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Parish Pastoral Team
Fr. Pike Thomas, Pastor
email: pthomas@shreve.net
Fr. LaVerne 'Pike' Thomas, first-born of four siblings, saw the world first at Colorado Springs, Colorado (hence his nickname Pike) in "the summer of '42," at the beginning of WWII. He grew up all over Louisiana, and spent precious years in Northwest Louisiana 1950-53, which he loved then and still does. Educated mostly in Catholic schools, he graduated from Tulane University in 1964 with honors in history, was in the Navy in Japan as engineering officer, and then spent three years in New York and Chicago in sales. He returned South to New Orleans and became assistant director and director of Tulane Alumni Giving, then to Southern California as VP for Development for Chapman College. His last position before going to Seminary in 1982 was as VP of the national capital fund-raising firm of Brakeley, John Price Jones, where he was responsible for over $40 million in philanthropy.
Fr. Pike entered seminary in 1982 at St. Mary in Baltimore, the "mother-seminary" of the US, and after graduating in 1986 with a Masters in Sacred Theology, was the last priest ordained for the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport in 1986, asking to remain in Shreveport when the diocese split one month later. From 1986-93, he was assistant and then pastor of a five-church cluster east of Shreveport, the Communities of the Holy Spirit, headquartered in Minden. He then received a sabbatical to pursue doctoral studies in Liturgy at the University of Notre Dame (Indiana). He is presently working (slowly) on his dissertation. He returned to Shreveport in 1995 and became the third pastor of the newest parish in the Diocese, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, where he remained for ten years, overseeing a period of growth and building in that church. In summer of 2005, he was assigned to St. Jude. Fr. Pike has filled many positions in the Shreveport Diocese, including President of the Presbyteral Council, Vicar for Clergy, Vicar for Evangelization, member of Diocesan Liturgical Commission, professor in the Greco Institute, and Master of Ceremonies for the diocese. He is also active in several local organizations as board member or officer, including Rotary Club of Shreveport, Volunteers of America, Shreveport Symphony, Habitat for Humanity, Northwest Louisiana Free Pharmacy, Sons of the American Revolution, and the Holy Angels Residential Facility. His interests are travel, genealogy, history, classical music, skiing and tennis.
Rev. Mr. Larry Mills, Deacon
email: lmills@clutchanddrive.ntcmail.net
Deacon Larry Mills was born in 1952 in Houston, TX and his family moved to Shreveport, LA in 1965. He married Lynn at St. Joseph Catholic Church in 1976 and they have two unmarried children. Their son, John, lives in Shreveport and their daughter, Nicole, lives in Dallas.
Deacon Mills attended Louisiana Tech and LSU. In Baton Rouge he helped create the Louisiana State News Radio Network where he worked as Chief Announcer and covered the state capital. In 1982 they moved to College Station, TX where they opened a new business He served as choir director at St. Anthony Parish as well as numerous other ministries, included lector, cantor, EMHC, retreat committee, liturgy committee, prison ministry and other outreach programs. Lynn served as president of the Ladies Altar Society.
In 2002, Deacon Mills entered diaconal formation in the Austin Diocese in conjunction with St. Mary's Seminary in Houston. His profession brought him back to Shreveport in 2005 where he was ordained for the Diocese of Shreveport in November 2006 and is currently assigned to St. Jude Parish. He assists in liturgy, music, retreat programs, prison ministry. He is also an advocate for the Marriage Tribunal and coordinates the parish RCIA program.
Rev. Mr. Homer Tucker, Deacon
email: tuckerhomer@comcast.net
Deacon Homer Tucker was born on Sept 7, 1945 in St. Louis, Missouri. He and Karen have been married since 7 Jul 1967. They have two married children and five grand-children that live in Gaithersburg, MD and Webster, NY.
Deacon Tucker attended General Motor Institute Flint, Michigan, a 5 year co-op program, with work assignments at Chevrolet Motor Division's St. Louis Assembly plant, and awarded a BEE in Jul 1968.
He was loaned to GM Assembly Division's Central Office Facilities Engineering as part of Task Force for proposed Truck Plant. He was promoted to Senior Facilities Engineer-Electric, with a transfer to Shreveport Assembly Plant. He retired from GM in 1999 after 36 years with GM.
He was ordained for Diocese of Shreveport service on May 7, 2005. He is presently assigned for ministry to Community of St. Jude Catholic Church since Jul 2006. Service in areas of social concerns, outreach, and RCIA, in conjunction with staff, congregation and other clergy and assist in liturgy.
Mrs. Karen Tucker, Lay Ecclesial Minister
email: tuckerkaren@comcast.net
Karen Tucker was born on Nov 3, 1946 in Durand, Michigan. She married Deacon Homer Tucker on 7 Jul 1967. She and Homer have two married children and four grand-children.
Karen is a 1967 graduate of St. Joseph School of Nursing with a RN Diploma. She then attend Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA and graduated with a BSN in 1982. Karen retired from Highland Hospital in 1998. She then attended 4yr Deaconate Program for Lay Ecclesial Minister education and was commissioned by Bishop Friend in 2005.
Karen is a founding member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. She served as the Vice President for the SEAS Pastoral Council. Her contributions include the creation of Pro-Life Ministry at SEAS, served in SEAS KayCee Auxiliary as Secretary and Vice President, served as Reader, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Altar Server, and Hospital Minister. She was then assigned, for 1 year, as Lay Ecclesial Minister at St. Catherine of Siena with focus on RCIA.
Karen was assigned to St. Jude as Lay Ecclesial Minister in 2006. Her current St. Jude focus is in St. Jude Health Ministry, Hospital/Homebound Ministry (Visitationand Training), Assisting the Pastoral Associate with Lay Eucharistic Ministry and Lector Ministry, and RCIA.
Mr. Jeremy Dixon, Director of Music & Liturgy
email: musicstjude@bellsouth.net
Jeremy was born Sept 29, 1977 in Pickerington OH and in 1983 moved to Charlotte, NC. Music was in his blood early, as he began to teach himself to play the organ on Grandma Dixon's old Wurlitzer Organ. He started taking piano lessons in the 3rd grade then the saxophone in the 5th and later in the 8th grade switched to the bassoon.
Jeremy graduated from East Caroline University in 2001 with a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education.
Jeremy's "Liturgical Life" began in 1989 when he began playing in a contemporary group at St. Gabriel Catholic Church. He remained with this group, named "New Spirit" all the way through college graduation. While in college, he became the Music Director for the Newman Catholic Student Center, preparing music for three masses each week, a position he held for four years. After 14 years with "New Spirit", he also joined in the parish choir after Steav Congdon was hired as the new Director of Music a man who would grow to be his good friend and mentor. At Steav's recommendation, Jeremy became a member of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
Jeremy married his better half, Shannon, on June 22, 2002. They moved to Louisiana after St. Jude's national search for a "Director of Liturgy and Music. They have one son, Elijah Thomas, and two dogs, Tucker and Bailey.
Mr. Micah Murphy, Director of Youth Ministry
email: youthstjude@bellsouth.net
Micah Murphy was born October 26, 1984, and is a native of Omaha, Nebraska, where he attended Catholic grade and middle school before going to a local public high school. Having grown up as a nominal Catholic, he decided in high school to start living his faith more actively after finding himself confused by the various religions represented by his classmates. After discerning at college seminary that he was not called to the priesthood and having spent a year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he transferred to Franciscan University of Steubenville and graduated with a B.A. in Theology, Catechetics, and Latin in the Spring of 2007. His wife, Jennie, is also a theology graduate of Franciscan University (and a native of Blanchard, LA). They were married December 28, 2007 and are currently expecting their first child, due in November. His interests include catechesis, theology, Scripture, philosophy, architecture, Latin, and Christian poetry. In addition to youth ministry, he is in charge of the upkeep of the parish website and volunteers as a moderator for the youth apostolate Phatmass.
Mrs. Natalie Ording, Executive Assistant
email: adminstjude@bellsouth.net
Natalie Ording was born December 26, 1964 and serves as the Executive Assistant at St. Jude Parish. She graduated from Oklahoma City Community College in 1985. Natalie brings with her 6 years of experience in various positions within the Catholic Church. She lives in Shreveport with her husband, David, and her two daughter Breanna Hope and Alexandria Faith.
Mrs. Marcie Rankins, Director of Spiritual Formation
email: giftstjude@bellsouth.net
Marcelle Rankins serves as DRE. Marcie, as she is known around the High School. Marcie came to Saint Jude from Germany where she served as DRE at Saint Michael's, a military parish in Baumholder. Originally from Minnesota, Marcie is one of twelve children.
Mrs. Peggy Moran, Pastoral Associate
email: pastjude@bellsouth.net
Peggy Moran serves as the Pastoral Associate. Peggy comes to St. Jude from the former Parish of Holy Rosary where she held the positions of Director of Religious Education (DRE) and Youth Minister until its closure in 2004. Originally from Natchitoches, Louisiana, she is married to Chris and they have two beautiful children, a daughter Mallory and son Brad.
Mr. Tim Glennon, Building/Maintenance Manager
email: tg32159@comcast.net
Tim is responsible for the Building and Maintenence of St. Jude Catholic Church. He is married to Margie and they have four children, Tim II, Kathleen, Sean and Shannon.
Tim spent 17 years in New York City as Northeast Regional Technical Service/Information Technology Manager for Ticketmaster Corp. He moved to Shreveport in 1999 and worked at the Ticketmaster Call Center until it closed in 2000. He then was co-owner of Advanced Concrete Designs LLC in Shreveport until its closure in 2006.
Tim has a passion for both music and golf. So when he's not cantoring a mass or singing at some local (and not so local) establishment he can be found tearing up the fairways at Querbes Park Golf Course.