Former Pastor

 

Rev. Anthony Luke Espinosa was born in 1964 & raised in New York City.  The youngest of four; his parents* from Puerto Rico.  He attended Cardinal Spellman High School & New York Institute of Technology.  He graduated Holy Apostles Seminary in Connecticut in 1993.

He was ordained a priest in 1996** for the Omaha Archdiocese & was stationed at:

• St. Bonaventure, Columbus ('96-'99)
• O.L. Guadalupe/St. Agnes, Omaha ('99-'02)
• Immaculate Conception/St. Joseph, Omaha ('02-'07 -- Pastor & Dean)
• Divine Mercy, Schuyler, with Columbus Hispanic Ministry ('07-'10)
• Ss. Peter & Paul/St. Anthony, Omaha ('10-'11)
• St. Gerald, Ralston ('11-'12)
• St. Michael, South Sioux City, with Emerson Hispanic Ministry ('12-'13)

On May 16, 2013, 9 a.m., he was requested to pastor St. Leonard, Madison, effective June 20.  Installed August 10 by Rural Central Dean, Rev. Ross C. Burkhalter.

Also, in the past: Omaha Chaplain to NE Medical Center, Ancient Order of Hibernians, American GI Forum;  NE State Chaplain, Catholic Daughters of the Americas;  Board, South Omaha Business Association;  and Member, Gov. Johanns Diversity Advisory Cabinet.  Assisted the South Sioux City Area Chamber of Commerce.

His house companions were two birds: a cockatiel named Nathan &
a conure named Junior.

A controversy effected his termination on August 31, 2016.

* Mother was a seamstress & father a thirty-year hotel worker (taxi driver, railroad laborer & U.S. Navy before that).  Brother, Ralph, a security guard.  Sister, Jenny, a teacher.

** First Mass was at St. Francis, Humphrey, helped by
St. Leonard's Dcn. Frederick A. Ridder.