Our Town: A Monthly Series by St. Leo Students
The history of St. Leo School
- Information was collected by the students during an interview with Fr. Justin Pino.
The history of Saint Leo School is a deep and rich one. It all began with the sacrifice of a savior.
In 33AD Jesus bled and died to save us. That ultimately began the entire Christian faith. Jump forward to 596AD, Gregory the Great is reigning as pope. He sends St. Augustine to preach to pagan England. As a result, England became Christian.
Many years later, colonists arrive in America from Britain and the very first Diocese is formed in 1789. The Diocese of Baltimore. Just nineteen years later, in 1808, the Diocese of Baltimore is split in two, creating the Diocese of Philadelphia. Around the 1830-40s, Catholics begin popping up all around Pennsylvania. In 1843, the Diocese of Philadelphia is split, forming the Diocese of Pittsburgh. A decade later, July 29, 1853, our very own Diocese of Erie is established. Unlike many others, the Diocese of Erie never splintered off into more Dioceses. It’s post-1865 and Catholics start appearing in Ridgway. Mass is said in homes and the back of department stores. Finally, after years of population growth, in 1874, there are enough Catholics in Ridgway to build a church. And that they do. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart church is built and heavily used. It doesn’t stay “Our Lady of the Sacred Heart” for long. Its renamed St. Leo Church.
Michael Meagher, the first priest, travels night and day to reach other towns. He treks to Johnsonburg, Kane, Emporium, and Kersey from Ridgway to say
mass and perform the sacraments. Emporium is lucky if they see him once a month. The second St. Leo Church is built in 1883. In the 1880's a rule was made: all Catholic churches in the Diocese must have a Catholic school to accompany it. Thus, St. Leo School is born. The Sisters of Saint Joseph are invited to teach at St. Leo, and that they did until the early 2000s.
From the death of Jesus to the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the history of St. Leo School has it all. This is just one history of the many Catholic Schools throughout the world.