About St. Luke · Boardman, Ohio
St. Luke Church is a Catholic worship site at 5235 South Avenue in Boardman, Ohio, founded in 1962 as a mission and elevated to parish status in 1964 by Bishop Emmett Walsh of the Diocese of Youngstown. After more than six decades of independent parish life, on January 1, 2025 St. Luke merged with neighboring St. Charles Borromeo Parish to form St. Catherine of Siena Parish, retaining both historic worship sites and one combined pastoral team. Today St. Luke Church serves as one of two campuses of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in the Mahoning Deanery, offering Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Knights of Columbus Bishop Malone Council, and an Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) Pre-K.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- St. Luke the Evangelist
- Rector
- Very Rev. Msgr. John Zuraw, JCL, VG
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Youngstown (Mahoning Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Luke offers a tight-knit Mahoning Valley parish community grounded in 60+ years of Catholic tradition, with the personal feel of a smaller campus and the resources of a larger merged parish. Worshippers find a Sunday and weekday Mass schedule, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, the sacrament of Reconciliation by appointment, a vibrant St. Vincent de Paul outreach, the Knights of Columbus Bishop Malone Council, and an Early Childhood Learning Center Pre-K on site. It is also a parish that finished retiring its long-standing debt on the Feast of St. Luke in 2020, making it a community with a deeply rooted story of faith, perseverance, and Eucharistic devotion.
Mass times at St. Luke
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- St. Luke Church: by appointment (per current St. Catherine of Siena Parish bulletin)
Adoration times
- St. Luke Church Chapel: First Friday of every month, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
St. Luke Church Today — Part of St. Catherine of Siena Parish
Since January 1, 2025 St. Luke Church has been one of two worship sites of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Boardman, Ohio, sharing a pastor and pastoral team with St. Charles Borromeo Church. The St. Luke campus at 5235 South Avenue continues to host a Sunday Mass, two weekday Masses, monthly First Friday Adoration, the parish banquet hall, and the ECLC Pre-K. St. Vincent de Paul and the Knights of Columbus Bishop Malone Council remain active under the merged parish banner, and the parish has said it looks forward to enhancing parish socials, missions, and a variety of prayer experiences for the combined community.
Our History
St. Luke's history is one of rapid growth and faithful perseverance. From its 1962 founding as a mission in Boardman schools to the dedication of a permanent church in 1996 and the retirement of parish debt on the Feast of St. Luke in October 2020, each generation has built on the work of the last.
Founding as a Mission (1962)
On September 14, 1962 Bishop Emmett M. Walsh of the Diocese of Youngstown announced the creation of St. Luke Mission, carved from sections of St. Nicholas, St. Dominic, St. Charles, and Holy Family parishes. Fr. Edward J. Dierker was named Administrator and Fr. Donald J. Oser Assistant. Three Sunday Masses were first celebrated at Robinwood Lane School on September 23, 1962, growing to five by October 7.
Becoming a Parish and Building the Campus (1964–1965)
In 1964 St. Luke Mission was elevated to parish status. On March 1, 1964 ground was broken for a $1.2 million combination church/school/rectory complex; the school and rectory were dedicated by Auxiliary Bishop James W. Malone on November 29, 1964, and the first Mass was celebrated in the new church on August 22, 1965. Plans for a permanent church were put on hold as enrollment grew one grade per year.
New Church, Debt Retired, Merger (1996–2025)
Bishop Thomas J. Tobin dedicated the new church in April–May 1996, and the building was constructed without adding debt. On the Feast of St. Luke in October 2020, in conjunction with former pastors and the community of faith, the parish celebrated the retirement of its long-standing debt—fulfilling the original vision. On January 1, 2025 St. Luke merged with St. Charles Borromeo Parish to form St. Catherine of Siena Parish, one parish with two campuses, both churches remaining open for worship and service.
Worship & Sacraments
St. Luke Church maintains a focused schedule of weekend, weekday, and Holy Day Masses as part of St. Catherine of Siena Parish. The sacrament of Reconciliation is offered by appointment at St. Luke, while St. Charles Borromeo offers Saturday confessions from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the St. Joseph Daily Chapel.
Devotions and Other Services
The parish regularly offers the Rosary and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, plus parish missions, 'Night of Praise' evenings, and other prayer experiences. Mass Intentions can be scheduled by calling the church office for deceased loved ones or special occasions.
- Rosary
- Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
- Mass Intentions
- Night of Praise evenings
- Parish missions and prayer experiences
Parish Staff & Leadership
St. Luke Church is pastored as part of St. Catherine of Siena Parish by a team of priests, deacons, religious sisters, and lay staff. The merged parish also draws on Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown for pastoral ministry.
- Pastor: Very Rev. Msgr. John Zuraw, JCL, VG
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Stephen Zeigler
- Sacramental Minister: Rev. Edward Brienz
- Diocesan Pastoral Associate: Sr. Mary Alyce Koval, OSU
- Permanent Deacons: Deacon Michael Kocjancic, Deacon Bob Redig
- Office Manager: Lisa Dray
- Bookkeeper: Rich Rizzi
- Music Director: Joseph McKim
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Valerie Sullivan
- Webmaster: Margaret Voytilla
- Maintenance: Rick Clautti
Ministries & Outreach
St. Luke's ministries span charity, fellowship, formation, and hospitality, all of which continue under the merged St. Catherine of Siena Parish umbrella.
St. Vincent de Paul Society
The St. Vincent de Paul Society is a lay-led Catholic charitable organization in the Diocese of Youngstown easing the burden of those who have less in the Mahoning Valley, through a dining hall, food pantry, outreach events, and a thrift store. The St. Luke Conference meets on the third Thursday of every month; contact chairperson Gary Winslow at 330-261-0350 to join.
Knights of Columbus Bishop Malone Council
The Knights of Columbus Bishop Malone Council is active at St. Luke, supporting parish and community life through fellowship, service projects, and member gatherings.
Religious Education (CCD) and Sacramental Preparation
Religious Education classes (CCD) for elementary and high school students have been part of St. Luke since 1962, when they were first held in Robinwood Lane classrooms. Today CCD continues at the merged parish under Coordinator of Religious Education Valerie Sullivan, with preparation for First Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation.
Schools & Early Childhood
St. Luke School was founded in 1964 with the opening of the original school building and grew one grade per year through the late 1960s. The school closed in 2011, and the building now houses the diocesan Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) Pre-K program at St. Luke.
- St. Luke School: founded 1964, closed 2011
- ECLC at St. Luke (Pre-K): Director Mrs. Pam Jadue
- Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown staffed both St. Charles and St. Luke schools from their foundations
St. Luke Banquet Hall & Facilities
The St. Luke Banquet Hall, located at 5235 South Avenue, is a well-known parish hospitality venue now operated by Campora Catering. The hall hosts weddings, anniversaries, parish socials, and community events; banquet inquiries are taken at 330-719-6411 or 330-717-2046.
- St. Luke Banquet Hall — 5235 South Avenue, Boardman, OH 44512
- Parish Catering: Campora Catering
- Phone: 330-719-6411 or 330-717-2046
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Edward J. Dierker1962–1964
First Administrator of St. Luke Mission when it was established by Bishop Emmett M. Walsh on September 14, 1962.
- Fr. John P. Ashton1972–1978
Negotiated a diocesan moratorium on assessments to address parish debt; launched the annual summer festival that became a community tradition.
- Fr. Ronald M. Klingler1978–1985
Continued debt-reduction measures begun by Fr. Ashton and worked to bring diocesan obligations current.
- Fr. Joseph A. Fata1985–?
Installed October 18, 1985 as St. Luke's fourth pastor; oversaw the birth of new organizations and ministries and continued the push for a separate worship space.
- Rev. John E. Keehnerfrom January 2001
Named Canonical Pastor in January 2001 alongside Sr. Mary Alyce Koval, OSU as Parish Leader.
- Fr. Martin Celuch2021–2022
Named Pastor and installed April 25, 2021.
- Very Rev. Msgr. John Zuraw, JCL, VGfrom August 2022
Named pastor in August 2022, installed November 20, 2022; continues as pastor of the merged St. Catherine of Siena Parish.