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St. Leo Parish Commissions

At St. Leo, the life of the parish is structured around eight commissions—Ecumenical and Interfaith, Facilities, Liturgy, Pastoral Care, Social Justice, Stewardship, Faith Formation and Food Connection. Each commission, under the guidance of its pastoral staff liaison, is responsible for reviewing and evaluating the various ministries within their programs. The commissions receive input from the parish both to initiate new ministries and to terminate outdated ones.

The Faith Formation Commission

The St. Leo community seeks ways to deepen our Christian faith through a variety of formation ministries. We embrace our Roman Catholic identity in this Jesuit parish following in the footsteps of St. Ignatius. We understand faith formation is a life-long journey which nourishes our Spirit in community. As a Eucharistic, Servant, and Pastoral community, we invite, reach out, and look inward as we deepen our faith experiences. Through faith formation experiences, we seek to become disciples and authentic witnesses to the message of Jesus Christ within ourselves, in our families, and in our varied communities.

What are the deepest values that inform our ministries? The Faith Formation Commission listens for those values that most fully guide formation experiences. Core values that have emerged include:

• the experience of trust and relationship in community
• encountering mystery and sacredness
• engaging our story-telling, retelling, and interpreting the word of God
• celebrating our Catholic tradition in sacrament, liturgy, and prayer
• living faith with a preferential option for the poor
• the practice of discernment - listening deeply for the will of God

Our hope is that as you experience the faith formation ministries either as minister or seeker, adult or child, you will feel engaged, inspired, and sense yourself as part of the whole in this community. Please contact staff liaison Dotti Krist-Sterbick at 253.272.5136 ext. 110 with any questions.

The Food Connection Commission

The Food Connection Commission serves as the advisory board for the St. Leo Food Connection. A ministry of the parish, the Food Connection operates a variety of emergency food programs throughout Pierce County. The Food Connection has an annual cash budget of more than $600,000, plus donated food and volunteer hours valued at more than $2 million annually. The Commission assists the Director with strategic planning, fund development, and parish and community outreach efforts. The Commission meets quarterly and members are encouraged to serve on one sub-committee. Chair: Julian Bray (JulianB@atg.wa.gov). Staff Liaison: Kevin Glackin-Coley (Food Connection Director) 253.572.9405 or keving@foodconnection.org.

The Liturgy Commission

The Liturgy Commission undertakes long-range planning and program evaluation and monitors the liturgical life of the parish. Chair: Shannon Ronald. Staff liaison: Monica Steele, 253.272.5136 ext. 112.

The Pastoral Care Commission

The Pastoral Care Commission assists the pastor in meeting the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of the Body of Christ. Each member of Pastoral Care, whether staff or trained steward, is committed to serving with love and integrity demonstrated by the life and ministry of Jesus. Chair: John Clemens. Staff liaison: Demetra Schwieger, 253.272.5136 ext. 103.

The Social Justice Commission

The mission of the Social Justice Commission - rooted in Catholic Social Teaching and informed by the larger mission of St. Leo as a Jesuit parish - is to live out the Gospel mandate to help realize God’s reign of peace and justice. To this end, the work of the commission has three integrated efforts: education and engagement of all parishioners, whenever possible, in works of justice; integration and collaboration with others in the works of justice and charity; and facilitation of engagement and collaboration between parishioners and other neighborhood groups toward strengthening the quality of life for all residents of the Hilltop neighborhood. Chair: Emily Ignacio. Staff liaison: Rick Samyn, 253.272.5136 ext. 102 or socialministry@stleoparish.org.

Stewardship Commission

The mission of the St. Leo Stewardship Commission is to foster a spirit of recognition that all gifts come from God and we are each called to share and return the gifts of time, talent and treasure with which we have been blessed. This model includes the areas of hospitality, lay ministry, and giving. Co-chairs: Cappri Boitano and Loretta Fotheringham. Staff liaison: John Vance, 253.272.5136 ext 109.

The Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission

The Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission works to help the parish proactively collaborate with other faith traditions in prayer and action. Commission members support Associated Ministries and its projects. Members explore the ecumenical and interfaith activities of other congregations. They work to remind homilists at St. Leo to include ecumenical and interfaith concerns in the Prayers of the Faithful and provide educational opportunities for parishioners. Staff liaison: Rick Samyn, 253.272.5136 ext. 102.

The Facilities Commission

The Facilities Commission plans for the construction, renovation, repair, and maintenance of the physical facilities of the parish campus. The Commission works to effectively implement those plans in order to support the St. Leo mission. Chair: Dick Donmoyer. Staff liaison: John Vance, 253.272.5136 ext. 109.

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