Luke J. Hally was born in Manhattan, raised in Queens, New York and after 18 years in Huntington, Long Island, he and his family moved to Basking Ridge. 

He was ordained a deacon in the Rockville Center Diocese on May 31, 1980. Deacon Luke received his theological training at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, Long Island and served at Saint Elizabeth’s parish in South Huntington, from May 1980 until February 1983, when he began his ministry at Saint James, Basking Ridge.

In addition to serving as deacon at Masses, Deacon Luke gives homilies, performs baptisms every fourth Sunday, runs the RCIA program, teaches adult and CCD Confirmation classes, presides over wake and burial services, witnesses marriages, and performs paraliturgical services at the request of the pastor. He is also involved with the Divorced/ Separated group

Deacon Luke spent 17 years serving on the Diocesan Deaconate Advisory Board and the Diaconate Personnel Board. He was Chairman of the Diaconate Personnel Board during 2003 and 2004, and was Diaconate Director from 1996 to 2000.

A graduate of Augustinian Academy in Staten Island, Deacon Luke has a B.A. degree from Villanova University/ Saint John’s University. He did graduate work at New York University (accounting) and Stanford University (engineering). He was a Division Manager at New York Telephone Company, a Senior Vice President at Edward S. Gordon, Executive Vice President of COAP Planning, and a Director at Bell Communications Research. He has been retired since 1992. His hobbies include golf and reading.

Deacon Luke and his wife, Maureen, have been married for 48 years and raised three daughters (Deirdre, Mary Alice and Tara), all of whom are married. The Hallys have been blessed with eight grandchildren. Maureen is a registered nurse with a B.S. degree and is a Certified Healing Touch Practitioner as well as a Certified Occupational Health Nurse-Specialist.