About Holy Redeemer · Clarksville, Arkansas
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church is a bilingual (English and Spanish) Catholic parish in Clarksville, Arkansas, serving Johnson County and the surrounding River Valley as part of the Diocese of Little Rock. Established in 1879 among the wave of German and Swiss farming immigrants who brought their Catholic faith to the Arkansas River Valley, the parish is located in a restored historic church building on East Main Street in downtown Clarksville. Today it offers a full weekly Mass schedule in English and Spanish, weekly confession in both languages, Eucharistic adoration, a parish religious education program, Catholic Youth Ministry (grades 6–12), Confirmation preparation, liturgical ministries, and active cultural devotions such as the Our Lady of Guadalupe Dancers.
- Established
- 1879
- Patron
- Holy Redeemer (Our Most Holy Redeemer, Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Fr. Andrew Hart, J.C.L.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas)
Why belong here
Holy Redeemer is a small, bilingual Catholic family in the heart of the Arkansas River Valley, where the same parish has worshipped continuously since 1879. A parishioner or visitor can find a daily Mass in English most mornings, a Saturday Vigil and Sunday morning Mass in English, a full Spanish-language Mass and Holy Hour each week, confession four times a week (in both languages by appointment), Confirmation preparation through the parish PRE program, a Catholic Youth Ministry for grades 6–12, Eucharistic adoration, and devotional traditions like the Our Lady of Perpetual Help novena and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Dancers. It is the kind of parish where one can be known by name and still serve the wider Church through ministries such as lector, Eucharistic Minister, altar server, usher, PRE classroom assistant, or fundraising volunteer.
Mass times at Holy Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday: 6:30–6:55 pm
- Thursday: 6:30–6:55 pm
- Saturday: 4:00–5:00 pm
- Sunday: 1:15 pm (after the Spanish Mass)
- Or by appointment by calling the rectory
Adoration times
- Thursday: 7:30–8:30 pm (Spanish)
Parish Identity & History
Holy Redeemer Catholic Church is one of the oldest parishes in the Arkansas River Valley, founded in 1879 during the great wave of German and Swiss Catholic immigration that populated the Diocese of Little Rock in the late 19th century. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Little Rock's River Valley Deanery and serves Johnson County from its location at 103 East Main Street in Clarksville.
- Founded 1879 — one of eleven Arkansas parishes established that year
- Originally served German and Swiss farming immigrants in the River Valley
- By 1911 supported missions in Hartman and Spadra and stations at Ozone and Cabin Creek
- Member parish of the River Valley Deanery, Diocese of Little Rock
Parish Staff & Clergy
Holy Redeemer is led by a small lay-and-clergy staff headed by its pastor, supported by a parish secretary, a Director of Religious Education, and a music ministry team of organists and a choir director.
- Pastor — Fr. Andrew Hart, J.C.L. ([email protected])
- Secretary — Debbie Cremer ([email protected]; 479-754-8998)
- Director of Religious Education — Pamela Valencia ([email protected]; 479-754-8998)
- Music Director — Ralph Johnson
- Organist — Pamela Valencia
- Organist — Debbie Johnson
- Organist — Barbara Geels
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Parish Religious Education (PRE) program, directed by Pamela Valencia, forms the backbone of sacramental preparation at Holy Redeemer. Confirmation is typically celebrated in 9th grade through PRE; adult Confirmation inquiries are also welcomed. The parish encourages parishioners to use the parish-paid FORMED digital platform — a library of Catholic movies, video studies, an audio Bible, audiobooks, testimonies, and e-books — to build daily spiritual habits at home.
- Parish Religious Education (PRE) for children
- Confirmation preparation in 9th grade through PRE
- Adult Confirmation inquiries — contact Pamela Valencia
- Parish-paid FORMED subscription available at hrclarksville.formed.org
Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM)
Holy Redeemer's Catholic Youth Ministry serves students in grades 6 through 12 with both a Junior High program (grades 6–8) and a Senior High program (grades 9–12). The program emphasizes encountering the Risen Lord, engaging with Sacred Scripture, worship and prayer, and exploring and defending the teachings of the Church in a youth-friendly environment. The parish also hosts an annual Catholic Youth Camp.
- Junior CYM — grades 6–8
- Senior CYM — grades 9–12
- Three CYM goals: discipleship of Jesus, participation in the faith community, total personal and spiritual growth
- Annual Catholic Youth Camp (see Calendar on the parish website)
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners serve the liturgy as Eucharistic Ministers, altar servers, ushers, lectors, and gift bearers. The parish also invites volunteers to teach in PRE classrooms and to help coordinate fundraising events.
- Eucharistic Minister
- Altar Server
- Usher
- Lector
- Gift Bearer
- PRE instructor / classroom assistant
- Fundraising Events volunteer
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church. Confirmation is normally conferred in 9th grade through the PRE program, with adult inquiries handled individually. Reconciliation is offered on the published weekly schedule and by appointment. The Eucharist is celebrated at every Mass and brought to the homebound and sick by Eucharistic Ministers. Baptisms, Marriages, Anointing of the Sick, and adult faith formation (RCIA) are arranged through the parish office.
- Confirmation (9th grade through PRE; adult inquiries welcome)
- Reconciliation (Tues/Thurs evenings, Saturday afternoon, after Sunday Spanish Mass, or by appointment)
- Eucharist (full weekly schedule; visits to the sick/homebound)
- Baptism, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- RCIA / adult faith formation — inquire through the parish office
Parish Life & Outreach
Holy Redeemer maintains an active parish life visible through its photo albums of First Communions, Confirmations, parish gatherings, Christmas events, youth camp, and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Dancers. The music ministry supports the liturgy with a choir director and a team of organists for both English and Spanish Masses.
- Photo albums of parish events (First Communion, Confirmation, Christmas Gathering, Youth Camp, Our Lady of Guadalupe Dancers)
- Bilingual music ministry led by Music Director Ralph Johnson
- Hispanic devotional life centered on Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Thursday evening Spanish Mass
Visit, Contact & Office Information
Parishioners and visitors are welcomed at the parish office Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. The church is located in downtown Clarksville on East Main Street, with the rectory contactable by phone, email, or the parish website.
- Address: 103 East Main Street, Clarksville, AR 72830
- Parish phone: (479) 754-3610
- Office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Website: https://hrclarksville.org/
- Driving directions linked from the Diocese of Little Rock parish page (dolr.org)