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St. Mary of the Pines

ST. MARY OF THE PINES

SHREVEPORT, LA

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  • Welcome to St. Mary of the Pines 
    Thank you for your interest in our parish. Whether you’re just visiting us for a brief time, looking for a new parish home, are returning to the practice of your Catholic faith or are interested in finding out more about the Catholic Church, we’re happy to have you here. A parish is a community of believers and a spiritual family that is supportive and loving. It can be a place to grow spiritually, to put your faith in action, and to use our gifts of time and talent as disciples of Christ. 

    We invite you to complete the registration form.
    Your official registration will help us to serve you best.
    To register as a member of the church please print out the form below, fill it out, and email or mail it to the office.
      • Registration/Census Form
    • History of St. Mary of the pines

        In Spring 1973, a group of Catholics residing in the Shreveport ares of Summer Grove, Southern Hills, and Keithville undertook a study to determine the need and feasibility of establishing a new parish to serve those areas. The results of the study were complied, and a petition was drafted. The study results were presented to the Most Reverend Charles p. Greco, Bishop of Alexandria, along with the petition asking that a new parish be established in South Shreveport. Bishop Greco agreed and issued the proclamation establishing the new parish on June 7, 1973 and appointed Father Hugh Biggare as the first pastor.
         The new parish was homeless. Arrangements were made with the Caddo Parish School Board to use the auditoriums, first at Summerfield Elementary School and later at Ridgewood Junior High School. Also, friends at Christ United Methodist Church and Our Savior Lutheran Church made their building available to the new parish on many occasions. An ecumenical relationship and Christian brotherhood were established and continue to this day.

         Holy Trinity Church in downtown Shreveport made a gift of beautifully wooded tract of land, slightly more than 8 acres, to the new parish. The site was to be the permanent home for the new parish. There was one stipulation: in some manner, the new parish to be built must be named after Mary, the Mother of God; hence the name: St. Mary of the Pines. According to the liturgical calendar, the parish Feat Day is celebrated on September 8, Mary's birthday.

         As the parish grew, so too did the need to provide a permanent home. By that time, Bishop Lawernce P. Graves was Bishop of Alexandria. An urgent appeal was made to him, and her presented with the plans for a Parish Building program.
      Pahse 1 of the program envisioned a Multi-Purpose Building. Approval was given and work began in the late 1974s. The building was ready for occupancy in September 1975. The Multi-Purpose building combined under one roof an assembly room (for church services and other large gatherings), Parish Offices, a kitchen, and 4 rooms for multi-use: activity rooms, classrooms, or small meeting rooms.

         Eventually, the large assembly room became the Parish Hall. It was dedicated as Vandegaer Hall on October 7, 1975 bearing the name of Monsignor Jon C. Vandegaer. He was pastor of Holy Trinity Church and was responsible for donating the land on which the new parish of St. Mary of the Pines would be built. Bishop Graves dedicated Vandegaer Hall to the glory of God and His Holy Mother.
        The new parish fulfilled its expectations. The members were active, and the community flourished. Vandegaer Hall became a place of worship, a game room, a theater for stage productions and movies, and a dance hall. it often served several functions in one day.

         The Founding Parishioners had the continuing goals of building a more fitting place for Mass and of providing more space for religious education. On April 10, 1979 Bishop Graves forwarded to Father Hugh Bigger a letter confirming the Diocesan Consulted's recommendation that the next phase of St. Marys' building program should begin. The letter also approved a request that the Parish approach the Knights of Columbus to secure a loan to cover the expense of Phase 11. Phase 11 included erecting a church building and 7 new classrooms.

         At the time the parish was established in 1973, a temporary Rectory was set up in a rented house on Blom Blvd. The following year a home was purchased on Mountainbrook Road and served as the Rectory until October 14, 1984.

         Father J. Carson LaCaze was appointed Pastor October 7, 1983. The new Rectory was built on parish property and was dedicated on October 14, 1984 by Bishop William B. Friend of Alexandria-Shreveport.

         St. Ann Mission in Stonewall was removed from St. Joseph Church, Mansfield, and attached to St. Mary of the Pines in 1974. The Parish and Mission together totaled 1,100 families in 1998.

         On July 30, 1987, the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport was divided into the Diocese of Alexandria and the Diocese of Shreveport. St. Mary of the Pines, with St. Ann Mission, became part of the Diocese of Shreveport under the leadership of Bishop William B. Friend, D.D.

        A change of pastoral appointments in 1999 brought about a realignment of some parishes and missions. St. Ann Mission was re-attached to St. Joseph Church in Mansfield. St. Mary of the Pines parish census was corrected to reflect the actual number of 697 families.

        In July 2005, Our lady of Holy Rosary Parish merged with St. Mary of the Pines Parish, bringing with them an endowment fund to be used for the education of needy children in Catholic Schools.

       Also, in July 2005, Sacred Heart was made a mission to St. Mary of the Pines.
       

      • 1973-1980 Rev. Hugh Biggar (Founding Pastor)
      • 1974 Rev. John Vandegaer (Assisted founding)
      • 1978-1979  Rev. Ron Matthews (Associate Pastor)
      • Rev. William L. Up de Graff          (Associate Pastor)
      • 1979-1980 nRev. Roger McMullen (Associate Pastor)
               Rev. Bernard Zagst
               (Temporary Admin)
      • 1980-1983 Rev. Robert Inzina (Pastor)
      • 1980-1982 Rev. Patrick Madden (Associate Pastor)
      • 1982-1983 Rev. Ken Roy (Associate Pastor)
      • 1983-1993 Rev. Msgr. J. Carson Lacaze (Pastor)
      • 1983-1987 Rev. Stephen Wright (Associate Pastor)
      • 1987-1988 Rev. Daniel Walsh (In Residence)
      • 1988-1990 Rev. Rothell Price (Associate Pastor)
      • 1991-1993 Rev. Peter Mangum (Associate Pastor)
      • 1994-1995 Rev. Curtis Woods (Associate Pastor)
      • 1993-1999 Rev. Philip F. Michiels (Pastor)
      • 1995-1997 Rev. Joseph Howard (Associate Pastor)
      • 1997-2000 Rev. Andre' Mcgrath (OFM in residence)
      • 1999-2005 Rev. Edmund A. "Larry" Niehoff (Pastor)
      • 2005-2010 Rev. Rothell Price (Pastor)
      • 2006-2007Rev. Thomas Vempala (In Residence)
      • 2007-2010 Rev. John Thomas           
      • 2008-2011 Rev. Dariusz Pawlowski (Parochial Vicar)
      • 2010-2018 Rev. Francis Kamau, F.M.H. (Pastor)
      • 2010 Rev. Henry Kiggundu, F.M.H. (In Residence)
      • 2011-2014 Rev. Michael Thang'wa, F.M.H. (Parochial Vicar)
      • 2006-2014 Rev. John Paul Crispin, F.M.H. (Parochial Vicar)
      • 2018-2020 Rev. Michael Thang'wa, F.M.H. (Pastor)
      • 2007-2018 Rev. John Paul Crispin, F.M.H. (Parochial Vicar)
      • 2020-present  Rev. Mark Watson (Pastor)
      • 2021-present Rev. Raney Johnson (Parochial Vicar)           
    • St. Mary's Gift Shop

      We sell a variety of religious articles: books, crucifixes, prayer cards, statues, rosaries, seasonal cards, sacramental, etc.

      Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the following are the temporary hours of operation:
      Tuesday: 11.00 AM - 1.00 PM
       Wednesday: 11.00 AM - 1.00 PM 
      Thursdays: 11.00 AM - 1.00 PM

       


      The gift shop was re-opened on December 1, 2019 after a couple of months of renovation and restocking. It is now under new management: Ms. Elmira! 
      We will forever be grateful to Ms. Dot for many decades she run the gift shop with dedication and love: she is a giver, an evangelize, a counselor, a mother, a merry-maker, a shoulder to lean on, a great sales lady - name it - to one and all! 
    • St. Mary's Library

      There are all kinds of books available for your reading enjoyment. Some are strictly of a religious or theological nature, others are either informative!

        The Library is located in Room 3 at the north end of the courtyard. It is a comfortable room where one can browse, sit at a table, and check out books. 

      The Library is open:
      Sunday 10:30am - 12:00pm
      Wednesday 6:00pm - 8:00pm

      And weekdays on request by calling the church office.

  • Home
  • Welcome
      • Bulletins
      • Contact Us
      • Registration
      • Clergy/Staff
      • Photos
  • Our Faith
      • Anointing of the sick
      • Baptism
      • Confirmation
      • Eucharist
      • Marriage
      • Reconciliation
  • Get Involved!
      • Committees & Councils
      • PSR
      • OCIA
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Organizations
  • Calendar
  • Online Giving
  • Facebook Masses
St. Mary of the Pines
1050 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop
Shreveport, LA 71118
Phone: 318-687-5121
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