• About Us
• Ministries
• Faith Formation
• Liturgy
• Music
• Contact Us

Brief History of St. Leo Parish

In 1879 a missionary priest, Father J.B.A. Brondel founded St. Leo in Tacoma. His congregation, which numbered 18, worshipped in a 24 x 40 foot building on Division Street and Tacoma Avenue. Within the next year, Belgian-born Father Peter Hylebos was appointed the first pastor. Hylebos became a well-known and respected man of peace and service in Tacoma's early days. Hylebos' congregation grew rapidly; a second church was built in 1883 at South 11th and D Streets. In 1888 Father Hylebos traveled east to invite religious orders of men and women to assist in missionary work. The Sisters of Saint Francis of Philadelphia responded. In 1891 they established St. Joseph's Hospital.

The turn of the 20th Century

In 1901 Hylebos purchased a political hall on South 13th Street and Yakima Avenue, from which he built a 2200-seat church. This massive building suffered total descruction in a fire in 1919. Consequently, St. Leo's Parish worshipped in the school gym until late 1921 when they restored the church basement as a temporary church. Finances hampered completion; today we continue to worship in the former church basement.

The Jesuit Tradition Begins

The Jesuit tradition at St. Leo began in 1911 when John Cunningham, S.J. became pastor. In 1912 the Jesuits opened St. Leo's primary and high school for boys. The Franciscan Sisters ran the primary school.

In 1922 St. Rita's was established within St. Leo's territory as a parish for Italian Catholics. In 1926 two brothers, David and John MacAstocker, came to St. Leo. Both Jesuit priests, the two men built Bellarmine Preparatory and moved the boys' high school to the present campus. In 1975 St. Leo High School consolidated with Aquinas and Bellarmine as a co-ed school at Bellarmine. The grade school remained open until 1976.

During the Depression, St. Leo offered a free soup kitchen and work program for the needy. Yet the parish was suffering great financial distress. When Father Krebsbach arrived as pastor in 1933, he found no cash on hand, an overdrawn bank account, $13,000 in unpaid bills and untended property and buildings. During his time as pastor, "Father K" reduced the debt, restored the property and improved the spirit of community involvement with huge bazaars and drama and musical productions. During World War II the parish offered hospitality to visiting service people with special breakfasts and social events. Money for the new convent was raised from the sale of war bonds.

1950 through 1979

In the 1950s St. Leo had a booming grade school and high school population, active men's societies, mothers' clubs and the first St. Vincent dePaul Society Conference in Tacoma. Then pastor, Father Buchanan, was very involved in civic events. In 1956 St. Charles Borromeo Parish was founded; St. Leo gave up 1/3 of its territory and lost about 150 parish families.

The '60s brought loss and struggle as well as new hope to the community. Father Buchanan was killed in a car accident in 1960. The present rectory was completed. Racial tensions exploded in the Hilltop area; Father Bill Bischel served as mediator and helped groups resolve some of the tension.

The 70's began with a Vatican II renovation of the church and the founding of the Martin Luther King Ecumenical Center. In 1970 the Oregon Province Jesuits decided to nurture St. Leo as an urban faith community working for social justice. The pastoral team of Fathers Pat Hurley, Bill Hausman, Bill Bischel and Gerry Morin began their work together. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps began to serve the community as outreach workers, parish ministers and teachers. New social outreach programs began, including New House, Neighborhood Shop and Neighborhoods First. Fathers David Rothrock and Peter Byrne, S.J. founded our first L'Arche Community.

The Nineties and Beyond

During the '90s, our parish underwent a lot of change under the direction of John Fuchs, S.J.: a major renovation of the church, the completion of a Five-Year Plan and the formation of parish commissions.

In 2003, we gratefully welcomed Fr. Steve Lantry S.J. as pastor of this broken body of Christ we call the Raggedy Band. This year we are pleaesd to have Fr. David Anderson, S.J. join us Parochial Vicar.

Today 674 families from 62 zip codes make up the faith community at St. Leo's. Faced with changing demographics in our neighborhood, this Raggedy Band of Believers remains committed to the Jesuit mission in the Hilltop Community.

About Us Links