Two people recently joined the staff of Catholic Charities of Arkansas.
Deacon Jim Goodhart
In June, Deacon Jim Goodhart shifted from full-time employment as an attorney to begin retirement. He also accepted a part-time role as project coordinator for Catholic Charities of Arkansas.
A native of Little Rock, Goodhart grew up the sixth of eight children of Aubrey and Regina Goodhart.
After graduating from Vanderbilt University School of Engineering, he moved to New Orleans and worked as an environmental engineer in the petroleum industry. In 1991, following legal training at Loyola and Tulane universities and law practice in New Orleans and Alexandria, Jim, his wife Ruthmary and their four children relocated to Little Rock.
That same year, they became parishioners at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock, where now three of their seven grandchildren attend grade school.
Goodhart worked for 38 years as a licensed attorney in Louisiana and Arkansas — the last 27 as general counsel for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
In June 2022, he was ordained as a permanent deacon by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor. He is assigned to minister at Our Lady of Good Counsel and Our Lady of the Holy Souls parishes.
When asked why he wanted to work as a project coordinator, he answered, “Ruthmary and I have been blessed abundantly. We’re thankful and have looked for ways to serve our Lord however he invites. Catholic Charities offers such opportunities, especially for helping those in real need. It’s humbling to join efforts with others and, as St. Mother Teresa has said, ‘Together do something beautiful for God.’ Besides, my good friend Dennis Lee (Catholic Charities executive director) said he and others could use my help. I couldn’t tell Dennis no.”
Andrew Schaefer
Andrew Schaefer enjoys dual roles in the diocese — as a seminarian living the House of Formation in Little Rock and working in Catholic Charities.
The fifth child of Dr. George and Alesia Schaefer of Rogers, he enrolled at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, hoping to pursue a pre-med degree.
While initially reluctant, he became involved in the Vanderbilt Catholic campus ministry and accepted an invitation to help lead a campus retreat.
Following much reflection and heeding his roommates’ encouragement to read “To Save a Thousand Souls” — a guide for discerning a vocation to diocesan priesthood written by Father Brett Brannen — Schaefer knew what the next phase of his journey needed to be.
During Thanksgiving break of his sophomore year, he shared with his parents his desire to pursue formal discernment for the priesthood. He joined the House of Formation in May 2020. In May, he completed his undergraduate studies, majoring in philosophy.
Now, in the final stages of the discipleship program of seminary, Schaefer asked for an opportunity to work with Catholic Charities. Since late August, he has worked as a staff member in the Refugee Resettlement Office.
When asked how his recent experiences have affected him so far, Schaefer said, “Working with families who are new to our country is very inspiring and humbling, especially the opportunity to share in their relocation experiences. As for my formation as a seminarian, I am trusting in the Lord, and I encourage others, no matter the situation, to trust that God has a plan and watch as he works in your life.”
