Our Pastor

Father Jared P. Rodrigue
Pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist

My name is Father Jared Rodrigue.

I grew up in Destrehan, Louisiana, raised by two incredible parents who both still serve at St. Charles Borromeo Parish. People often say that the whole parish raised me — and they’re not wrong. I practically lived on the church campus. Along with my two older brothers, I grew up surrounded by priests and deacons who were not just leaders, but regular guests in our home and part of our family.

One priest in particular had a profound impact on my life: my pastor, Fr. John Phuc. He was a man of deep prayer, great joy, and a love for fishing. My dad, my brothers, and I spent many days fishing with him.

One day, he went out fishing without us — and he did not return.

After days of searching, our entire school was gathered together to hear the news. Fr. John had passed away in a boating accident. It was devastating for me, for my family, and for our entire parish.

At his funeral, Archbishop Schulte held up Fr. John’s chalice and asked a question that would change my life forever:

“With Fr. John now gone from this life, there is no one left to raise this chalice for the people of God. Is God then calling you to raise it?”

I was terrified by that question — but at the same time, deeply moved. Something within me stirred. In that moment, I knew I wanted to say yes. From that day forward, the Lord began to grow in me a desire to love Him and to serve Him as a priest.

After my time at St. Charles Borromeo, I attended Jesuit High School. Swimming had been a major part of my life since I was nine years old — training twice a day, six days a week — and it certainly influenced my insistence that my parents drive me thirty minutes each way to school.

But Jesuit gave me far more than a place to swim. It helped form me into a man of God and a man for others, preparing my heart to respond more fully to the Lord’s call.

After graduating, I attended Franciscan University of Steubenville and later entered formation with the Salesians of Don Bosco. In time, the Lord called me back home to the Archdiocese of New Orleans — and, ultimately, here to Saint Luke.

After serving as a parochial vicar at Mary, Queen of Peace in Mandeville and at St. Margaret Mary in Slidell, I have now been given the great privilege of serving as your pastor.

I am truly grateful — and deeply excited — to walk with you as we continue to grow as a parish family and to witness all that the Lord desires to do here.

Please continue to pray for me, as I pray for you, that together we may become the saints God is calling us to be.


To Jesus through Mary,
In union with St. Joseph,
Your pastor,

Father Jared