In 1904, Saint Leonard’s parish welcomed Father Valerian Pianigiani. It was under Father Pianigiani’s tenure as Pastor that various Church groups still in formation today came to be, the most prevalent of these groups being the Third Order of Saint Francis and the Knights of Columbus.

The Third Order is a group of lay men and women who wish to carry on the traditions of the Franciscans while living secular lives. The group counts among its most famous past members, Dante Alighieri, Michelangelo, and Christopher Columbus. By 1920, Saint Leonard’s chapter of the Third Order had over four thousand members.