Father Luke Marquard grew up in Faribault, where his parents, Steve and Mary,
still live. He is the oldest of three children. All three siblings attended Divine Mercy Catholic School and Bethlehem Academy in Faribault.
Father Marquard graduated from Butler University in 2001 with a degree in journalism. He worked in Indianapolis (sports marketing) for about a year before moving to Chicago, where he lived and worked (magazine writing and editing) until 2005. In May of that year, he began a two-year program through the University of Notre Dame called the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE). During his time with ACE, Father Marquard earned a master’s degree in education and taught eighth grade at Guardian Angels Catholic School in Denver.
Father Marquard entered the Saint Paul Seminary in 2007 and was ordained a priest by Archbishop John C. Nienstedt on May 25, 2013.  Before being appointed to The Church of St. Joseph in 2023, Father Marquard served for two years as parochial vicar at the Church of the Epiphany in Coon Rapids and in 2015, he was appointed pastor at Good Shepherd in Golden Valley.  

The School Advisory Council (SAC) is advisory to the Pastor and The School Administrative Team.  The council members are nominated by the SAC and appointed by the Pastor to serve a three-year term.  Members serve on one of four standing committees:  Strategic Long Range Planning, Finance, Marketing and Development.

The School Advisory Council serves to:

• assure the school implements the educational mission and goals of the parish
• provide quality Catholic education for the children of the parish
• assure sound management
• communicate the mission, goals, activities and needs of the school to the parish and broader community
• maintain and foster commitment of others to the school
• spread the “good news” of Catholic education

2023-24 School Advisory Council Members