About St. Luke · Whitestone, New York
St. Luke Parish is a Catholic parish in the Whitestone neighborhood of Queens, New York, in the Diocese of Brooklyn. Founded in 1870 (originally named St. Mary, renamed St. Luke in 1871), it has served the northern Queens community for over 150 years. The parish complex includes the historic 1898 church at 16-34 Clintonville Street and St. Luke School at 1601 150th Place. Today St. Luke is home to roughly 2,700 families, offers Mass in both English and Italian, runs a parish school (Nursery through Grade 8), a Religious Education / School of Religion program, and an array of ministries from the St. Vincent de Paul Society to charismatic and Padre Pio prayer groups.
- Established
- 1870
- Patron
- St. Luke the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. John J. Costello
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brooklyn
Why belong here
St. Luke is a long-established, multigenerational Whitestone parish that blends its 19th-century roots with a lively present-day life. Worshippers can attend Mass in both English and Italian, with a daily noon Mass and a Saturday vigil, and join devotions such as the Miraculous Medal Novena, the Rosary, Padre Pio and Charismatic prayer groups, and First Friday Eucharistic Adoration with Benediction. Families benefit from St. Luke School (Nursery through Grade 8), a School of Religion program for public-school children, a thriving RCIA process, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Bereavement and Consolation ministries, and a Prayer Shawl Ministry — making St. Luke a genuine community of word, sacrament, and service.
Mass times at St. Luke
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (during confessions)
- First Fridays 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM, during Adoration
- By appointment, or when requested
Adoration times
- First Friday: after Noon Mass until 2:00 PM, with Confessions and Benediction at 2:00 PM
- Saturdays: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM during confessions (with Benediction at 4:30 PM)
Our Story — From Quaker Church to St. Luke Parish
The site of St. Luke has been a place of Christian worship since the 1830s. Philanthropist Samuel Leggett built a non-denominational church there known as the Quaker Church. After his death the property was sold on October 11, 1866 to Bishop John Loughlin of Brooklyn for use as a Roman Catholic church. Catholics in the area had been attended from St. Michael, Flushing, between 1865 and 1870. The parish was canonically erected in 1870 — first under the name St. Mary, renamed St. Luke the following year — with Rev. William McCloskey as founding pastor. The cornerstone of the present church was laid in 1898, and the building was substantially enlarged in 1941–42 with a new transept and sanctuary.
- 1830s: Samuel Leggett's Quaker Church on Clintonville Street
- 1866: Property sold to Bishop Loughlin for Catholic use
- 1865–1870: Area attended from St. Michael, Flushing
- 1870: Parish erected as St. Mary; renamed St. Luke in 1871
- 1898: Cornerstone of the present church laid
- 1941–42: Church enlarged with new transept and sanctuary
- 2013: Major church restoration completed under Msgr. Tosi
Mass and the Sacraments
St. Luke offers Mass in English and Italian every weekend, with a vigil Mass Saturday at 4:30 PM and Sunday Masses at 8:30 AM (Italian/English), 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 4:30 PM. Weekday Mass is celebrated at 12:00 Noon Monday through Friday and 8:30 AM on Saturday, with additional school-year Masses on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and First Fridays at 8:30 AM. Confessions are heard Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM, on First Fridays during Adoration, and by appointment.
- Saturday Vigil: 4:30 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM (Italian/English), 10:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 4:30 PM
- Weekday Noon Mass Monday–Friday; Saturday 8:30 AM
- Confessions: Saturday 3:30–4:30 PM and by appointment
- Baptism: contact Sr. Theresa Agliardi (718-746-8531)
- Weddings: contact a priest at least six months before the date
- RCIA/OCIA: contact Sr. Katherine Burke (718-746-3409)
- Anointing of the Sick: call the rectory
Prayer Groups
Three regular prayer groups gather at the parish during the week, reflecting the multicultural and devotional life of the community.
- Charismatic Prayer Group — Tuesdays at 7:30 PM
- Italian Charismatic Prayer Group — Thursdays at 7:30 PM
- Padre Pio Prayer Group — last Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM (contact Angela at 347-828-0921)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation at St. Luke happens both in the parish school and in the School of Religion program for children attending public schools. The Religious Education Program serves roughly 400 elementary and middle school children, with classes on Wednesday afternoons for Grades 1–4 and Wednesday evenings for Grades 5–8. Special programs prepare children for the Sacraments of Penance, Eucharist, and Confirmation, and parent participation is built into each program.
- St. Luke School — Nursery through Grade 8, fully accredited by Cognia
- School of Religion — Wednesday afternoon/evening classes for Grades 1–8
- First Penance, First Eucharist, and Confirmation preparation
- RCIA / OCIA for adults — contact Sr. Katherine Burke, CSJ (718-746-3409)
- FORMED online Catholic content
St. Luke School
St. Luke School (slswhitestone.org) is a Catholic elementary school fully accredited by Cognia and a member of the National Catholic Education Association. Located at 16-01 Msgr. Dillon Place (1601 150th Place), Whitestone, it serves Nursery through Grade 8 under Principal Mrs. Jan Brunswick and Assistant Principal Mrs. Linda Mezic. Daily religious instruction, prayer, liturgy, and service projects are integrated with a strong academic program.
- Principal: Mrs. Jan Brunswick
- Assistant Principal: Mrs. Linda Mezic
- School Secretary: Lisamarie Reyes
- Curriculum: Religion, ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, TAC, Spanish, PE, Art, Music, Library, Health
- Phone: 718-746-3833
Social Ministry and Outreach
St. Luke reaches beyond its walls through ministries of mercy to neighbors in need — particularly through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which helps local struggling families, and through parish-wide food and clothing drives.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — call 718-746-8102
- Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive with Scouts, School and Knights of Columbus
- Clothing donation drives
Pastoral Care and Bereavement
Pastoral care at St. Luke surrounds parishioners in moments of loss, illness, and need. The Consolation Ministry helps families plan funerals and assists them in the days after a death; the Bereavement Ministry provides ongoing support groups; and priests and deacons bring Communion and Anointing to the homebound and hospitalized.
- Consolation Ministry — contact Sr. Theresa Agliardi (718-746-8531)
- Bereavement Support meetings in the Msgr. Tosi Pastoral Center
- Home visits for Communion and Anointing
- Hospital chaplain coordination
Other Parish Ministries and Groups
Volunteer-led ministries knit the parish together: a Prayer Shawl Ministry for those who knit or crochet, St. Martha's Ministry for parish receptions, an Altar Care Ministry, and the Msgr. Dillon Knights of Columbus Council. The parish also sponsors Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- St. Martha's Ministry (contact Lisa Scardamaglia, 516-375-2766)
- Altar Care Ministry
- Msgr. Dillon Knights of Columbus Council
- Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troops
Parish Staff and Pastoral Team
The pastoral team is led by the eleventh pastor, Rev. John J. Costello, with parochial vicar Fr. Chin Nguyen, permanent deacon Deacon John P. Kramer, and a retired bishop in residence, Most Rev. Raymond F. Chappetto, DD. Sister Katherine Burke, CSJ directs Religious Education; Sister Theresa Agliardi, RSM serves as Pastoral Associate; Mrs. Jan Brunswick is principal of St. Luke School; and Jessica Tranzillo Smith directs music.
- Pastor — Rev. John J. Costello
- Parochial Vicar — Fr. Chin Nguyen
- Permanent Deacon — Deacon John P. Kramer
- In Residence — Most Rev. Raymond F. Chappetto, DD; Rev. William F. Krlis
- Director of Religious Education — Sr. Katherine Burke, CSJ
- Pastoral Associate — Sr. Theresa Agliardi, RSM
- Principal — Mrs. Jan Brunswick
- Director of Music — Jessica Tranzillo Smith
- Parish Secretary — Erica Cuerbo; Bookkeeper — Jennifer Perrone
Visiting St. Luke — Address, Hours, and Contact
St. Luke's Rectory and church are located at 16-34 Clintonville Street, Whitestone, NY 11357. St. Luke School sits across the parish campus at 1601 150th Place (16-01 Msgr. Dillon Place). Rectory office hours are Monday–Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM) and Saturday 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; the office is closed Sundays. As of July 2025 the church is open for private prayer from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM on weekdays. In an emergency, a priest can be reached anytime at 718-746-8102.
- Rectory/Church: 1634 Clintonville Street, Whitestone, NY 11357 — 718-746-8102
- Religious Education Office: 718-746-3409
- St. Luke School: 1601 150th Place — 718-746-3833
- Email: [email protected]
- Fax: 718-746-3589
- Emergency sick calls: 718-746-8102 (anytime)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William McCloskey1870–1872
Founding pastor; the parish was originally named St. Mary, renamed St. Luke in 1871.
- Rev. Francis J. Blake1872–1880
2nd pastor.
- Rev. Msgr. Nicholas J. Capua1880–1885
3rd pastor.
- Rev. William Connolly1885–1895
4th pastor; cornerstone of present church laid in 1898 shortly after his tenure.
- Rev. Peter Kearney1895–1908
5th pastor; later Rector of St. Raphael's, Blissville. Oversaw improvements to church and rectory.
- Rev. John F. O'Hara1908–1916
6th pastor; born Brooklyn 1861, Niagara University; built up the parish then went to St. Matthew's, Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn.
- Rt. Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. O'Brien1916–1918
7th pastor; formerly Superintendent of parish schools for the Diocese; in 1914 cleared the church debt with a $3,645 subscription.
- Rev. Msgr. Francis J. Dillon1918–1965
8th pastor (per history article) — also listed as 7th pastor on the parish 'Our Pastors' page; served 46 years until his death in 1965. Created Monsignor by Pope Pius XII in 1944. Oversaw 1941–42 enlargement of the church and growth of the school.
- Rev. Msgr. John J. Gorman1966–1983
9th pastor on the parish's 'Our Pastors' page; arrived February 1966 after Msgr. Dillon's death.
- Rev. Msgr. John C. Tosi2005–2020
10th pastor; led 2013 restoration/renovation of the 1898 church and 'Serving the Present; Building the Future' capital campaign.
- Rev. John J. Costello2020–present
11th pastor; installed October 18, 2020, the feast of St. Luke.