St. Luke The Evangelist Catholic Church

2020 - A new year and new technology for St. Luke Parishioners

Click here to see all the new ways to "connect"

FORMED Trailer Video from Augustine Institute on Vimeo.

Symbolon Trailer from Augustine Institute on Vimeo.

Symbolon Overview: How It Works from Augustine Institute Studios on Vimeo.

See information below under Courageously Living the Gospel for instructional videos and information on how to sign up for your free subscription to Formed.org

Another team of parish volunteers for Courageously Living the Gospel announces a parish wide initiative.    

Our team of parish volunteers for Courageously Living the Gospel has been meeting for several months on our assigned task, Parish Goal #3: St. Luke the Evangelist parish will equip parishioners as Missionary Disciples who are inspired to invite and accompany others by Pentecost 2020.

            Our Mission Statement

To assist our Pastor in equipping St. Luke parishioners with the knowledge and information needed to “put our faith in action” and evangelize within our parish and the community at-large by May 31, 2020 the feast of Pentecost. Special emphasis will be placed on reaching the youth of the parish, families, the elderly, homebound and the disabled.

To accomplish this we envisioned informational and educational platforms to better acquaint members of the parish with the concept of discipleship and evangelization. Currently there are thirty plus ministries featured on the parish website www.stlukealderman.org . Ministry events are also promoted in the bulletin, shared on Flocknote, and will be listed on our new parish app, but we wanted to do more.

With Fr. Paul’s approval we are pleased to announce a new evangelization tool for the parish called FORMED.ORG. FORMED is Catholic faith “On-Demand” with thousands of movies, video programs, audios and e-books to help the parish grow in faith and it is FREE to ALL members of the parish!

It offers the opportunity to learn and enjoy your Catholic faith at home or on the go, from any device: web browser, phone apps, iOs, Android, TVOS, Roku, Amazon Fire, Tizen and Android TV.

Registering is easy! No parish code & no password to remember but if you do have a problem registering we have volunteers on hand to help!

1. Visit FORMED.org
2. Click Sign UP
3. Select “I Belong to a Parish or Organization.”                  
4. Find St.Luke by parish name, address or zip code          
5. Enter your name and email address and you’re in!
6. Check that email account for a link to begin using FORMED.

Click this link for instructional videos on how to set up any device.

Thank you St. Luke Parishioners

We thank the 596 parishioners who through January 6, 2020 gave a total of $184,760 to the Annual Appeal (APA).

This tremendous effort allowed the parish to achieve 138% of our assessed goal and means St. Luke's assessment for 2020 will be $10,275 less.

The end result also means the parish has an additional $51,378 for future use in our Diocesan savings account.

Had we not surpassed this goal or not raised money for APA and merely contributed to the "General Collection," St. Luke's assessment would come out of our everyday operating funds.

However the most important aspect is that your individual efforts helped to support Catholic education, seminarians and care for the homeless. 

In the coming weeks you will again be hearing about the St. Petersburg Diocese's Annual Appeal. Please take time to listen and to learn more click here.

• Participate in a free fund raiser event via Amazon and St. Luke will receive .05% on all your purchases. Type https://smile.amazon.com/ch/59-2504342 in your address bar, hit return, sign in with your Amazon info & in the future shop at https://smile.amazon.com/smile.com

Knowing it is sometimes difficult for new members of our faith community to meet others outside of Mass or explore all the ministries and activities the parish has to offer, we'd like to extend an invitation to attend a special event.

We hope you can join us for an "open house" in the Assembly Room of the Ministry building January 29,2020 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm.

This event is exclusively for new members of St. Luke to provide a chance to talk with our clergy, meet other parishioners and learn all that is happening in the parish. There will be a short presentation at 6:30 pm about the many ways you can get involved and contribute to the success of the parish. 

* So we can plan for food and beverages; kindly confirm your attendance by contacting the parish office at 727-786-3648 by Monday, January 27th. 

Access to Lectors and Extraordinary Minsters' online schedules.

If not us, who?

          If not here, where?

                    If not now, when?

                              If not the Kingdom, why?

Let's us all be Good Stewards of our time, talents and treasure.

 Our Mission Statement:

“To encourage and enlist all Parishioners of St. Luke The Evangelist Catholic Church to use their time, talents, or treasures to perform works of mercy; feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick, as well as, the Spiritual work of mercy of praying for the living and the dead.”

We have two projects scheduled over the next 4 months which calls all of us to discipleship in serving our Lord and others. With both of these projects, we will need many helpers and support.

• F.E.A.S.T. Food Drive: Your contributions during the month of November of non-perishable, not expired food, paper products, toiletries, baby products, and pet food to helped stock the shelves of Palm Harbors’ local food bank. Besides the collection in November, we will have another collection for F.E.A.S.T. during Lent in March 2020. We will always accept donations and help delivering food to the F.E.A.S.T. site.

• Pinellas Hope Lunch: Our Disciples of Hope volunteers met December 18th to assemble 200 lunches for the homeless. We will gather together again on January 21st at 7:00 PM and January 22nd at 9:45 AM to prepare more lunches for the homeless. Won't you join us? These lunches will be prepared here at St. Luke's. The lunch will consist of a sandwich, fruit or veggies, homemade cookies* or chips, and water.

HELP!!!! We need many bakers who are wiling to provide peanut and nut-free cookies*; imagine the joy you will bring when a person without a home gets to enjoy your homemade goods.

Remember, you can play an important part in helping those in need and serving our Lord.

To join this new ministry, to volunteer to help, or for more information please contact

JoAnn DeFrancesco 727/733-1013

Kathy Waldron 727/667-6087

Kathy Haertel 727/785-7544

Marie Cardone 727/781-7281

Or e-mail [email protected]

God Bless You. Please pray for our Church and our new Ministry.

 Knights of Columbus                                       

Purpose or Mission: We are a fraternal organization of Catholic gentlemen dedicated to the concepts of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. The St. Luke Council #12196 through its fund raising and service projects contributes not only to the parish but surrounding community of Palm Harbor as well.

Requirements: The Knights of Columbus is open to all interested Catholic men 18 years of age and older.

Time Commitment: Two to three hours a month in addition to helping at special events.

Meeting Times: Council meetings: Are held in the St. Luke Ministry Building Assembly Room

(Check the Parish Bulletin)

Business Meetings: First Tuesday of every month at 7:00pm.

Officer’s Meeting: Third Tuesday of every month at 7:00pm.

Fourth Degree Assembly: Third Wednesday of each month at 7:30pm. 

Contact: Grand Knight for 2018-19 is Mike Brenton 727-787-8735 or Knights [email protected]

If you are interested in joining the Knights or would like to transfer your membership to the St. Luke council, you can contact Mike Gaspar, the Membership Director, by phone at 757-450-5549, or by email at: [email protected]

Click here to open the link to the latest newsletter

St. Luke's Respect Life Prayer

O Blessed Mother,

Pray for us your children

That we may be strong against the forces of death.

Look down upon the babies not allowed to be born,

On the poor, on the victims of social injustice,

On the elderly and sick killed by the indifference or misguided mercy.

Help us appreciate the miracle of life as a gift from God,

And may we become a People of Life!   Amen.

If you cannot  join the march, perhaps you can get involved in our parish's Respect Life Ministry. More information can be found on our website under Outreach Ministries M-Z Click here for all the details.

 Purpose or Mission: To challenge the youth of the parish to support the Church’s mission to “Love God, Love Our Neighbor and Make Disciples,” by Courageously Living the Gospel every day.

We invite the youth, their family and friends to encounter Jesus through Scripture, Sacraments and the parish community while having fun and enjoying fellowship.

Requirements: Most activities are age specific with particular grades in mind: elementary focus is 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th grade; middle school 6^th, 7^th and 8^th. Our high school age students are welcome to help be role models and buddy up with a younger friend during combined events.

Recent social events have included everything from Glow in the Dark Dodge Ball, arts and crafts, to free movie passes and Tampa Bay Rays baseball tickets, roller skating party, and Trick or Treating visits to nursing home residents. 

We need more kids, more parents and more parish volunteers!     Click here to see photos of all the fun!

Time Commitment: Varies with activity but making the time to hang out with likeminded friends is always worthwhile.

Meeting Times: Check the bulletin, meeting time is usually 12:30 -2:00 pm on Sundays. Meeting January 19th.

3rd grade and up including high school and college students of the parish to mentor and join in the fun!

Meet at the St. Clare Building for Faith, Food , Friends and Fun.

What are you looking for in terms of this ministry? What would you like your children to do? What are your children asking to do? What comments are suggestions do you have?

Call or text  Janiceann Gaide-OLoughlin

813-230-6412

[email protected] alderman.org

EXPLORE Life TEEN Click Here!

 "Three Steps Closer To God"

The Altar Server Ministry is a very special group of young people in our parish who have answered God's call to ministry. As an Altar Server, you are one of the liturgical ministers with an important role during the Mass or during other liturgical services. It is a privilege to assist the priest at the altar and help the church community worship in the best possible way.

Altar Servers must have a strong desire to serve, they must have made their First Holy Communion, be in the 4th-12th grade, members of St. Luke parish and attend Mass regularly.

Training is provided. For more information on dates, times and sign up procedures contact Claudia Useche [email protected] or [email protected] or contact the church office to leave a message for Deacon Mike. Servers are needed for weekend Masses.  

A recent Mass was especially joyful thanks to the added voices of the Children's Choir. Special thanks to Bruno for preparing the children & Fr. Matt and Deacon Mike for blessing this new and important ministry.

Children's Choir rehearsals are currently taking place for an 11:30 am Mass in February.

Do you have children or grandchildren who love to sing? If so, consider having them join the Children's Choir.

Please see our Music Director Bruno Soldo, or call the parish office for more details.

Christ Renews His Parish is coming February 15 & 16!

Is your soul crying for attention? Escape to a Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) renewal weekend.

This all woman event will be held in the St Luke Ministries building.

Your body will be fed three meals a day and your spirit will be fed throughout. You will be home by 8pm each evening.

You will be refreshed and renewed with fresh eyes and fresh ears to draw closer to our Lord.

R.S.V.P. to Joy Burgess at (727) 810 - 9669 by Feb 12.

Estimado Recién LLegado(a),

 Si usted está buscando una nueva Parroquia, es un visitante de temporada que se nos une por un breve período de tiempo, está volviendo a la práctica de su Fe Católica, o sencillamente está interesado(a) en conocer más sober la Iglesia Católica; nos alegra tenerlo(a) en San Lucas el Evangelista.

 Todos son bienvenidos e invitados a registrarse en nuestra Parroquia.

      *  ¡El registrarse me permite a mí como Pastor, y al personal parroquial, el conocerle a usted mejor, darle la bienvenida y atenderle!

     *  Esto es especialmente importante durante tiempo de crisis, de manera que podamos ayudarle en sus necesidades espirituales y necesidades de su familia.

     *  Finalmente, al registrarse como miembro de San Lucas el Evangelista, usted expresa su intención de poner su Fe en acción y unírsenos, según nosotros respondemos el llamado de Cristo  para "Amar a Dios, Amar a Nuestro Prójimo, y Hacer Discípulos".

 Según usted complete la forma de registro adjunta, favor notar que usted has sido llamado(a) a San Lucas el Evangelista y que yo he estado orando por usted.

 Atentamente en Cristo,

  Padre Paul Kochu, Pastor

Formulario de inscripcion

Men's Meeting click here to print a reminder!

Men: Seize the opportunity, and bring others with you!

As you enter 2020, take the opportunity to learn from others and grow in virtue. 

Stand with other men in the battle to reclaim our families and culture for the glory of God! Build stronger friendships by bringing other men with you to share in the experience!

10^th Annual

Tampa Bay Men’s Conference

Who Do YOU Say That I Am?

Featuring Dr. Tim Gray and Peter Herbeck

 Saturday, February 22, 2020

Higgins Hall at St Lawrence Catholic Church, Tampa

Tickets include lunch and free parking

Tickets are $40 per person with Father/Son combo tickets at two for $40

For tickets or more information visit SuncoastCatholicMinistries.com