun and family among believers. Activities include a community picnic, ice cream social, Holy Thursday dinner, and coffee and donuts. The Membership ministry welcomes all who visit SLFC, offers information about the community and its mission, provides materials for becoming registered members, and facilitates active integration into the community.
- Community picnic
- Ice cream social
- Holy Thursday dinner
- Coffee and Donuts after Sunday Mass
- New-member registration and welcome
St. Leonard Senior Living Chapel and Bell Tower
The St. Leonard Chapel and Bell Tower are easily recognizable for their stunning architecture and original art pieces, including a St. Francis of Assisi mosaic documented on Wikimedia Commons. The chapel and bell tower stand as a proud, welcoming facet of the campus, providing a place of prayer and worship for all. A second chapel — the Holy Family Chapel — serves the Health and Rehabilitation Center on the campus.
- St. Leonard Main Chapel and Bell Tower
- Holy Family Chapel in the Health and Rehabilitation Center
- Documented St. Francis of Assisi mosaic (Wikimedia Commons)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Unspecified (seminary-era chaplains)1959–1981
Franciscan Friars Minor of St. John the Baptist Province staffed the seminary chapel at the College of St. Leonard.
- Unspecified Archdiocese of Cincinnati priests1990–present
SLFC has been served continuously by Archdiocese of Cincinnati priests; the 2024 bulletin welcomed Fr. Tom Shearer and Fr. Terry Meehan as the new chaplain/moderator team beginning July 2024, succeeding Fr. Ted Cassidy who was presiding in May 2024.
_-_St._Francis_of_Assisi_mosaic.jpg "St. Leonard")