A Brief History of St. Mark Parish

St. Mark Mission Church, Date UnknownSt. Mark Parish first began as a mission of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, Hahnville. The parish limits of Holy Rosary Parish once consisted of  the civil parish boundaries of St. Charles Parish on the West Bank. Thus, St. Mark, Ama became a mission of Holy Rosary and is listed in the National Catholic Register as a mission in 1898.

In 1891, Reverend Emile Peufier purchased the site of the first church, a land with two cabins for a mission for St. Mark from Hollander, a merchant based in New Orleans. In 1898, the land was re-purchased after the sheriff's auction by Reverend Antoine D'Hommie. On August 29, 1899, twelve children made their First First Holy Communion, Circa 1942Communion at St. Mark. The first found record for a marriage was for Joseph Friloux and Elmina Zeringue on January 30, 1902.The second location of St. Mark was on land donated by Raoul Zeringue on June 15, 1911. Sometime after 1911, the chapel was built on land that is closer to the river than the current church. On August 6, 1930, additional land was donated by Raoul Zeringue because of the Mississippi River levee relocation impacted St. Mark. The useable parts of the chapel were moved in 1935 to its present site. During demolition and construction of the present building, Masses were held at the Ama Elementary School, on land near the present Ama Post Office. Additional lans was purchased from the heirs of Raoul Zeringue (Emily Zeringue, his widow, in 1937) and the present church was completed in 1946.

Fr. Donald Cote, First Pastor of St. Mark Church ParishIn June 1961, St. Anthony of Padua, Luling, was established as a Parish, and included St. Mark as a mission church. St. Mark was established as a Parish in January 19, 1974. Archbishop Phillip Hannan appointed Father Donald Cote as Pastor. Our first Annual Parish Fair was held at Holy Rosary in Hahnville on September 21-22, 1974. 

On May 30, 1978, the first meeting of the Parish Council was held. In 1979, the Morris Becnel property was purchased, and the residence was cleaned and repaired by the parishioners to convert it to a rectory. The original rectory was sold and removed to create a parking area. In September, 1981, Imogene and Mercedes Roux donated land for the expansion of parish facilities.

A Council of the Knights of Columbus was established in 1980 and the Columbian Squires in 1981. The first of the stained-glass windows, donated by parishioners and friends, were installed in the church in 1981. The St. Vincent DePaul Society was established 1982. In 1982, Archbishop Phillip Hannan blessed the site for the future Parish Family Center and celebrated Mass with St. Mark parishioners. 1984, construction was begun on the Family Center, which was then completed in three stages. The Perpetual Adoration Chapel was dedicated on February 8, 1989.

Parishioners were deeply saddened by the death of Father Cote, our founding Parish Pastor, on June 4 1989. Father John Perino was installed as pastor on August 27, 1989. In 1990, the Jean Roux property upriver of the rectory was purchased. The first Family Day was held on October 27, 1991. In January 1992, the Father Cote Center (originally called the Family Center) was completed. Bishop Meunch blessed the Father Cote Center on February 1, 1992. By May 1992, St. Mark Parish was debt free.