Saint Joseph Catholic Church sits on the north side of Fayetteville, Arkansas, off North Starr Drive, where more than two thousand registered families gather for Mass in English and Spanish, send their children to the parish school, keep watch before the Blessed Sacrament in a chapel that never closes, and look ahead to construction of a freestanding sanctuary after a campaign that exceeded its goal by more than a million dollars. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Little Rock, is one of the largest in the diocese, and traces its roots to a log chapel built by an Irish priest who traveled over the Boston Mountains on horseback in 1844.
From a Log Cabin on the Flynn Farm to Starr Drive
The Catholic story in Fayetteville begins on March 10, 1844, the year after the creation of the Diocese of Little Rock, when Bishop Andrew Byrne, an Irish-born priest, was ordained in New York City and soon set out for Arkansas by way of New Orleans. Within two years, Father John Corry was sent to Fort Smith, but he traveled over the Boston Mountains to Fayetteville and purchased 440 acres of land for church purposes, with the ambition of establishing an Irish Catholic colony built around a church and school. He built a log chapel on the land, which was in use until the Civil War. The earliest recorded baptisms in Fayetteville were performed by Father Peter Walsh in 1847, including the baptism of enslaved people on the Flynn farm: William, son of Bob and Alera, and Judith, daughter of Kate, on February 15, followed five days later by Alera, a forty-five-year-old enslaved woman, and her daughter Miranda.
Diocesan records show Father Laurence Smyth as the first priest assigned to what would become St. Joseph's Parish (1870-1872), followed by his brother Father Michael Smyth (1872-1880). Bishop Edward Fitzgerald dedicated a new frame church in June 1878 at the corner of Lafayette and Willow, on land purchased by Maurice Coffey for one hundred dollars and donated to the church. At this dedication, the parish, which had previously been known as St. Mary's or Mount Saint Mary's, was named for St. Joseph. Father P. J. Reilly of Boston became the parish's first resident priest in 1881.
The parish opened St. Joseph's Academy in 1916 under the Ursuline Sisters from Springfield, Missouri, and Rev. Walter J. Tynin, the first native-born Arkansan ordained for the Diocese of Little Rock, became the first resident pastor in 1916. The cornerstone for a larger church at Lafayette and Willow was laid on July 18, 1936, and Bishop John B. Morris dedicated the completed building on November 8, 1937. A tragic fire on Christmas Eve 1946 took the lives of pastor Father Charles McCauley and a visiting priest when an explosion in an overheated gas stove engulfed the rectory.
Father Edward R. Maloy, the longest-serving pastor in the parish's history, arrived on January 1, 1951, and served until 1973. Under his guidance the parish built both the old school on East Lafayette and a new church at Lafayette and Walnut, which Bishop Albert L. Fletcher dedicated on September 22, 1968. Monsignor Rudolph E. Maus served from 1975 to 1993 and paid off the mortgage on the church during his tenure. After a brief merger with St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish, Father John K. Antony arrived in 1998 and presented a plan to build a worship center, parish hall, school, and parish offices with seating for one thousand. A capital campaign in the fall of 1999 raised more than two million dollars, exceeding its goal by forty-three thousand dollars. Bishop Sartain signed the building contract with Nabholz Construction Corporation on May 9, 2001, and after 130 years on the same ground, St. Joseph held its first Masses in the Worship Center on Starr Drive on the weekend of August 25, 2002.
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, ordained and installed as Bishop of Little Rock on June 5, 2008, appointed Father Antony pastor again in October 2009. In January 2011 the parish received diocesan approval on a scaled-down plan for a family life center, and Bishop Taylor dedicated the twenty-thousand-square-foot Norm and Caroline DeBriyn Activity Center, with full gymnasium and reception hall, on February 21, 2012. The mortgage on the DeBriyn Center was paid off in February 2014, just two years after it was dedicated. Father Jason Tyler arrived as pastor on December 1, 2015, and Father Elisée Noël Njompo, a native of Cameroon who had served extensively in France, helped the parish establish Perpetual Adoration on November 1, 2016.
Mass in English and Spanish, Seven Days a Week
The parish celebrates five weekend Masses: Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. in Spanish, and 5:00 p.m. Weekday Masses are held Monday at 6:30 a.m., Tuesday at 8:20 a.m., Wednesday at 6:00 p.m., Thursday at 6:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in Spanish, Friday at 8:20 a.m., and Saturday at 8:00 a.m. Holy Days of Obligation and any variations in the Mass schedule are listed in the bulletin and on the parish calendar. The Sunday 9:00 a.m. Mass and the 1:30 p.m. Spanish Mass are livestreamed through Facebook Live, and no Facebook account is required to watch.
The parish has celebrated a Sunday Mass in Spanish since 1994, when the Northwest Arkansas Deanery invited Vincentian priests to minister to the growing Hispanic community. Today the 1:30 p.m. Spanish Mass is the second most attended of the five weekend Masses. The entire parish joins in celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12, and bilingual Masses are held several times each year.
Confessions are heard Wednesday and Thursday from 5:00 to 5:45 p.m., on First Fridays from 9:15 to 10:00 a.m., and on Saturday from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. and again from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., or by appointment through the parish office.
Perpetual Adoration Around the Clock
Since November 1, 2016, the parish has offered Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, a chapel open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, except during Mass times. The ministry was launched following a mission by Father Elisée Noël Njompo, who brought to the parish a deep passion for Eucharistic Adoration. Adorers sign up to take one hour a week by emailing adoration@sjfay.com, and the parish welcomes both English- and Spanish-speaking adorers.
A bilingual Holy Hour is held in English on the third Wednesday of each month from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. and in Spanish on the fourth Thursday from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. During Lent, Stations of the Cross are prayed every Friday at 5:30 p.m. in English and at 7:00 p.m. in Spanish. On the Solemnity of All Saints, November 1, the anniversary of Perpetual Adoration is marked by a bilingual Mass and potluck celebration. For the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the parish holds a Corpus Christi procession with the Blessed Sacrament followed by a potluck meal.
Faith Formation from Pre-K Through Adulthood
For children in preschool through sixth grade who attend public school or homeschool, the parish offers Faith Formation classes on Sunday from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m., Sunday from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m., and Wednesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Two consecutive years of Faith Formation are required before preparation for the sacraments of Penance and Eucharist, and the curriculum uses books approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Maria Vazquez directs the program with Nicole Bork as Assistant Director, and the parish welcomes volunteers to serve as catechists and aides.
The Order of Christian Initiation for Children (OCIC) prepares children over the age of seven who have not been baptized or who were baptized in another Christian tradition and wish to become Catholic for the sacraments of initiation: Baptism (if not yet baptized), Confirmation, and Eucharist.
Adults who want to become Catholic, or baptized Catholics in need of Confirmation and Eucharist, are welcomed through the Christian Initiation for Adults process coordinated by Carrie Montemayor, Director of Adult Faith Formation. Small group sessions run weekly from August or September through Easter, with both a Tuesday evening and a daytime option, depending on need. The Vine Scripture Reflections meet on Sundays from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. in Room 152, offering a starting place for those exploring the Catholic faith, those returning, and Catholics looking for a way to deepen their prayer.
The parish has purchased access to FORMED for everyone in the community, offering Catholic Bible studies, apologetics, saint stories, family programming, audio files, and ebooks. Abide Women's Ministry gathers women on Monday evenings for faith study and fellowship. The Called and Gifted discernment program and its companion Ananias training help parishioners recognize the charisms given at baptism and walk with others in their spiritual journey. Morning and evening Bible studies include Mornings with the Saints on Mondays at 7 a.m. after the 6:30 a.m. Mass, a Monday Evening Bible Study from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., a Tuesday Catholic Book Club from 10 to 11:30 a.m., a Wednesday Women's Bible Study from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m., a Thursday morning study from 10 a.m. to noon, and Men of Faith on Fridays at 6:30 a.m. after the 6:30 a.m. Mass. The Women's Fellowship Book Club meets the third Wednesday at 6:45 p.m. Jason and Erin Pohlmeier and Rich and Beth Oloffson teach the Church's approved method of Natural Family Planning.
Youth Ministry and the Path to Confirmation
Jim Weir directs Youth Ministry. Edge, the junior high program for seventh and eighth graders, meets each Sunday at 3 p.m. in the DeBriyn Center and serves as the first year of Confirmation prep for eighth-graders not enrolled at St. Joseph Catholic School. High School Youth Ministry (HSYM) meets each Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. in a mix of service, spiritual, and social sessions, and all high school students are welcome without registration. Confirmation for ninth through twelfth graders takes place on Sundays during the school year after the 5 p.m. Mass. The Diocese of Little Rock requires two years of preparation to receive any sacrament. Special events include conferences, retreats, mission trips, and service projects.
The Seven Sacraments and Becoming Catholic
St. Joseph's sacramental life follows the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation (also called Confession or Penance), Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick. Infant baptisms for children under seven are coordinated through the parish office. Children between seven and seventeen prepare through OCIC, and adults are welcomed through the Christian Initiation process in English or Spanish. The parish prepares children for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist through two consecutive years of Faith Formation, and Confirmation for youth is celebrated in the ninth grade after preparation during eighth grade.
Couples preparing for Matrimony are asked to contact the parish secretary at least six months before their proposed wedding date. Catholics must request a baptismal certificate with notations from their baptismal church and bring it to the appointment with the pastor. Those with a previous marriage and civil divorce decree will need an annulment before beginning marriage preparation. The Anointing of the Sick is administered by a priest through prayer and the anointing of the body with the oil of the sick, offered to those facing serious illness or surgery and arranged through the parish office. For those discerning a call to religious life or priesthood, the parish office can set up a meeting with the pastor or an associate pastor.
Prayer Groups and Devotions in Two Languages
The parish hosts a wide array of prayer and devotional groups in both English and Spanish. The 46 Rosaries to Our Lady of Guadalupe runs from October 28 to December 12, with a different family receiving the pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe each day. Bonds of Marian Love, a private association of the faithful, spreads devotion to the Holy Eucharist and Marian consecration through the spirituality of Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort. The St. John the Baptist Prayer Group, the parish's charismatic prayer group in Spanish, meets every Friday at 7 p.m. in Room 225. Knights of Columbus Council 6609 prays the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month. Mary's Mantle Prayer Shawl Ministry knits and crochets shawls for those needing extra support. HUG, the Healing and Understanding Gathering, welcomes adults who find themselves weary from divorce, loss, job change, or other everyday griefs to a monthly gathering of prayer, friendship, and refreshments.
The Word of God Prayer Group, also known as the Incarnation Movement, was founded in Cameroon and meets every Monday at 6 p.m. in Room 152, welcoming youth and adults. The Divine Mercy Novena runs from Good Friday at 3 p.m. through Divine Mercy Sunday. Candlemas on February 2 brings candles and Baby Jesus figures to Mass for blessing. The Feast of St. Blaise on February 3 includes the traditional blessing of throats, and the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4 includes the annual Pet Blessing, weather permitting.
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the Mass as Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Greeters, and Ushers, with Liturgical Music led by Director of Music Dr. Timothy Shewmaker. Training is provided, and quarterly schedules are posted in advance. The Greeters Ministry schedules volunteers approximately once every month to six weeks to welcome parishioners before their preferred Mass, and new greeters are always welcome.
Parish Life: From Coffee and Donuts to Lenten Meals
Hilda Valle directs the Office of Parish Life, which serves as the staff liaison for all volunteer-led groups and ministries. Sunday mornings during the school year feature coffee and donuts after the 9 a.m. Mass, and on the second Sunday of each month most Masses are followed by an after-Mass social. The Bridge Club meets the second and fourth Mondays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Room 225, the Canasta Group meets Wednesdays at noon, and the Mah Jongg Group meets Thursdays at 12:15 p.m. Fill My Cup brings mothers together on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. for scripture study, worship music, and fellowship, and the St. Joseph Playgroup gathers weekday mornings in members' homes and at parks.
The Christmas Pageant on Christmas Eve has children act out the Christmas story for parents and friends, and the Easter Egg Hunt on Divine Mercy Sunday welcomes children from birth through age ten at 10:30 a.m. or 4 p.m. Family Fun Day, the parish picnic, is held the Sunday before Labor Day with water toys, games, and a potluck meal. Lenten meals are held on most Fridays during Lent. Martha's Ministry offers receptions for families of deceased parishioners after the funeral Mass, and the Holy Family Tree and Angel Tree support parishioners and foster children through Christmas.
The Knights of Columbus, Father McCauley Council 6609, has served the parish since 1974 and meets on the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in Room 225. St. Joseph Women's League gathers on Monday nights for sports, table games, prayer, and scripture in the DeBriyn Center gym. Seniors Ministry hosts a quarterly Mass with Anointing and a luncheon. The Sacred Heart Apostolate, offered in English and Spanish, promotes the Enthronement of the Home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Vacation Bible School is a one-week summer program for children ages four through twelve. Volunteer leaders are needed from seventh grade through adults to serve as station leaders, crew leaders, and Pre-K leaders. The parish's Patron Saint Feast Day on March 19 is celebrated with a Holy Mass followed by an international potluck. The parish nursery serves infants from six months through three years old during the 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. Sunday Masses and Faith Formation classes, giving parents a chance to attend Mass and participate in parish ministries.
Social Justice and the Honduras Mission
The parish Social Justice Commission, chaired by Maxine LeBlanc, supports a broad range of outreach through parish donations, volunteer hours, and regular food collections. The Honduras Mission dates back to 1998, when Hurricane Mitch devastated much of Latin America and St. Joseph rushed to help, sending teams to the Diocese of Trujillo through a working relationship between Bishop Luis Sole of Trujillo and the Diocese of Little Rock. The mission has two goals: helping to create a new parish in Ilanga, Honduras, and providing medical, construction, evangelization, and educational assistance.
The Poor Box supports the Cooperative Emergency Outreach, an all-volunteer organization supported by twenty-one local churches that offers emergency assistance with rent, utility bills, food, gasoline, and clothing. Catholic Charities and Immigration Services in Springdale assist with immigration and legal issues. The parish also partners with the Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl, Children's House (a therapeutic day care center for abused and neglected children), Faith in Action (which serves the elderly and disabled with transportation, home repairs, and visits), the Free Clinic of NWA, Habitat for Humanity, Loving Choices Pregnancy Center, the NWA Catholic Respect Life Council, Prison Ministry at the Northwest Arkansas Women's Community Corrections Center and Washington County Jail, the Salvation Army, Seven Hills Shelter, and the Single Parent Scholarship Fund.
St. Joseph School on the Same Campus
St. Joseph School shares the Starr Drive campus with the church. The Educational Facility opened in 2002 with twenty classrooms for kindergarten through seventh grade, plus pre-kindergarten for four-year-olds. The school was reopened in 1948 under Benedictine sisters from St. Scholastica in Fort Smith, joined by Franciscan Sisters of Wheaton, Illinois in 1971 and Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross from 1981 to 1996. In September 2014, St. Joseph School was named a 2014 National Blue Ribbon Exemplary High Performing School by the U.S. Department of Education, the first non-public school in Northwest Arkansas to receive this highest award in American education. Deacon Jason Pohlmeier serves as principal.
Building the Future Church
The current Worship Center on Starr Drive was always intended to serve as a temporary church until a freestanding sanctuary could be built. In January 2017, St. Joseph closed on 7.5 acres of land north of the parking lot, fully paid off by Easter 2019. In the fall of 2021, the parish launched a capital campaign for the purpose of building a freestanding church. The campaign had a goal of five and a half million dollars and exceeded that goal with pledges of almost seven million dollars. The parish selected WER as architect and held a series of Town Hall meetings. The final renderings include a bell tower, a colonnade, and an adoration chapel. A construction contract was signed and a groundbreaking followed in 2026. Bob Mahler serves as New Church Project Coordinator, with Paul Warren as Director of Church Operations. In addition to their responsibilities at St. Joseph, the priests also celebrate Mass at the quasi-parish of Sts. Peter and Paul in Lincoln, established by Bishop Taylor in June 2017 and now meeting at 113 Boyer Street.
Clergy, Staff, and Stewardship
Father Jason Tyler has served as pastor since December 1, 2015, and was ordained July 9, 2005 for the Diocese of Little Rock. Father Martin Dara, ordained April 17, 2012 for the Diocese of Nellore, India, and Father Joji Reddy Allam, ordained April 26, 1995 for the Diocese of Nellore, India, serve as associate pastors. The pastoral team includes Deacons Bud Baldwin, Mike Henry (who also serves as Pastoral Administrator of Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine in Winslow), Marcelino Vazquez (who also serves as custodian), and Jason Pohlmeier (who also serves as school principal). Dr. Timothy Shewmaker is Director of Music, Maria Vazquez directs Children Faith Formation, Carrie Montemayor directs Adult Faith Formation, Jim Weir directs Youth Ministry, Hilda Valle directs Parish Life, Paul Warren directs Church Operations, and Bob Mahler coordinates the new church project. The parish invites parishioners to share time, talent, and treasure. Online giving through Our Sunday Visitor allows recurring gifts by bank draft or credit card, and the parish accepts stock donations through Arvest Wealth Management. Planned giving options include appreciated real estate, retirement assets, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, life insurance, and bequests.