About Church of the Assumption · Atkins, Arkansas
Church of the Assumption is a small Catholic parish in Atkins, Arkansas (Pope County), part of the Diocese of Little Rock's River Valley Deanery. The parish traces its origins to 1878, when German Catholic immigrants brought in by the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad gathered for the first Mass on the Nottenkamper farm, and to 1879, when they built their first frame church, St. Fidelis. The current brick Church of the Assumption was constructed in 1897 and is an iconic landmark in downtown Atkins, its 121-foot steeple towering above the railroad town. Today the parish is served by Fr. Rajasekhar Chittem (known to parishioners as 'Fr. Shekhar'), who is also pastor of nearby St. Leo the Great University Parish in Russellville; the parish office is currently administered out of St. Leo's.
- Established
- 1878 (first Mass); 1879 (first church, St. Fidelis); 1897 (current Church of the Assumption)
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (Assumption)
- Rector
- Fr. Rajasekhar Chittem (known as 'Fr. Shekhar')
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (Catholic Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas) — River Valley Deanery
Why belong here
Church of the Assumption offers a close-knit, historic Catholic community in the Arkansas River Valley with the traditional liturgy, regular Sunday and weekday Mass, First Friday adoration, and a faith-formation program for both youth and adults. Because it is partnered with St. Leo the Great University Parish in Russellville, parishioners benefit from a pastor and staff who serve both communities together. It is an ideal parish for anyone in the Atkins–Pope County area seeking the rhythms of devotional Catholic life — Sunday Mass, First Friday adoration, sacramental preparation, and a parish whose German-immigrant roots go back more than 145 years.
Mass times at Church of the Assumption
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment
- Before Mass (per CatholicMassTime.org)
Adoration times
- First Fridays, 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (following 8:30 a.m. Mass)
Parish Identity & Location
Church of the Assumption sits at 118 Avenue 3 NE in Atkins, Pope County, Arkansas — a small River Valley town made iconic by its 121-foot steeple and its role in the German Catholic settlement of the Arkansas River Valley. The mailing address is P.O. Box 337, Atkins, AR 72823. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Little Rock, in the River Valley Deanery, and is currently clustered with St. Leo the Great University Parish in Russellville, which handles the parish office.
- Physical address: 118 Avenue 3 NE, Atkins, AR 72823
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 337, Atkins, AR 72823
- Deanery: River Valley
- County: Pope
History of the Parish
The parish began with the German Catholic immigration that followed the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad into the Arkansas River Valley in the 1870s. The first Mass was said on the Nottenkamper farm in 1878 by Father Brem, a Swiss-born priest. In 1879 the community built St. Fidelis, a 42-by-24-foot white-pine frame church, with the Iron Mountain Railroad donating land and money. As the congregation grew from sixteen to roughly ninety families, the frame church was outgrown, and in 1897 the parishioners completed the present brick Church of the Assumption with its landmark steeple and three bells. A 135th anniversary Mass was celebrated by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor on Aug. 15, 2014.
- 1878 — First Mass on the Nottenkamper farm, said by Father Brem
- 1879 — St. Fidelis frame church built (cost $5,000)
- 1881 — Parish had grown to roughly 60–90 families
- 1897 — Present brick Church of the Assumption built and renamed
- 2014 — 135th anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor
The Building & Steeple
The 1897 brick church is the spiritual and visual centerpiece of downtown Atkins. According to the parish website the current steeple stretches 121 feet to the top of the cross and can be seen from a distance along Highway 64; the 1979 Centennial Celebration booklet recorded the original steeple at 107 feet. The church also historically housed three large bells that could be heard across the surrounding countryside.
- Built: 1897 (brick)
- Steeple height: 121 feet (parish website); 107 feet (1979 Centennial booklet)
- Original bells: three large bells audible across the area
Clergy & Staff
The parish is pastored by Fr. Rajasekhar Chittem, also known as 'Fr. Shekhar,' who was appointed pastor of Church of the Assumption and St. Leo the Great University Parish in Russellville effective May 1, 2024. Originally from the Diocese of Nellore, India, he was ordained April 26, 2010 and incardinated into the Diocese of Little Rock on Feb. 12, 2024. Parish staff includes Mary Corkins (Administrative Assistant / Accountant) and Katie Hoyt (Director of Religious Education).
- Fr. Rajasekhar Chittem ('Fr. Shekhar') — Pastor
- Mary Corkins — Administrative Assistant / Accountant
- Katie Hoyt — Director of Religious Education (DRE)
Sacramental Life & Devotions
Beyond Sunday and weekday Mass, the parish offers First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, following the 8:30 a.m. Mass and continuing until 3:00 p.m. Reconciliation (Confession) is available by appointment and before Mass.
- First Friday Adoration: 9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Reconciliation: by appointment, and before Mass
- Solemnity of the Assumption (Aug. 15) celebrated as parish feast day
Faith Formation
The parish's Religious Education program, directed by DRE Katie Hoyt, covers both Youth Education and Adult Education. Bulletin announcements and the Resources tab on the parish website are the primary channels for current class schedules.
- Youth Education
- Adult Education
- Director of Religious Education: Katie Hoyt
Contact & Practical Information
Parish business is currently administered out of the St. Leo the Great University Parish office in Russellville. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The parish can be reached by email at [email protected] and via the church phone (479) 641-7179 or the St. Leo's office line (479) 968-8249.
- Parish email: [email protected]
- Church phone: (479) 641-7179
- St. Leo's office phone: (479) 968-8249
- Office hours: Mon.–Fri., 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (at St. Leo's, Russellville)
Diocese & Deanery
Church of the Assumption is a parish of the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, and is part of the River Valley Deanery. The diocese maintains a parish directory page for the church at dolr.org.
- Diocese: Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
- Deanery: River Valley Deanery
- Diocese parish page: dolr.org/parishes/church-assumption-atkins
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Brem (Swiss-born, from Ohio)1878–
Celebrated the first Mass in the community on the Nottenkamper farm; oversaw the building of the first frame church, St. Fidelis, in 1879.
- Fr. Aton Jaworski, C.S.Sp.1879–
Holy Ghost Father who took over the growing parish; succeeded by a rapid succession of priests through 1881 as the congregation swelled to roughly 60–90 families.
- Rev. Mauricio CarrascoPrior to 2024
Diocese of Little Rock clergy-change notice (March 22, 2024) lists him as relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Atkins (along with Dardanelle, Danville, Russellville, and the deanery) to become prefect of the House of Formation in Little Rock.
- Rev. Rajasekhar Chittem ('Fr. Shekhar')2024–present
Appointed pastor of Church of the Assumption, Atkins, and St. Leo the Great University Parish, Russellville, effective May 1, 2024. Originally from the Diocese of Nellore, India; ordained April 26, 2010; appointed to the Diocese of Little Rock on Feb. 12, 2024.