About St. Luke the Evangelist · Palm Harbor, Florida
St. Luke the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish in Palm Harbor, Florida, in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, located at 2757 Alderman Road. Founded in 1985, the parish began life as a mission of St. Ignatius Church in Tarpon Springs and grew from a few hundred families to nearly 3,000 in its first fifteen years. Today the parish community centers on the Eucharist and offers daily and weekend Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, confession, the OCIA process (formerly RCIA), a K-8 School of Faith, a St. Luke Early Childhood Center, and a wide range of lay ministries including Rosary Makers, Knights of Columbus, the Ladies Auxiliary, Respect Life, Disciples of Hope, Christ Renews His Parish, and Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound.
- Established
- 1985
- Patron
- St. Luke the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy Sherwood
- Diocese
- Diocese of St. Petersburg
Why belong here
St. Luke is an active, Eucharistic-centered parish in the North Pinellas Deanery that grew from a handful of families in 1985 to nearly 3,000 today. With daily Mass, Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses (including a 4:00 PM Mass with youth activities), weekly Eucharistic Adoration, Saturday confessions, and a full School of Faith K-8 program, it offers the rhythms of traditional Catholic parish life. More than two dozen lay ministries — Rosary Makers, Knights of Columbus, Ladies Auxiliary, Respect Life, Disciples of Hope, Christ Renews His Parish, Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound, OCIA, and more — make it easy to plug in.
Mass times at St. Luke the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Adoration times
- Friday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (Following the 8:00 AM Daily Mass)
About St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church
St. Luke the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish in Palm Harbor, Florida, in the North Pinellas Deanery of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. The parish is centered on the Eucharist and presents itself as a welcoming and diverse community committed to proclaiming the Good News, developing spiritual growth, encouraging active participation, personal stewardship, and community outreach. Mass is celebrated nine times a week, plus Saturday Vigil and three Sunday Masses (one of which pairs Mass with youth activities).
- Located at 2757 Alderman Road, Palm Harbor, FL 34684
- Diocese of St. Petersburg — North Pinellas Deanery
- Year founded: 1985
- Mailing address and website: stlukealderman.org
History of St. Luke
St. Luke the Evangelist grew out of a mission of St. Ignatius Church in Tarpon Springs. The Diocese of St. Petersburg, under Bishop Charles McLaughlin, had earlier acquired 8.5 acres at the corner of Alderman Road and Cinnamon Hill, and on February 19, 1985 a new mission in Palm Harbor was announced. Founding pastor Fr. Patrick Rahill celebrated the first Mass on May 11, 1985 in the Presbyterian Church on Nebraska Avenue; within a month, more than 400 families had registered, and by September 260 students were attending the School of Faith Program led by the Sisters of St. Clare at the Methodist Church.
- First Mass: May 11, 1985 (Presbyterian Church on Nebraska Avenue)
- By decree of Bishop W. Thomas Larkin, mission raised to parish status on October 18, 1985 — the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist
- Construction began January 20, 1986; Bishop Larkin blessed the new parish facility December 7, 1986
- Grew from a few hundred families to nearly 3,000 families in fifteen years
- Parish story features the dedicated work of priests, deacons, the Sisters of St. Clare, and the Sisters of St. Anne
Clergy, Religious, and Parish Staff
The current pastoral team is led by Fr. Timothy Sherwood (Pastor), with Fr. Anthony Kakaire as Parochial Vicar and Sr. Vigy Joseph serving in the parish. The parish staff includes a Director of Faith Formation, a Business Manager, an Office Manager, a Music Director, an Early Childhood Center Administrator, and a Maintenance team, along with volunteer coordinators for the School of Faith and the Eucharistic Ministry to the Homebound. Fr. Camilo Simoes continues to be listed on the staff page as Parochial Administrator.
- Fr. Tim Sherwood — Pastor
- Fr. Anthony Kakaire — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Camilo Simoes — Parochial Administrator
- Sr. Vigy Joseph — Religious
- Laura Rivera — Director of Faith Formation & Sacrament Preparation (ext. 104)
- Gilbert Tottle — Business Manager (ext. 106)
- Pamela Noll — Office Manager & Bulletin Coordinator / Eucharistic Ministry Coordinator for Homebound
- Bruno Soldo — Music Director
- Kathy Abernethy — School of Faith Coordinator (Volunteer, ext. 104)
- Adam Wiercioch — School of Faith Coordinator (Volunteer, ext. 104)
- Stephanie Murphy — Early Childhood Center Administrator
- Timothy "TJ" James — Maintenance
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's School of Faith Formation is offered to children in K-8th grade, assisting parents as the primary educators of their children in the Catholic faith. The program also prepares students to receive the sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. Registration is required with a small per-student fee to offset supplies and workbooks. Classes meet weekly throughout the school year from early September through the end of May in the Ministry Building, Sundays from 10:15 AM to 12:30 PM, and include children attending Mass with their parents.
- K-8 religious instruction plus sacramental prep (First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation)
- Classes Sundays 10:15 AM – 12:30 PM, Ministry Building
- Volunteer Catechists, subs, assistants, hall monitors, and office helpers are always needed
- Safe Environment Training and Level 2 fingerprinting are mandated for volunteers
- Contact Kathy Abernethy or Adam Wiercioch at 727-786-3648 ext. 104
Catholic Education & Schools
Beyond the parish School of Faith, St. Luke is affiliated with Guardian Angels Catholic School, an inter-parochial school in the Diocese of St. Petersburg serving St. Luke, All Saints, St. Michael, and St. Ignatius parishioners for children in Kindergarten through eighth grade. The parish also operates the St. Luke Early Childhood Center, which supports families with young children through programs including free VPK and part-time, flexible 'Lunch Bunch' options, fostering a lifelong love of learning from a faith-filled foundation.
- Guardian Angels Catholic School (K-8) — www.gacsfl.com or 727-799-6724
- St. Luke Early Childhood Center — free VPK, part-time/flexible Lunch Bunch
- Stephanie Murphy — Early Childhood Center Administrator
OCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Order of Christian Initiation (OCIA, formerly RCIA) prepares children over seven and adults to enter into full communion with Christ and His Church. It is described on the parish website as 'a journey of knowledge, faith and heart and what it means to be Catholic, and so much more.' Each catechumen or candidate needs a sponsor who is an active, practicing Catholic in good standing; sponsors participate in weekly meetings and in all group liturgical rites. The Diocese of St. Petersburg requires that children/youth complete one full year of catechesis to be eligible for initiation. The conversion process takes about a year, with participants committing to 1.5–2 hours of weekly meetings, beginning in the fall and ending at the Easter Vigil.
- Year-long journey of formation ending at the Easter Vigil
- Sponsor required — an active, practicing Catholic in good standing
- 1.5–2 hour weekly meetings; fall start, Easter Vigil conclusion
- Open to children over 7 and adults
- Contact the parish office at 727-786-3648 to register
Parish Ministries
The parish website's ministry page lists more than two dozen lay ministries and groups, with a recurring invitation: 'Every ministry in our Parish is looking [for] welcome new faces and talents! By becoming involved in your Church, you will not only be helping others, but you will also be helping yourself as you grow closer to your fellow parishioners, and to Jesus.' The parish explicitly notes that most of its ministries began with the idea of one or two good people and welcomes new ideas.
- Liturgical: Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Ushers, Greeters, Choir, Altar Servers
- Formation: School of Faith Catechists, OCIA team
- Service: Eucharistic Ministry to Homebound and Care Centers, Drivers Ministry, Parish Outreach (financial help), Bereavement, Hospitality
- Community: Christ Renews His Parish (Women's CRHP retreat), Disciples of Hope, Forward in Faith, Office Volunteers, Knights of Columbus, Ladies Auxiliary
- Devotional: Rosary Makers, Respect Life
Rosary Makers
Started in September 2010, St. Luke's Rosary Makers meet in fellowship to assemble handmade rosaries that are distributed locally and abroad, including to the U.S. military and missions around the world. Meetings are held on Mondays from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the St. Clare Building, with a minimum commitment of about two hours weekly. All materials are generously provided by the Knights of Columbus. The ministry quotes from mission partners who have received the rosaries, calling the gift both an evangelization tool and a profound expression of devotion to Our Lady.
- Meets Mondays 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM in the St. Clare Building
- Materials furnished by the Knights of Columbus
- Contact: Andrew Carpenter, 727-692-6890
Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP)
CRHP (pronounced 'chirp') is a weekend retreat for women, conducted by an experienced team of parish volunteers, focusing on Scripture, prayer, inspirational music, and personal testimonies. The retreat includes the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and attend Mass, and is described on the website as a way for women to gather in fellowship and draw closer to the Lord and one another.
- Women's weekend retreat experience
- Time commitment: approximately four hours per week during the program
- Includes Scripture, prayer, music, testimonies, Reconciliation, and Mass
Parish Outreach & Respect Life
The Parish Outreach program provides confidential financial help to needy parishioners, supported by generous offerings and the Poor Boxes at the church entrances, as well as a monthly basket on the altar steps. The Respect Life ministry carries forward the Church's teaching on the dignity of human life. These are among several 'outreach' ministries listed under the parish's A–L and M–Z directories alongside Eucharistic Ministry to the Homebound, Rosary Makers, and OCIA support.
- Outreach funded by Poor Boxes and a monthly Sunday collection
- Confidential assistance for registered parishioners — call 727-786-3648
- Respect Life and Disciples of Hope are featured ministries on the parish home page
Music & Liturgy
St. Luke's Music Director, Bruno Soldo, leads the parish's choir and music ministry for liturgies. Devotional prayer before and after Mass includes the Rosary (weekday mornings and Saturday Vigil) and the Divine Mercy Chaplet (daily before the 8:00 AM Mass, and after the 10:00 AM Sunday Mass), giving the parish a strong traditional devotional rhythm around the Eucharistic celebration.
- Music Director: Bruno Soldo
- Choir members are listed as an active ministry
Contact & Visit
Visitors, newcomers, and returning Catholics are warmly welcomed. The 'I'm New Here' page invites visitors to learn more about the parish, with an embedded map to 2757 Alderman Rd., Palm Harbor, FL 34684, and a clear parking guide. The parish also offers online giving and a downloadable registration form for those considering making St. Luke their parish home.
- 2757 Alderman Rd., Palm Harbor, FL 34684
- Phone: 727-786-3648 — Fax: 727-789-9556
- Parish office: Monday–Friday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Friday until 12:30 PM); closed Holy Days & National Holidays
- Online giving and parish registration available via the website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick Rahill1985-05-12 – 1987-12-31
Founding Pastor; celebrated the first Mass on May 11, 1985 at the Presbyterian Church on Nebraska Avenue.
- Rev. John Murphy1988-01-12 – 1989-05-01
- Rev. Donald Leininger1989-05-01 – 2000-07-01
R.I.P. 1-25-08.
- Rev. Ron Poirier2000-07-01 – 2004-05-25
- Rev. John D'Antonio2004-05-25 – 2010-06-30
- Rev. Paul Kochu2010-07-10 – 2024-06-30
- Rev. Richard Rosin2024-07-01 – 2024-12-01
R.I.P. 12-1-2024.
- Rev. Camilo Simoes2024-12-01 – 2025-07-01
Parochial Administrator during the transition.
- Rev. Timothy Sherwood2025-07-01 – present
Current pastor.