Saint Leo the Great

Parish Family 35

In 1879 a missionary priest, Father J.B.A. Brondel founded St. Leo in Tacoma. His congregation, which numbered 18, worshiped in a 24 x 40 foot building. Within the next year, Belgian-born Father Peter Hylebos was appointed the first pastor. Hylebos’ congregation grew rapidly; a second, larger church was built in 1883.

In 1901 Fr. Hylebos purchased a political hall on South 13th Street and Yakima Avenue, from which he built the third church: a massive 2200-seat structure. This building suffered total destruction in a fire in 1919. Today we continue to worship in the former church basement.

The Jesuit tradition at St. Leo began in 1911. In 1970 the Oregon Province Jesuits decided to nurture St. Leo as an urban faith community working for social justice, which it remains to this day. The Jesuits withdrew from the parish in 2024.

Liturgies

All Masses celebrated in the Ordinary use of the Roman Rite in English unless otherwise indicated.

Mass

Saturday (Vigil Mass): 5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM
Fourth Sunday: 1:30 PM (Native Community Mass)
Tuesday: 12:10 PM
Thursday: 12:10 PM
Friday: 12:10 PM

Confession

Saturday: 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM