The following was compiled in 1995 by Martha Grassbaugh, lifelong and dedicated member and historian of St. Luke’s, for the175th anniversary and reprinted in condensed version in 2010. Martha passed away in 1998. Martha spent many years & hours accumulating information from historical records of St. Luke, Diocesan Records Society & Notre Dame Library Archives)



1805: The history of Danville and its parishes intimately connected with the lives of its founders the Sapps. The first generation of the Sapp family had come from Holland and arrived as early as 1650 in Lord Baltimore's Maryland colony. George and Catherine Sapp emigrated from Allegheny County Maryland to Union Township, Knox County Ohio in 1805. 

1809-1810: The first log church was constructed about 1809-1810, which seems rather early.  There seems to be more historical weight that the church was constructed and used in 1819, but not formally dedicated until October of 1822.
 
1814: The first priest to minister to the flock around “Sapp’s Settlement” was Dominican Father Fenwick who visited the area in 1814.
 
1828: A series of Dominican Fathers served the Mission traveling the 50 miles from Somerset Ohio by horseback until Father O’Leary O.P. was appointed to serve the Mission in 1828 and visited St. Luke regularly every three weeks.
 
1839: Father John Baptist Lamy, first resident pastor,appointed in September 1839. 
 
1840: Father Lamy built the first wooden church in the cemetery, which was dedicated on November 15, 1840.
 
1847: Father Thomas J. Boulger became the second resident pastor in October 1847.
 
 1851-1874: Father Julius Brent became the third pastor, he remained for 23 years.
 
1874-76: During the years 1874-76 the parish was cared for by priests coming from Columbus: Fathers Hugh McDevitt, E.J. Murphy, and J.B. Eis.
 
1876:  Father Francis Mortrier became the fourth resident pastor, and saw the need for a new church.  

Details compiled in 1995 by Martha Grassbaugh, lifelong and dedicated member of St. Luke’s and historian, for the175th anniversary and reprinted in condensed version in 2010. Martha passed away in 1998.Martha spent many years & hours accumulating information from historical records of St. Luke, Diocesan Records Society & Notre Dame Library Archives.

The following information was also obtained from the 2010 pictorial directory:
 
The history of Danville and its parish is intimately connected with the lives of its founders, the Sapps. The first generation of the Sapp family had come from Holland and arrived as early as 1650 in Lord Baltimore's Maryland colony. George and Catherine Sapp immigrated from Allegheny County Maryland to Union Township, Knox County Ohio in 1805.  They had 10 children 72 grandchildren and over 250 great-grandchildren. George purchased the first piece of land in the township in1806 and was one of 15 who voted in the first county election. It was he who gave the land for a church and a cemetery.  Three years later his father, George Sr. and brother, Daniel joined him.

In 1809 Daniel Sapp came to Knox County and purchased 600 acres also in Union Township. He served as a Lieutenant in Captain Greer’s Company of Volunteers in the war of 1812.  While he was away his wife, for fear of the Indians, took their children every evening to stay overnight in the Blockhouse, which stood just south of Danville. When he returned he acted as the first county surveyor and was elected Justice of the Peace until 1835.
 
According to Hill’s History, the first log church was constructed about 1809-1810, which seems rather early.  There seems to be more historical weight that the church was constructed and used in 1819, but not formally dedicated until October of 1822.  Henry Porter Sr. donated the parsonage land. The cemetery was laid out in 1812.  The first man to be buried in the cemetery was a “Johnson” about 1823.

More and more Catholic families began to arrive: the Jacob Colopy’s immigrated from Virginia prior to 1820 the Durbins came from Maryland before 1840 and the Blubaughs also from Maryland came about 1820.

The first priest to minister to the flock around “Sapp’s Settlement” was the Dominican Father Fenwick who visited the area in 1814. In December 1819, Father Fenwick reported that there were already 30 Catholic families belonging to St. Luke Mission, which he founded.

A series of Dominican Fathers served the Mission traveling the 50 miles from Somerset Ohio by horseback until Father O’Leary O.P. was appointed to serve the Mission in 1828 and visited St. Luke regularly every three weeks. Father Allermaine O.P. succeeded him 1834. Continuous parish records date back to 1830.

The first resident pastor was appointed in September 1839. He was a young Frenchman Father John Baptist Lamy born October 11, 1814 in Lempdes, France and ordained in December 1838. He set sail from Havre in May 1839 with Archbishop Flaget of Bardstown, Ky., arriving in Cincinnati in August, at which time he was appointed to pastor Saint Luke.

Besides being the pastor of St. Luke, he also served its Missions: Mount Vernon; Mansfield; Sandusky; Ashland; Loudonville; Worcester; Canal Dover; Massillon; Newark and other places. Often he walked to Mount Vernon and back in an afternoon. 
 
Archbishop Purcell in a letter of June 1, 1839 writes:

We visited a few families on our way to Sapp’s Settlement, Knox County, where our arrival was anxiously awaited by a large congregation, one of the first, which was founded in this diocese. I preached for nearly 2 hours every morning and every evening for three days. Rev. Mr. O’Leary was almost continually in the confessional… there were 120 communicants on Pentecost and 8 were confirmed. The number of children left unconfirmed was considerable. This was chiefly owing to their want of instruction as the church of St. Luke is 50 miles from Somerset, nearest resident of a Roman Catholic Priest.  Roads and deep creeks make clergy visits few and far between.

Father Lamy built the first wooden church in the cemetery which was dedicated on November 15, 1840 with 100 receiving holy Communion and 46 being confirmed. The church was 50’ x 38’ and had a choir gallery. He also built the rectory. It is interesting to note that on the dedication trip the Archbishop brought along a Very Rev. Mr. Henni (later Archbishop of Milwaukee) to preach in German to the German portion of the flock. The Archbishop’s evening discourse was on the “Trinity” at the request of some of the friendly Protestants of Danville.

Fr. Lame also began to build a brick church at Mount Vernon for the few Catholics there in 1842. The unfinished church was destroyed by fire, perhaps arson on March 2, 1844. Saint Luke was also to have a brick church, 100,000 bricks being set aside, but for some reason the wood frame building was erected instead.
 
Fr. Lamy was transferred to Covington Kentucky in 1847. By 1850 he had been chosen by the Seventh Baltimore Council to become Bishop of Santa Fe. Willa Cather immortalized him in her novel "Death Comes to the Archbishop". He died in 1888, having retired as Archbishop of Santa Fe because of illness and advanced age.

Father Thomas J. Bougler became the second resident pastor in October 1847. Born October 31, 1824 in Tipperary, Ireland, his family immigrated to America in 1842, and he was ordained June 5, 1847 by Archbishop Purcell. In 1849 he moved his residence to Mount Vernon as he was to resume work on the destroyed church of Father Lamy’s. It was dedicated October 14, 1849.

Meanwhile the Brent family in London, England had had an addition to their family, John Julius born February 20, 1827 they immigrated to Knox County in 1835. Coming under the influence of Father Lamy, the entire family was baptized. Father Lamy sent Julius to St. Xavier school in Cincinnati.  Noticed by Archbishop Purcell, he was sent to further study to St. Sulpice  in Paris and was ordained in June of 1851.  Given a choice of the parish in Chillicothe or his hometown, he chose his boyhood hometown where as the third pastor he remained for 23 years. His mother and sister Emma kept house for him in Danville, while his sister Frances (Aunt Fanny) kept house for him in Mount Vernon. Besides caring for the Mount Vernon Mission, he also said Mass monthly at St. Michael’s Chapel for German Catholics of Jefferson Township and the southern part of Ashland County. In 1874 Bishop Rosecrans, desiring to relieve Father Brent of part of his labor, separated the two parishes. Since his sister Emma had just died, he took up residence in Mount Vernon. He died in 1880 and was buried in St. Luke’s cemetery.

During the years 1874-76 the parish was cared for by priests coming from Columbus: Fathers, Hugh McDevitt, E.J. Murphy, and J.B. Eis.

Consideration was being given to building a much needed brick church in Danville just west of the public school that stood on property southwest of the corner of West Main Street and the street later named Mickley Street. In 1876 Father Francis Moitrier became the fourth resident pastor, and saw the need for a new church.  Asking for sealed pledges, it seemed that the majority of money to be contributed was by people living in and around Danville. Accordingly he set to work building a new church not at the cemetery but on the property West Main and Mickley St. on ground donated by Michael Smithhisler. The dissension against this location forced the removal of the cornerstone and foundation stones to St. Luke Cemetery area west of Danville. Being a versatile man, Father Moitrier did much of the masonry, superintending, plastering, and frescoing himself.  The $12,000 church was dedicated in the summer of 1877 by Bishop Sylvester Rosecrans as the “Gem of the Diocese”. Bishop Rosecrans was well acquainted with this territory, having come from Homer, Ohio. He and his brother William (later a Civil War General) attended Kenyon College at Gambier.  They were both converts. Having finished the church, he then began building the new rectory on the site of the original in 1881.  It was a three-story building, which was later sold when the present rectory was bought.  Partially destroyed by fire in 1862, it still stands on the corner across from the cemetery.

Fr. Moitrier , being in ill health, resigned in 1888. Fr. Mulhane, the pastor of Mount Vernon cared for the parish for ten months.  On August 1, 1889 the fifth pastor, Fr. William McDermott, a witty man, took charge of a parish in dilapidated condition.  There had been no services for several months and many families were moving to other places.  He immediately set about improving the residence and especially the church, which had been plagued with troubles almost from the beginning, especially weak walls because of poor foundations.

Disaster struck at 2:00 a.m. Monday March 11, 1895 when fire gutted the church.  It seems the service that day had been especially long, almost two hours, culminating in Benediction.  The altar boys, anxious to get home, did not empty the incense censer, and placed it in the closet, which smoldered and caught fire. Jose Durbin and Bertha Sapp ran all the way to Danville to alert the Fire Department.  The church was a mass of flames by the time they arrived but soon had the fire controlled until the well ran dry.  Every effort was then made to save the old frame church standing some fifty feet east, which was used as a social hall.  The loss, estimated at $25,000 was covered by only $4,500 worth of insurance.  Fr. McDermott and a layman smashed their way into the tabernacle and saved the Blessed Sacrament, but everything else was in ruins.

The congregation moved back into Fr. Lamy's old frame church.  Having no pews, they brought their own chairs.

Within days Fr. McDermott secured one half of the square on Market Street from Clinton Lybarger and Albert Wolf.  In doing so he acquired the new Lybarger home which had just been built, but never occupied.  Having the alley condemned by City Council, he broke ground on May 21, 1895.

On August 11, 1895 Bishop Watterson and a large crowd of laity and clergy laid the cornerstone for the new church.  In it was placed a copper box containing:

Ancient vulgate edition of the bible, prayer-book, catechism, copies of: CATHOLIC COLUMBIAN, MT. VERNON REPUBLICAN (issue after March fire), MT. VERNON BANNER, DANVILLE HERALD, LOUDONVILLE ADVOCATE, CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER, COLUMBUS DISPATCH, CLEVELAND WORLD, CINCINNATI POST, number of small coins from US, France, England, Germany, Spain, Austria, Canada and Mexico, and a document containing the names of pope Leo XIII, Grover Cleveland, Bp. Watterson, Governor William McKinley, the pastor and congregation, and village authorities. By November 24, Fr. McDermott blessed the one ton bell cast by the Shane Foundry in Baltimore, and it was hoisted into place.

As the building progressed, the grounds took on an almost festival atmosphere. Men and boys donated long hours of labor, while the women cooked for them.  Festivals were put on.  Lama Smith remembers helping his father haul bricks for days from the railroad station, while Anna Blubaugh remembers that her late husband, as a boy, carried water by horseback for mortar. 

Fr. McDermott had even more ambitious plans.  Between the new Church and the old Church in the cemetery there existed nothing but fields.  The 'bone of contention', the long road around the cemetery over to present CR 14 and up to the square and down Market Street, still existed.  He got the county to connect the new church and the cemetery by a new road (the present CR 9, Rambo Street).  A bridge was build across the creek and a footwalk was installed for pedestrians.

All but one of the windows was paid for by donors.  In order to pay for the last window, Fr. McDermott selected six youngsters with the promise that whoever raised the $60 necessary for the window, could have their name under it as 'donor'.  Mary Weaver Gardner got her uncle to take her to Loudonville where she raised almost the entire amount in one day.  A slip of the tongue alerted a father of one the other contestants, and on the day of reckoning he had borrowed enough to put his daughter over the top. . . her name was dutifully inscribed.  Actually the youngsters altogether had raised enough to pay for four or five windows, which then went into the building fund.

On March 1, 1896 nine days less than a year since the fire, the new church was ready for dedication.  Designed by W.P. Ginther of Akron, it was 120 feet long, by 55 feet wide and the steeple was 120 feet high, and all built at a cost of $44,000 including land, rectory and furnishings. Bishop Watterson was the Celebrant of the Mass and gave a "lengthy address on the doctrines and teachings of the Catholic Church and how it was assisted in the advancement of the world, and all free institutions instead of retarding them as many claim".  It was his 43rd church dedication in fifteen years.  Assisting him were Fathers: P.A. Powers (Logan); A.A. Cush (Dresden); B.F. Hoarney (Columbus); P. Cahill (Somerset); A. Beebe (Columbus); McDermott; with 13 altar boys, and Miss Lizzie Bradfield as organist.

The Stations were erected on March 11, 1898 and a new pulpit and acoustical umbrella were installed March 27, 1898.  By 1899 the church financial statement reports that the building debt had been wiped out.  The new organ was dedicated Sunday evening June 10, 1900.  It began with a sacred concert and a choir composed of "prominent singers from Columbus, Cleveland, Akron, Mt. Vernon and Danville".  The organ had been built expressly for St. Luke by the W.W.Kimball Co. of Chicago for $1200.  The 29 foot high altar had been built by the Josephinium Furniture Company of Columbus.

An interesting item appears on the back of the 1900 financial statement published by Fr. McDermott, he writes:

In presenting my annual report to my faithful parishioners, it gives me great pleasure to state that we now are entirely free from debt with the exception of one little item of $64...So after unparalleled work of the last few years we have the consolation of starting off the new century with our glorious church unencumbered by any debt.  Besides many other improvements of the past year, we purchased and entirely paid for our magnificent pipe organ which is truly a masterpiece...We have indeed reason to congratulate ourselves on our phenomenal success.  We now possess a glorious church which form magnificence of architecture, elaborate furnishings and splendor of furnishings can hardly be surpassed anywhere...

Pew rent amounted to $1400, but the offertory collections brought in $51.95.  The statement also show that the old church (Fr. Lamy's) was sold for $56.

The sixth pastor, Fr. Otto P. Trogus succeeded Fr. McDermott in 1905.  Fr. Trogus was succeeded by Fr. Clement S. Tiepe on Sept. i, 1912, and as seventh pastor began the longest administration in the parish's history, serving the community for 38 but not un-interrupted years.  

In July of 1923 Fr. Francis Seeber became Danville's eighth pastor, replacing Fr. Tiepe who was assigned to Corning, Ohio.  In August of 1924 Fr. Seeber began to rebuild the rectory which had orginally been a private home.  He remodeled the first floor and added all new hardwood trim. He also added three bedrooms, a bath, and a linen closet to the second story, while enclosing the front and south side of the first floor with the present porch.  A new furnace was included in the $6,725 total cost.  By 1928 $6200 had been raised by individual subscriptions to retire the debt. His labor was cut short when he died suddenly at noon on Sept. 15, 1924 after having said Mass. Bishop Hartley at the funeral Mass called him "a kind, patient, and gentle good shepherd of his flock, especially interested in the care of the poor".  He was buried in St. Luke cemetery.

After the funeral a delegation of Protestants of Danville approached Bishop Hartley and asked that Fr. Tiepe be returned as pastor.  Fr. Tiepe immediately returned and continued as pastor until 1950 when for reasons of advanced age he retired as Pastor Emeritus, and lived until his death on Dec. 4, 1956 at Mercy Hospital in Mt. Vernon.  He celebrated his 50th Anniversary as a priest at St. Luke in 1952.  He  was buried in St. Luke cemetery.
 
Fr. Hubert A. Rubeck became the Administrator of St. Luke in 1950.  Soon after, he was appointed the ninth pastor.  During his administration the Church was completely re-pointed at a cost of $14,000, and new lighting was installed to replace the old main aisle chandeliers.

Msgr. John W. Kerrigan succeeded Fr. Rubeck in 1956.  Because of ill health and advanced age he retired in 1961, and was succeeded by Fr. Herman A. Crock.

During Fr. Crock's tenure a new two car garage was added, and plans contemplated for a parish hall.  Serious illness terminated Fr. Crock's pastorate and Fr. William Huber administered the parish for some months until Fr. Clement F. Faistl was appointed pastor in 1966.  He began planning the long talked about, but delayed, building of the parish hall.  After one false start and an affirmative parish vote of 142 to 92, the ground was broken on Easter Sunday, April 14, 1968.

In the midst of the building of the parish hall the thirteenth pastor since Fr. Lamy (1839), Fr. Thomas L. McLaughlin, was appointed Feb. 2, 1969.  On May 4, 1969 the parish cast 340 votes toward choosing a name for the new building.  There were ten alternatives, but an overwhelming majority favored the name Saint Luke Community Center.  After Mass on May 18, 1969, Bishop Clarence E. Elwell, in a special ceremony attended by some 400 parishioners, dedicated the new center.  An open house followed in the afternoon.  

The center comprises an educational wing and a hall.  The educational wing has three classrooms with a library, a parish office, restroom and a carpeted lounge which can hold up to 60 people for parish organizations and meetings.  The lounge can be turned into two additional classrooms by means of a folding acoustical door.  The hall (75'x60'), which seats 500 people, is equipped with a modern commercial kitchen, large restroom facilities, and also has recreational facilities for the youth.  The concrete block, brick veneered building was designed by John Gibboney and Associates of Columbus, and was built by Ken Simmons Jr. of Mt. Vernon at a cost of $86,500. Fr. McLaughlin announced at the dedication ceremonies that the building was free of debt.  

The building is truly a community building being used for most of the area youth activities, monthly euchre parties, monthly Senior Citizen meetings, all the church's organizations adult and student religious education.  In October of 1969 the Parish elected a tweleve member Parish Senate, which is a decisive making body to help the pastor manage the Parish's community life, both temporal and spiritual.  There are seven committees of the Parish Senate: Youth; Community Life, Worship; Social Concerns; Education; Maintenance; Finance and Administration and Vocations.  

During the month of December the parish had an opportunity to listen to various church designers explain the problems of redecorating an older church to fit the modern liturgy.  On Dec. 28, 1969 the parish selected Mr. Jerry Shrovnal, of Shrovnal Co. of Green Bay, Wisconsin as the presenter of the design they liked best.  On Jan. 4, 1970 the Parish Senate, acting on the 90% vote of confidence of the parish, awarded the contract of re-designing the santuary floor, confessional, new sanctuary furniture, and new pews; and the redecorating to the Shrovnal Co. His contract was $19,389 on which $10,000 has already been paid.  The overall expense will run another $7,500 which will include carpeting.  The redecorating program began on March 22 and was completed on May 1, just in time to celebrate the Sesquicentennial on June 14, 1970.

In 1974, Fr. John P. Tague was appointed pastor of St. Luke's.  Fr. Carl P. Clagett followed Fr. Tague as pastor in 1975.  Fr. R. Michael Ellifritz served the parish from July, 1982 until July, 1987, when Fr. F. Richard Snoke was appointed pastor. 

In 1986, a Christian Stewardship program--a new way of looking at giving and sharing was approved by Parish Council and started in November, under the guidance of the Diocesan Development Office.

In 1988, a restoration of the church's exterior was completed.  The work included repairs to the church roof, steeple, stonework, and steps.  

The Columbian Squires, St. Luke circle 3676 was chartered on September 25, 1988 with 15 members.  St. Luke Council 910 Knights of Coluimbus sponsors this Catholic organization with the aim to build character and develop leadership in our young men.  The original ages of 12-18 has been expanded to include boys as young as 10 years of age.

A Stewardship follow-up was approved by the Parish Council in February in 1990 and finished by April.  The church roof was replaced with a slate roof by Berlin Roofing, Berlin, Ohio.  Renew, a Parish based Spiritual Process was studied and approved by Parish Council in November.  

Season I of RENEW began in October, 1991 with 85+ people participating in small groups for the adults.  The high school grades 10-12 participated in the youth option of RENEW.   Several large group activites took place.  Season II of RENEW was held during Lent with a small increase of participation.  Season III of RENEW was held in the Fall.  RENEW was a good experience for all ages as St. Luke through take-home materials, small and large groups, special liturgies and homilies.  RENEW involved many people of the parish that had not been involved in their spiritual enrichment before.  

The Stewardship Committee worked on the Time and Talent Booklet to be ready in the fall of 1992.  Plans were made to redecorate the interior of the church.  Membership in 1992 is 940 with 360 family units who are sharing their gifts of time, talent and treasure with the parish.  

St. Luke Parish celebrated a special 175th Anniversary Mass on August 6, 1995.  It is also the 100th Anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone ofour present church building.  Bishop James A. Griffin presided along with Father Snoke and guest priests.  The liturgy included music by the choirs and guitar group.  A reception followed in St. Luke Community Center.  

A parish Advent retreat with evening talks and morning Koffee Klatches was held with Kathy Chesto December 3-6, 1995.  The theme was Bread That is Broken; Living Community For A Hurting World.

Renovation was begun on the interior of the church to restore the Victorian Gothic character of the church in November, 1996.  The project included replacement of the heating system and installation of air conditioning, repair of plaster and painting, improved lighting, a combination of wood flooring, tile, and carpet, new wood pews, a Baptismal Font in the rear of the church, and new Sanctuary furnishings (altar, ambo, & tabernacle tower).

An Advent Mission Retreat was held Nov. 30-Dec. 5, 1996 under the direction of Bishop Albert Ottenweller and Sr. Nancy Westmeyer.  The retreat included introductory talks at the weekend Masses, Koffee Klatches, special Masses, and evening talks.

A Life in the Spirit Seminar was held March-April 1997 during jr.high and high school CCD classes.  The intent was that they might experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit as a means of growth in their relationship with Christ.

The first Mass in the newly renovated church was held on Palm Sunday, April 5, 1997.  Bishop James A. Griffin blessed our newly renovated church at a Rededication Mass September 21, 1997.  Music for the liturgy was shared by all the music groups.  A reception followed in the Saint Luke Community Center with a meal and music.  An eight-week Life in the Spirit Seminar was held March-May, 1998 for the adults of the parish with the goal of building a more personal relationship with Christ, yielding to the Holy Spirit in our lives, and sharing Christian life.

Fr. Ralph Huntzinger and Sr. Carol Spencer of the Spirituality Network, Columbus Ohio poresented a Parish Lenten Retreat entitled Coming Home -- God's Longing For Us --Our Longing For Him March 20-24, 1999.  Our parish membership is about 100 individuals from 410 family units. 

In April, 2000, the parish paarticipated in the Challenge in Changing Times Campaign and Fr. Vincent McKieran and Sr. Regina Marcum of the Spirituality Network in Columbus came for a Lenten retreat.  In July, youth participating in Rural Gospel Road came for a week and a hog roast was held for the parish.  

Frank Ruyeon performed "Afraid; the Gospel of Mark" in February, 2001.  Ten parishioners attended a workshop for Celebrations in Absence of a Priest.

Parish Lenten Retreats were put on by the Social Concerns Department in 2002, by the Vocations Department in 2003, and by Sr. Carol Ann Spencer in 2004.

Knights of Columbus Council 910 celebrated their 100th Anniversary on August 21 & 22, 2004 with a dinner and dance on Saturday and a Mass with Bishop Griffin on Sunday.

Fr. Snoke celebrated his 40th Anniversary to the priesthood with a special Mass on June, 5, 2005. The parish surprised him with a picnic dinner complete with musical entertainment, a slide show and the presentation of a portable greenhouse.  Many friends and family came to his celebration.

In 2005, Parish membership was about 1120 individuals from 423 family units, although not all are active participants.  a RENEW mission was held September 17-20, 2006 as a kick-off for RENEW for the 21st Century.  Season I began in November.

Fr. Pat Martin came to St. Luke's for a mission entitled "God's Love in Our Broken Lives" January 13-17, 2007

Season II of RENEW began in February, 2007, Season III in October, Season IV in February, 2008, Season V in October.
 
An Evening of Reflection was presented September 20, 2009 by Deacon Terry Philpott entitled, "When God Says No."  Jo Ann Guinther was consecrated into the Order of Consecrated Virgins Living in the World at a specail Mass celebrated by Gishop Campbell on October 1st.

Many parishioners participated in a Parish Self Study mandated by the diocese in 2008.  The focus areas were the Sacramental, Strategic, and Sustainable Natures of the Parish.  

The New Life retreat was held August 13-15 & 28, 2010 with the goal of journeying to a new understanding of the depth of God's love for us.

Our current census figures show 418 households with 824 adults and 215 children,  

Parishioners are involved in many events including the March For Life in Washington DC inJanuarey, Lenten ecumenical services, Living Stations of the Cross, Penance services Stations of the Cross, Seder Meal Vacation Bible School, Bloodmobiles, Fish Fries, Pancake Breakfasts, an annual Festival, 540 Hours Devotion in October, and the Giving Tree/Christmas Basket program.

We have a Parish School of Religion (PSR) for children in Kindergarten through 12th grade.

 In July of 2012 Fr. Victor R. Wesolowski was appointed pastor.

July 8 2014 Fr. Mark J. Hammond was appointed pastor.

July 8, 2014 St. Luke parish became a member of a newly formed consortium of parishes consisting of St. Luke Danville, St. Vincent DePaul Mt. Vernon and Church of the Nativity in Utica. This consortium is referred to as the Knox-Licking consortium and is Pastored by Fr. Mark J. Hammond with Fr. Vincent Nguyen serving as parochial Vicar.  Deacon Tim Birie also serves in all three parishes.  Fr. Homer Blubaugh who is originally from Danville has retired here and is involved in various aspects of the parish helping out with liturgies and sacraments as needed.  

PASTORS WHO HAVE SERVED ST. LUKE PARISH

1839 Fr. John B. Lamy
1847 Fr. Thomas L. Boulger
1851 Fr. John Julius Brent
1876 Fr. Francis Moitrier
1888 Fr. L. W. Mulhane, Ad.
1889 Fr. William McDermott
1905 Fr. Otto P. Trogus
1912 Fr. Clement B. Teipe
1923 Fr. Francis J. Seeber
1924 Fr. Clement B. Teipe
1950 Fr. Hubert A. Rubeck
1956 Msgr. John W. Kerrigan
1961 Fr. Herman A. Crock
1966 Fr. Clement A. Faistl
1969 Fr. Thomas L. McLauglin
1974 Fr. John P. Tague
1975 Fr. Carl P. Clagett
1982 Fr. R. Michael Ellifritz
1987 Fr. F. Richard Snoke
2012 Fr. Victor R. Wesolowski
2014 Fr. Mark J. Hammond