About Holy Ghost · Marksville, Louisiana
Holy Ghost Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Marksville, Louisiana, in Avoyelles Parish, established in September 1919 by the Diocese of Alexandria. It was founded primarily to serve Black Catholic families of the Marksville area — a common diocesan practice of that era — and was originally staffed by the Holy Ghost Fathers (CSSp) from France for more than eight decades. Today the parish is part of the Avoyelles Deanery, shares pastoral ministry with nearby St. Joseph Church, and operates St. Richard Chapel in the Hickory Hill community as a mission. The current parish staff is led by diocesan priests and a permanent deacon, and the congregation celebrated its Centennial Jubilee in 2019.
- Established
- 1919
- Patron
- The Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) — the parish's title refers to the Third Person of the Trinity, in keeping with the name of its founding religious order, the Congregation of the Holy Ghost (CSSp / Spiritans).
- Rector
- Rev. Wade DeCoste
- Diocese
- Diocese of Alexandria (in Louisiana) — Avoyelles Deanery
Why belong here
Holy Ghost Church is a welcoming Avoyelles Parish congregation with a century-long story rooted in African American Catholic heritage and the missionary work of the Holy Ghost Fathers. The parish shares clergy with neighboring St. Joseph Church, runs a Religious Education (OCIA) program under Deacon Ken Primeaux, and supports a music ministry under Bernadette Rogers. Worshippers can participate in a Sunday vigil Mass, a Sunday morning Mass, three weekday Masses, and a Saturday afternoon confession schedule — and the parish extends that welcome to its mission chapel of St. Richard in Hickory Hill.
Mass times at Holy Ghost
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 pm
- By appointment
Parish History and Centennial Jubilee
Holy Ghost Church was established in September 1919 by the Diocese of Alexandria to serve Black Catholic families in Marksville — a 'designated ethnic parish' of the era. Its origins are tied to Holy Ghost Catholic School, founded in 1917 by Fr. Nicholas Judermann with land donated by the Daughters of the Cross and funding from Mother Katharine Drexel. Bishop Van de Ven invited the Holy Ghost Fathers (CSSp / Spiritans) from France to take on the parish, beginning an 82-year run of CSSp pastoral care that ended in 2001 with Fr. Charles Coffey, CSSp. The original sanctuary was the stage of the school auditorium; the first Sunday Mass saw 150 in attendance, 60 communicants, and an $8 collection. A new frame church with Greek Revival influence, built by Fr. John Cooney, was completed in 1923. The parish marked its Centennial Jubilee in 2019, and a historical marker now stands at 121 S. Preston Street commemorating the jubilee year.
- Established September 1919
- 16 Holy Ghost Fathers (CSSp) pastors, 1919–2001
- First pastor: Fr. T. J. Nolan, CSSp (Ireland)
- First church building: 1923 (Fr. John Cooney)
- Centennial Jubilee celebrated 2019 (1919–2019)
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is currently served by diocesan and religious clergy who also share ministry with neighboring St. Joseph Church in Marksville. The parish office is staffed Monday–Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
- Rev. Wade DeCoste — Pastor
- Rev. Abraham Palakkattuchira, CMI — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Ken Primeaux — Deacon / OCIA
- Rose Noel — Director of Religious Education
- Bernadette Rogers — Music Director
- Bertha Lavalais — Secretary
St. Richard Chapel — Hickory Hill Mission
St. Richard Chapel in the Hickory Hill community is a mission of Holy Ghost Church. It was established because rural roads in the 1920s and 1930s made it difficult for Black Catholics in outlying areas to attend Mass in Marksville. A used church was originally dedicated in honor of St. Richard; in the 1950s a new chapel was built on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Hopsin Williams, Sr. Today the chapel hosts a Sunday Mass at 8:30 am and is served from Holy Ghost Church.
- Location: 265 St. Richards Loop Road, Marksville, LA
- Sunday Mass: 8:30 am
- Originally served monthly by the Holy Ghost Fathers; now weekly
Religious Education and OCIA (RCIA)
The parish runs a Religious Education program under Director Rose Noel, with Deacon Ken Primeaux coordinating OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, the modern name for RCIA). Adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, or reception into the Catholic Church are encouraged to contact the parish office. In March 2025, Bishop Robert Marshall Jr. celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation jointly with St. Joseph Church at the 4:00 pm Vigil Mass.
- Director of Religious Education: Rose Noel
- Deacon Ken Primeaux — OCIA coordinator
- Confirmation celebrated jointly with St. Joseph Church (Bishop Robert Marshall Jr.)
Music Ministry
Music for liturgies at Holy Ghost Church is coordinated by Music Director Bernadette Rogers, who serves alongside the parish clergy to support sung prayer at weekend and weekday Masses.
- Music Director: Bernadette Rogers
The Holy Ghost Fathers (CSSp) — Founding Religious Order
From 1919 to 2001 the parish was staffed by the Congregation of the Holy Ghost (CSSp / Spiritans), an order founded in France and well known for ministry in predominantly Black Catholic parishes. Sixteen CSSp priests served Holy Ghost in succession, beginning with Fr. T. J. Nolan, CSSp (Ireland), and ending with Fr. Charles Coffey, CSSp. When the order was forced to retire from the parish, diocesan priests took over pastoral care — and the parish continues that welcoming Catholic mission today.
- Order: Congregation of the Holy Ghost (CSSp / Spiritans)
- 16 pastors served from 1919–2001
- First CSSp pastor: Fr. T. J. Nolan, CSSp (Ireland)
- Last CSSp pastor: Fr. Charles Coffey, CSSp
Holy Ghost Catholic School (1917–2000)
The parish's school predates the church itself. Founded in 1917 by Fr. Nicholas Judermann, pastor of St. Joseph, the school was built on land donated by the Daughters of the Cross and funded by Mother Katharine Drexel, founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. It opened with nearly 100 students. The Sisters of the Holy Family took over its administration in 1945. After decades of integration and consolidation, Holy Ghost Catholic School closed in 2000 due to rising costs and low enrollment.
- Founded 1917 by Fr. Nicholas Judermann
- Land donated by the Daughters of the Cross; funding from Mother Katharine Drexel
- First staffed by the Daughters of the Cross; transferred to Sisters of the Holy Family in 1945
- Closed 2000 due to integration, consolidation, and rising costs
Visit, Contact, and Location
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. The church sits on South Preston Street (State Highway 452) in central Marksville, in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana — the seat of the Avoyelles Deanery of the Diocese of Alexandria.
- Address: 121 S. Preston St., Marksville, LA 71351
- Phone: (318) 253-7131
- Fax: (318) 253-7136
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:30 pm
- Diocese: Diocese of Alexandria (Avoyelles Deanery)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. T. J. Nolan, CSSp (Ireland)1919–
First pastor of Holy Ghost Church; first Sunday Mass had 150 in attendance, 60 communicants and an $8 collection.
- Fr. John Cooney
Built the 1923 frame church building (Greek Revival influence) that became the parish's first dedicated sanctuary.
- 15 successive Holy Ghost Fathers (CSSp)through 2001
The CSSp staffed the parish from 1919 to 2001 — sixteen pastors in total.
- Fr. Charles Coffey, CSSpended 2001
Last Holy Ghost Father pastor before the order retired from the parish.
- Diocesan priests2001–present
Diocesan clergy assumed pastoral care when the Holy Ghost Fathers were forced to retire.
- Rev. Joseph Desimone
Listed as Pastor on an archived diocese of Alexandria page.
- Rev. Wade DeCostecurrent
Current pastor per the Diocese of Alexandria parish page and 2026 Diocesan Directory; shares ministry with St. Joseph Church, Marksville.