About Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke · Arden, North Carolina
Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke is a Ukrainian Catholic Mission in the St. Josaphat Eparchy, serving the Greater Asheville, North Carolina area from St. Barnabas Roman Catholic Church in Arden (about 15 minutes south of Asheville). Formally established by Bishop Bohdan J. Danylo on October 17, 2019, the mission celebrates the Byzantine-rite Divine Liturgy on Sundays and is part of the eparchy's Mid-Atlantic Deanery. Administered by Rev. Kevin Bezner, it grew from an annual visit into a weekly gathering along the I-26 / U.S. 74 corridor that draws faithful from Asheville, NC to Spartanburg, SC. The mission is best known for its annual East Meets West Retreat, which brings Eastern and Western Christians together around the Church Fathers and spiritual warfare.
- Established
- 2019
- Patron
- St. Luke the Evangelist (Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke)
- Rector
- Rev. Kevin Bezner (Administrator)
- Diocese
- St. Josaphat Eparchy (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat, Parma) — Mid-Atlantic Deanery. The mission also operates with the permission and cooperation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte (Bishop Peter Jugis) and Fr. Adrian Porras, pastor of St. Barnabas.
Why belong here
Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke offers Western North Carolina Catholics a chance to experience the Byzantine (Ukrainian Greek Catholic) liturgical tradition in English in an accessible, prayerful setting. The mission keeps a small, family-sized community of 10–25 each Sunday at St. Barnabas in Arden, with strong catechesis, an annual East Meets West Retreat, and ongoing Zoom series on prayer and spiritual warfare. It's ideal for anyone moving into the Asheville area, traveling through the I-26 corridor to Spartanburg, or simply curious about the Eastern Catholic tradition and the Ukrainian Catholic Church in particular.
Mass times at Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke
Weekly Mass schedule
About Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke
Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke is a Ukrainian Greek Catholic Mission of the St. Josaphat Eparchy (Eparchy of Parma), serving the Greater Asheville region of western North Carolina. It is one of the eparchy's Mid-Atlantic Deanery missions and is canonically identified as a 'Mission' rather than a parish. The mission gathers every Sunday at 3:00 PM in the sanctuary of St. Barnabas Roman Catholic Church, 109 Crescent Hill Drive, Arden, NC 28704, a courtesy arrangement agreed by Bishop Peter Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte and Fr. Adrian Porras, pastor of St. Barnabas. Worship is celebrated in the Byzantine (Eastern) rite in English.
- Type: Mission (Ukrainian Greek Catholic)
- Eparchy: St. Josaphat (Parma)
- Deanery: Mid-Atlantic
- Liturgy: Sunday at 3:00 PM at St. Barnabas, Arden
History and Founding
Fr. Mark Shuey began celebrating Divine Liturgy in the Asheville area once a year in 2014 at the invitation of local faithful. The mission later moved to Immaculate Conception mission in Canton, where liturgies were offered roughly once a month. Fr. Kevin Bezner assisted at the very first liturgy as an altar server and, after ordination to the diaconate in July 2014, continued assisting. Following research into where the mission could best grow, leaders settled on the I-26 / U.S. 74 corridor. In December 2020, the mission relocated to St. Barnabas Catholic Church in Arden and went to twice-monthly liturgy. Bishop Bohdan J. Danylo ordained Fr. Kevin Bezner to the priesthood in 2019 and named him administrator, then formally established the mission under canon law as Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke on October 17, 2019. Beginning November 2021, with the permission of Bishop Bohdan and approval from Bishop Peter Jugis and Fr. Adrian Porras, Fr. Kevin began offering weekly Divine Liturgy.
- 2014: First annual Divine Liturgy celebrated by Fr. Mark Shuey
- 2014 (July): Fr. Kevin Bezner ordained deacon, assists mission
- 2019: Fr. Kevin ordained priest; Bishop Bohdan names him administrator
- October 17, 2019: Mission formally established under canon law
- December 2020: Mission relocates from Canton to St. Barnabas in Arden
- November 2021: Weekly Divine Liturgy begins
Clergy and Staff
The mission is administered by Rev. Kevin Bezner, who has been involved with St. Josaphat Eparchy missions since 2007 and was ordained a priest in 2019. Cantor Ann Bezner assists with liturgical music. Deacon Matthew Hanes (St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Parish, Charlotte) and Deacon Michael Sudik (St. Sophia Ukrainian Catholic Parish, Garner) have assisted at mission events, including the annual East Meets West Retreat.
- Rev. Kevin Bezner — Administrator
- Cantor Ann Bezner — Cantor
- Fr. Mark Shuey — founding celebrant (2014 onward)
- Fr. Adrian Porras — pastor of host parish St. Barnabas
Worship and Schedule
The mission celebrates the Byzantine-rite Divine Liturgy every Sunday at 3:00 PM in the sanctuary of St. Barnabas Catholic Church. The mission has expressed hope of eventually adding a Saturday vigil Divine Liturgy and weekday liturgies. As a hosted mission at a Roman Catholic parish, confession and adoration follow the host parish's availability; no mission-specific confession or adoration schedule is published.
- Sunday — Divine Liturgy, 3:00 PM, English
East Meets West Retreat
Since 2014, the mission has hosted the annual East Meets West Retreat, a program focused on the Church Fathers and spiritual warfare intended to bring Eastern and Western clergy and faithful together. The 8th annual retreat (September 24–25, 2021) at St. Barnabas featured a Moleben to the Mother of God 'Searcher for the Lost,' the prayer of the Hours, Vespers, Compline, and conferences on St. Dorotheos of Gaza, St. Nicodemos of the Holy Mountain, and philosopher Jean-Claude Larchet. The 10th annual retreat (June 23–24, 2023) drew more than 70 participants and was led by Dr. Matthew K. Minerd on 'Living a Life in Christ.' The retreat is free, open to all, with no registration required; a free-will offering is suggested.
- Founded: 2014
- Held at St. Barnabas Catholic Church, Arden
- Lead organizer: Fr. Kevin Bezner
- 2021 theme: spiritual counsels of the Church Fathers / unseen warfare
- 2023 theme: 'Living a Life in Christ' (Dr. Matthew K. Minerd)
- Format: Moleben, Hours, Vespers, Compline + conferences
Catechesis and Adult Faith Formation
Catechesis is central to the mission's outreach. Fr. Kevin has offered a series of catechetical talks based on Christ Our Pascha, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic catechism, introducing the Eastern and Slavic Christian tradition to those interested in learning more or joining the Church. He has offered the series twice and plans to repeat it as needed. During 2021 he also led a three-part Zoom series on how the faithful pray outside the Divine Liturgy and how prayer and liturgy are interrelated.
- Christ Our Pascha catechism series
- Zoom series on prayer outside the Divine Liturgy (3 parts, end of 2021)
- Plans to repeat the series as needed for newcomers
Outreach and Charity
The mission supports Ukraine humanitarian relief through the eparchy. Parishioners may write checks payable to 'Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke' marked for 'Humanitarian Aid Ukraine' (cash donations accepted in a marked envelope); all funds are forwarded to the eparchy, which channels them via the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.
- Ukraine Humanitarian Aid collection at Sunday 3 PM Mass
- Funds forwarded to St. Josaphat Eparchy / Archeparchy of Philadelphia
Catchment Area and Location
Located along the I-26 / U.S. 74 corridor in the mountains of western North Carolina, the mission draws potential members from Asheville and surrounding Buncombe County communities southward to Spartanburg, South Carolina. About 15 minutes south of Asheville, it is convenient for travelers and those relocating to the region.
- Host site: St. Barnabas Catholic Church, 109 Crescent Hill Drive, Arden NC 28704
- Region: Greater Asheville, western North Carolina
- Reaches: Asheville, NC south to Spartanburg, SC
Getting Involved / Contact
Anyone moving into the area, traveling through, or simply curious about the Byzantine Ukrainian Catholic tradition is welcome. The mission can be reached via email ([email protected]) or through the host parish website at saintbarnabasarden.org. Fr. Kevin Bezner can also be reached at [email protected] for retreat information.
- Email: [email protected]
- Email: [email protected] (Fr. Bezner direct)
- Host parish: saintbarnabasarden.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Mark Shuey2014–c.2019
Began celebrating Divine Liturgy in the Greater Asheville area in 2014 at the invitation of local faithful; increased to about once a month after moving to Immaculate Conception in Canton.
- Rev. Kevin Bezner2019–present
Ordained to the priesthood in 2019; named administrator by Bishop Bohdan J. Danylo and led the mission's relocation to St. Barnabas in Arden and its move to weekly Divine Liturgy.