About Immaculate Heart of Mary · Maringouin, Louisiana
Immaculate Heart of Mary is a Catholic parish in Maringouin, Louisiana, in Iberville Parish, that today shares a single pastoral team with St. Joseph in Grosse Tête and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Livonia (plus the St. Catherine of Siena Mission in Fordoche) under what the parishes call 'The TriParishes.' The parish traces its origins to the 1870s and carries a distinctive history as the spiritual home of many descendants of the 272 enslaved people sold by the Jesuit order in 1838 to Louisiana plantations, including West Oak Plantation near Maringouin. Worship is celebrated in English and daily Mass, the Saturday Vigil, confessions, and Eucharistic Adoration are all offered at the parish church.
- Established
- 1964
- Patron
- Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Galeji Mulupuri, MC (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
Immaculate Heart of Mary offers a complete weekly rhythm of Catholic life on the rural Maringouin ridge: a daily 8:30 AM Mass Monday through Friday, a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM, weekday confessions before Mass, and Eucharistic Adoration on first Thursdays — all under the pastoral care of an experienced Missionary of Charity priest and a permanent deacon. As one of three clustered parishes, it shares its ministry with neighbors in Grosse Tête and Livonia (and the Fordoche mission), so parishioners can plug into a small but active Catholic community with deep regional roots going back to the 1870s.
Mass times at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Adoration times
- Thursday (first Thursday of the month): 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM (location rotates between parishes; call the office)
Parish History & Heritage
Immaculate Heart of Mary traces its origin to 1870, when the St. Mary Mission Chapel was built on West Oak in the Musson-Maringouin area to serve Catholic families on the surrounding plantations. Many of the enslaved people at West Oak Plantation — including the 272 men, women, and children sold by the Jesuit order in 1838 — and their descendants worshipped at this chapel and its successors, and many remain parishioners today. A storm destroyed the first chapel, and a replacement chapel (dedicated May 23, 1893, on what is now the parish cemetery property) served as the parish church until 1972. The mission was entrusted to Sts. Peter and Paul in 1900 and then to St. Joseph in Grosse Tête in 1906, before being elevated to Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in 1964 under Father James Kinkead. The present church was dedicated June 23, 1974 by Archbishop Philip Hannan of New Orleans.
- 1870: St. Mary Mission Chapel built on West Oak
- Original chapel destroyed by a storm; new chapel dedicated May 23, 1893
- 1900: Placed under care of Sts. Peter and Paul
- 1906: Placed under care of St. Joseph, Grosse Tête
- 1964: Became Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish; Father James Kinkead first pastor
- 1969: Five-acre land (former antebellum plantation) purchased
- 1974: Current church dedicated by Archbishop Philip Hannan
The GU272 Connection
Immaculate Heart of Mary is widely recognized as the spiritual home of many descendants of the GU272 — the 272 enslaved people sold by the Society of Jesus in 1838 to keep Georgetown College solvent, the majority shipped to West Oak Plantation near Maringouin. The Jesuit sale included a condition that the enslaved be allowed to practice Catholicism freely, a condition that was frequently violated; nonetheless many descendants maintained a strong Catholic identity through the years of slavery and emancipation. Cornelius 'Neely' Hawkins, believed to have been between 10 and 13 years old when he arrived at West Oak, lived the rest of his life in Maringouin and was buried at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery in 1902. William Harris, a formerly enslaved descendant, donated part of his land in 1897 for a new church and the first school for African Americans in town. Today, descendants continue to gather in the parish recreation hall for reunions and remembrance.
- Cornelius 'Neely' Hawkins — youngest Hawkins sent to Louisiana, buried at IHM Cemetery in 1902
- William Harris — donated land in 1897 for the church and the first African-American school in Maringouin
- Stained-glass window in the church showing images from 1877, 1964, and 1972
- Parish grounds continue to host GU272 descendants' reunions and 'Gathering of Descendants' events
The TriParishes Cluster
Immaculate Heart of Mary is one of three parishes (plus the St. Catherine of Siena Mission in Fordoche) clustered under a single pastoral team and known collectively as 'The TriParishes.' In 1996 Immaculate Heart of Mary was clustered with St. Joseph in Grosse Tête; in 2004 St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Livonia joined the cluster, and St. Catherine of Siena in Fordoche remains a mission of St. Frances Cabrini. Each parish hosts its own regular Mass times, while shared pastoral decisions, bulletins, and a common website (triparishes.org) knit them together.
- Immaculate Heart of Mary, Maringouin
- St. Joseph, Grosse Tête
- St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Livonia (joined 2004)
- St. Catherine of Siena Mission, Fordoche
- Clustered under a single pastoral team since 1996
Clergy & Staff
The TriParishes are currently served by an Administrator supported by a Deacon Assistant assigned to all three parishes. Rotating clergy assignments over recent years have included Father Christopher J. Decker (2016–2021), Father David Dawson, Father Amrit Raj, IMS (Parochial Vicar), Father Arun John, IMS (Administrator effective July 1, 2022), and the present administrator, Rev. Galeji Mulupuri, MC.
- Rev. Galeji Mulupuri, MC — Administrator (Immaculate Heart of Mary, Maringouin; St. Frances Cabrini, Livonia; St. Joseph, Grosse Tête)
- Deacon Jeremy Doucet — Deacon Assistant (all three parishes)
- Parish office: [email protected]
Devotion to Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Immaculate Heart of Mary maintains a special devotion to Our Lady of Prompt Succor, the patroness of Louisiana. The parish website provides editable and printable suggested intercessory prayers, a congregational aid, and the official Proper Mass texts and addenda for the feast, suitable for use at the parish and shared with the wider cluster.
- Suggested Intercessory Prayers (editable .docx)
- Suggested Intercessory Prayers (PDF)
- Congregational aide document
- Proper Mass Texts & Addenda (official)
Liturgical Resources: Using the Ordo
The parish website includes a guide, 'Using the Ordo,' explaining the small liturgical book that gives information about each day's liturgy — options for readings, vestment colors, and the types of Mass permitted. The guide is designed as a resource for the sacristan and anyone helping to prepare the liturgy.
- What is the Ordo? — overview of the liturgical book
- Practical guidance for sacristans and liturgy preparation
- Resource page on triparishes.org
Parish Bulletins & Communications
The TriParishes publish a weekly bulletin that can be received by email. Email signup is offered through the parish's listing on DiscoverMass, and recent bulletin archive dates listed publicly extend back through late 2025 and into 2026.
- Weekly bulletin (email signup available)
- Bulletin archive available via DiscoverMass listing
Visit, Contact & Location
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church is located at 11140 LA Highway 77, Maringouin, LA 70757. The parish office can be reached at (225) 960-6833 or by email at [email protected], and the shared TriParishes website is triparishes.org.
- Address: 11140 LA Highway 77, Maringouin, LA 70757
- Phone: (225) 960-6833
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.triparishes.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father James Kinkead1964–
First pastor when St. Mary Mission became Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish.
- Father Shelton Fabre1996–
Pastored the cluster of Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Joseph, Grosse Tête; later became Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux.
- Father Christopher J. Decker2016–2021
Pastor of the TriParishes cluster.
- Father David Dawson
Assigned as pastor of the TriParishes after Father Decker's tenure.
- Father Amrit Raj, IMS
Served as Parochial Vicar of the TriParishes.
- Father Arun John, IMS2022–
Appointed Administrator effective July 1, 2022, following diocesan assignments.