St. Teresa of Avila Parish

Reverend Edward J. Luca, J.C.D. was born in Lorain, Ohio, on Friday, December 13, 1929, of John F. and Mary A. (nee Stola) Luca. He was the oldest of four children. Siblings are Mrs. Albert (Bernadette M.) Robertson of Lorain, Ohio; Mrs. Marceline J. Downie of Lorain, Ohio; and Raymond J. Luca of Springfield, Virginia. Mr. John F. Luca died in April, 1994, and Mrs. Mary A. Luca died in June, 1968. Rev. Luca attended Holy Trinity Parochial School and public schools in Lorain, Ohio, graduating from Saint Mary High School, Lorain, Ohio in 1947. Then attended Sacred Heart College, Detroit, Michigan and Saint Mary Theological Seminary, Cleveland, Ohio. Ordained a priest at Saint John Cathedral, Cleveland, Ohio on December 18, 1954, by Archbishop Edward F. Hoban.

Served as Associate Pastor at Saint Wendelin Church, Cleveland from 1955-1957 and than at Saint John Cathedral, Cleveland from 1957-1958.

Graduate Studies at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, Italy, from 1958-1961, obtaining a Doctor of anon Law degree (J..D.) in June, 1961.

Member of the Diocesan Tribunal of Cleveland from 1961-1990 (serving as Presiding Judge 1974-1979). Simultaneous with this assignment, served also as Chaplain at Marycrest School for Girls, Independence, Ohio from 1961-1968; Personal Secretary to Bishop Clarence G. Issenmann from 1968-1977; Administrator at Saint Basis Church in Brecksville, Ohio from 1977-1980; Moderator of Diocesan Council of Priests 1981-1985; Director of Clergy Personnel for the Diocese of Cleveland 1985-1990; Chaplain Our Lady of the Lake, Knights of Columbus, council 4223, Lorain, Ohio from 1990-present. Pastoral Staff at Saint John Cathedral with residence at the Cathedral from 1980-1990. Appointed Pastor of Saint Teresa Avila Parish, Sheffield, Ohio in January, 1990, and appointed as Adjutant Judicial Vicar of the Inter-diocesan Appeal Court for the State of Ohio and Washington, D.C. also in 1990.

In 1992, elected and appointed Dean (Vicar Forane) for Lorain County and appointed ex officio member of the Cleveland Diocese Presbyterial Council. Served in both assignments. He also served on the Advisory Board of Northeast Lorain County Social Services since September, 1993, and on the Sheffield Village Citizens Advisory Committee.