History

On August 1, 1969 Bishop Louis Reicher established a new parish in Temple known as St. Luke's. It was fitting in a town with four hospitals and so many doctors and health-care providers that the new church be named for Luke, the patron of physicians.

Father John Driscoll celebrated the first Mass in the Sara T. Thornton Elementary School Auditorium on September 28, 1969. During the summer months, Mass was celebrated in the newly built Bonham Junior High School on Midway Drive.

The ground breaking for the St. Luke's Parish Hall and Rectory was held on March 8, 1970. The firm of Danze and Davis from Austin, Texas designed the buildings. The hall contained six classrooms, a kitchen, restrooms, CCE office and a stage. The rectory was designed for two priests and also was to provide 770 square feet of office space.

The first Mass was celebrated in the Parish Hall on August 16, 1970. On September 27, 1970, the parish hall and rectory were dedicated by the Most Reverend Louis J. Reicher, the First Bishop of Austin.

Groundbreaking for the Church Building, was held in the Fall of 1971. The Architects were Danze and Davis and the contractor was BFW Construction Company of Temple. The church was built thanks to the generous donations from organizations and parishioners and was completed by November 1972. The dedication of the Church was held on January 28, 1973, by The Most Reverend Vincent M. Harris, Second Bishop of Austin. The principal celebrant was Father John E. Driscoll, Pastor, and Father Oliver Johnson, Associate Pastor.

Originally, upon entering the main sanctuary, one would see a dais with altar in the center. To the right of the altar were a freestanding tabernacle and a hanging bronze sanctuary lamp. On the opposite side was the baptismal font. A bronze dove, the emblem of the Holy Spirit, hung above the font. The statues of the Risen Christ, Virgin and Child, St. Joseph and the Station of the Cross are original artwork in the church. They are all wood-crafted and were imported from Italy. The organ and choir were originally located in the balcony.

The stained glass windows were designed by Mr. Gordon Smith of Ft. Worth to complement the contemporary architecture of the church. The large windows surrounding the main entrance of the church depict St. Luke in his role as evangelist. Also in the window are found the symbol for St. Luke, a winged ox, and in blazing red, the Alpha and Omega signs. The 1973 church dedication booklet describes the windows: "The side windows are abstract in design and continue the theme of creation and eternity. The reds, purples and greens may be associated with mans struggle in his quest for eternal salvation. Suggestions of star bursts serve as reminders of God's creative force in the universe. There are hints of wings and of flight -the flight of angels, of the transcendent soaring of the spirit. The sanctuary windows are designed around a semiabstract representation of the cross -red to symbolize Christ's sacrificial death as emphasized in St. Luke's Gospel. The Resurrection is symbolized by the golden radiance emanating from the center of the Cross. This visually echoes the golden halo surrounding St. Luke's head and reinforces the design concept as a coordinated whole." Other features in the church included a small chapel used for daily Mass; a sacristy, a cry room and restrooms.

Father Edward Jordan became Pastor in August of 1974. The parish community looked for ways of continuing growth through activities at Church and reaching out to the broader community. According to a newsletter from that time, there was a special emphasis on Sunday worship and its extension - sacramental visitation of the sick. Efforts were made to perfect every kind of ministry at Mass from acolytes to ushers.

Father Desmond Murphy became Pastor of St. Luke’s on June 22, 1980. Father Murphy was considered one of the most forward thinking pastors in the Diocese – “in the Spirit of Vatican II.” Under Father Murphy’s guidance, St. Luke’s was known as a model parish in church involvement of the laity and development of the lay ministry. He died in residence on February 1, 1985, of an apparent heart attack.

During the three months following Father Murphy's death, Father Donald Chatham served as an Interim Pastor while also serving as Pastor of Christ the King Parish in Belton. Deacons Jerry Klement and Fred Vogler presided at Communion Services when there could be no Mass, and by this means the community continued to gather and worship

In May of 1985 Father Charles Michalka was appointed pastor of St. Luke's. At the time of his arrival at St. Luke's, every available space was being used for religious education including six classrooms in the parish hall, the kitchen, stage and chapel. The need for more space became evident, an architect was hired to design an Education Building.

Father Walter Matus became Pastor of St. Luke's on July 5, 1987. In 1988 the mortgage on the church property and building was paid and the property purchased previously for church expansion and investment was sold. The building project was taken up again. In addition to an Education Building, it was decided to expand the Parish Hall and expand and resurface the parking lot. Roofs on the Church, Hall and Rectory were replaced and a new Sound System was installed in the Church. The stain glass windows were restored and the outside of the Church was cleaned and sealed.

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Education Building was held on August 5, 1990. The Education Building and expanded hall were dedicated on May 5, 1991. The 14,000 square foot building allowed all elementary grades to meet a one time. It consisted of sixteen classrooms, a library, a Deacon's Office and a spacious meeting room with adjoining kitchen. The room was named the Driscoll-Murphy Room after the two beloved pastors who served at St. Luke's.

The building program had been fourfold. In addition to the Education Building, the Parish Hall was expanded. The kitchen was relocated and a large pantry added. A library, a music room and a cabinet designed to display religious articles for sale was also added. The Nursery was remodeled with separate areas for cribs, and an adjoining restroom. The rectory was remodeled, and existing garage was converted to accommodate an additional priest. The parking area was expanded, and a storage building added to hold church equipment and supplies.

In 1993 renovations were made in the Church. Carpet was replaced, pews were reupholstered and refinished and plaster and wood trim were repaired and painted.

Father Joseph Mitrano, became Pastor on July 1, 1994. In October the Parish marked its 25th Anniversary. In December of 1994 Father Mitrano became the second priest to celebrated his 25th Anniversary of his Ordination while assigned to St. Luke’s. The other priest who had celebrated his 25th Anniversary was Father Michael Burke, O.P., Associate Pastor at St. Luke - June 13, 1993.

In 1995 the Parish Council began a transition to form a Pastoral Council.

Father Louis Pavlicek was assigned as Pastor on July 1, 1996 and was also assigned later as Pastor of the Mission Church in Rogers - St. Matthew. Father Steven Ryan served as Associate Pastor from September 1997 to January 1999. Father Joseph Nisari followed as Associate Pastor until his reassignment in July, 1999. Father Larry Heimsoth was ordained at St. Luke’s by Bishop John McCarthy on July 10, 1999 and was assigned to St. Luke’s as Associate Pastor.

Holy Trinity Catholic High School began using the Religious Education Building for classes in 1997 with Father Charlie Davis as the Chaplain for the school. After several years, the school relocated to a larger facility in the area.

In the year 2001, plans were made to establish a Columbarium, which was covered in granite and measured five feet high and seven feet in diameter and had ninety-six niches, was installed.

On June 24, 2001, groundbreaking for a 10,000 square foot Parish Pastoral Center was held. This center was designed to include offices, music room, youth room and maintenance area. Approximate cost of this center was $1,004,000 with the Architect being Greg Lewis and the Contractor Baird-Williams. The blessing and dedication of the new center was held on March 9, 2002.

A new Crucifix was donated to St. Luke Parish by the Joe Frerick Family in memory of Fransico and Rose Forgione and in honor of Foster Father & Mother Orville and Bernadette Frerich and was dedicated on Ash Wednesday, 2002.

Over the past few years several seminarians have spent the summer months at St. Luke’s with three of them, Rev. Raphael Padilla, Rev. Juan Carlos and Rev. Joe Galeny, being ordained to the Priesthood.

Throughout the years, St. Luke’s has been actively involved with the Respect Life Program, Gabriel Program, Project Rachel, the St. Vincent de Paul Society Store which moved to a new location in the downtown area and just recently, the Family Promise Program which assists homeless families.

Fr. Joseph Nisari was assigned as Pastor on July 1, 2004.

Fr. Don Loftin was assigned as Pastor on September 1, 2005.

Note: A majority of this history is a condensed version of St. Luke's Silver Anniversary Pamphlet.