Father Victor Rogers served the historic Episcopal Church of Saint Luke’s on Whalley Avenue for 27 years, extending its legacy of community service in new ways for a new millennium.
Under Father Rogers’ stewardship and with talented lay leadership, this tradition of service for community development has been renewed and taken to new levels in recent times. He and the congregation founded the St. Luke’s Development Corporation, with early seed funds from Yale University and ongoing support from the clinical faculty and students of the Yale Law School. Their vision and persistence led to the construction of a beautiful new structure The Josephine Gray Housing at the key intersection of Goffe and Sperry streets that provides affordable, quality housing for senior citizens.
Father Rogers went about this community organizing with a wonderful combination of gentleness and firmness. He is quick to give credit to others and patient in working through the complexities of financing, design, and construction. He always has a kind word and a life-affirming smile. He is recognized as a true giant for how he has made New Haven a truly more beloved community.
