Saint Rose of Lima Parish to offer Luke Live mission

Friday, Jan. 09, 2015

By Kevin Cummings

Special to the Intermountain Catholic

LAYTON — Paulist Father James DiLuzio will present his Luke Live one-man show at Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Layton Feb. 2-4.

Fr. James DiLuzio came to religious life by way of stage and screen, and the skills he developed as a professional actor serve him well as a full-time Paulist missionary. Fr. DiLuzio travels the country offering the Luke Live mission. He has committed the book of Luke to memory and performs it as a one-man show, incorporating popular music along with reflections on the meaning of scripture in relation to modern life.

After completing his schooling in southern California, Fr. DiLuzio’s acting career took him to New York City. While working at the Metropolitan Opera, DiLuzio began attending Mass at the church of St. Paul the Apostle. He found himself drawn to the Paulist mission of evangelization through engagement. He discerned a call to the order and he was ordained on May 8, 1993.

After serving nine years in parish and campus ministry, he wanted to find a way to integrate his dramatic training with evangelization. Returning to the early days of the church – when the Gospels were shared from memory – he developed Luke Live.

“It’s not the kind of evangelization that says, ‘I have the truth and I am going to convince you’,” DiLuzio states. “It’s really about sharing, about dialogue. It’s about transforming not only the listener, but the person who is doing the sharing.”

The program has resonated with audiences. Speaking of a performance at St. Thomas Aquinas parish in Logan, St. Rose Pastor Fr. Clarence Sandoval said, “It was interesting to watch the people listen – maybe for the first time – to the Gospel, God’s Word.” Members of other parishes who have participated have described Luke Live as “a new and exciting way of hearing the book of Luke” and “inspired and inspiring.”

The presentation at St. Rose of Lima Parish will cover the Passion and Resurrection, focusing on Luke chapters 19 - 24. Each day of the mission will focus on two chapters with the morning and evening sessions offering the same content. 

The event, which is free to the public and suitable for all ages, will be held Feb. 2-4 with sessions at 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 210 Chapel St., Layton. 

Kevin Cummings is a St. Rose of Lima parishioner.