About Saint Luke · Washington, District of Columbia
Saint Luke Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Marshall Heights / Far Southeast quadrant of Washington, D.C., at 4925 East Capitol Street SE, canonically established in 1957 and dedicated by Archbishop Patrick O'Boyle on September 22 of that year. The parish is staffed by the Josephites (Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, S.S.J.), the Catholic missionary society historically dedicated to the African American community, and St. Luke continues that mission across Southeast D.C., Northeast D.C., and Prince George's County. It is distinctive for being a multilingual parish, celebrating Mass in English, Igbo, and French, and for an unusually rich network of lay ministries including a food bank, St. Vincent de Paul conference, HIV/AIDS support, Knights of Columbus, and a Daughters of Isabella circle.
- Established
- 1957
- Patron
- Saint Luke the Evangelist
- Rector
- Very Rev. Michael Saah-Buckman, S.S.J. (per Archdiocese of Washington parish page); the parish's own website presents Fr. Cornelius K. Ejiogu, S.S.J. as head of the Pastoral Team.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
St. Luke is a Josephite parish with deep roots in the African American Catholic community of southeast Washington and an unusually welcoming, multilingual character. Beyond Sunday and weekday Mass, parishioners plug into one of the most active lay-ministry rosters in the area — St. Vincent de Paul food bank, HIV/AIDS support, Knights of Columbus, Daughters of Isabella, Sodality of Our Lady of the Annunciation, Holy Name Society, Bereavement Committee, Lectors, Hospitality, Music Ministry, and Religious Education — meaning there is a real place for almost anyone to serve. The parish also has Igbo and French Masses on the second and third Sundays, a Monday-morning Bible Study led by a Daughter of Charity, and a First Friday Holy Hour, making it a spiritual home for English-speaking, Nigerian/Igbo, and French-speaking Catholics across the District and Prince George's County.
Mass times at Saint Luke
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM
- Sunday 7:30–8:15 AM
- Sunday 10:00–10:45 AM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday Holy Hour / Adoration, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Parish History
St. Luke's was born out of the older Incarnation parish on September 22, 1957, when Archbishop Patrick O'Boyle formally established it as a separate parish for the growing residential community of southeast Washington. Ground had been broken on March 16, 1956 in the 4900 block of East Capitol Street, and the Josephites — the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart — staffed and shaped the new parish from day one. From the founding pastorate of Fr. Patrick L. Bradley, S.S.J., through the formative years under Fr. Stephen Hogan, S.S.J., to today's team led by Fr. Cornelius K. Ejiogu, S.S.J. (parish website) / Very Rev. Michael Saah-Buckman, S.S.J. (Archdiocese of Washington), St. Luke has remained a Josephite parish serving the African American community of the District and Prince George's County.
- Ground broken: March 16, 1956
- Canically established and dedicated: September 22, 1957 by Archbishop Patrick O'Boyle
- Founded as a mission to serve the developing southeast D.C. residential area
- Originally carved out of Incarnation parish
- Staffed by the Josephites (S.S.J.) since its founding
Mass and Worship Schedule
St. Luke offers a regular weekly schedule in English, with two additional Sunday Masses each month in Igbo and French. The Saturday Vigil and two Sunday morning Masses anchor the week; Monday and Thursday weekday Masses are celebrated in the church. Reconciliation is offered three scheduled times a week, and Eucharistic Adoration is held on First Fridays.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM (English)
- 2nd Sunday: 1:15 PM (Igbo)
- 3rd Sunday: 1:15 PM (French)
- Monday: 10:00 AM (English)
- Thursday: 10:00 AM (English)
Sacraments
Families are asked to register at the Parish Office before arranging Infant Baptism. Adults preparing for full initiation receive formation through the parish's RCIA program. The parish also reaches outside the church as chaplain of Washington Hospital Center.
- Baptism preparation: First Saturday of each month
- Baptism celebrated: First Sunday after the 11:00 AM Mass
- RCIA led by Shirley Williams
- Confession: see schedule above or by appointment
- Anointing / pastoral care of the Sick & Shut-Ins coordinated by Judith Travers
- Hospital chaplaincy at Washington Hospital Center: Fr. Jason Catania
Parish Staff and Pastoral Team
St. Luke is led by a pastoral team of Josephite priests, a permanent deacon, a Daughter of Charity, and lay staff who together run the parish's religious-education, secretarial, and administrative work. The parish is also home to the chaplaincy at Washington Hospital Center.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Michael Saah-Buckman, S.S.J. (Archdiocese of Washington listing)
- Fr. Cornelius K. Ejiogu, S.S.J. — Pastoral Team (parish website)
- Fr. Denis Mandamuna — parish priest
- Rev. Frederick Nnebue — In Residence
- Fr. Jason Catania — Chaplain, Washington Hospital Center
- Deacon Richard L. Walker Jr. — Permanent Deacon since 2008; assigned to St. Luke by Cardinal Wuerl in 2016
- Sister Anne Marie Schreiner, D.C. — Monday Prayer Group / Bible Study leader; available for Spiritual Direction, Prayer Ministry, and retreats
- Shirley Williams — Coordinator of Religious Education / DRE
- Michele Peters — Parish Secretary
Parish Ministries and Organizations
St. Luke is widely known for an unusually large and active lay-ministry roster — the result of decades of Josephite parish-building in the African American Catholic tradition. There is a named lay leader for nearly every ministry, and many of the classic parish sodalities are still active.
- St. Vincent de Paul / Food Bank — Violet Tinsley
- RCIA — Shirley Williams
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist — Kat Harris-Ndouga
- HIV/AIDS Support — Judith Travers
- Sick & Shut-Ins — Judith Travers
- Hospitality Ministry — Alvin Hyde
- Lectors — Debora Savoy
- Music Ministry / Choirs — Director Marvin Ford
- Knights of Columbus — Grand Knight Bro. Byron Wilson Jr.
- Holy Name Society — Milton Harris Jr.
- Daughters of Isabella — Janice Williams
- Sodality of Our Lady of the Annunciation — Joyce Thomas
- St. Luke Bereavement Committee
- Religious Education / CCD — Shirley Williams
- St. Luke Food Bank (Deacon Walker's Ministry of Charity)
Multilingual Catholic Life — Igbo and French Masses
One of St. Luke's most distinctive features is its regular Igbo and French Masses. On the second Sunday of each month at 1:15 PM the parish celebrates Mass in Igbo to serve the Nigerian / Igbo Catholic community of the region, and on the third Sunday at 1:15 PM it celebrates Mass in French for the French-speaking Catholic community.
- 2nd Sunday, 1:15 PM — Igbo Mass
- 3rd Sunday, 1:15 PM — French Mass
Bible Study and Devotional Life
Two regular Bible studies nourish the parish outside of Mass: a Monday-morning Prayer Group / Bible Study facilitated by Sister Anne Marie Schreiner, D.C., and a Wednesday-evening Bible Study at 6:00 PM. Sister Anne Marie is also available for Spiritual Direction, Prayer Ministry, and retreats.
- Monday morning Prayer Group / Bible Study — Sister Anne Marie Schreiner, D.C.
- Wednesday Bible Study — 6:00 PM
Contact and Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 202-584-8322 or [email protected]. The Archdiocese of Washington notes the church and facilities are Wheelchair Accessible, and the parish center next door at 4923 E Capitol St SE is available for larger parish gatherings.
- Address: 4925 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20019
- Phone: 202-584-8322
- Fax: 202-584-3421
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: stlukechurchssj.org
- Wheelchair Accessible (per Archdiocese of Washington)
- Parish center: 4923 E Capitol St SE
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Patrick L. Bradley, S.S.J.1957 (founding)
Josephite missionary; built St. Luke as a split from Incarnation parish but never lived in the new rectory.
- Father Stephen Hogan, S.S.J.first permanent pastor after 1957
Organized parish societies, socials, census, and the CCD religious-education program alongside Fr. Rimshaw.
- Father Joseph Rimshaw, S.S.J.early years
Served under founding pastor Bradley and first permanent pastor Hogan; knew the people and parish in a special way.
- Father Stephen Brett, S.S.J.
Appointed the parish's longtime DRE (Shirley Williams) upon her completion of the EPS program.
- Father Joseph Begay, S.S.J.
Mentioned by parish secretary as one of the pastors she served.
- Father Joseph Del Vecchio, S.S.J.
Mentioned by parish secretary as one of the pastors she served.
- Father Charles Moff, S.S.J.
Parish secretary began serving with him in 2006.
- Father Cornelius K. Ejiogu, S.S.J.current pastoral team
Born in Lagos, Nigeria; Josephite formation from 2002; ordained June 2013; currently listed on parish website as head of the Pastoral Team.
- Very Rev. Michael Saah-Buckman, S.S.J.current
Listed by the Archdiocese of Washington as pastor.