St. Leo the Great Parish sits on the east side of Broadview Road near Schaaf Road, where the Cleveland neighborhoods of Old Brooklyn, Parma, and Brooklyn Heights meet. The parish was founded in 1948 to serve a fast-growing slice of southern Cuyahoga County, and seven decades later it still operates its own K-8 elementary school, a daily Mass schedule, a music ministry that rehearses one night a week, a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry that has run for more than sixty years, and small groups for everyone from young adults in their twenties to seniors in their eighties. The parish sits in the Diocese of Cleveland and takes its name from Pope Leo I, the fifth-century pontiff who met Attila the Hun and turned him back from Italy.
A parish built in three evenings, then rebuilt again
The story of St. Leo's is the story of two churches. The first Mass of the new parish was celebrated on October 17, 1948, at Benjamin Franklin School auditorium on Spring Road, after the Diocese of Cleveland appointed Father Sylvester Lux as founding pastor and drew the original 500 families mostly from Our Lady of Good Counsel in Cleveland and St. Francis DeSales in Parma. "It is a pleasure to tell you that we will have a temporary place of worship, beginning next Sunday, October 17th," the parish announced. Within a year, Father Lux had parishioners build a temporary wooden church on the front of the property in three evenings. The first parish church seated 350, and six Masses were celebrated there every Sunday beginning in August 1949.
Fundraising and construction moved quickly. In January 1950, work began on a combination church and school for $400,000. The school opened its doors in September 1950 with 318 pupils taught by the Vincentian Sisters of Charity, and the first Mass in the new church was offered on Christmas Eve 1950. Bishop Hoban formally dedicated the building on June 3, 1951. By 1955 the school's enrollment had passed 500, and administration passed to the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago.
A second rebuilding came in 1969-1970. The state of Ohio appropriated the southern part of the parish property, the original church site, to build I-480. Proceeds from the sale of that land funded a new church, a new rectory, and new offices, which opened in 1970. The structural steel from the original church was moved to the north side of the school building and re-erected as an auditorium now known as Lux Hall, named for the founding pastor. The gym is still in use by the school and parish. Father Lux retired in 1972 and died in 1977.
Six pastors after the founder
Since the founding, the parish has been led by seven men:
- Father Sylvester Lux, 1948 to 1971, the founding pastor.
- Father John Fiala, 1971 to 1975, who brought the Movement for a Better World renewal and laid the foundation for the Parish Council and other lay commissions. He was a former associate at St. Leo's before returning as pastor and was later named the diocese's first secretary for parish life.
- Father William Eylar, 1975 to 1986, who introduced Christ Renews His Parish and Renew and started the annual Fall Festival that ran for nearly thirty years. He oversaw the conversion of the former convent into the parish's current community center and preschool.
- Father Edward Weist, 1986 to 1997, who led the 1993 renovation of the church interior.
- Father Robert Bielek, 1997 to 2004, who launched a capital campaign to improve aging facilities; health problems forced his early retirement.
- Father Russell P. Lowe, 2004 to 2013, who shepherded the renovation of the church sanctuary, changed the weekday and weekend Mass schedule, increased income from the parish Gift Certificate Program by 40 percent, patched the parking lot, and built the Marian shrine behind the community center.
- Father James P. Schmitz, the current pastor, who took over in late 2013 after Father Lowe was reassigned to Our Lady of Angels. Father Schmitz is known for the ARISE program of spiritual renewal and for redesigning parish communications, including a phone app for iPhone and Android.
Through all those leadership changes, the parish has kept the same focus. As John Sabol, the parish historian, wrote in his account of St. Leo's, "This was our focus in 1948, and it's our focus today. And despite all the physical and leadership changes that have occurred, the Catholic Community of St. Leo the Great - the people - are the cement that bonds the parish together."
The weekly rhythm of Mass, confession, and adoration
The parish keeps a full, year-round schedule of liturgical services in English:
- Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:00 PM.
- Sunday Mass at 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM, with a third Mass in the chapel at 5:00 PM on the second Sunday of each month.
- Weekday Mass Monday through Friday at 8:30 AM.
Holy Days of Obligation are typically celebrated at 8:30 AM and/or 7:00 PM. Confessions are heard on Saturday from 3:00 to 3:45 PM and on Sunday from 10:00 to 10:45 AM, plus from 4:15 to 4:50 PM in the chapel on the second Sunday of each month. Confessions are also available by appointment with one of the priests.
Eucharistic Adoration is offered in the chapel on the first Friday of every month, beginning after the 8:30 AM Mass and closing with a brief blessing and reposition at 3:00 PM. A round stained-glass window that hangs near the chapel was originally part of the now-closed Blessed Sacrament Church and was installed at St. Leo's in 2012.
The Rosary is prayed every day in the church at 9:00 AM, immediately after the 8:30 Mass. Those who join are asked to enter through the corner door closest to the Rectory Office.
Mass intentions may be requested through the Rectory Office. Each household is allowed one weekend Mass and one weekday Mass, or two weekday Masses, per calendar year; the stipend is $10 per Mass. The 2027 Mass intention book opens on September 10, 2026.
Music ministry: a choir that rehearses once a week
The Music Ministry, led by Director of Music Ministry Angela Kovic and Music Minister Devin Kovic with Associate Musician Mary Piechowski, focuses on helping people pray rather than perform. The adult choir is open to anyone from high school age on and sings a mostly traditional repertoire every other Sunday at the 11:00 AM Mass, with additional appearances at Christmas, Holy Week, Confirmation, and other special liturgies. Rehearsals are held on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 PM until about 8:30 PM. Reading music is welcomed but not required; the music director works with members at whatever skill level they bring, and the choir itself helps new singers pick up parts. Choir members say the hardest step is joining the first time, and the music director encourages anyone curious to give it a try and see.
School, preschool, and 75 years of Catholic education
St. Leo the Great Elementary School opened with its first 318 students in September 1950 and has run continuously ever since. Today it serves children from kindergarten through eighth grade on its own campus at 4900 Broadview Road, with Catholic faith integrated into every part of the curriculum. Cleveland residents may apply for vouchers through the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program. The school marked its 75th anniversary with a celebration Mass at 11:00 AM on Sunday, August 16, 2026, followed by an open house for students, families, and alumni.
The preschool, located on the second floor of the Parish Community Center, accepts children ages 3 and 4 in both full-time and part-time sessions. School news, including a recent appearance by students reciting the Pledge of Allegiance on Fox 8 News, flows to families through the parish bulletin.
The Athletic Department, under Athletic Director Adam Cutright, runs the parish's sports programs.
Sacraments: baptisms, weddings, funerals, and the anointing of the sick
Baptism. Parents meet with Father Schmitz to register for baptism before the date is set. Baptisms are normally celebrated on Sunday either during or after one of the Sunday Masses. The parish provides detailed requirements for godparents and Christian Witnesses drawn from the Code of Canon Law: a Catholic godparent must have been confirmed, must already have received First Communion, must lead a life in harmony with the faith, must be at least 16, and must not be the parent of the child. Catholics married outside the Church or who have formally joined another religion may not serve as godparents. A Christian Witness from another denomination may stand alongside a Catholic godparent but cannot take his or her place.
Marriage. Engaged couples are asked to contact Father Schmitz at least six months before the desired wedding date. The parish asks couples not to sign reception-hall contracts until the church and priest are confirmed for the date. Pre-Cana Days or an Engaged Encounter Weekend are arranged off-site, often at the Jesuit Retreat House or another retreat center in the Diocese of Cleveland.
Reconciliation. In addition to the regular Saturday and Sunday confession times, the sacrament is available by appointment.
Anointing of the Sick. Catholic hospital chaplains routinely anoint patients in the hospitals. In an emergency, the Rectory Office is staffed through its answering service; after hours, callers are asked to press 6 for an emergency.
Eucharist for the Homebound. Parishioners who are trained as Eucharistic Ministers bring Communion to the homebound once a month. Anyone who knows of a homebound neighbor who would like to receive Communion at home is asked to call the Rectory Office.
Funerals. The Order of Christian Funerals at St. Leo's follows the three customary movements of vigil (wake) at the funeral home, Funeral Liturgy (Mass) at the church, and rite of committal at the cemetery. The parish strongly prefers a Funeral Mass at the church over a service at the funeral home. Families may choose readings, music, and symbols, with helpful guides provided for liturgy and funeral preparation. Cremation is permitted under the Vatican's instruction "To Rise With Christ," with the customary practice of laying the ashes to rest in a sacred place. Funeral Masses are generally held at 10:00 AM and are not scheduled on Sundays, Holy Days, or during the Sacred Triduum. Musician and altar-server fees are mentioned in the parish's stipends section, but no one is denied a Christian burial because of inability to pay.
Faith Formation, Confirmation, and Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Parish School of Religion (Faith Formation). Faith Formation serves children who do not attend St. Leo the Great Elementary School as well as an extension of learning for those who do. Grades 1 through 8 meet on Sundays from 9:30 to 10:45 AM in the Parish Center during the school year. Father Jim himself visits the classrooms to pray with the students. Director for Religious Education Joann Deranek oversees the program.
Confirmation. Students in the parish school who are preparing for sacraments in 2027 - whether First Communion or Confirmation - are required to attend Sunday sessions. Confirmation preparation is treated as a sacred time for the candidate, the family, and the wider parish to walk together and grow in Catholic faith.
Adult Faith Formation. Programs are announced in the bulletin, drawing on the USCCB's framework for adult catechesis. Sacramental Parent Preparation Sessions for First Reconciliation and First Communion are run by the Grade 2 teachers; Confirmation sessions for Grade 8 students, parents, and sponsors are coordinated by the Grade 8 teachers.
O.C.I.A. (formerly called RCIA) welcomes adults who have never been baptized, adults baptized in another Christian denomination who wish to come into full communion, and Catholics who were not raised in the practice of the faith. Catechumens move through the Rite of Acceptance, the catechumenate, the Rite of Election at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, and the Easter Vigil, when they receive Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist. The Children's Catechumenate adapts the same process for children aged 7 and up.
St. Vincent de Paul: sixty-two years of food, supplies, and winter warmth
St. Leo's St. Vincent de Paul Outreach Organization has been active in the parish for more than sixty years. Most parishioners know the monthly food drive held on the weekend before the third Tuesday of every month: bags of non-perishable items are placed by the statue of St. Vincent de Paul in the church vestibule, then sorted and distributed by the Vincentians to feed 102 people in 35 families. Special deliveries are made at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Behind the scenes, the Vincentians run several other drives. The annual "Sock and Underwear Drive" helps the St. Vincent de Paul Ozanam Center. The August "Back to School Drive" gathers enough supplies for roughly 150 students each year. The October "Blanket Sunday" collection helps families stretch through the cold months. Money for this work can be dropped into the St. Vincent de Paul Poor boxes at the church entrances, sent in the periodic offertory envelope, placed in the collection basket, or dropped off at the Rectory Office. Anyone who knows of a family in distress is encouraged to contact the Rectory Office so the Vincentians can visit.
Small groups: L.I.F.T., F3, seniors, recovery
L.I.F.T. (Living In Faith Together). A women's faith group that meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Parish Center. Doors open at 6:00 PM, light refreshments are typically served, and the focus is on connecting and lifting one another up in faith. Past monthly topics have included Parts of the Mass, the Eucharist, Vices and Virtues, Divine Mercy, Marian Apparitions, Angels, and the Shroud of Turin. Each meeting stands alone; members can miss any gathering without losing the thread.
F3 (Faith, Food, Fellowship). A young-adult ministry for parishioners in their twenties, thirties, and forties that meets twice a month. On the third Wednesday, the group gathers at a local restaurant for dinner - at venues that have included Olive Garden in Parma, Carrabba's in Brooklyn, Harry's Steakhouse in Independence, and Ale Mary's in Parma - to stay connected and talk about God and life. On the first Wednesday, a Faith Night in the Parish Center rotates between Scripture discussion, testimony, talks on the Liturgy of the Hours with Father Schmitz, and a Bible-study series like "The Imitation of Christ." F3 grew from four members to nearly sixty between its founding and the fall of 2025, mixing devout longtime Catholics, returning Catholics, and newcomers exploring the faith. Men's and Women's Damascus Retreats are made available to F3 members through the ministry.
St. Leo's Seniors. The parish's Senior Club meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM for socializing, refreshments, a business meeting, and a program of guest speakers, bingo, and other activities. The club also organizes trips to plays, shrines, and other places of interest.
Recovery. The Grapevine Group of Alcoholics Anonymous meets in the Parish Community Center. Recovery International also has a parish footprint; the parish's list of ministries includes Bereavement, Divorce Support, an adult Bible Study, and a Hospitality Committee.
Respect Life. The parish runs a Respect Life Group and supports the Womankind baby bottle fundraiser each year, with bottles of coins and cash returned in the weeks leading up to the drive's end of June.
Art, environment, music, and the parish center
The parish welcomes volunteers to help decorate the church and care for flowers and plants throughout the year through its Art and Environment team. A dedicated roster of liturgical ministers - including altar servers, lectors, ushers, sacristans, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and cantors - supports every Mass. Adult funeral servers, cantors, bell-choir musicians, and children's Liturgy of the Word leaders are also part of the parish's ministries.
The Parish Community Center, formerly the convent, hosts small faith groups, funeral luncheons, and many other parish events. It is also available for rental by parishioners, school families, and others. The Great Room accommodates events up to 70 guests, includes a full-size kitchen, has handicap access and two first-floor restrooms, and offers an outdoor area for pictures or outside activities. Round tables seating eight to ten guests and long tables are available. Rental rates begin at $125 for a one-to-two-hour window and run up to $500 for an all-day booking. The center is a non-smoking building; no weapons, alcohol, or wall-attached decorations are permitted.
Alumni, athletics, and the Gift Card Program
The Alumni Association is keeping current during the 75th anniversary school year, encouraging former students to share memories for the bulletin and to donate or loan old photos and memorabilia for display. School athletics continue to run through the Athletic Department.
The Gift Card Certificate Program is one of the parish's longest-running fundraisers. The parish buys certificates to more than 100 stores and restaurants at a roughly 2 percent discount and sells them at face value. The 2 percent margin keeps school tuition from rising, funds tuition scholarships for qualifying families, and has helped the parish itself across multiple pastorates. Families can order online with a credit card, debit card, or PayPal and pick up the cards the next day at the Rectory Office.
Online payments through WeShare accept parish contributions, and one-time donations can also be made. School tuition, preschool tuition, gift cards, and St. Leo-branded apparel can all be paid online. Online giving carries a 2.65 percent service fee that is added at checkout.
Communion, communication, and watching Mass online
Live streaming is offered through a partnership with BoxCast and is available both online and via a free BoxCast app on Apple TV (search "Catholic" and add St. Leo the Great to favorites). The parish makes the technology available specifically for those who are seriously ill or unable to attend in person for a serious reason; viewers are gently reminded that the sacraments and the in-person assembly are not available through the screen.
Flocknote carries the parish's email and text communications. Parishioners can sign up through Flocknote. The bulletin, parish calendar, and the church newsletter are available, and the parish maintains an active Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube presence.
Vigil candles, prayer requests, and the shrines
Four shrines in the church hold vigil candles that parishioners and visitors may request to be lit: the Sacred Heart, St. Anne with Mary, St. Leo the Great, and St. Vincent de Paul shrines. A request can be made for a $3 donation per candle.
The prayer-request form accepts both first names and intentions; submissions go directly to the parish. The parish name itself comes from Pope Leo I, an Italian aristocrat who reigned from September 440 to November 461, the first pope to be called "the Great," and a Doctor of the Church. His feast day is November 10.
Visiting and accessibility
The Rectory Office is the main point of contact for registration, Mass intentions, certificates, and information. Office hours are Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Saturday 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The church is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Saturday 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM (the Sunday morning window is shortened when baptisms are scheduled). The school is at 4900 Broadview Road, and its phone number is 216-661-2120.
All parish buildings have ramps, and the community center offers handicap access from outside. Newcomers can register through the parish-registration form or by stopping by the Rectory Office. The parish belongs to a cluster of three Cleveland Catholic parishes on the south side of the city: Mary, Queen of Peace; St. Thomas More; and St. Charles Borromeo.