St. Edward Church in Little Rock is hosting a program called “Come and Encounter the Mystery of the Shroud of Turin” during Holy Week, Monday, April 14 through Wednesday, April 16 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day, in the gym. Parish and school groups are welcome. Short presentations will be given each day at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Confessions and eucharistic adoration will be available Tuesday and Wednesday at 5 p.m. Mass will be celebrated in English, Tuesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. and in Spanish, Wednesday, April 16 at 7 a.m.

Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. Consult the parish for potential changes. Masses are in English unless noted otherwise.

Key: 

C: Children

S: Spanish

B: Bilingual

F: Filipino

L: Latin    

V: Vietnamese

 

ALTUS

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

ARKADELPHIA

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (B) 

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m. (B)

 

ASHDOWN

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Dec. 25: 11 a.m. 

 

ATKINS

Church of the Assumption

Dec. 24: midnight

 

BALD KNOB 

St. Richard

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

 

BARLING

Sacred Heart of Mary

Dec. 24: 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. (V) 

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. & noon (V, parish center)

 

BATESVILLE

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 6 p.m. (B) & midnight (B)

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m. (B)

 

BELLA VISTA

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

BENTON

Our Lady of Fatima

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 7 p.m. (S) & midnight (B)

Dec. 25: 8 a.m.

 

BENTONVILLE

St. Stephen

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & 6 p.m.

Dec. 25: 8 a.m., 10 a.m. & 11:45 a.m. (S)

 

BERRYVILLE

St. Anne

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

Dec. 25: 11 a.m. (S)

 

BLYTHEVILLE

Immaculate Conception

Dec. 24: 6 p.m.

Dec. 25: 11 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. (S)

 

BOONEVILLE

Our Lady of the Assumption

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C) 

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

BRINKLEY

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

CABOT

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 24: midnight (L)

Dec. 25: 8 a.m. (L) & 10:30 a.m. (L)

 

CAMDEN

St. Louis

Dec. 24: 6 p.m.

 

CARLISLE

St. Rose

Dec. 24: 10 p.m. 

 

CENTER RIDGE

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 9 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

CHARLESTON

Sacred Heart

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & 11 p.m. 

Dec. 25: 7:30 a.m. 

 

CHEROKEE VILLAGE

St. Michael

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CLARKSVILLE

Holy Redeemer

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

CLINTON

St. Jude

Dec. 25: 11 a.m.

 

CONWAY

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. (S) & 10 p.m. 

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CORNING

St. Joseph

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CRAWFORDSVILLE

Sacred Heart

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

CROSSETT

Holy Cross

Dec. 24: 9 p.m.

 

DANVILLE

St. Andrew

Dec. 24: 8 p.m. (S)

 

DARDANELLE

St. Augustine

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. 

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m. (S)

 

DECATUR

Blessed Stanley Rother

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 6 p.m. (S)

 

DE QUEEN

St. Barbara

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. (S)

 

DUMAS

Holy Child of Jesus

Dec. 25: 11:15 a.m.

 

EL DORADO

Holy Redeemer

Dec. 24: 9 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. 

 

ENGELBERG

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 24: 6:30 p.m.

 

ENGLAND

Holy Trinity

Dec. 25: 8 a.m.

 

EUREKA SPRINGS

St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Dec. 24: 5 p.m.

Dec. 25: 8:30 a.m.

 

FAIRFIELD BAY

St. Francis of Assisi

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. 

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

FAYETTEVILLE

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 7 p.m. (S) & midnight 

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. 

St. Thomas Aquinas University Parish

Dec. 24: 9 p.m. (at St. Joseph)

 

FORDYCE

Good Shepherd

Dec. 25: 1:30 p.m.
 

FOREMAN

Sacred Heart

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

FORREST CITY

St. Francis of Assisi

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

FORT SMITH

Christ the King

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C, in church), 4 p.m. (in chapel),  6 p.m. (S) & 11:45 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

Immaculate Conception

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 7 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m. & noon (S)

St. Boniface

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C) & 7 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

GLENWOOD

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 4 p.m. (S)

 

GREENBRIER

St. Oscar Romero Community

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 6 p.m.

 

HAMBURG

Holy Spirit

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

HARRISON

Mary Mother of God

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & midnight

Dec. 25: 8:30 a.m.

 

HARTFORD

St. Leo

Dec. 25: 11:30 a.m.

 

HEBER SPRINGS

St. Albert

Dec. 24: 5 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

HELENA

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

  

HOPE

Our Lady of Good Hope

Dec. 24: 8 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. (B)

 

HORSESHOE BEND

St. Mary of the Mount

Dec. 25: 11:15 a.m.

 

HORSESHOE LAKE

St. Mary of the Lake

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

 

HOT SPRINGS

Church of St. Mary

Dec. 24: 6 p.m. (C) & 11 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. 

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C). 6 p.m., 8 p.m. (S) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

HUNTSVILLE

St. John the Evangelist

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. (S)

 

JACKSONVILLE

LRAFB Chapel/Holy Family

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. 

St. Jude the Apostle

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. & 11 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. (S)

 

JENNY LIND

Sts. Sabina and Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. 

 

JONESBORO

St. John Newman University Parish

See Blessed Sacrament Church for schedule

Blessed Sacrament

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 6:30 p.m. (S) & midnight

Dec. 25: 8 a.m., 10 a.m. (S) & 3 p.m. (F)

 

LAKE VILLAGE

Our Lady of the Lake

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

LITTLE ITALY

St. Francis of Assisi

Dec. 24: 8 p.m.

  

LITTLE ROCK

Cathedral of St. Andrew

Dec. 24 5 p.m. (bishop will celebrate), 8 p.m. & midnight 

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

Christ the King

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

Our Lady of Good Counsel

Dec. 24: 4:30 p.m. (C) & 8 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m. (B)

Our Lady of the Holy Souls

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (in church), 4:15 p.m. (in Allen Center), 6:30 p.m. (C) & 10 p.m. 

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

St. Bartholomew

Dec. 25: 8:30 a.m.

St. Edward

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 7 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. (B)

St. Theresa

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 6 p.m. (S) & midnight (B) 

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S) 

 

LINCOLN

Sts. Peter and Paul

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. (B)

 

MAGNOLIA

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Dec. 24: midnight

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

MALVERN

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

MARIANNA

St. Andrew

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

 

MARKED TREE

St. Norbert

Dec. 24: 5 p.m.

 

MCCRORY

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

MCGEHEE

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

 

MENA

St. Agnes

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m. & noon

 

MONTICELLO

St. Mark

Dec. 24: 8 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

MORRILTON

Sacred Heart

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m. & midnight (B)

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

MORRISON BLUFF

Sts. Peter and Paul

Dec. 24: 10:30 p.m.

 

MOUNT IDA

All Saints

Dec. 24: midnight

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

MOUNTAIN HOME

St. Peter the Fisherman

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & 10:30 p.m.

Dec. 25: 8 a.m. & 10 a.m.

 

MOUNTAIN VIEW

St. Mary Church

Dec. 25: noon

 

NASHVILLE

St. Martin

Contact church for schedule

 

NEW BLAINE

St. Scholastica

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

NEW DIXIE

St. Boniface

Dec. 24: 8 p.m.

 

NEWPORT 

St. Cecilia

Dec. 25: 8 a.m. (B)

 

NORTH LITTLE ROCK

Immaculate Conception

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 7 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

Immaculate Heart of Mary (Marche)

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C) & 9 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. 

St. Anne

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. with parking lot Mass option available, radio station 87.9 FM & 7 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. (B) 

St. Augustine

Dec. 24: 6 p.m.

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & 8 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

St. Patrick

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 6 p.m. (V)

Dec. 25: 8:30 a.m.

 

OPPELO

St. Elizabeth

Dec. 24: 7:30 p.m. 

 

OSCEOLA

St. Matthew

Dec. 24: 7:30 p.m.

 

PARAGOULD

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 6 p.m. & 10 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

PARIS

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 6 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

PINE BLUFF

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 6 p.m.

Dec. 25: 11 a.m.

St. Peter

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. 

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. (S)

St. Raphael

Services held at St. Peter, Pine Bluff

 

POCAHONTAS

St. Paul the Apostle

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 10:30 p.m. 

 

PRAIRIE VIEW

St. Meinrad

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. 

 

RATCLIFF

St. Anthony

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

ROGERS

St. Vincent de Paul

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) 6:30 p.m. (S) & midnight (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m., 11 a.m. (S) & 3 p.m. 

 

RUSSELLVILLE

St. John

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 8 p.m. (S) & 11 p.m. 

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. 

St. Leo University Parish

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

SAINT VINCENT

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C)

Dec. 25: 8 a.m.

 

SCRANTON

St. Ignatius

Dec. 24: 5:30 P.M. (C) 

 

SEARCY 

St. James

Dec. 24:5:30 p.m. & 7 p.m. (S)  

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

SHERIDAN

Holy Cross

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

SILOAM SPRINGS

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 11 a.m. (B)

 

SLOVAK

Sts. Cyril and Methodius

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. 

 

SPRINGDALE

Our Lady of Sorrows

Contact church for schedule

St. Raphael

Dec. 24: 6 p.m. & 10 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

STAR CITY

St. Justin

Services held at St. Peter, Pine Bluff

 

STUTTGART

Holy Rosary

Dec. 24: 5 p.m .(C)

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. & noon (S)

 

SUBIACO

St. Benedict

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 9 p.m. (with monks)

Dec. 25: 10:45 a.m.

 

TEXARKANA

St. Edward

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 7 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

TONTITOWN

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. 

 

VAN BUREN

St. Michael

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & midnight

Dec. 25: 6 a.m., 8 a.m. (S) & 10 a.m. 

 

WALDRON

St. Jude Thaddeus

Dec. 24: 8:30 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 11:30 a.m. 

 

WALNUT RIDGE

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Dec. 25: 8 a.m.

 

WARREN

St. Luke

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. 

 

WEINER

St. Anthony

Dec. 24: 7:30 p.m. (V) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. 

 

WEST MEMPHIS

St. Michael

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C) & midnight

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m.

 

WICKES

St. Juan Diego

Dec. 24: 10 p.m. (S)

 

WINSLOW

Our Lady of the Ozarks

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

WYNNE

St. Peter

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.  

Dec. 25: 8 a.m. (S)

 

YELLVILLE

St. Andrew

Dec. 25: noon

 

 

VATICAN CITY — The Latin version of the Roman Missal, the book of prayers used for Mass, includes a special set of prayers for a Mass with the intention of praying for "continence" or self-restraint, specifically as it regards sexuality.

But until recently, the Vatican had not indicated the Scripture readings that should be used at such a Mass.

In a decree dated March 20 and with a note explaining the decree June 22, the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments provided the Bible readings.

It also said the decision in 2002 to include a Mass for continence in the missal for use by the entire Church is a reminder that "all the baptized are called to foster this virtue with a pure and undivided heart, and not just those who are in religious life or who are ordained, but also young people and married couples, as the Second Vatican Council clearly taught" in its Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World.

The Bible, the word of God, "allows for a true and profound understanding" of what the church is asking for when it prays for continence, the note said.

The Bible readings, it said, were chosen "to offer a complete celebration in order to ask for the grace of a chaste heart, free from the desire to dominate, to possess, to conquer, to pursue one's ambitions in an unbridled manner and to satisfy one's desires, often at the expense of the weakest."

For the first reading at the Mass, the Vatican gave celebrants the choice of two passages from the Hebrew Scriptures or three from New Testament, and there are two possibilities for the responsorial Psalm.

The Gospel reading for the Mass is either Matthew 5:13-16, which begins, "You are the salt of the earth," or John 15:12-17, which begins, "This is my commandment: love one another as I love you."

It’s been three years since COVID-19 swept the world, and its effects are still challenging some Arkansas churches from distributing the body and blood of Christ.

On March 1, 2020, at the outset of the pandemic, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor suggested temporary Mass modifications be implemented in the diocese to reduce the spread of the virus, including receiving the Eucharist in the hand rather than on the tongue (except Latin Masses), discontinuing distribution of the Precious Blood, forgoing hand-holding during the Lord’s Prayer and bowing for the Sign of Peace in place of handshaking.

Twelve days later, the bishop suspended all public Masses and nonessential events. The suspension of Masses was lifted May 4; even after that, parishioners were required to distance themselves and wear masks. The wine restriction remained in place until June 18, 2022.

While most parishes in the state began offering Communion under both species since then, some have not. Their reasons span from not wanting to spread germs to a shortage of eucharistic ministers to serve.

Father Leon Ngandu, pastor of St. Bartholomew Church in Little Rock and St. Augustine Church in North Little Rock, said his churches only distribute the body of Christ at Masses.

“Many are still concerned about the pandemic,” Father Ngandu said. “We are planning to resume receiving the blood of Christ starting in summer.”

Because the Precious Blood wasn’t distributed for two years, churches didn’t need as many eucharistic ministers as they did before the pandemic. As people have returned to Mass, finding enough people to serve has been a challenge for some parishes.

“Compared to before the pandemic, there have definitely been fewer eucharistic ministers,” Father Stephen Elser, pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Pocahontas, St. John the Baptist Church in Engelberg and St. Joseph the Worker Church in Corning, said. “Once the Precious Blood was able to be resumed in parishes across Arkansas, we did a training/retraining of eucharistic ministers. I noticed that there were not as many that came to these trainings as there had been in the past.”

Father Elser said he initially thought St. Paul Church would have to reduce the number of chalice ministers at each Mass from four to two, but the parish’s eucharistic ministers have ensured there are four, like they had pre-pandemic.

“We found that parishioners were very much longing to receive the Precious Blood, and our ministers were willing to work it out to where we could have four chalice ministers at most Masses once again,” he said.

While Masses are covered, he said one particular area of need is eucharistic ministers to serve nursing homes and the homebound.

“While we had many dedicated ministers who serve in this ministry, we very much could use more help in this area,” Father Elser said.

The largest parish in central Arkansas, Christ the King Church in Little Rock, is also challenged with not enough ministers to cover every Mass, pastor Father Juan Guido said.

“At this moment, we do not offer the blood of Christ for the assembly due to the shortness of the extraordinary ministers of holy Communion,” he said. “After the hardest part of the pandemic, I have seen an increase in the number of people coming back to church; however, getting (eucharistic ministers) has taken a little longer.”

As a result, the church’s current eucharistic ministers must serve more frequently.

He said he has plans to reach out to the church’s former eucharistic ministers to see if they have interest in returning to the ministry and make announcements at weekend Masses to seek new eucharistic ministers.

Father John Connell, vicar general of the Diocese of Little Rock and pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale, said his parish had a shortage of eucharistic ministers since COVID but is near their pre-pandemic numbers now.

“We have had two training sessions and added new ministers to replace those who opted out after the pandemic,” Father Connell said. “Of course, we could always use more.”

While there are no longer formal restrictions on embracing in church, Catholics may have noticed there is a lot less of it going on in one part of the Mass after the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the priest or deacon says, “Let us offer each other a sign of peace,” many parishioners are not reaching across the pews to exchange a handshake or a hug. Instead, a flash of a peace sign or a wave seems to have become the preferred gesture to those near them.

“I have noticed this,” said Jennifer Rader, a member of Christ the King Church in Little Rock. “I will shake hands with anyone around me, but if they are reluctant, I don’t push it. I just smile and wave. I tend to wave to people further away, more so than I used to.”

Rader, a nurse anesthetist, speculates that COVID has conditioned people to associate touching other people with germs, and they are reluctant to shake hands right before using them to take Communion.

“That may insinuate we are still afraid of catching a cold or virus,” she said.

Because priests, deacons and altar servers are giving each other the sign of peace on the pulpit and preparing for Communion, they don’t always notice how parishioners conduct themselves during this part of the Mass.

“To be honest, I only catch a glimpse of what parishioners are doing at the sign of peace, as I am giving the sign of peace to the altar servers and the other volunteers on the altar. Even so, after some of the restrictions were lifted, I noticed there was still a tendency to wave or give some other non-contact gesture during the Mass,” Father Stephen Elser, pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Pocahontas, St. John the Baptist Church in Engelberg and St. Joseph the Worker Church in Corning, said. “There are some Catholics who may think twice now about their gestures in Mass.”

According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, which is the governing document for how the Mass is to be celebrated, during the Rite of Peace, “the Church entreats peace and unity for herself and for the whole human family, and the faithful express to each other their ecclesial Communion and mutual charity before communicating in the sacrament. As for the actual sign of peace to be given, the manner is to be established by the Conferences of Bishops in accordance with the culture and customs of the peoples” (GIRM 82).

“The purpose of the sign of peace (is) to show forth peace and unity among those present in the church before receiving the Eucharist,” Father Elser said. “In essence, we show forth our connection as the ‘body of Christ’ before receiving the ‘body of Christ’ in the Eucharist. I think a handshake, a hug, a wave or some other gesture is able to get that theological point across.”

Father John Antony, JCL, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith and Our Lady of the Ozarks Shrine in Winslow, said changes in parishioners’ behavior post-pandemic are understandable.

“Some prudent precautions are not out of order when we celebrate the Eucharist as a community of faith,” Father Antony said. “The transmission of viruses and bacteria are real and can seriously jeopardize a vulnerable person’s health. Hence, care for the most vulnerable should be a high priority at Mass as well.

“Here at I.C., the priests, deacons and Eucharistic ministers all sanitize our hands before distributing holy Communion. In addition, we give the sign of peace with a fist bump to the altar servers, although I do give the deacons a hug. We are trying to show that both are acceptable but to use some common sense, too. The best rule of thumb is to try to see what makes someone else comfortable and do that to put them at ease.”

Father Jason Tyler, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Fayetteville and Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Lincoln, and diocesan bioethicist, said some people are more contact-oriented than others, but COVID made others more hesitant to have physical contact. As the result of habits formed during the COVID years, people are not shaking hands as much as before the pandemic.

“Even before COVID, we always had a few people who didn’t want any physical contact, so I expect we’ll have some in the post-Covidic era as well,” he said.

That can make for awkward moments when a touchy-feely person interacts with someone who resists physical contact.

“Some people are more cautious than others; some express positive feelings through physical contact — handshakes, embraces, etc. — more than others.”

“We all show love and respect in different ways, and it’s important for us to be able to acknowledge that during the celebration of the Mass,” Father Elser said. “I would say to be respectful and loving to however another person chooses to display the sign of peace or after Mass, when I am greeting people outside, I always do my best to respect how people wish to greet me. Some people like to give a handshake, others a simple wave, others like to hug, while others just want to say ‘good morning’ or ‘good evening’ as they walk by.”

“Within reason, I would advise people to do what they feel is necessary for their own health and safety,” Father Elser said. “If you feel the need to wear a mask during Mass, please do so. If you feel the need to wave at the person next to you during the sign of peace, that is perfectly acceptable. We, as the body of Christ, want to respect and love each other at all times, but especially during Mass so that we can be united in our celebration and reception of the body of Christ in the Eucharist.”

Christmas Mass Schedules

Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. Consult your bulletin for more information. Masses are in English unless otherwise noted. Note: Attending Christmas Day Mass does not fulfill your Sunday obligation.

Key: 

• C: Children
• B: Bilingual
• S: Spanish
• L: Latin
• V: Vietnamese
• F: Filipino

 

ALTUS

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 10 p.m.

 

ARKADELPHIA

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: 11 a.m.

 

ASHDOWN

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

ATKINS

Church of the Assumption

Dec. 24: midnight

Dec 25: 10 a.m.

 

BALD KNOB

St. Richard

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. 

 

BARLING

Sacred Heart of Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. (V)

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. & noon (V)

 

BATESVILLE

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & midnight (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

BELLA VISTA

St. Bernard

Dec. 24: 5 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

BENTON

Our Lady of Fatima

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & 7 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

BENTONVILLE

St. Stephen

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. (B)

 

BERRYVILLE

St. Anne

Dec. 24: 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. (S)

 

BLYTHEVILLE

Immaculate Conception

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m. & 10 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

BOONEVILLE

Our Lady of the Assumption

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

BRINKLEY

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CABOT

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 24: midnight (L)

Dec. 25: 8 a.m. (L) & 10 a.m. (L)

 

CAMDEN

St. Louis

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

Dec. 25: 8 a.m.

 

CARLISLE

St. Rose

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (B)

 

CENTER RIDGE

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 9 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CHARLESTON

Sacred Heart

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & 11 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CHEROKEE VILLAGE

St. Michael

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CLARKSVILLE

Holy Redeemer

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

CLINTON

St. Jude

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m.

 

CONWAY

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. (S), 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CORNING

St. Joseph

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CRAWFORDSVILLE

Sacred Heart

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

CROSSETT

Holy Cross

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m.

 

DANVILLE

St. Andrew

Dec. 24: 8 p.m. (S)

 

DARDANELLE

St. Augustine

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

DECATUR

Blessed Stanley Rother

Dec. 24: 6 p.m. (S)

 

DE QUEEN

St. Barbara

Dec. 24: 5 p.m., 7 p.m. (S) 

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. (S)

 

DUMAS

Holy Child

Dec. 25: 11:15 a.m.

 

EL DORADO

Holy Redeemer

Dec. 24: 9 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

ENGELBERG

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

ENGLAND

Holy Trinity

Dec. 25: 8 a.m.

 

EUREKA SPRINGS

St. Elizabeth

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. (parish center)

 

FAIRFIELD BAY

St. Francis of Assisi

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

Dec. 25: 8:30 a.m.

 

FAYETTEVILLE

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C ), 6:30 p.m. (S), 8:30 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

St. Thomas Aquinas

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

FORDYCE

Good Shepherd

Dec. 25: 4 p.m.

 

FOREMAN

Sacred Heart

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m.

 

FORREST CITY

St. Francis of Assisi

Dec. 25: 11 a.m.

 

FORT SMITH

Christ the King

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (church and chapel), 6 p.m. (S) & 8 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

Immaculate Conception

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 7 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m. & noon (S)

 

St. Boniface

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 7 p.m. (S) & 10 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

GLENWOOD

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Dec. 24: 8 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. (S)

 

GREENBRIER

St. Oscar Romero

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (S) & 6 p.m. 

 

HAMBURG

Holy Spirit

Dec. 24: 7:30 p.m. (S)

 

HARRISON

Mary Mother of God

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 11 p.m.

Dec. 25: 8:30 a.m.

 

HARTFORD

St. Leo

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. 

 

HEBER SPRINGS

St. Albert

Dec. 24: 6:45 p.m. 

Dec. 25: 11 a.m. 

 

HELENA

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

HOPE

Our Lady of Good Hope

Dec. 24: 7 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. (B)

 

HORSESHOE BEND

St. Mary of the Mount

Dec. 25: 11:15 a.m.

 

HORSESHOE LAKE

St. Mary of the Lake

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

 

HOT SPRINGS

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 24: 6 p.m., 8 p.m. (S) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 6 p.m. (C) & 11 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 8 a.m. & 10 a.m.

 

HUNTSVILLE

St. John the Evangelist

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

JACKSONVILLE

Holy Family Parish

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

St. Jude

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. & 11 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

JENNY LIND

Sts. Sabina and Mary

See Barling for Mass times

 

JONESBORO

Blessed Sacrament

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m. (S) & midnight

Dec. 25: 8 a.m. & 11 a.m. (F)

 

St. John Newman University Parish

Dec. 24: 8 p.m. (V)

Dec. 25: 11 a.m. (V)

 

LAKE VILLAGE

Our Lady of the Lake

Dec. 24: midnight

Dec. 25: 10 a.m

 

LINCOLN

Sts. Peter and Paul

Dec. 25: 8 a.m. & 10 a.m. (S)

 

LITTLE ITALY

St. Francis of Assisi

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

LITTLE ROCK

Cathedral of St. Andrew 

Dec. 24: 5 p.m., 8 p.m. & midnight (bishop will celebrate)

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

Christ the King

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. 6 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

Our Lady of Good Counsel

Dec. 24: 4:30 p.m. (C), 8 p.m. & midnight (S)

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m. (B)

 

Our Lady of the Holy Souls

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m. (C) & 10:30 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

St. Bartholomew

Dec. 24: 6 p.m.

 

St. Edward

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m. (S) & 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m. (B)

 

St. Theresa

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. & noon (S)

 

MAGNOLIA

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Dec. 24: midnight (B)

Dec. 25: 11 a.m.

 

MALVERN

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

MARIANNA

St. Andrew

Dec. 24: 4:30 p.m.

 

MARKED TREE

St. Norbert

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

 

McCRORY

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

McGEHEE

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 5 p.m.

 

MENA

St. Agnes

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & midnight

 

MONTICELLO

St. Mark

Dec. 24: 8 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

MORRILTON

Sacred Heart

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m. (C, gym) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

MORRISON BLUFF

Sts. Peter and Paul

Dec. 24: 10:30 p.m.

 

MOUNTAIN HOME

St. Peter the Fisherman

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 8 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.

Dec. 25: 7 a.m. & 10 a.m.

 

MOUNTAIN VIEW

St. Mary

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m.

 

MOUNT IDA

All Saints

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

NASHVILLE

St. Martin

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: noon (B)

 

NEW BLAINE

St. Scholastica

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

NEW DIXIE

St. Boniface

Dec. 24: 8 p.m.

 

NEWPORT

St. Cecilia

Dec. 24: 6:30 p.m. (B)

 

NORTH LITTLE ROCK

Immaculate Conception

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 7 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

Immaculate Heart of Mary (Marche)

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C) & 10 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

St. Anne

Dec: 24: 6 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. (B)

 

St. Augustine

Dec. 24: 8 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m.

 

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & 10 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

St. Patrick

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 6 p.m. (V) 

Dec. 25: 8:30 a.m.

 

OPPELO

St. Elizabeth

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

 

OSCEOLA

St. Matthew

Dec. 24: 6:30 p.m.

 

PARAGOULD

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 6 p.m. (C) & midnight

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

PARIS

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 6 p.m. (C)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

PINE BLUFF

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

St. Peter

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. and  7 p.m. (S)

 

St. Raphael

Dec. 25: 4 p.m.

 

POCAHONTAS

St. Paul the Apostle

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.  & 11 p.m.

 

PRAIRIE VIEW

St. Meinrad

Dec. 25: 8 a.m.

 

RATCLIFF

St. Anthony

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

ROGERS

St. Vincent de Paul

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m. (S) & midnight (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

RUSSELLVILLE

St. John

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C) & 8 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

St. Leo University Parish

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

 

SAINT VINCENT

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C)

Dec. 25: 8 a.m.

 

SCRANTON

St. Ignatius

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m. (C)

 

SEARCY

St. James

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. (S)

 

SHERIDAN

Holy Cross

Dec. 24: 5 p.m.

 

SILOAM SPRINGS

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C), 7 p.m. (S) & 9 p.m.

Dec. 25: 11 a.m. (S)

 

SLOVAK

Sts. Cyril and Methodius

Dec. 24: 8 p.m.

 

SPRINGDALE

Our Lady of Sorrows

Dec. 24: midnight (L)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. (L) & 11 a.m. (L)

 

St. Raphael

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 6 p.m. (S), 8 p.m. & 10 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. (S)

 

STAR CITY

St. Justin

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

STUTTGART

Holy Rosary

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

SUBIACO

St. Benedict

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m., 10:45 a.m.

 

TEXARKANA

St. Edward

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 7 p.m. (S) & midnight

Dec. 25: 11 a.m.

 

TONTITOWN

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & 8 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

VAN BUREN

St. Michael

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 6 p.m., 7:30 (S) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

WALDRON

St. Jude Thaddeus

Dec. 25: 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. (S)

 

WALNUT RIDGE

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Dec. 25: 8 a.m.
 

WARREN

St. Luke

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (S)

 

WEINER

St. Anthony

Dec. 24: midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

WEST MEMPHIS

St. Michael

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C) & 10 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m.

 

WICKES

St. Juan Diego

Dec. 24: 9:30 p.m. (S)

 

WINSLOW

Our Lady of the Ozarks

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

WYNNE

St. Peter

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C)

Dec. 25: 11 a.m. (S)

 

YELLVILLE

St. Andrew

Dec. 25: 11 a.m.

WASHINGTON — The mere act of lifting the dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation as the coronavirus pandemic eases won't be enough to get Catholics to come back to church, and some dioceses and Catholics are actively working to bring people back.

"Just opening our doors and waiting for folks to come is a failed strategy for generations, much less for today's culture," said Marcel LeJeune, founder and president of Catholic Missionary Disciples, in a July 12 email to Catholic News Service.

Research by the Catholic Leadership Institute, based in Pennsylvania, indicates that 25%-27% of Massgoing Catholics say they go to church "out of habit," according to institute president Dan Cellucci. Another 4%-6%, he added, call themselves "Catholics in name only." The research, Cellucci said, is based on 300,000 parishioners who speak one of 14 languages in 43 U.S. dioceses.

"If you were looking at that and the (Mass attendance) habit's been broken for 18 months in some part so the country, I would posit that those people aren't going to come back if they (parishes) are not careful," Cellucci said. "If they worked through 18 months without their parish and didn't miss it, why would they put them back into their schedule?"

Parishes that didn't do anything to keep in touch with their parishioners are "most at risk" of membership drop-off, Cellucci told CNS in a July 14 phone interview.

The parishes "holding their own," he said, or have been thriving "are ones that have actually been in relationship with their people. They've made a deep bond of community and they work really hard at that. They check in with their parishioners, issue invitations — all the hallmarks of what we know to be practices of good evangelizing all the time."

Shouldn't the parishioners return on their own? "Theoretically, they should do that because of their Sunday obligation," Cellucci replied, "but that's not our mindset and we have to recognize that."

The issue has weighed on the mind of bishops and pastors for some time.

During the pandemic, "people were disconnected from one another," said Bishop William E. Koenig of Wilmington, Delaware, in an interview with The Dialog, Wilmington's diocesan newspaper, prior to his July 13 installation as bishop.

"In coming together as a community of faith, we're also a community. It's not just vertical with God feeding that hunger, but it's also horizontal where we are with one another," Bishop Koenig said. "Certainly, praying is the highest way we come together as a community, but to continue to explore ways, whether it's prayer groups, support groups, working as a team for religious education … those ways help us come together, too."

"When churches were closed, people got out of the social ritual practice of going to Mass on Sunday," Michael McCallion, a theology professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, said in an interview with Detroit Catholic, the online news outlet for the Archdiocese of Detroit.

"Especially for those on the fence — perhaps about a number of other issues that have nothing to do with the pandemic — that practice might not resume," McCallion added. "In the sociology of conversion, belief follows behavior. If we get out of the behavior, the belief fades as well."

He said, "What we need to do now more than ever is ramp up our hospitality and invite people to hang out with us at the parish. We can no longer wait for people; we need to go out and find them," McCallion said. "Each parish should have staff dedicated to a radical ministry of hospitality based on their own individual community with social events every week, not every month."

The Detroit Archdiocese's Department of Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship has assembled a "welcome-back playbook" for parishes to use. In the playbook are a sample script for calling parishioners and a sample welcome-back letter to send to parishioners. "A letter from the pastor is one of the most essential messages to share with your parish community," the playbook said.

Other elements in the playbook include having the parish update its Mass and confession schedule on www.massfinder.org, and updating its profile on Google Business.

One teen in the archdiocese took a page from the playbook to arrange a monthly Teen Summer Mass Series at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit, featuring monthly themed Masses.

Anthony Schena, a senior at De La Salle Collegiate High School in the Detroit suburb of Warren, Michigan, had noticed that at his home parish, there weren't a lot of people his age at Mass.

The cathedral Masses' readings and music will follow the theme, and after Mass there will be food and fellowship in the cathedral plaza.

"Teens like having fun and having food," Schena told Detroit Catholic. "There will be a snow cone truck and fellowship for one night, and we'll have games and fun get-togethers for a brief amount of time after each of the Masses."

"We're trying to have some fun, to make it something interesting for teens to bring them back to church," said Christine Broses, a pastoral associate at the cathedral. "With COVID, we noticed a lot of young people have not returned to church as fast as the older crowd has."

In a September 2020 study from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, 36% of Catholics ages 18-35 said they planned to attend Mass less frequently when stay-at-home orders were lifted.

Father Kevin Gill, pastor of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Solomons, Maryland, said he installed a large "Welcome Home" banner at the front of the church because "I want people to have the sense as they pull into the parking lot that we are saying to them, 'You are home, and we are happy you are here.'"

"For several weeks our attendance has been almost at pre-COVID levels," he told the Catholic Standard, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington. "We are at the very southern tip of Calvert County," a sparsely populated part of the archdiocese, "and it was much different here than in D.C."

Father Gill said that since Pentecost, the parish has reinstated hospitality after Masses.

For Msgr. Raymond East, pastor of St. Theresa of Avila Parish in Washington, as restrictions in the nation's capital were gradually eased or eliminated, "every week somebody new would come (back) and say, 'I have missed this very much.' They have been looking forward to coming back, and they are grateful to be back."

One benefit of offering Mass online, Msgr. East said, is that "our audience has increased outside of the parish and we've had people from India, the Philippines, California (and) Europe watch our Masses."

He added since the church has opened up, "we are starting to get new neighbors and new members who discovered us online and are now coming in person to join the parish or at least give us a try."

The parish "will continue streaming" Masses, Msgr. East said. But a cautionary note on that came from Tamra Hull Fromm, director of discipleship and an instructor at the Catholic Biblical School of Michigan.

"When it comes to Mass attendance, we need to ask where people were in terms of their understanding of the sacraments before the pandemic. Do they have an understanding of how the sacraments nourish the faith and, therefore, are part of the routine of nurturing that faith?" Fromm told Detroit Catholic. "If they don't understand the Eucharist, why would they come back?"

Fromm added, "Adoration on a screen can shift our minds and shift our theology. "We're disembodied with digital culture, making it tempting for some to move away from the celebration of the Mass and the importance of the Eucharist."

LeJeune, in an undated Catholic Missionary Disciples blog posting, said, "Catholic leaders need to stop asking, 'How do we get back to pre-COVID days?' … Our job has never been to maintain institutions. It is to make disciples."

To do that, leaders need to envision "a post-COVID parish," he said. "The pandemic gives us a unique opportunity. Still, big changes need to be bathed in discernment and prayer." He added, "Mission tells us why we exist. It is the engine which drives the car. We don't get anywhere without it."

Four of LeJeune's prescriptions for living in a post-pandemic parish are: "Let us love each other fully. Let us serve our communities. Let us fight for what is true and good," and "Let us not settle for what our parishes looked like in the past."

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced May 9 changes in COVID-19 precautions beginning with weekend Masses May 15-16.

In a separate letter to priests, Bishop Taylor said distancing of family groups during Mass and changes made in churches and on parish property since March 2020 will be left to each pastor to decide. He said Communion under both forms would not resume at this time.

His May 9 letter reads, “Now that most Arkansans over the age of 16 have access to a coronavirus vaccination, I have sought the advice of the Presbyteral Council and the Diocesan Pastoral Council regarding next steps, and so today I am pleased to promulgate two things. First, a further loosening of the anti-COVID-19 protocols that for over a year have prevented an outbreak of disease in any of our parishes and second, I would like to invite everyone to come to the Barton Coliseum for the ordination of five new priests for the Diocese of Little Rock at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 29. This will be a special time to thank the Lord for bringing us through this pandemic so far and for providing us these new priests as we look to the future.

“I believe that due to the universal availability of the vaccine, we can now make mask-wearing optional, effective next weekend, May 15-16. This gives vaccine-hesitant people one more week to at least get their first shot. In addition, Communion on the tongue during Mass is now allowed. I do recommend, but do not require, continued mask-wearing for those who are not yet fully vaccinated or who are otherwise especially vulnerable.

“Also, I encourage all Arkansas Catholics to come to the ordinations at the Barton Coliseum on May 29. This will be an unforgettable experience. The Barton Coliseum holds 10,000 people, so there will be plenty of room for people to spread out.”

Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. Consult the parish website for the most current information. Please note some churches are requiring registration before attending a Mass.

Key:

Masses are in English unless otherwise noted.

C: Children

B: Bilingual

S: Spanish

L: Latin

V: Vietnamese

 

 

ALTUS

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. & 11 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

ARKADELPHIA

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: 11 a.m.

 

ASHDOWN

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

ATKINS

Church of the Assumption

Dec. 24: 7:30 p.m. & midnight 

 

BALD KNOB

St. Richard

See Searcy for Mass times

 

BARLING

Sacred Heart of Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. (V) 

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. & noon (V)

 

BATESVILLE

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. (S) & midnight (B)

 

BELLA VISTA

St. Bernard

Dec. 24: 5 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

BENTON

Our Lady of Fatima

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

BENTONVILLE

St. Stephen 

(Reservations required)

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m.

Dec. 25: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 11:45 a.m. (S)

 

BERRYVILLE

St. Anne

Dec. 24: 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. (S)

 

BLYTHEVILLE

Immaculate Conception

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. & 10 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

BOONEVILLE

Our Lady of the Assumption

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

BRINKLEY

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CABOT 

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 24: midnight (L)

Dec. 25: 8 a.m. (L) & 11 a.m. (L)

 

CAMDEN

St. Louis

Dec. 24: 10 p.m.

 

CARLISLE

St. Rose

Dec. 24: 8:30 p.m. (B) & 10 p.m. (B)

 

CENTER RIDGE

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 9 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CHARLESTON

Sacred Heart

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. & 11 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CHEROKEE VILLAGE

St. Michael

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CLARKSVILLE

Holy Redeemer

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

CLINTON

St. Jude

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. (B)

 

CONWAY

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. (S), 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CORNING

St. Joseph

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

CRAWFORDSVILLE

Sacred Heart

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

CROSSETT

Holy Cross

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m.

 

DANVILLE

St. Andrew

Dec. 24: 8 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. (S)

 

DARDANELLE

St. Augustine

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & noon (S)

 

DECATUR

Blessed Stanley Rother

Dec. 24: 6 p.m. (S)

 

DE QUEEN

St. Barbara

Dec. 24: 5 p.m., 7 p.m. (S) & midnight (S)

 

DUMAS

Holy Child

Dec. 25: 11 a.m.

 

EL DORADO

Holy Redeemer

Dec. 24: 9 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

ENGELBERG

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 7 p.m. (C) & midnight

 

ENGLAND

Holy Trinity

Dec. 25: 8 a.m.

 

EUREKA SPRINGS

St. Elizabeth

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (parish center) & 5:30 p.m.

 

FAIRFIELD BAY

St. Francis of Assisi

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 7 a.m.

 

FAYETTEVILLE

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 4:15 p.m. (DeBriyn Center), 6 p.m. (S), 8 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

St. Thomas Aquinas

Dec. 24: 6 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

FORDYCE

Good Shepherd

Dec. 25: 11:30 a.m.

 

FOREMAN

Sacred Heart

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m.

 

FORREST CITY

St. Francis of Assisi

Dec. 24: 6:30 p.m.

 

FORT SMITH

Christ the King

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (parking lot) & 6 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

Immaculate Conception

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 7 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 7:30 a.m., 10 a.m. & noon (S)

St. Boniface

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 7 p.m. (S) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

GLENWOOD

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Dec. 24: 8 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. (S)

 

GREENBRIER

St. Oscar Romero

See Conway for Mass times

 

HAMBURG

Holy Spirit

Dec. 24: 7:30 p.m. (S)

 

HARRISON

Mary Mother of God

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 11 p.m.

Dec. 25: 8:30 a.m.

 

HARTFORD

St. Leo

Contact parish for Mass time

 

HEBER SPRINGS

St. Albert

Dec. 24: 6 p.m.

Dec. 25: 11 a.m.

 

HELENA

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

HOPE

Our Lady of Good Hope

Dec. 24: 7 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 10 a.m. (S)

 

HORSESHOE BEND

St. Mary of the Mount

Dec. 25: 11:15 a.m.

 

HORSESHOE LAKE

St. Mary of the Lake

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

 

HOT SPRINGS

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 6 p.m. (C), 8 p.m. (S) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (for 65 and up and high risk), 6 p.m. (C) & 11 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

HOT SPRINGS VILLAGE

Sacred Heart

Dec. 24: 2:30 p.m. (parking lot) & 4 p.m.

Dec. 25: 8 a.m. & 10 a.m.

 

HUNTSVILLE

St. John the Evangelist

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

JACKSONVILLE

Holy Family Parish

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

St. Jude

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

JENNY LIND

Sts. Sabina and Mary

See Barling for Mass times

 

JONESBORO

Blessed Sacrament

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 8 p.m. (S) & 11 p.m.

Dec. 25: 8 a.m., 10 a.m. & noon (S)

St. John Newman University Parish

Dec. 25: 5 p.m.

 

LAKE VILLAGE

Our Lady of the Lake

Dec. 24: midnight

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

LINCOLN

Sts. Peter and Paul

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

LITTLE ITALY

St. Francis of Assisi

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

LITTLE ROCK

Cathedral of St. Andrew

Dec. 24: 5 p.m., 8 p.m. & midnight (bishop will celebrate)

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. & 12:05 p.m.

Christ the King

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 8:30 a.m. & 10 a.m.

Our Lady of Good Counsel

Dec. 24: 4:30 p.m. (C), 8 p.m. (S) & midnight (S)

Dec. 25: 8 a.m. & 10 a.m. (B)

Our Lady of the Holy Souls 

(Reservations required)

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

St. Bartholomew

Dec. 24: 6 p.m.

St. Edward

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m. (S), 8:30 p.m. 

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. (B)

St. Theresa

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6:30 p.m. (S) & 7:30 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. & noon (S)

 

MAGNOLIA

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (S) & 6 p.m.

 

MALVERN

St. John the Baptist

Dec. 24: 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

MARIANNA

St. Andrew

Dec. 24: 4:30 p.m.

 

MARKED TREE

St. Norbert

Dec. 25: 11 a.m.

 

McCRORY

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

McGEHEE

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 5 p.m.

 

MENA

St. Agnes

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C) & midnight

Dec. 25: noon

 

MONTICELLO

St. Mark (Reservations required)

Dec. 24: 7 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. 

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

MORRILTON

Sacred Heart

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. (gym and church) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

MORRISON BLUFF

Sts. Peter and Paul

Dec. 24: 10:30 p.m.

 

MOUNTAIN HOME

St. Peter the Fisherman

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.

Dec. 25: 7 a.m. & 10 a.m.

 

MOUNTAIN VIEW

St. Mary

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m.

 

MOUNT IDA

All Saints

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

NASHVILLE

St. Martin

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m. (B)

Dec. 25: noon (B)

 

NEW BLAINE

St. Scholastica

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

NEW DIXIE

St. Boniface

Dec. 24: 10 p.m.

 

NEWPORT

St. Cecilia

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. (B)

 

NORTH LITTLE ROCK

Immaculate Conception

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (bishop will celebrate), 6 p.m. (bishop will celebrate), 8 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

Immaculate Heart of Mary (Marche) 

(Reservations required)

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (C, gym) & 10 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

St. Anne 

(All in parking lot)

Dec: 24: 4 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10 a.m. & noon (S)

St. Augustine

Dec. 24: 8 p.m.

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (reservations required) & 8 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

St. Patrick

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 6 p.m. (V) & 8 p.m. (V)

Dec. 25: 8:30 a.m.

 

OPPELO

St. Elizabeth

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m.

 

OSCEOLA

St. Matthew

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

PARAGOULD

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 6 p.m. & midnight

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

PARIS

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 6 p.m. (C)

Dec. 25: 8 a.m.

 

PINE BLUFF

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

St. Peter

Dec. 24: 6 p.m. (S) & 8 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. (B)

St. Raphael

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

 

POCAHONTAS

St. Paul the Apostle

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 7 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

PRAIRIE VIEW

St. Meinrad

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

RATCLIFF

St. Anthony

Dec. 24: 10 p.m.

 

ROGERS

St. Vincent de Paul

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (church, gym and Ministry Building), 6 p.m. (S, church, gym and Ministry Building) & midnight (B)

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

RUSSELLVILLE

St. John

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. & 8 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 11 a.m.

St. Leo University Parish

See St. John, Russellville, for Mass times

 

SAINT VINCENT

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

Dec. 25: 8 a.m.

 

SCRANTON

St. Ignatius

Dec. 24: 5:30 p.m.

 

SEARCY

St. James

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. (S) & midnight

Dec. 25: 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9 a.m. & 11 a.m. (S)

 

SHERIDAN

Holy Cross

Dec. 24: 7 p.m.

 

SILOAM SPRINGS

St. Mary

Dec. 24: 5 p.m., 7 p.m. (S) & 9 p.m.

Dec. 25: 11 a.m. (S)

 

SLOVAK

Sts. Cyril and Methodius

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 6 p.m.

 

SPRINGDALE

Our Lady of Sorrows

Contact admin@ourladyofsorrowsnwa.org for Mass times (L)

St. Raphael

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 6 p.m. (S), 8 p.m. & 10 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. (S)

 

STAR CITY

St. Justin

Dec. 25: 11 a.m. (B)

 

STUTTGART

Holy Rosary

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 5:30 & 7 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 10 a.m.

 

SUBIACO

St. Benedict 

(Tickets required unless noted)

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 8 p.m. & midnight (no ticket)

Dec. 25: 10:45 a.m. (no ticket)

 

TEXARKANA

St. Edward

Dec. 24: 4 p.m., 7 p.m. (S), 9:30 p.m. (S) & midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.

 

TONTITOWN

St. Joseph

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. & 11 p.m. 

Dec. 25: 9 a.m.

 

VAN BUREN

St. Michael

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 5:45 p.m., 7:15 (S) & midnight

Dec. 25: 6:30 a.m., 8 a.m. (S) & 10 a.m.

 

WALDRON

St. Jude Thaddeus

Dec. 24: 6:30 p.m. & 8 p.m. (S)

Dec. 25: 11:30 a.m. (B)

 

WALNUT RIDGE

Immaculate Heart of Mary

Dec. 25: 8 a.m.

 

WARREN

St. Luke

Dec. 24: 5 p.m. (S)

 

WEINER

St. Anthony

Dec. 24: midnight

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. 

 

WEST MEMPHIS

St. Michael

Dec. 24: 4 p.m. (C), 5 p.m. (C) & 10 p.m.

Dec. 25: 10:30 a.m.

 

WICKES

St. Juan Diego

Dec. 25: 12:30 p.m. (S)

 

WINSLOW

Our Lady of the Ozarks

Dec. 25: 9:30 a.m.

 

WYNNE

St. Peter

Dec. 24: 4 p.m.

Dec. 25: 9 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. (S)

 

YELLVILLE

St. Andrew

Dec. 25: 11 a.m.

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In early May, masked Catholics, armed with hand sanitizer and a mindset of keeping 6-feet distance between themselves and fellow parishioners, began filing into the pews of their parishes for Mass, something that hadn’t been possible for two months. 

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor reinstated public Masses in a May 4 letter, issuing several guidelines that parishes must abide by, as the threat of the COVID-19 virus has yet to dissipate. The Sunday Mass obligation is still lifted. 

While the spirit of the Eucharistic celebration remains unchanged, the look of a Mass is empty, allowing for only 25 percent seating capacity within a church. Instead of incense, Purell and disinfectant hang in the air. And there are no hugs or handshakes, but hand waves and greetings from a distance. 

“The experience at Mass and when you see everyone with their masks on, well, this is what we’re doing for now, it’s not what we want. But it’s kind of what we’ve been dealt. It’s kind of the way life goes; we don’t always have life the way we want it,” said Father Tony Robbins, pastor at St. Joseph Church in Conway. “The point though is not to become too afraid, but to allow it to become an opportunity for growth and faith and maybe a purification of our intentions.” 

 

Blessings, but still empty 

In preparation for an influx of parishioners of St. Raphael in Springdale and St. Joseph Church in Tontitown, pastor Father John Connell began giving out tickets to Masses, a way to insure the numbers would stay within the guidelines, and scheduled more Masses. St. Raphael is the largest parish in the diocese, with about 24,500 parishioners. 

“We had no idea how many people were wanting to go to Mass,” he said. “… That first weekend, attendance was so low.” 

At both parishes, Father Connell estimated they are at 12 to 13 percent capacity for Mass, not close to the 25 percent allowed. They have stopped the ticket giveaways and Masses are back to two at St. Joseph and the eight usual Masses at St. Raphael, with just one additional Mass. 

“We’re completely stagnant,” he said, saying at St. Raphael, there are about 800 people on a weekend, when normally, it’d be about 5,000. Two virtual Masses are still offered for St. Raphael. 

“I don’t know if that’s been (because) we’re in an area where COVID is on the increase,” he said. 

Half of the new COVID cases were documented in Benton and Washington counties. As of June 15, Arkansas Department of Health statistics showed 12,917 total cases (4,383 active), with 1,480 in Benton County and 1,925 in Washington County. 

Father Connell admitted one parishioner told him, “Father, I’m not going to Mass; I can’t pray and have a mask on.”  

Father Connell, also diocesan vicar general, said it will take at least a year to really see how COVID has impacted Church attendance. 

“First of all, we’re in the middle of a pandemic. This is not a time to come back and celebrate” with singing and sprinkling holy water, he emphasized. “Am I worried about some people not coming back? Yeah, that’s a possibility, not in the long run.” 

Each Mass in Springdale has about four monitors that help enforce distancing, entering and exiting properly and ensure just one person is in the bathroom at a time. 

In Conway, Father Robbins said there’s been a slow rise in attendance since the opening Masses May 9-10, with roughly 130 attending the 8 a.m. Sunday Mass May 31, the largest group thus far for a typical Mass. St. Joseph High School graduation May 18 had 220 people. 

St. Joseph has about 5,500 registered parishioners. 

“When you look out there it’s strange because 250 is the max, but only a quarter full. You’ve shrunk down your church, but there’s a lot of empty space out there, but it’s kind of what we’re going for,” he said. 

Father Robbins, and associate pastors Fathers Chandra Kodavatikanti and Jeff Hebert, instruct people coming into Mass to use hand sanitizer, the priests distribute Communion with masks and dismiss people in sections and to different exits. Beginning the weekend of June 6, some ministers and ushers began taking over some of those roles of directing parishioners. 

A parishioner sprayed down the church with a disinfectant fogger.

“It’s going to kill everything that’s in there and leave kind of a protectant coat so nothing will be able to grow for like three months. We’re still going to need to wipe down between Masses. I believe we’ll probably make use of that again,” including at the school, Father Robbins said. 

Some Masses are still live­streamed, which will have benefits that reach beyond the pandemic. One instance involved a hospitalized parishioner who watched Mass with her mother in another state. When the mother could not attend her daughter’s funeral, the parish livestreamed it. 

“It continues to be a great blessing,” Father Robbins said. 

 

Parked cars and assigned seats

Parishioners at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village returned to Masses Mother’s Day weekend May 9, but some parked and never went in. In addition to weekend Masses inside the building, allowing for about 150 max for 25 percent capacity, Father Bill Elser began holding a Saturday parking lot Mass. Attendance to the parking lot Masses have risen, from 61 cars the first time to 101 cars May 30. Initially using just a loudspeaker, the parish now has an FM transmitter, what St. Anne in North Little Rock uses for their parking lot Masses, to broadcast on parishioner’s radios. 

“We had the cars parked fairly close to each other so everyone could participate; we brought Communion to them … their arms out to put Communion in their hands,” Father Elser said.

“It seems to be really serving our mostly elderly population who are not comfortable coming into church or wearing a mask or both. From the first week on, we just got wonderful comments,” he added. 

Sacred Heart has about 1,200 parishioners, who on average are over age 70. 

“With the vulnerable population, we make it clear it’s not obligatory now, it’s only as you feel comfortable coming. We provide the masks if they need a mask and things like that … It doesn’t surprise me because it’s the older Catholics in general whether it’s obligatory or not,” they want to attend, he said, adding of the outdoor setting, “… It seems to be leading more and more to be coming out and feeling comfortable to come out.” 

While the Mass has changed notably for all, Latino Catholics who thrive on the communal aspects of being a part of a parish, it has been tough, Father Mauricio Carrasco said. 

“Relationship is so central to everything we do. Both our Charismatics and Youth for Christ movement, the young adult movement … man, it’s hard on them because there was such a big social component to their faith,” he said. 

He is pastor of St. Augustine Church in Dardanelle, about 375 members, and St. Andrew Church in Danville, about 350, that has a predominantly Latino population, with St. Andrew only celebrating Spanish Masses. 

“It’s hard to put words to it. It’s kind of something you feel; I feel it as a pastor. I could be projecting to some extent, because I’m missing some of the social interaction, but they seem downcast, they seem sad. I think we were all maybe in some way or another,” he said. 

The weekend before public Masses reopened, to make the new structure easier for everyone, he labeled all the pews with letters and measured out the seven seats within a row, separating it into appropriately distanced sections with help from Deacon Daniel Velasco. 

“It’s like going to a theater or ballgame. Your season tickets,” Father Carrasco said. 

Families came in a drive-thru fashion, with Father Carrasco handing out tickets for each family member, crossing off seating with his paper and clipboard. Each family had to pick which Mass they planned to attend each week and stick to it. Their spots do not change. 

“What it does is it keeps people from having to worry too much … if you’ve been to the grocery store there’s signs galore. It becomes pretty overwhelming, because this stuff is not second nature to us,” he said.