
San Lucas United Church of Christ, 2914 West North Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60647
Carlos Flores Photograph (2012)
San Lucas United Church of Christ is a member of the United Church of Christ, a Christian denomination made up of 5,600 churches and 1.2 million members. Reverend Jorge Morales founded San Lucas Church in 1976. The church’s original founding members was composed of thirty Christian conscious men and women, who were raised in the Humboldt Park community, and sought a Christian remedy to the ills of poverty and deprivation faced by the community at large. They sought to make concrete changes in the day-to-day lives of people living in the Humboldt Park and West Town community, which at that time was predominantly Puerto Rican.

San Lucas United Church of Christ. Chicago, Illinois (2012)
Carlos Flores Photograph (2012)
Today, the members of San Lucas United Church of Christ are full of the love of God and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and have totally identify with the needs of an oppressed people that are in search of freedom. This is why San Lucas Church is committed and is n solidarity with the struggle of the poor. The church is committed with other institutions that struggle for justice, peace, and the liberation of people. San Lucas Church motto is, “Faith In Action”.

Reverend Jorge Morales, founder of San Lucas United Church of Christ, celebrates event with local religious, civic, and political dignitaries at San Lucas Church. Chicago, Illinois (circa 1980’s)
San Lucas United Church of Christ Photo Archives (2012)
San Lucas United Church of Christ provides worship services on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Other services provided by San Lucas Church include the Hot Meal Program, where every Tuesday at 12 Noon, community residents are provided with a hot meal; the Food Pantry provides community residents with groceries every 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month; the Thrift Store provides residents with clothing/shoes, household needs, on Monday thru Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Produce Mobile, sponsored by the Chicago Food Depository in conjunction with San Lucas Church, distribute produce to community residents at the Humboldt Park Filedhouse. Chicago, Illinois
Carlos Flores Photograph (2012)
In collaboration with the Chicago Food Depository, San Lucas Church provides fresh fruits and vegetables through the Produce Mobile Program, every Third Monday of the month; community residents are provided assistance with their energy bill during the winter months through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, sponsored by the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, In.; after school program is provided to community youth through the Teen Reach After School Program through the BUILD Organization – Monday thru Friday at 3:00 p.m.; weekly creative writing workshops sponsored by the Neighborhood Writing Alliance, are held every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

Community residents participate in San Lucas Church Hot Meal Program. Chicago, Illinois
Carlos Flores Photograph (2012)
In addition, over the last Five years, San Lucas Church, in collaboration with the Puerto Rican Cuatro Project, offers the Annual Puerto Rican Tiple Construction Workshop. This workshop provides community residents/participants the rudiment of stringed instrument making, as well as to provide information about this extinct string instrument, its cultural history, its music, and place in Puerto Rican society. The church has also provided its space to other community organizations to present their programs and events.

Instrument maker, William Cumpiano with student (Carmen Caro), after completing the Annual Puerto Rican Tiple Construction Workshop, at San Lucas Church. Chicago, Illinois (2011)
Carlos Flores Photograph (2012)

Community event celebration at San Lucas Church. Chicago, Illinois
Carlos Flores Photograph (2012)

Members of the Chicago Cuatro Orchestra provide entertainment to community residents in the rear of San Lucas Church. Chicago, Illinois
Carlos Flores Photograph (2012)
San Lucas Church is always in need of volunteers and donations to carry out their mission of helping out community residents in need. Presently, San Lucas Church transitional pastor is Reverend Mario Amaro.