About St. Mark · Gonzales, Louisiana
St. Mark Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Gonzales, Louisiana, part of the Diocese of Baton Rouge. It was established on July 24, 1973, carved out of St. Theresa of Avila Parish, and serves the growing Catholic community of Ascension Parish. Today the parish sits on a beautifully landscaped campus that includes the church, rectory, administration building, a 23-classroom Parish School of Religion complex, a large activity center, an outdoor Way of the Cross, and a Marian grotto. Father Joseph R. Bresowar, a Gonzales native ordained in 2023, currently serves as pastor.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- St. Mark the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph R. Bresowar
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge
Why belong here
St. Mark is a mid-sized, family-oriented parish in Ascension Parish that offers the full sacramental life of a Catholic community — daily and weekend Mass, reconciliation six days a week, and preparation for First Eucharist, Confirmation, and OCIA/OCIC. It has nearly 50 active ministries, including OCIA (the Becoming Catholic process), a Children's Church, three tiered youth groups (Primary, Junior, and Senior), an adult and children's choir, Bible Study, Blue Army prayer group, Women's and Men's ministries, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Homebound Ministry, and Bereavement support. With more than 500 students in its Parish School of Religion and a Mother's Day Out program, it is a place where families can grow together in faith from cradle through adulthood.
Mass times at St. Mark
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 5:30 pm
- Wednesday 8:00 am
- Thursday 8:00 am
- Friday 8:00 am
- Saturday 2:45 pm
- Also by appointment
Parish History
St. Mark Parish in Gonzales, Louisiana, was established on July 24, 1973, carved out of St. Theresa of Avila Parish. Its founding pastor, Father Clarence Waguespack, set up a mobile home on newly-purchased wooded land, and the early parishioners — led by the ushers — cleared the site by hand. Masses were first celebrated in the local V.F.W. Hall on Sundays and in a parishioner-built hall during the week. The new church was dedicated and blessed by Bishop Joseph Sullivan on December 7, 1975, under the patronage of St. Mark the Evangelist.
- Founded July 24, 1973 (from St. Theresa of Avila Parish)
- Founding pastor: Father Clarence Waguespack
- Church dedicated December 7, 1975 by Bishop Joseph Sullivan
- Mortgage burned on the 10th anniversary, July 24, 1983
- Named for St. Mark the Evangelist
Campus, Art and Devotional Spaces
Over the decades the St. Mark campus has grown into a beautifully landscaped property featuring the church, rectory, administration building, a 23-classroom Parish School of Religion complex, a large activity center, an outdoor Way of the Cross, and a Marian grotto. In 1978 stained-glass windows representing parish organizations were installed, a Carrara marble statue of St. Mark was erected in front of the church, and a new sacristy with a memorial stained-glass window for deceased parishioners was added at the rear. A shrine in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes, affectionately called 'The Grotto,' sits near the PSR building.
- Carrara marble statue of St. Mark
- Stained-glass windows representing parish organizations (1978)
- Memorial stained-glass window in the sacristy for deceased parishioners
- Our Lady of Lourdes shrine ('The Grotto') near the PSR building
- Outdoor Way of the Cross and meditation areas
- Large activity center and Fr. Waguespack Conference Room
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The Parish School of Religion (PSR) — formerly known as CCD or Catechism — supports parents in educating their children in the Catholic faith and currently serves more than 500 students in grades 1 through 11. Sacramental preparation is offered each year for First Reconciliation (Fall), First Eucharist (Spring), and Confirmation (for high-school youth), with formation that emphasizes community-building among the candidates alongside classroom instruction.
- Parish School of Religion (PSR) – grades 1–11, 500+ students
- Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation
- OCIA – Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (Wednesday evenings beginning in September)
- OCIC – Order of Christian Initiation of Children (ages 7+, begins each September)
- Vacation Bible School
Children, Youth and Family
St. Mark offers three tiered youth groups that walk with children from early elementary through high school, alongside a Sunday Children's Church for the youngest members. The Mother's Day Out program and the Director of Mother's Day Out round out the parish's family offerings, giving parents regular formation and fellowship options throughout the year.
- Children's Church – Sundays during Mass, ages 3 through entry into 2nd grade
- Primary Youth Group – 2nd and 3rd grade fellowship
- Junior Youth Group – 4th through 7th grade fellowship, service, and spiritual growth
- Senior Youth Group – 9th through 12th grade fellowship with the parish and community
- Mother's Day Out program (Director: Dana Millet)
Music and Liturgy
St. Mark is blessed with a wide array of musical talent. The Music Ministry welcomes instrumentalists and singers of all kinds, with adult choirs generally practicing just before the Mass they serve. A separate Children's Choir gives younger parishioners a chance to take part in the parish's liturgical life.
- Adult Choir (practices before scheduled Masses)
- Children's Choir
- Liturgical Coordinator on staff (Jamilyn Vu)
- Instrumentalists and cantors always welcome
Parish Ministries and Outreach
Through the years St. Mark has been blessed with nearly 50 organizations and ministries, giving parishioners many ways to share their time and talent. Service-oriented ministries such as the Homebound Ministry and Bereavement Ministry extend the parish's care beyond its walls, while formation groups like Bible Study, Blue Army, and the Women's and Men's ministries foster ongoing spiritual growth.
- Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors
- Greeters and Hospitality Coordinators
- Homebound Ministry
- Bereavement Ministry
- Bible Study
- Blue Army (Tuesday prayer gathering after 8:30 am Mass)
- Women's Ministry and Men's Ministry
- Maintenance and Event Volunteering
Sacraments
St. Mark accompanies parishioners through the major sacraments of initiation and life. Parents bring infants and young children to a monthly Baptism Seminar followed by the celebration of Baptism (usually on the first Sunday after the late morning Mass). Older children and adults seeking full communion enter through OCIA or OCIC. First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation each have their own parish preparation tracks, and the parish office assists with weddings, anointing of the sick, and other sacramental needs.
- Baptism – monthly parent seminar and celebration
- First Reconciliation – Fall preparation
- First Eucharist – Spring preparation
- Confirmation – three preparation sessions for high-school youth
- OCIA / OCIC – initiation process for adults and children
- Marriage and Anointing of the Sick by appointment
Our Staff and Pastor
Father Joseph R. Bresowar, a Gonzales native ordained a priest of the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 2023, currently serves as pastor of St. Mark. He also serves as Vocations Recruiter for the Office of Vocations and Seminarians and as Co-Chaplain of St. Michael the Archangel High School. The parish is supported by a Director of Administration, Director of Christian Formation, Director of Mother's Day Out, Office Manager, Liturgical Coordinator, Child Protection Coordinator, administrative assistants, and a maintenance supervisor and assistant.
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph R. Bresowar
- Director of Administration
- Director of Christian Formation: Lesley Frazier
- Office Manager / Director of Mother's Day Out: Dana Millet
- Liturgical Coordinator: Jamilyn Vu
- Child Protection Coordinator / Mother's Day Out Assistant: Becky Mabile
- Administrative Assistants: Donna Lambert, Tammy Blanchard, Jennifer Creel
- Maintenance Supervisor and Maintenance Assistant
Visit, Register and Get Involved
Newcomers and visitors can learn about the parish through the 'I'm New Here' page on the website, which covers service times, confession times, and directions. The parish office (open Mon–Thu 9 am–4 pm and Fri 9 am–12 pm) handles registrations and sacramental inquiries. A parish registration form allows new members to indicate which ministries — from choir and lectors to youth group, OCIA, Homebound Ministry, and more — they would like to be contacted about.
- Parish registration form lists ministries to sign up for
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 am–4:00 pm; Friday 9:00 am–12:00 pm
- WeShare online giving available through the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Clarence Waguespack1973 – circa mid-1970s onward
Founding pastor; took up residence in a mobile home on the wooded property and celebrated the first Masses at the V.F.W. Hall. The parish's main conference room is named the 'Fr. Waguespack Conference Room' in his honor.