return to picture gallery

(Double click on picture to see larger version. For selected captions, rest the mouse pointer on a photo without clicking.)

St. Leonhard's International English-Speaking Roman Catholic Parish celebrated the 15th anniversary of its December 1995 establishment by the Diocese of Limburg with a Mass concelebrated by Father Johannes zu Eltz, dean of Frankfurt's Catholic parishes, on Sunday, 16th January 2011.

The following is a short history by Klaus Walch, a parishioner and a member of the first Parish Council.

St. Leonhard’s Church is located in the centre of Frankfurt on Alte Mainzer Gasse, just a short walk from the Hauptwache, the most central point of the city. The church lies adjacent to the Main river and a few hundred yards away from the Frankfurt Kaiser Dom. It is one of the oldest churches in the Frankfurt area (only Justinuskirche in Höchst is older). First mentioned in the year 1219, it was then a small chapel on the river bank. Over the centuries, the building saw extensions, reconstructions and some damage caused by WWII. Today St. Leonhard’s Church presents itself to the visitor as a blend of predominantly Romanesque and Gothic architectural elements.

Since 1323, the church has possessed a treasured relic of St. Leonhard (English=Leonard), who lived in the sixth century in France. St. Leonhard is considered to be the patron of pilgrims, of the sick and of prisoners. After this short introduction to the church and its patron saint, let us learn something about the history of our parish.

The International English-Speaking Parish has its roots in St. Sebastian’s Parish, which used to be the Frankfurt US Military and International Catholic Community. The parish belonged to the Military diocese of Western Europe. St. Sebastian’s church was situated in the Hansa Allee.  Before World War II, the original building was a farmhouse. The premises were reconstructed after the war and, on November 20, 1947, the church was dedicated by an American bishop, Aloysius Muench, acting as Apostolic visitor to Germany and Austria.

The social work done by the Catholic Community of the army was, in those years, immense.  I cite an example: “On peak days, fifteen or twenty refugees come to St. Sebastian’s seeking clothes or something to eat. They are part of the seven million refugees in western Germany, homeless or living eight in a room.”  St. Sebastian’s soon became a truly cosmopolitan Catholic parish. When the priest presided at Mass, he may have had an American colonel or a major as his altar server, or a young American or German boy. In the congregation, there were Americans, Germans, Irish, Italians, Spanish and worshippers from the Philippines or India, among others.  All of Europe and beyond seemed to be represented.  Then came the withdrawal of parts of the US Army Europe and the order to dissolve the parish.  After Mass on January 8, 1995, the parish sadly had to leave the chapel building forever with all its wonderful memories. The building was later deconsecrated and demolished to make room for an apartment block.  During the months that followed, the parish was hosted by Central Chapel, also a US military facility on the grounds of the former IG Farben complex. Later, Central Chapel was also demolished. Today the University of Frankfurt, Campus West, occupies the site.

The last military pastor of the parish was Father Robert M. Santry.  After he left, in the weeks of transition, the faithful were taken care of by the Jesuits here in Frankfurt who have cared for English-speaking Catholics in the diocese of Limburg since the end of World War II.  Father Martin Löwenstein was the Jesuit priest who cared for us in those early days.  Thanks to the efforts of the provisional Parish Council (Friends of St. Sebastian’s) and the openness and help of the Bishop of Limburg, Dr. Franz Kamphaus, the faithful were recognised in late 1995 as a foreign-language parish in the Diocese of Limburg, including the adjacent fringes of the Dioceses of Fulda and Mainz. The parish became unique in the whole of the Rhine-Main area.

The Bishop designated St. Leonhard’s church as the new home of the International parish. On November 30^th/December 1^st, the first official Parish Council of the newly formed parish was elected. The International English-Speaking Catholic Parish is now part of the inner city ‘Church’ in Frankfurt.  Besides the parishes of Liebfrauen and Dom/St. Bartholomeus, the International parish is regarded as one of the important cornerstones of the Catholic Church of Frankfurt. The International Parish shares St. Leonhard’s Church with the Dom parish.

Beginning in September, 1995, American Jesuit, Fr. Richard Galligan, took over pastoral duties from Fr. Löwenstein.  He was succeeded by two other American Jesuits, Fr. Patrick McAteer (in summer, 1996) and Fr. Joseph Schad (in September, 1997).  Beginning in August, 1999, American Fr. Jack Kelly, S.J., remained with the parish for nine years, guaranteeing consistency and a continuous development.  British Fr. John Marsh,C.Ss.R. spent a year with the parish (until September 2009) before our present pastor, Monsignor Stephen Alker arrived in January 2010.  During the early years of formation, the parish was blessed by the presence and contributions of Sr. Johnna Yuracek and Sr. Barbara Rimpler, both Sisters of Divine Providence.

St. Leonhard’s English-speaking Roman Catholic Parish is, in a true sense of the word, ‘International.’  Faithful from all parts of the world meet here on Saturdays and Sundays for Mass and social gathering afterwards.  Besides their Catholic faith, the English language is their common denominator.  In comparison with other local parishes, the St. Leonhard’s International Roman Catholic Parish is, in a way, in ‘permanent transition.’ Despite the fact that quite a few parishioners move through Frankfurt, remaining just a couple of years, as they move on to other countries or back home, the parish has nevertheless gained a ‘structural’ identity and strength through a diversity of permanent ongoing parish programs. As it acquires the ‘fresh blood’ of new members each year, this continuity gives the parish inspiration, new life and ideas and the strength to grow further in the life of the Spirit.

Last updated: 25th February 2011.
If you have any queries about this Website, please contact  webmaster@stleonhards.org 
 To contact the Parish Office: email@stleonhards.org