Maureen Nemchik joined St. Leo's in 1980 and fought back tears as she watched the fire.
"It's really hard for all the people who've gone to St. Leo's for births, christenings, weddings, funerals and you know everything in between," Nemchik said. "I was married here. My daughter was married here."
No one was injured during the fire. The building next to the church, an old rectory that had been turned into homes, also sustained damage, displacing five people.
Fire crews continued to douse hot spots Monday morning.
Fire crews still working putting out hot spots at St. Leo’s in Tacony.