St. Leo's Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(regular)
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Cached placed with permission from Father Shea & Father
Erickson. Plenty of parking in church parking lot. Please be
respectful of church property.
St. Leo’s Catholic Church was erected in 1912 and dedicated May 30,
1913. This original church, still in use at Fourth and Pine St, is
now the Niobrara Southern Baptist Church. St. Leo’s became a parish
August 5, 1947. Until this time it was a mission served by
missionary priests stationed in Douglas. In 1948 Father Othmar
Miller became the first resident priest in Lusk. After serving St.
Leo’s Parish for more than 50 years the small beautiful church was
considered no longer adequate or safe, and a decision was made to
build a new church on the present location of the west end of 5th
street. The blessing of the cornerstone was April 5, 1967, by
Monsignor O’Reilly of Casper. Open house was held May 21, 1967,
fifty-four years to the month after the first church was dedicated.
The futuristically designed church was the first one built in
Wyoming after the architectural changes were allowed by the Vatican
Council II. A steel bell tower 40-feet high surmounted by a cross
later completed the church. In 1976, the new rectory adjacent to
the church was completed. In 2000, St Leo’s parish celebrated the
85th anniversary of its founding by Bishop Keane with an evening
Mass in the park, and a dinner and dance on two successive
evenings. About twelve priests attended, as well as former
parishioners and present parishioners. St. Leo’s Catholic Church
continues to be a vital part of the people of Lusk and Niobrara
County.
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