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Founded in 1965 to serve
the growing Catholic
community of southern Jefferson County, St Luke began a journey, a
journey of faith and endurance.
On
May 4, 1964 Father Vincent J. Manger received a letter from Archbishop
Floersh instructing him to establish the parish of St. Luke Catholic
Church. Fr. Manger was our first pastor.
The
first Mass was held on August 8, 1965 at St. Rita Catholic Church. St.
Rita also provided space for the first parish meeting in August, the
first card party in September and the first CCD class.
The rectory was completed
in June of 1966 and the first Mass was held in the rectory basement.
Construction
was begun on the church/education building in July 1966. The new church
was completed in time for Mass to be celebrated on Christmas 1966. The
pews were not delivered until March of 1967.
Bishop Maloney dedicated
St. Luke Catholic Church at the 10:30am Mass on April 23, 1967.
During
the 60’s Bingo was held at Swiss Hall; the first on site dance was held
and the Teen Club was formed. Boy Scout Troop 397 and the Brownies were
begun. Choir practice began.
In
1968 the Stations of the Cross were installed and the sacrament of
Confirmation was conferred for the first time in March of 1968. The
parking lot was blacktopped and the ball field was taking shape.
The garage was completed in
April of 1969.
The
1970’s brought the first Saturday Mass; the first meeting of the
Mother’s Club and the LUC (Lectors-Ushers) Men’s Club; and the first
Parish Council elections. Bingo was held in St. Luke’s Hall.
Daniel
Patterson became our first deacon in 1976. In 1976 thoughts turned to
beginning a parish school, something that had been a dream since the
inception of the parish. Parents petitioned and were denied their
request to begin a parish school.
Finally
in April 1977, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Fr. Joseph McGee
announced that Archbishop McDonough had granted permission to open St.
Luke Catholic School. The school opened in September 1978 with
Elizabeth Berry as principal. Soon after Miss Berry was received into
the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. She stayed on as principal.
In
June of 1982, Fr. Manger retired after 45 years in the priesthood, the
last seventeen as pastor of St. Luke. Father died in November 1993.
Fr.
John W. Birk became the second pastor of St. Luke in June of 1982 and
Mrs. Elizabeth Kenobbie was hired as the principal of the school.
Our associate pastor, Fr.
Aloysius Robben retired in May of 1985 and continued to reside at St.
Luke until his death in 1988.
In 1986 the first class to
complete all eight grades at St. Luke graduated; our church was
remodeled and our church bell was erected.
Bishop
Maloney, who celebrated our dedication Mass with us in 1967, was back
to celebrate Mass for our 25th anniversary. in 1989. Archbishop Kelly
visited us at the afternoon parish picnic.
The
1990’s were a challenging time for St. Luke. Due to rising costs and a
decline in enrollment, the school was forced to close in 1993. We
became a member of Thomas Merton Academy, a school which represented
four parishes: Guardian Angels, Resurrection, St. Ignatius and St.
Luke. Thomas Merton is now closed.
The
same year, 1993, Fr. Richard Berding became our third pastor and Fran
Sohl became our Director of Religious Education. With the closing of
the school the parish was headed in a different direction. New programs
were implemented, including a three parish Religious Education program,
Junior and Senior Youth Ministries, RCIA program, Children’s Liturgy,
Sunday evening Holy Hour and Vacation Bible School, and the Sociables
(senior group) was reactivated.
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