Parish History
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December 25, 1966 - Fathers Snyder, Goodill and Ehrman celebrate mass for the first time in the new church.

PARISH FACTS
June 4, 1954 - Father Robert Goodill named professor of religion at Mercyhurst College with instructions from Archbishop Gannon that he begin formulation of a new parish for the area.

July 25, 1954 - First Baptism. Paul Alan Hiegel, son of Paul and Ruth McKinney Hiegel is baptized in Christ the King Chapel, Mercyhurst College.

September 4, 1954 - St. Luke Parish canonically established by Archbishop John Mark Gannon.

September 26, 1954 - Father Goodill celebrates the first Mass of the new parish at Christ the King Chapel of Mercyhurst College.

October 9, 1954 - Groundbreaking takes place for St. Luke's School

December 31, 1955 - Mass is celebrated in the school gym for the first time.

May 20, 1956 - St. Luke School is dedicated with Archbishop John Mark Gannon presiding.

June, 1965 - Construction of St. Luke Church begins

October 23, 1966 - Bishop Watson dedicates the new church, rectory and office complex.

December 25, 1966 - Fathers Snyder, Goodill and Ehrman celebrate mass for the first time in the new church.

Saint Luke Parish was canonically established by Archbishop John M. Gannon on September 4, 1954. In the early 1950's a rapidly growing southwest Erie caused a re-evaluation and study of parish structures. The results of the studies led to a formation of a number of suburban parishes in Erie between 1954 and 1958. The parishes, beginning with the formation of St. Luke's in 1954, Our Lady of Peace and St. Jude's in 1956, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel in 1960, would border the south and west sides of the city.

In the beginning, Father Goodill spent the first months living at Mercyhurst College, making preparations to undertake the parish's first project -- to raise a school. Groundbreaking took place on October 9, 1954, less than five weeks after the parish was officially established. The construction of the new school took one year. In the meantime the first baptism was celebrated on July 24, 1954. Paul Hiegel was baptized at Christ the King Chapel, Mercyhurst College. Also the first person to be buried from the parish, Eugene Carlson, was buried before the new facility opened.

Like may large families, the Family of St. Luke Parish has been very active throughout its forty-five years. In fact it has been downright hectic. The pace, however, is a sign of God's generosity and the parishioners' desire to take advantage of those same blessings, using them for the benefit of God's people. Even today the number and variety of organizations within the parish indicates how richly blessed we are.

ST. LUKE STATISTICS

Total attendance at first four 1954 Sunday Masses - 642

Total collection for the first day - $692

Initial enrollment in St. Luke School - 429 students enrolled in eleven rooms, grades one through eight.

Cost of St. Luke Church inclusive of stained glass windows and pews - $1,200,000.00

Seating capacity of St. Luke Church - 800 persons