About Immaculate Conception · North Little Rock, Arkansas
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a parish in the Sylvan Hills area of North Little Rock, Arkansas, belonging to the Diocese of Little Rock (Central Deanery). Founded in 1949 as a mission of St. Patrick Catholic Church, it grew from the vision of about seventy residents who met Bishop Albert L. Fletcher in 1947 to establish a Catholic school and worship community. Today the parish serves local families through weekend and daily Mass, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, a parish school (PreK3–8), full faith formation from OCIA through youth ministry, and a wide range of parish-life commissions including the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Daughters, Golden Falcons, a charismatic prayer group, and perpetual adoration chapel.
- Established
- 1949
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Father Balaraju Desam
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (Central Deanery)
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception is a multi-generational Sylvan Hills parish that combines a strong Catholic school (PreK3–8) with deep devotional life, including one of the more distinctive offerings in central Arkansas — true perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Add a packed schedule of daily and weekend Masses, active OCIA, youth and adult faith formation, a vibrant music ministry, and parish-life groups ranging from the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Daughters to a charismatic prayer group, Divine Mercy devotion, and a Golden Falcons seniors' ministry, and you have a church built around the four pillars of stewardship: hospitality, prayer, formation, and service.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00–10:00 a.m.
- Wednesday 6:00–7:00 p.m.
- Thursday 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in the parish Adoration Chapel (contact Ramona Bourdo, 501-831-5040 or [email protected])
Parish History & 75th Anniversary
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was dedicated on May 22, 1949, with Msgr. John P. Gaffney as celebrant. The parish traces its origin to a summer 1947 meeting in which about seventy Sylvan Hills residents asked Bishop Albert L. Fletcher for a Catholic presence in their growing community. After nearly two years of fundraising, the new mission of St. Patrick Catholic Church was born, and the parish school followed on September 4, 1956. In 2024 the parish marked its 75th anniversary with a special Mass and dinner on September 28, 2024.
- Dedicated May 22, 1949
- Established as a mission of St. Patrick Catholic Church
- School opened September 4, 1956, with 136 students
- 75th Anniversary Mass & Dinner — September 28, 2024
Church Building & Campus
A new church building was constructed in 1969 under Father Ralph Bauer, with the first Mass in the new church offered on March 22, 1970. A second wave of construction — a remodel and expansion covering the church and surrounding campus buildings — was directed by Msgr. Francis Malone. Ground was broken on Father's Day in June 1997, and the newly rededicated church was opened by Bishop Andrew J. McDonald on March 25, 1998.
- 1970 new church under Fr. Ralph Bauer
- 1997 groundbreaking for expansion
- 1998 rededication by Bishop Andrew J. McDonald
Faith Formation
Faith Formation at Immaculate Conception is organized into three commissions — Liturgy, Faith Formation, and Parish Life — and is led by Director of Faith Formation Paul Vanasse.
- OCIA (RCIA) — Sundays 9:00–10:00 a.m. in Immaculata Hall, September through Easter; free babysitting
- Youth Faith Formation Classes — Sundays 9:00–10:00 a.m.
- Adult Faith Formation — Walking With Purpose (Wed. 6:30 p.m.), The Chosen (Thu. at 4:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.), The Book of Psalms (Tue. 6:00 p.m.)
Youth Ministry
Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM) is a safe and welcoming environment for young people to grow closer to God, shaped by adult parish role models. Both a Junior CYM and a Senior CYM meet on Sundays during the school year, with youth-mass and youth-faith-formation opportunities for parish-wide service.
- Jr. CYM — Sundays 2:00–3:00 p.m., starting in September
- Sr. CYM — Sundays 6:00–7:30 p.m., starting in September
- Catholic Youth Ministry Chaplain: Deacon Ed Sweeden
Music Ministry
The parish music program — currently led by Music Director Rita Elizondo — includes an adult choir, a contemporary choir, a handbell choir, two school choirs, and a second-grade handbell choir. Under long-time director Steve Guilmet the music ministry grew from about 45 to roughly 120 members and represented Arkansas at the inaugural 2019 Dublin Choral Festival with 48 parishioners and students.
- Adult choir
- Contemporary choir
- Handbell choir
- Two school choirs and a 2nd-grade handbell choir
- Parish represented Arkansas at the 2019 Dublin Choral Festival
Parish Life & Fellowship
The Parish Life Commission cultivates community through a broad mix of social, service, and fraternal organizations covering every age and interest, from senior fellowship to scouting.
- Arts & Crafts
- Golden Falcons (seniors)
- Catholic Daughters of America
- Men's Club
- Knights of Columbus
- Boy Scouts
Charity, Prayer & Outreach
A separate Evangelization and Service Commission keeps the parish rooted in outreach and devotion, with programs that feed the hungry, defend life, support vocations, and sustain members in prayer.
- Martha's Kitchen
- Respect Life
- Vocations Committee
- Prayer Shawl Ministry
- IC Prayer Network
Immaculate Conception Catholic School
Located on the parish campus at 7000 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Immaculate Conception Catholic School serves PreK 3-year-olds through 8th grade. Accredited by the Arkansas Nonpublic School Accreditation Association (ANSAA) and a member of the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA), the school has offered a faith-based education for more than 60 years and currently enrolls about 400 students. Students attend weekly all-school Mass (monthly for PK3 and PK4), prepare for the sacraments, take part in clubs and parochial-league athletics beginning in 5th grade, and serve the wider community through regular service projects.
- Grades: PreK3 through 8th
- Accredited by ANSAA; member of NCEA
- Approximately 400 students
- Principal: Nicole Schafer ([email protected], ext. 300)
- Assistant Principal: Sonni Runnells
- Athletic Directors: Allan & Stacie Wharton (501-920-4466 / 501-920-4456)
- School phone: (501) 835-0771
- Website: https://www.icsnlr.org/
Parish Staff & Office
Day-to-day life of the parish is run by a small staff led by Pastor Fr. Balaraju Desam and Parish Manager Carmen Sellinger. The parish office is at 7000 John F. Kennedy Blvd., North Little Rock, AR 72116. Office hours: Mon.–Thu. 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.; Fri. 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. (the office is closed during a bi-monthly Monday staff meeting 10:00–11:30 a.m. and during Friday-morning staff Mass 8:00–9:00 a.m.).
- Fr. Balaraju Desam — Pastor ([email protected])
- Dc. Ed Sweeden — Deacon & CYM Chaplain ([email protected])
- Carmen Sellinger — Parish Manager ([email protected], ext. 102)
- Carmel Elliott — Administrative Assistant & Bulletin Coordinator (ext. 101)
- Kim Turner — Receptionist (ext. 100)
- Amy Clark — Parish Bookkeeper (ext. 104)
- Paul Vanasse — Director of Faith Formation
- Rita Elizondo — Music Director
- Susan Tanner — Office Assistant
- Miguel Moreno — Maintenance Technician
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father William Kordsmeier1954–1956
First resident pastor
- Father Amos Enderlin1956–1965
- Father Ralph Bauer1965–1981
Directed the construction of the new church; offered the first Mass in it on March 22, 1970
- Msgr. John O'Donnell1982–1996
- Msgr. Francis Malone1996–2001
Led the major 1997–1998 remodel and expansion of the church and campus; rededicated March 25, 1998
- Father James West2001–2011
- Father Tom Elliott2011–2015
- Father John Wakube2015–2023
- Father Balaraju Desam2023–present
Current pastor