About St. Mary of the Pines · Shreveport, Louisiana
St. Mary of the Pines is a Catholic parish in the Western Deanery of the Diocese of Shreveport, located at 1050 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop in Shreveport, Louisiana. Established in 1973 and nicknamed "The Church that Smiles," the parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, along with weekday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and faith-formation programs for youth and adults. The parish also operates a Gift Shop and hosts outreach through St. Luke's Mobile Clinic visits on its grounds.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title 'of the Pines')
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Watson
- Diocese
- Diocese of Shreveport (Western Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Mary of the Pines offers a warm, bilingual Catholic home in south Shreveport with Mass celebrated in both English and Spanish, daily weekday Masses, and a full schedule of sacraments. The parish nurtures faith at every stage through its Youth Group, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA), and a dedicated Director of Religious Education, and it actively serves those in need by hosting the St. Luke's Mobile Clinic on its grounds. With weekly Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesdays, regular overnight Adoration evenings, and a Gift Shop that is part of parish life, St. Mary of the Pines is a community where families can grow together in faith, prayer, and service.
Mass times at St. Mary of the Pines
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- Sunday: 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
- By appointment: 318-687-5121
Adoration times
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM (following the 8:30 AM Mass, with Holy Hour at 3:00 PM and Benediction at 4:00 PM)
- Overnight Adoration events periodically on First Fridays and other select dates, 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
About St. Mary of the Pines
St. Mary of the Pines is a Catholic parish in the Western Deanery of the Diocese of Shreveport, established in 1973 and serving the south Shreveport community from its location on Bert Kouns Industrial Loop. The parish is nicknamed 'The Church that Smiles' and lives out a baptismal mission of proclaiming God's works through worship, faith formation, outreach to the poor, and care for the young, sick, and lonely. The parish community is intentionally bilingual, celebrating Mass in both English and Spanish each Sunday.
- Established 1973
- Diocese of Shreveport — Western Deanery
- Motto: 'The Church that Smiles.'
- Bilingual: English and Spanish
Faith Formation & OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
St. Mary of the Pines runs an active faith-formation program directed by Kim Long, who has served as Director of Religious Education since April 2001. The parish offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA — the updated name for the former RCIA) for adults seeking to become Catholic or complete their initiation, with sessions scheduled on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 PM. A weekly Youth Group also meets Wednesdays at 6:00 PM, giving young parishioners their own community for prayer, fellowship, and service.
- Director of Religious Education: Kim Long (since April 2001)
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — Wednesdays at 6:30 PM
- Youth Group — Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
- Baptism preparation class required before scheduling a Baptism
Parish Staff & Leadership
The pastoral and administrative team listed in the January 2021 parish bulletin included Rev. Mark Watson as Pastor, Kim Long as Director of Religious Education, Carol Garceau as Secretary, Tom Ticich as Music Coordinator, Jenny Hebert as Organist, and Dan Cezar as Custodian. Father Jimmy Moran of the Congregation of the Oratory is also associated with the parish's outreach to Black Catholics.
- Pastor: Rev. Mark Watson
- Director of Religious Education: Kim Long
- Secretary: Carol Garceau
- Music Coordinator: Tom Ticich
- Organist: Jenny Hebert
- Custodian: Dan Cezar
- Black Catholics ministry: Father Jimmy Moran, C.O.
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Mary of the Pines is led by Music Coordinator Tom Ticich and Organist Jenny Hebert, supporting the parish's Sunday English Mass, Saturday Vigil Mass, and Sunday Spanish Mass, as well as weekday Masses and special Adoration services. The parish also hosts seasonal overnight Eucharistic Adoration events that extend the liturgical life of the community beyond the regular weekly schedule.
- Music Coordinator: Tom Ticich
- Organist: Jenny Hebert
- Music supports Mass in English and Spanish
- Overnight Eucharistic Adoration on First Fridays and select holy days
Outreach & Community Life
The parish's outreach ministry brings healthcare and life-giving services directly to its grounds. St. Luke's Mobile Clinic visits the parish periodically on Wednesdays from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, providing accessible care to the local community. The parish also partners with LifeShare Blood Center to host blood drives, and its website links to Christian Services LA and the diocesan Eucharistic Revival as part of its wider charity and evangelization efforts.
- St. Luke's Mobile Clinic — periodic Wednesdays, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- LifeShare Blood Drive — semi-annual parish event
- Links to Christian Services LA on parish website
- Diocese of Shreveport Eucharistic Revival resources linked
Parish Mission Statement
St. Mary of the Pines articulates its mission in its parish bulletin: 'We the people of St. Mary of the Pines are unified by our Baptism to fulfill the mission of the Catholic Church: to proclaim the works of God and to live as Jesus taught. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will improve our lives by continuing to understand the teachings of the Catholic Church, sharing with the poor, providing support for our young people, the sick and the lonely, worshipping with reverence and enthusiasm, providing stewardship for the gifts God has committed to our care, and celebrating together as a Christian family.'
- Unified by Baptism
- Proclaim the works of God and live as Jesus taught
- Share with the poor; support young people, the sick, and the lonely
- Worship with reverence and enthusiasm
- Stewardship of God's gifts
- Celebrate together as a Christian family
Gift Shop
The parish operates an on-site Gift Shop as a small but distinctive part of parish life. It is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, offering parishioners and visitors a place to find religious articles and gifts connected to the parish community.
- Gift Shop hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Located on the parish campus
Visiting & Contact Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Mary of the Pines by phone at (318) 687-5121, by email at [email protected], or in person at the parish office. Office hours run Monday through Thursday 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00) and Friday 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM. The mailing and physical address is 1050 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport, LA 71118.
- Phone: (318) 687-5121
- Email: [email protected]
- Office: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:00 – 3:30 PM; Fri 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
- Address: 1050 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport, LA 71118