About Immaculate Heart of Mary · Magnolia, Arkansas
Immaculate Heart of Mary is a small Catholic mission church in Magnolia, Arkansas (Columbia County), within the Ouachita Deanery of the Diocese of Little Rock. Classified as a mission rather than a parish, it is attended by clergy from St. Louis Church in Camden, currently Fr. Michael Johns, who serves as pastor of both communities. The mission serves a bilingual English- and Spanish-speaking congregation with two Sunday Masses, a Tuesday evening Spanish Mass, and a Wednesday noon Mass, and it ministers to college students at nearby Southern Arkansas University through its Catholic Campus Ministry. The mission complex on North Jackson Street — built in the late 1970s — consists of the church, a rectory, and a parish hall, which is currently being expanded to add offices, classrooms, and meeting space.
- Patron
- Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Rector
- Fr. Michael Johns
- Diocese
- Catholic Diocese of Little Rock (Ouachita Deanery)
Why belong here
Immaculate Heart of Mary offers the warmth of a small, bilingual Catholic mission in the heart of Magnolia — with two Sunday Masses (one in English, one in Spanish), a Tuesday evening Spanish Mass, and a Wednesday noon weekday Mass, so working families and college students can find a time that fits. The mission actively serves Southern Arkansas University students through Catholic Campus Ministry, hosts a Knights of Columbus council active in local charity, and is currently investing in expanded space for faith formation, First Communion classes, and parish gatherings. Whether you're a long-time resident, a newcomer to southwest Arkansas, or an SAU student looking for a Catholic home, you'll find a faithful community that knows your name.
Mass times at Immaculate Heart of Mary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday 10:15 a.m.
- Tuesday 5:00 p.m.
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
- Second Saturday 11:00 a.m. through Second Sunday 9:00 a.m. (24-hour Adoration)
About Immaculate Heart of Mary
Immaculate Heart of Mary is a Catholic mission church serving Magnolia, Arkansas, in the southwest part of the state. It is located in Columbia County and belongs to the Ouachita Deanery of the Diocese of Little Rock. Because it is a mission rather than a full parish, it is 'attended from' St. Louis Church in Camden — meaning the same priest who pastors St. Louis also serves Immaculate Heart of Mary. The mission gathers a bilingual English- and Spanish-speaking Catholic community, with two Sunday Masses (one in each language) and additional weekday Masses throughout the week.
- 2114 N. Jackson St., Magnolia, AR 71753
- Columbia County, Ouachita Deanery
- Attended from St. Louis Church, Camden
- Languages: English and Spanish
Clergy and Staff
Immaculate Heart of Mary is led by Fr. Michael Johns, who serves as pastor of both Immaculate Heart of Mary in Magnolia and St. Louis Church in Camden. Fr. Johns was ordained on June 2, 2018, and is noted by the Diocese of Little Rock as being fluent in Spanish — a vital asset for a bilingual mission like this one. The mission's lay staff is small and bilingual as well, with Diana Diaz serving as secretary and Alma Garcia serving both as Director of Religious Education and as Music Director.
- Fr. Michael Johns — Pastor (ordained June 2, 2018; birthday May 28; fluent in Spanish)
- Diana Diaz — Secretary
- Alma Garcia — Director of Religious Education
- Alma Garcia — Music Director
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Immaculate Heart of Mary's faith formation program is led by DRE Alma Garcia and is one of the most rapidly growing parts of the mission's life. Pastor Fr. Mike Johns has said publicly that 'the main reason we need the larger parish hall is we have a lot of kids,' and that the mission is preparing for a large First Communion class in coming years. The current parish hall has been pressed into service as classroom space, and the new ministries building expansion will provide dedicated classrooms, offices, and a conference room to support this growth.
- Director of Religious Education: Alma Garcia
- Large and growing First Communion class preparing for the sacraments
- Faith formation classes currently held in the parish hall and rectory due to space constraints
Catholic Campus Ministry at Southern Arkansas University
Immaculate Heart of Mary provides Catholic Campus Ministry to students attending Southern Arkansas University, which is located in Magnolia. The mission's Sunday and weekday Mass schedule is intentionally built to be accessible to college students, and the new parish hall expansion explicitly includes a conference room where SAU students can meet, gather for faith-sharing, and build community with the wider parish. Fr. Johns has described the college students as a key part of why the mission is investing in expanded facilities.
- Serves Southern Arkansas University students in Magnolia
- New conference room in the parish hall expansion will be a gathering space for SAU students
- Sunday and Tuesday evening Masses are designed to accommodate student schedules
Knights of Columbus and Parish Life
A council of the Knights of Columbus is active at Immaculate Heart of Mary and forms a backbone of the mission's lay leadership, men's fellowship, and charitable fundraising. The council hosts regular community events at the church — including an annual Red Beans and Rice dinner fundraiser — and supports the parish through service projects. Members of the Knights will be among the chief users of the new conference room being added to the parish hall.
- Knights of Columbus council based at Immaculate Heart of Mary
- Hosts an annual Red Beans and Rice fundraiser at the church
- Will use the new conference room for meetings and parish service projects
Parish Hall Expansion Project (One Church)
In 2022 the Diocese of Little Rock named Immaculate Heart of Mary as the partner church for its annual 'One Church: Unite Arkansas in Faith and Mission' appeal, an annual effort that lifts up one parish or mission each year for a one-time boost from across the diocese. The mission's need was space: the 1970s-era complex included a church, rectory, and parish hall, but no offices, classrooms, or conference room. A two-phase plan was developed — phase one, a ~1,000 sq. ft. extension of the parish hall into a ministries building with a conference room, two offices, and renovated restrooms, and phase two, classrooms and a renovated kitchen. With about 80 percent of the cost saved, a groundbreaking was held on July 12, 2023; phase one's original $350,000 estimate rose to roughly $600,000 as construction costs climbed, and the One Church appeal closed the gap.
- Selected as the 2022–2023 One Church partner church by the Diocese of Little Rock
- Phase one (~1,000 sq. ft.): conference room, two offices, restroom renovation
- Phase two (future): four classrooms and a renovated kitchen
- Total project cost rising from an initial $350,000 estimate to approximately $600,000
- Groundbreaking held July 12, 2023
- Bishop Anthony B. Taylor highlighted the project in his One Church appeal letter
Office Hours and Contact
The mission's small office is staffed part-time during the week, with secretary Diana Diaz typically available to handle calls, sacramental scheduling, and inquiries. The best way to confirm Mass and confession times — especially around Holy Days, Holy Week, and weather-related closures — is to call the church office during business hours.
- Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Phone: (870) 901-3173
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064848631500