Dedicated January 13, 2000

For as long as parishioners can remember, the niche above the main entrance of St. Leo's Roman Catholic Church had been empty. Whether it was ever occupied is unknown. It is assumed that it was built to house a statue of the church's patron, St. Leo I, also known as St. Leo the Great; he served as pope between 440-461 AD.

One theory holds that a statue placed in the niche some time after the church was dedicated in 1881 was destroyed by lightning. A decision was made to put St. Leo in his rightful place.

With Urban Bishop Gordon Bennett, S.J. officiating, and in the presence of hundreds of parishioners - past and present - a 450-pound bronze statue of the heroic saint was officially dedicated at noon on January 13, 2000. Victor and Pat Lancelotta, members of a large family active in the affairs of St. Leo's, donated the statue.

Inside the church, a huge mural of St. Leo entitled "St. Leo in Glory" has had prominence above the main altar since 1954. On March 26 of that year, a shrine similar to one honoring Saint Gabriele and Saint Anthony was dedicated during a Sunday liturgy, along with an indoor Italian bazaar held in the School Hall.