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Our Parish
Saint Luke Church is open
year-round, while Saint Andrew Parish Center is open for Masses only the summer
season. During the winter months Saint Andrew’s serves as our social center for
various events including dinners, socials, holiday parties, meetings, and
rentals. These events are all part of our parish social activities.
During the summer season, we are able
to offer 12 Masses each weekend between St. Luke and St.
Andrew to help accommodate the spiritual needs of the
parishioners and those who visit our community while on
vacation. Presently our parish of St. Luke is home to
1,060 families. Father Richard Smith, Pastor, assisted by a
dedicated staff and many, many volunteers, shepherd the
flock of Christ here in Ocean City and lower Delaware.
History
June 26, 1985,
Bishop Robert E.
Mulvee appointed Father Richard Gardiner as
the founding Pastor of the parish, assigning both Saint
Luke’s Church and Saint Andrew’s Church as the second
Catholic Parish in Ocean City. Previously both Churches were
part of Saint Mary Star of the Sea/Holy Savior Parish.
Father Gardiner became Pastor of 558 families until his
death in 1989.
Father Leonard Blakely was assigned to assist
Father Gardiner and was administrator until the appointment
of Father Byrolly. During this time plans were
refined and began to take shape for needed expansion. Father
Blakely remained as Associate Pastor until 1994.
Father Bruce Byrolly succeeded Father Gardiner becoming the
second Pastor serving until June 1991. During this period,
the number of families had increased by 96% to a total of
1,044 families. The increase had been seen by Father
Gardiner before his death and so seeds were planted early on
the construction of a third church in the Ocean Pines area.
In June 1991, Bishop Mulvee appointed Father William J.
Porter as Pastor. Father Porter remained as Pastor
until June 2003. During Father Porter’s time he was
assisted by Father Patrick O’Neill (1995-1999) and Father
Joseph Piekarski (1998-2001). Following Father Porter’s
arrival plans for the construction of administrative
offices, a fully equipped kitchen facility, and a Religious
Education Center on the property of Saint Andrew’s as well
as the new Saint John Neumann Church and Religious Education
Center in Ocean Pines began. On October 17, 1993, the Saint
Andrew’s segment of construction was blessed by Bishop
Mulvee. He returned for the dedication Mass of Saint
John Neumann Church and Religious Education Center on
January 5, 1995.
In June 2000, Bishop Saltarelli appointed
Father Edward J. Fahey, Jr. as associate pastor, where
he remained until June 2007. In June 2002, Bishop
Saltarelli appointed Father Raymond F. Weisman as
associate pastor, and as Pastor of St. Luke, St. Andrew and
St. John Neumann in June 2003. At the same time,
Father Thomas J. Protack was appointed associate
pastor.
Bishop Saltarelli, appointed Father Thomas J. Protack as
administrator in November of 2005. In December the same
year, Father John Kavanaugh was assigned as
associate pastor. Father Kavanaugh has officially retired,
but still assists when needed. In June of 2006, Father
Richard Smith was appointed as associate pastor. On
October 1, 2006 Bishop Saltarelli appointed Father Thomas J.
Protack as the fifth pastor, and due to the significant
growth in the faith, charged him with developing St. John
Neumann Church as its own parish.
On October 7, 2007, Bishop Saltarelli appointed Father
Christopher LaBarge as the sixth Pastor of St. Luke-
St. Andrew, as St. John Neumann in Berlin officially became
its own parish under the leadership of Father Protack.
On June 30, 2008, Bishop Saltarelli appointed Father Richard
Smith as temporary administrator. On July 7, 2008,
Bishop W. Francis Malooly was appointed as the ninth
Bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington and was installed on
September 8, 2008.
Bishop Malooly appointed Father Richard Smith as
Administrator of St. Luke and St. Andrew Parish effective
June 22, 2009, and as Pastor in October 2009..
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