On Saturday, September 18, the Rev. Dr. Pierre André Duvert, rector of St. Luke’s Church in the Bronx, celebrated the 30^th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood at Eastwood Manor, where in addition to parishioners, family, and friends, he was joined by State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clarke, State Senator Jamaal Bailey, City Councilman Kevin Riley, and Veronica Gibson, the then-nominee for, and now-elected Bronx Borough President.

Ordained to the diaconate and to the priesthood in 1991, Duvert has served as rector of St. Luke’s since December 2012. During his tenure, he has overseen extensive refurbishment and enhancement of the church building, expansion of the soup kitchen and food pantry, and most recently, installation of an advanced air purification system because of the COVID pandemic.

In his determination that the church should serve its community, Fr. Duvert partnered over the last year with Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clarke and the New York Police Department in hosting a gun buyback event at St. Luke’s that resulted in the removal of 136 guns from neighborhoods of the northeast Bronx. He also partnered with the State of New York to host COVID and antibody testing, along with COVID vaccine clinics at the church. Under his leadership, the congregation is also actively pursuing a project for the construction of affordable housing, for which there is a significant need in the community, to include a health clinic and more room for the church’s food programs in addition to other community spaces.

In 2015, he started the First Annual Police Recognition Day, which is a service of gratitude to recognize the work of police officers in the Bronx communities. At the diocesan level, Fr. Duvert is a member of the Board of Episcopal Charities, where his work is significant in supporting organizations and entities to transform the lives of over 1 million people in need each year.  He has also served as a trustee of the Diocese.