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.