St. Leo Church temporarily closing for winter

St. Leo Church will temporarily close for the winter but St. Charles Lwanga Parish will continue its regularly scheduled Sunday Masses, 8:30am and 10:00am, at St. Cecilia Church. The soup kitchen at St. Leo's will continue to operate throughout the winter. St. Charles Lwanga Parish plans to reopen the church at next year's Easter Vigil.

Tridentine Mass at St. Leo's

On the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, one week from today, a Tridentine Mass will be held at St. Leo's Church.

This is Juventutem Michigan's first corporate visit to one of Detroit's historically African-American parishes. All persons of all ages are welcome to attend this liturgy.

Confessions will be be heard before Mass, starting at 6:15 p.m.

The 7:00 p.m. sung Traditional Latin Mass will be preceded by a 6:30 Rosary, at which members will pray in for our two members who have been accepted to formation by traditional institutes and for an increased acceptance of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. 

For more info: facebook, twitter, JuventutemMichigan.com

St. Leo Church (St. Charles Lwanga Parish)

St. Leo Church is located at 4860 15th St., on Grand River and south of I-94. The parish was established in 1889 — an elementary school opened the following year then a high school in 1892. The parish quickly outgrew the original structure and the current church was completed in 1908. 

Vintage postcard of St. Leo's Church, date unknown. source

It appears that the steeples were shortened at some time although I could not find any record of renovation.

An inscription above the main doorway quotes Luke 19:46 — "My house is a house of prayer."

The founding pastor, Fr. Matthew Meathe, wanted a large church without pillars to allow unobstructed views. Parishioner and architect Harry J. Rill designed the current edifice.

In 1983, the parish was scheduled to close but Bishop Gumbleton intervened. He asked to take over as pastor and was appointed. Gumbleton was forced to retire in 2006 when he reached the age of 75 but he continued to deliver homilies at Sunday Mass. To my knowledge, Gumbleton no longer has any involvement at St. Leo's.

The parish continued to face possible closure in recent years but has been spared largely because of their community outreach. St. Leo's has an active soup kitchen that serves much of the surrounding area.

In 2013, St. Leo's merged with St. Cecilia to form the new parish of St. Charles Lwanga. Fr. Theodore Parker currently serves as pastor. Sunday Mass is at Noon; no daily Mass unless announced.

A large crucifix stands in the north transept.

The Blessed Mother stands at the side altar; Pope St. Leo the Great stands in the south transept.

More photos: Flickr, AOD Film Services, Sherlock Photo
News articles about the parish: Reuters & Detroit Free Press

Soup kitchen photos: Flickr
More info:AOD & Facebook

St. Leo's gets some attention.

I haven't been to St. Leo's but a Reuter's Photographer has. (Update: So has reader Andy... see link at the bottom)

There is a corresponding article. And the Photographer's blog on the subject

St Leo's will be one to watch. One day perhaps I will be able to visit this ~120 year old church. Here are the recommendations of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council:

... St. Leo is encouraged to begin to develop in early 2012 with completion by June 2012 a plan to merge with St. Cecilia. In light of the financial and building maintenance challenges and the thriving charter school at St. Leo, but the need for a continued Catholic presence in this part of the city, the planning group is encouraged to consider one of the following two options:

1. St. Leo church be offered to the current Charter school for sale, continuing Outreach at an acquired location to yet be determined ...

2. Negotiate with the current charter at St. Leo’s to consider renting the school at St. Cecilia’s, (larger property may serve its needs), therefore providing an opportunity for St. Cecilia’s-St. Leo to thrive as a united community at the St. Cecilia site, but continuing to serve the poor in the community.

It's not certain that this one will be closed, but the odds seem to be stacked against St. Leo's. It doesn't appear to be used very much as a worship space (only 1 mass time listed on AOD site), but the outreach is very important to the people of the city. Hopefully an amenable solution can be attained so that the poor can be served here or nearby for many years to come.

Reader Andy posted some pictures to his Flickr account. (202 to be exact)