History of our Parish

St. Leo Parish was founded in 1982 by Bishop Joseph H. Hodges, ordinary of the Diocese of Wheeling - Charleston. Bishop Hodges always held special interest in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia due to his own roots in Harper's Ferry. The 6.5 acre lot was purchased from Dr. Frank Fisher out of the newly forming Inwood East homeowners subdivision. We were one of the first buildings in what had formerly been pasture land. I have been told that when the church was first built it looked like a spaceship had landed in the middle of a field. This is ironic, since due to the growth of the surrounding area you can only see the church when you drive on Sulphur Springs Rd. which takes you directly to the church.

The Parish boundary and early family membership was taken from St. Joseph Parish in Martinsburg. The boundary is most of southern Berkeley County. When Father Mark Angelo, the first parish administrator, took over leadership, there were about 100 active people in the parish. Two years later, the first pastor, Father Paul Tedesco, began an active ministry and work with the people. The parish grew to 200 families. Unfortunately, after six years Father Paul left the priesthood and was replaced by Father Steve Joyce. He maintained the parish, helped to remodel the CCD complex and built the new rectory. Father Steve also took a leave of absence from the priesthood and was eventually replaced by Father Earl Jennings. Fr. Earl was appointed administrator until June of 1991. On June 23, 1991, Father Brian Shoda was appointed Pastor and continues as Pastor until the present.

In June of 1991, the Parish had 232 registered families but not all of those were active. In addition, the Parish was forty thousand dollars in debt from the remodeling and new rectory. Today, the Parish has nearly 1000 families, has moved into its new home situated on 139 acres, our new site also incorporates a 9000 plot cemetery . In addition we are in the process of building a charities building to house our community outreach programs.  

The new growth in our Parish family has changed the entire complexion of our community. For example, we have founded our own St. Leo Knights of Columbus Council and Fourth Degree Assembly. Our participation at the annual March-for-Life in Washington, DC, on January 22, has grown from a carload or two to two full buses . Our CCD classes, have grown so large that we have to have both Saturday and Sunday CCD classes with twice the number of kids, teachers and staff. We have many activities throughout the year including summer picnics, a fishing night at Zetts Fishing Lakes, trips to King's Dominion, Camden Yards in Baltimore to see the Orioles, a play at the Shenandoah Music Theater and annual visits to seminaries in support of our Vocations Office.
The growth of the Parish and so many activities is supported by the generous help of Parish volunteers. We are in the process of building a building which will house our new out reach , St. Leo Charities. The Building is being donated by our Knights of Columbus. It will be the support site for our newest out reach , Gabriel Project. Gabriel Project is a place of compassion and support that women who find themselves in a crisis situation a place where a new mom new dad, or a women who is pregnant can turn to for help. In addition Each month, we have a Senior Citizen's Luncheon that is cooked, served and entertained by volunteers from the Parish. Our outreach to the poor is supported by food and money given from members of the Parish. The Advent Giving Tree yields over 500 presents for needy children at Christmas time and the outreach to Migrant workers, local shelters and Abba House Crisis Pregnancy Center are central works of our community.

The active and complex Parish family that exists today is quite different from the original community of 1982. However, it was the hard work of people who struggled to make homemade ice cream or organize a carnival to raise enough money just to host a Parish dinner or buy new linens for the altar who set the tone and example that we try to follow today. They, the original members, tried to set a common style of hospitality and social outreach that has continued by their example and one that we hope will remain in the future. Now that we have moved into our to our new facility, it is with hope and confidence that the solid rock foundation of faith in Jesus and the outstanding Christian witness of those who have preceded us, will help us to maintain the style of a small country church, even in our new modern Parish complex. After all, it is a challenge of attitude and not of size that will determine the future of St. Leo Parish community.