About St. Luke · Brownsville, Texas
St. Luke Catholic Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville, located at 2800 Rockwell Drive in Brownsville, Texas, serving the western part of the city between FM 802, Boca Chica Boulevard, Expressway 83/77, and Padre Island Highway. Established on January 15, 1974, the parish was built in the mid-1970s and dedicated by Bishop John J. Fitzpatrick on April 4, 1976. Today St. Luke is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish that runs a large religious education program (CCE), an active youth ministry, and continues the vision of being 'Family of Families, Community of Communities.' Masses and ministries are offered in both English and Spanish, reflecting the binational, bicultural character of the Rio Grande Valley.
- Established
- 1974
- Patron
- St. Luke
- Rector
- Fr. Juan Manuel Salazar
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Brownsville
Why belong here
St. Luke is a mid-sized, family-oriented parish with strong bilingual (English/Spanish) Mass offerings, a robust CCE religious education program for children and youth, Christian Initiation (RCIA) classes for adults in both languages, and an active Youth Ministry led by a full-time coordinator. The parish is committed to making God present through the Eucharist and sacraments, welcoming new parishioners with the motto 'There are no strangers at St. Luke, only friends we have yet to meet.' Whether you are a young family seeking Catholic formation, an adult preparing for sacraments, or a Spanish-speaking parishioner looking for a vibrant Spanish-language Mass, the parish offers multiple entry points to belong.
Mass times at St. Luke
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- By appointment (call 956-541-1480)
History of St. Luke Catholic Church
St. Luke Catholic Church was officially established on January 15, 1974, in Brownsville, Texas. The first Mass was celebrated four days later at Homer Hanna High School, which doubled as a worship space during construction. While the church, hall, and rectory were being built, Masses were also held at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Old Port Isabel Road. Bishop John J. Fitzpatrick formally dedicated the new building on April 4, 1976. Under the pastorship of Monsignor Patrick Doherty (1974–1980) and later Father Juan Nicolau, the parish opened an education facility in 1992 and a gymnasium in 1993. The story of the parish is preserved in 'A Journey of Faith' by Brenda Nettles Riojas.
Mission, Parish Boundaries, and Identity
St. Luke describes itself as 'Family of Families, Community of Communities.' The parish mission is built around three pillars — Worship (Eucharist and Sacraments), Pastoral Care and Family Life, and Evangelization/Christian Formation/Administration — coordinated through commissions and quarterly Parish Pastoral Council meetings. Parish boundaries are: North – FM 802; South – Boca Chica Boulevard; East – 14th Street to Padre Island Highway; West – Expressway 83/77.
Religious Education / Continuing Christian Education (CCE)
The parish CCE office, directed by Mrs. Helen Vargas with assistant Mrs. Lynette Sanchez, serves the parish's formation needs. Elementary classes meet Wednesdays 6:00–7:15 PM; middle/high school classes meet Sundays 9:30–10:45 AM. Adult Christian Initiation is offered in English on Mondays and in Spanish on Tuesdays, both from 6:30–8:15 PM. A $50 family registration fee applies with an additional $3 online transaction fee. The office is located in the parish campus and can be reached at (956) 541-0184 or [email protected].
Youth Ministry
St. Luke's Youth Ministry is coordinated by Mr. David Vargas. The ministry connects with teens through social media (a dedicated Facebook page), Remind app groups, and Sunday morning CCE classes. Bible Camp registration is offered annually, and youth are invited into both faith formation and service projects.
Parish Staff and Office
Pastor Fr. Juan Manuel Salazar leads the parish, assisted by Deacon Javier A. Garcia. Office staff includes receptionist Ms. Magdalena Cantu, secretary Ms. Melissa Gomez, environmental support Mr. Cristobal Sauceda, and diocesan multi-parish accountant Ms. Alma Cantu. Office hours are Monday–Friday 8:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:30 PM–5:00 PM. Fax: (956) 542-8043.
Getting Involved and Giving
St. Luke welcomes new parishioners with the words 'There are no strangers at St. Luke, only friends we have yet to meet!' Catechist recruitment is ongoing, with background checks required for volunteers. Online giving is available through the Diocese of Brownsville's online offertory system. CCE families are encouraged to register for the family-based online payment portal (selecting 'St. Luke School – Brownsville' as the organization).
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Patrick Doherty1974–1980
Founding pastor; oversaw construction of the church, hall, and rectory, and the dedication by Bishop Fitzpatrick in 1976.
- Father Juan Nicolaunot specified; in role by 1992
Opened the parish education facility in 1992; gymnasium added in 1993.