St. Leo’s 50-Year History

In Memoriam - St. Leo the Great, Pope (440-461 A.D.) is the patron saint of our parish. Bishop John Sullivan chose to name the new parish “St. Leo’s” to honor the well-known and much-loved Msgr. Leo Keating. Msgr. Leo Keating was born February 25, 1907, at O’Connor, Nebraska, and was ordained to the priesthood June 6, 1936. In Grand Island he became well known to the people while pastor of St. Mary’s Cathedral from June 6, 1947, until September of 1964. He died July 31, 1973. 

On June 7, 1973, nine months after becoming the new Bishop of Grand Island Diocese, Bishop John Sullivan announced the formation of the new parish of St. Leo the Great. The membership of the parish was drawn from the residents of southwest Grand Island, totaling approximately 350 families. On June 9 and 10, 1973, several hundred people — some with feelings of skepticism, anxiety, or bewilderment, others with sense of wonderment, curiosity, eagerness — gathered at Barr Junior High School Auditorium to worship as a new parish family for the first time. The first baby baptized was Kyle Anton Nabity on July 1, 1973. The first marriage was Robert Lee Guenther to Liane Maria Wetterer on August 4, 1973. 

On a snowy November 25, 1973, at the beginning of Advent, members and friends of this new community gathered to symbolically turn some earth for their new church. Gazing out over the snowy stubble field, Father Jim O’Kane, the new pastor, took an image from the ground’s past and future uses. “From crops that have been here, the harvest has been great,” he said. “As we plan for a new harvest, the harvest of the church, we also ask the Lord to blend all of us together so that we can share the beauty and harvest of the Lord on this spot.”   

From this expectation, a community of believers grew, a parish family of people with a unique spirit of worship and celebration. The church itself is designed so that it comes alive when a celebration takes place. The choir, guitarists, and all musicians from St. Leo’s have always breathed a unique spirit of song and celebration into the parish life.  

The very first, First Communion was celebrated April 21, 1974, about six months before the parish moved into the new St. Leo’s Church. The first Mass in the new church was celebrated on November 10, 1974, the feast day of the church’s patron saint. Fr. O’Kane blessed the cornerstone as it was put into place on a cold and snowy December 31, 1974. Dedication of the new church was held April 6, 1975. The first Confirmation was celebrated by Bishop John Sullivan on October 31, 1976. A parish picnic and mortgage burning were held at Stolley Park on September 9, 1979. The first St. Leo’s Vacation Bible School began in the summer of 1976. 

“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 1:6 

With a growing parish, more room was needed for teaching the young, as well as for parish functions; therefore, a fundraising campaign began in June 1980. A large addition, the parish hall, was dedicated November 15, 1981. Fr. Don Larmore was appointed St. Leo’s parish priest in 1982 and served until 1985, followed by Fr. Bernard Nelson from 1985 until his death in 1987. Fr. Francis Curran was appointed temporary administrator in 1988 until co-pastors Fr. Bob Rooney and Fr. Harry Kurtenbach were appointed by Bishop McNamara in 1988 for one year. From 1989 until 1996, Fr. Bob Rooney served as pastor of St. Leo’s Parish.  On January 28, 1989, a parish dinner was held at the Liederkranz to celebrate the burning of the mortgage for the first addition. In April 1990, The St. Leo’s Chapter of The Knights of Columbus was formed.  

As the area to the southwest of Grand Island grew, so did St. Leo’s, enough that space was needed for children’s religious education. Ground breaking for the second addition was held on October 3, 1993, and was completed in June 1994. In the early 1990’s, Fr. Don Larmore gifted a wooden crucifix from Tanzania, Africa, to St. Leo’s Parish. 

Fr. Jim Golka was in St. Leo’s first, First Communion class and became the first ordained priest from St. Leo’s Parish. His ordination was held on June 3, 1994. On June 29, 2021, Fr. Jim Golka was ordained the Bishop of Colorado Springs, Colorado the first priest of the Grand Island Diocese to be ordained a Bishop. 

St. Leo’s celebrated 25 years as a parish community on June 7, 1998, under the guidance of Fr. John (Jack) Rademacher who was pastor from 1996-2009. We were fortunate to have both our first pastor, Fr. Jim O’Kane and the present pastor in 1998, Fr. John (Jack) Rademacher, along with a number of other priests from the dioceses celebrate this milestone with the families of St. Leo’s.  

By October 2003 major renovations were needed and a new campaign began. Electrical wiring was brought up to code, dry wall was hung over the original cement block walls, a new sanctuary space was defined including new altar, new carpet, lighting, seats, and sound system. A new Baptismal font that met the guidelines for adult Baptisms was installed, some offices were refurbished, and a new central entry to the worship area with the Holy Family Statue Family Statue was finished.   

From 2009-2014 Fr. Charles Torpey was appointed pastor of St. Leo’s Parish. Fr. Torpey presided during St. Leo’s 40th Anniversary celebration June 8 and 9 of 2013. The Knights of Columbus served a beer and braut supper after the 5 p.m. Mass and the Ladies of St. Leo’s served a breakfast after the Sunday morning masses. Fr. Torpey was followed by our current pastor, Fr. Donald Buhrman who was appointed in 2014 to the present. Fr. Don continues to lead our church community to be disciples of Christ, and to go out and serve the world. This is our call for future anniversaries. 

Our 50th Anniversary Celebration Schedule: 

Friday June 2, 2023: Charter families Wine & Cheese gathering at Stuhr Museum. 

Saturday June 3, 2023: 4:00 PM Mass at the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center with Bishop Hanefeldt, Emeritus Bishop Dendinger, Bishop Golka, current and former Pastors, and Priests of the Diocese of Grand Island .  

Mass is followed by a social and a banquet. A children’s fun room will be provided.  

Please RSVP to St. Leo’s Church by May 12, 2023. 

Sunday June 4, 2023: 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM Masses. Coffee and donuts will be served in the parish hall. 

1:00 PM 50th Anniversary 4-person golf scramble at Indianhead Golf Club. $400 per team or $100 per person. Call St. Leo’s Church to register.