Monsignor Lawrence Luciana

Msgr. Lawrence Luciana was born of parents Dominic Luciana and Lena Staffileno August 30, 1937 in Dennison, Ohio. Msgr. Luciana’s parents and their two sons, and daughter, Eugene, Lawrence and Marlene moved to Steubenville, Ohio, in his early childhood. He attended St. Peter School, Steubenville, 1943 to 1951. He attended Steubenville Catholic Central School from 1951 to 1953 and entered St. John Vianney Seminary, Bloomingdale, during his sophomore year of high school.

Msgr. Luciana was ordained May 23, 1963 in Sacred Heart Church, Pomeroy, Ohio. He was assigned to reside at St. Joseph Church (Wolfhurst) Bridgeport, Ohio, June 8, 1963 and was a full time instructor at St. John High School, Bellaire, Ohio, for three years. During this time he was administrator of Immaculate Conception Mission, New Matamoras and Hannibal Mission, Ohio. He had residence at St. John Vianney Church, Powhatan Point, Ohio, 6/6/64 to 8/27/66. He served as administrator of St. Henry Church, Harriettsville, Ohio, 12/17/65 to 5/5/69, during which time he took up residence, St. Peter and Paul Church, Lore City, Ohio, 6/4/66 to 8/17/68, to begin his priestly work as full-time instructor, Guernsey Central, Cambridge, Ohio, for three years. During this time he was also assistant Vocation Director. He was appointed an assistant in residence, St. Mary Church, Fulda, Ohio, 8/17/68.

Msgr. Luciana’s ministry of almost 15 years at St. Stephen Church, Caldwell, Ohio, began as administrator pro tem 3/28/69 at the time of the sudden death of Father Stephen Patala. Msgr. Luciana was appointed pastor there 3/25/71. Bishop John King Mussio named Msgr. Luciana a Prelate of Honor (Monsignor), August 1977. He was appointed pastor of St. Peter Church, Steubenville, 1/6/84. He remained pastor there until his retirement from active ministry 11/4/93.

During his active ministry, he served as a member of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission for three years. He received the Bishop John King Mussio Award from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1990 in recognition of this service to the Catholic Church. He was director for the Catholic Woman’s Club, Visitation Deanery, 11/22/71 and chaplain for the Catholic Woman’s Club, Assumption Deanery, 2/9/80.

After his retirement from active ministry in 1993, he took up residence at St. Ambrose Church, Belpre, Ohio, for almost three years. During this time, he celebrated Masses in the two St. Ambrose Churches, Belpre and Vincent and, also, in churches in Parkersburg. In 1996 he was asked by Bishop Bernard W. Schmitt to become administrator of St. Stephen Church, Ona. Msgr. Luciana was excardinated from the Diocese of Steubenville 12/20/99 and was incardinated into the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. He served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Huntington for almost 15 years and, for part of that time, as pastor of St. Peter Claver Parish in Huntington until his failing health led to his retirement from active ministry.

Msgr. Luciana retired from active ministry on May 1, 2012. He was a popular priest known for his devotion to every aspect of pastoral care. He has proven to be an exemplary administrator, an inspiring preacher, and a consummate evangelizer, having brought untold numbers into the Catholic Church wherever he was assigned in his 50 years as an active priest.

Monsignor Luciana passed away after a lengthy illness at he Woodlands Retirement Center in Huntington, WV on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at the age of 87

He is preceded in death by his parents Domenic and Lena (Staffileno) Luciana and several loving aunts and uncles who played a major role in his life.

He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Eugene (Gene) Luciana, & Betty Ann of Darien, Ct.; and his sister and brother-in-law, Marlene (Luciana) Gaffoli & Anthony (Butch) Gaffoli of Naples, Fl.

He is also survived by his cousins, JoAnn Barnabei of Weirton, WV & Jerry (Lucille) Durante, of Manchester, WV, Francesca Lombardo Alves, of Ohio, Mary Ann (Ron) Lash, and JoAnn DeKatch  all of Michigan.  As well as, multiple nieces, nephews, great nieces & nephews and one great-great niece and three great-great nephews, whose lives he has touched and are all better for having received Monsignor’s unlimited amount of love, kindness, and priestly guidance over the years.

He was a loving son and grandson to our mother and grandmother (Nano) and a loving brother to Gene and Marlene, as well as a caring and devoted Uncle to all his nieces and nephews. He will be deeply missed and will live on in our hearts forever because of the imprint he left behind on each of us by the example of his faith filled life, his giving nature and his unconditional love for so many.

The family of Monsignor Luciana also wishes to acknowledge and extend our heartfelt thanks and sincere gratitude to the Woodlands administrative and health care staff and to Dr. Stephen Petrany and Dr. Lisa Cain for the outstanding care and unwavering support given to Monsignor and his family during his lengthy illness. We will forever be grateful for the dedication given to our loved one.

Funeral Liturgy will be conducted Most Rev. Mark E. Brennan on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 10:30 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Huntington. Visitation will be conducted on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Huntington. A Vigil Service will follow at 7 PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Huntington. Funeral Liturgy will also be conducted at 11:00 AM on Friday, April 25, 2025 at St. Peter Catholic Church, Steubenville, Ohio. Rite of Committal will be held at 1:00 PM in St. Paul Cemetery, Weirton, WV. Reger Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.regerfh.com.