From 100 Families to a 139-Acre Campus
St. Leo Catholic Church serves Inwood, a community in the southern part of Berkeley County in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, and draws worshippers from the wider tristate region of West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. Bishop Joseph H. Hodges of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston founded the parish in 1982, and the original 6.5-acre site was purchased from Dr. Frank Fisher in what was then the newly forming Inwood East subdivision. That first church was one of the earliest buildings on land that had been pasture, and the original structure still stands nearby under different ownership. The parish boundary and early membership came from St. Joseph Parish in Martinsburg, and when Father Mark Angelo took over as the first administrator, about 100 active members filled the pews.
Two years later, Father Paul Tedesco became the first pastor and the parish grew to 200 families. After six years, Father Tedesco left the priesthood, and Father Steve Joyce stepped in, remodeling the CCD complex and building a new rectory. Father Earl Jennings then served as administrator until June of 1991, when Bishop Hodges appointed Father Brian Shoda as pastor. Father Shoda shepherded St. Leo for 22 years and led the move to the current church complex. After his departure from the priesthood in 2013, Father Paul Wharton guided the parish for two years, adding a proper baptismal font and tabernacle. In October 2015, Father Alfred U. Obiudu, who had earlier served at St. Leo as a seminarian and associate pastor, was appointed pastor.
The growth has been steady. In June 1991, the parish had 232 registered families; today, nearly 800 families belong. The present 139-acre campus includes the sanctuary, parish offices, a conference room with a kitchenette, a library, the Fellowship Hall, and a Religious Education wing with classrooms for first through eighth grade along with Confirmation and Youth Group space. A 9,000-plot cemetery sits on the grounds, as does McGivney Hall, the home of the local Knights of Columbus council.
Mass and Reconciliation
Weekend Masses are celebrated on Saturday at 5:00 PM and on Sunday at 9:00 AM and 11:30 AM, with one of the Sunday Masses live-streamed on the parish YouTube channel. Weekday Masses follow a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday rhythm: Monday, Thursday, and Friday at 12:00 noon, and Wednesday evening at 7:00 PM. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard on Wednesday at 6:30 PM and Saturday at 4:30 PM, and by appointment through the parish office.
First Saturday Devotions are observed at 10:00 AM, followed by a First Saturday Mass at 11:00 AM. Friday Adoration follows the noon Mass, and Adoration is also offered on the first Sunday of each month at 10:15 AM. Parishioners who are homebound know they are not forgotten: cards arrive for birthdays and holidays, and the pastor and deacons make Eucharistic visitations to those unable to attend Mass.
The Seven Sacraments at St. Leo
Infant Baptism is celebrated for the children of registered parishioners and for families living within the parish boundaries, which include Inwood, Gerrardstown, and Bunker Hill. Parents attend a preparation session before the ceremony, and a parish-signed Baptism Consent Form is required in cases involving divorced parents with shared custody, a non-custodial parent, a non-Catholic parent, or a legal guardian. Deacon Brian Crim walks parents through the baptismal preparation class. Sponsors, commonly called godparents, must be practicing Catholics at least 16 years old, baptized, confirmed, and, if married, married in a Church-recognized ceremony. Two Catholic godparents of opposite sexes are welcomed, and Letters of Good Standing are required from each sponsor's home parish.
For the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist, the parish offers a two-year preparation program that begins in the Little Lambs Atrium for children ages three to six and continues in the True Vine Atrium for ages seven to nine. Children older than eight who have not yet received these sacraments are welcomed into a Special Sacraments track coordinated by Director of Religious Education Michele Bui. Confirmation is celebrated each year, typically in May or June, after a two-year preparation that is open to all youth in seventh grade and higher; sessions are held every other Sunday from 10:30 AM to 12:15 PM, with parents, catechists, the Director of Religious Education, and Fr. Alfred determining readiness together.
Adults preparing for initiation enter the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, which meets on Sundays from 10:15 to 11:30 AM in the Conference Room under the guidance of Deacon David Torlone and Deacon Brian Crim. The Anointing of the Sick is offered to any Catholic facing serious illness or advanced age, and arrangements are made through Fr. Alfred. Holy Matrimony preparation requires notification to the priest at least six months in advance, with no weddings scheduled on Sundays, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, or Holy Saturday; couples complete marriage preparation classes and consult the parish's Celebrating Marriage booklet for full guidelines. The parish also keeps the door open for men discerning Holy Orders and for the ongoing formation of the four deacons who currently serve the community.
Faith Formation for Every Age
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program shapes St. Leo's faith formation for children, gathered in three atria that meet on Sunday mornings from 10:30 AM to 12:15 PM. The Little Lambs Atrium welcomes children ages three to six, the True Vine Atrium serves ages seven to nine, and the Golden Thread Atrium gathers children ages ten to twelve. Sixth graders follow an Old Testament curriculum in the same Sunday window. Youth in grades seven through twelve preparing for Confirmation meet every other week for Bible study, small-group discussion, and activities that root them in Catholic tradition; the alternating weeks bring Youth On Fire sessions in the same time slot. The Children's Catechumenate, an adaptation of the adult OCIA process, welcomes older children seeking Baptism and the other sacraments.
Adult Faith Formation meets in the Conference Room on Saturdays at 3:00 PM and between the Sunday Masses from September through May. The gathering uses DVD presentations on a range of topics as a springboard for discussion, with a focus on fellowship rather than homework. Adult parishioners not in the OCIA process are welcome to drop in.
Reaching Beyond the Parish
St. Leo's Food Pantry distributes dry and canned goods on the second Saturday of each month from 9:00 to 10:00 AM, with one distribution per family per month to help the parish reach as many neighbors as possible. The Homeless Ministry focuses on reducing homelessness in South Berkeley County by collaborating with other agencies, maintaining a database of prevention and assistance services, and tapping volunteer talent to fill unmet needs. Those interested in either outreach can reach the food pantry through the parish office or contact Ellen Mangino at homelessministry@stleo.com.
The Funeral Luncheon Ministry provides a meal for family and friends after a loved one's funeral, with volunteers bringing dishes or helping with preparation and cleanup. The Welcome Ministry staffs greeters at the door, registers new members, and serves coffee, juice, and cookies after Sunday Masses. The Homebound Ministry keeps isolated parishioners connected through cards and visits.
Liturgical Roles and the Choir
St. Leo's liturgical ministries are the backbone of the Sunday and weekday Masses. Altar servers, who must have received First Holy Communion, assist at the altar and lead the assembly in sung responses and reverent silence. Eucharistic Ministers distribute Holy Communion to the assembly, while Lectors proclaim the readings from the ambo with clear, deliberate voices. Greeters and ushers welcome parishioners, help visitors find seats, and collect the weekly offering. The parish choir, open to adults and children ages six to seventeen, rehearses midweek and sings throughout the liturgical year.
The Knights, the Legion, and the Scouts
St. Leo is home to Knights of Columbus Council 10756 and its Fourth Degree Assembly 2348, which meet on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 PM in McGivney Hall behind the church. The council's charitable work supports both the parish and the wider community, and Grand Knight Jonathan Collum welcomes new members. The Ladies Auxiliary gathers for service and fellowship throughout the year.
The Legion of Mary, Mary Gate of Heaven Praesidium, meets every Wednesday at 5:30 PM in the OCIA classroom and invites anyone 18 and older to bring a rosary and a notebook to learn more about growing in faith alongside others. The men's study group, Pondering the World, focuses on the upcoming weekend's readings and meets Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM in the Conference Room. The Ladies Bible Study Group gathers Wednesday mornings at 10:00 AM in the same room. Cub Scout Pack 23 serves grades one through five, and Boy Scout Troop 23 serves grades six through twelve, with meetings on Wednesday evenings.
The Garden Club and Other Parish Hands
The Garden Club tends the flower beds at the church entrance, Mary's Garden, and the front of the rectory, and welcomes volunteers willing to weed-eat the property or wash windows in the church complex. A separate St. Leo's Tool Box calls on parishioners with specific building, decorating, photography, or handyman skills when a project arises. The parish calendar also lists TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meetings on Thursday mornings and AA meetings in the Conference Room on Saturday evenings at 8:00 PM.
Fundraisers and the Fellowship Hall
The Fellowship Hall is the heart of several parish fundraisers that go directly toward paying down the building debt. Bingo is held every Tuesday, with doors opening at 5:00 PM and early-bird games beginning at 6:30 PM. The cost to play is $28, and tip-jar games, door prizes, and a kitchen with weekly $10 specials round out the evening. The Gift Card Program offers gift cards for a wide range of retail stores and restaurants; St. Leo receives a percentage from each card sold, with cards available before Saturday Mass, after Sunday Masses, and in the church office Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Shoppers can also support the parish through Amazon Smile by selecting St. Leo Catholic Church as their charity, and used printer cartridges can be dropped in the box outside the parish office for recycling credit. A twice-yearly Craft Fair fills the Fellowship Hall with more than 40 vendors selling crafts and collectibles, with breakfast and lunch from the kitchen.
A Resting Place on the Parish Grounds
Behind the church, St. Leo Cemetery offers traditional burial plots and columbarium niches for cremains, with plots priced at $2,000 and niches at $1,500. Deacon Brian Crim handles inquiries and appointments. The cemetery sits within the larger 139-acre grounds, so families and friends can visit a grave and then step across the campus for Mass or a parish event.
Visiting St. Leo
St. Leo Catholic Church sits at 2109 Sulphur Springs Road in Inwood, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 93, Inwood, WV 25428. Parish office hours run Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; the parish phone number is 304-229-8945. The parking lot is spacious and rarely fills, even at the busiest Sunday Mass. Dress is informal and respectful: shorts and sandals are common in summer, and the parish asks only that shorts be of a conservative length and clothing be generally modest.
Inside the church, hymn books in each pew guide visitors through the hymns, readings, Gospel acclamations, and the words of each prayer, so newcomers can follow along without embarrassment. Those who are not Catholic are warmly welcomed but asked not to receive Holy Communion; crossing the arms over the chest at communion time signals a desire for a blessing instead. Ushers can provide Assistive Listening Devices for anyone with hearing difficulty.
Anyone who is not Catholic and asks about the offering is free to let the basket pass; registered parishioners can give by check, cash, or through online giving. The parish also livestreams Mass on its YouTube channel for those at home, publishes a weekly bulletin, and maintains a parish calendar so that visitors and members alike can plan around Masses, devotions, faith formation, and parish events. Newcomers who decide to make St. Leo their church home can register through the parish office, where My Own Church also offers a way to update family records, view giving history, and check ministry schedules online.