History
1881 – 2006 "The First One Hundred Twenty Five
Years"
St. Leander is an educational community rooted in the Catholic tradition. It has always reflected the growth and diversity of the parish and the community surrounding it. The idea of the school was first seriously envisioned by the third pastor, Fr. John McEvoy in 1880.
Thanks to assistance of Mr. P. Matthews and other devoted parishioners, Fr. McEvoy purchased the old court house and the goal became a reality. Fr. McEvoy requested that the Dominican Sisters of Benicia staff a boarding and day school. His request was granted during a Conventual Council in March, 1881. In April, 1881, Archbishop Joseph Alemany, assisted by Fr. McEvony and neighboring pastors Fr.s McNally and deCampos, officiated at the solemn blessing and naming of St. Mary's School.
In August, 1881, St. Mary's parochial school opened "in earnest". St. Mary's parochial school offered a complete grammar and high school course for girls. In the summer of 1883 it was decided to include boys in the grammar school grades. In August, 1898, Fr. O'Mahony became paster after Fr. McEvoy died after a long illness. In 1900 St. Mary's high school program was discontinued due to declining attendance.
In 1907 a new one-story building was completed to meet the needs of the greater number of students. In April 1926, the old St. Mary's School was demolished and replaced with a new two story school. In 1955, at the request of Fr. Ryan, Pastor, the School name and Convent changed to St. Leander's.
When the Dominican Sisters withdrew from the school in the
late 1970"s, the responsibility of educating St. Leander’s youth was
passed on to a completely lay staff. Those staff members, and all who have
followed, have passionately continued the work the sisters began so long ago.
...In 2006 St. Leander School celebrated its 125th anniversary!