About Sacred Heart · Charleston, Arkansas
Sacred Heart Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Charleston, Arkansas, located at 18 Prairie Street in Franklin County. It belongs to the Diocese of Little Rock and is part of the River Valley Deanery. The parish also shares ministry with St. Anthony Church in Ratcliff, and is led by Sacramental Minister Fr. Polycarp Ssebbowa with Deacon Mark Verkamp serving as parish administrator. Sacred Heart offers daily and weekend Mass, regular confession and Eucharistic adoration, faith formation, and a parish choir, and is currently undergoing a major restoration project to preserve its historic 1880 church building.
- Established
- 1880
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Polycarp Ssebbowa (Sacramental Minister)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock
Why belong here
Sacred Heart Charleston is a small, multigenerational parish family in the Arkansas River Valley with daily Mass, weekly confession and Eucharistic adoration, faith formation for children and adults through OCIA, and an active music ministry. It is also a historic 1880 church community in the middle of an exciting restoration that parishioners and visitors alike can be part of, whether by attending worship, joining the choir, supporting religious education, or contributing to the restoration fund.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 - 4:10 p.m.
- Tuesday 5:00 - 5:40 p.m.
Adoration times
- Tuesday 6:00 - 6:40 p.m.
- Saturday 3:30 - 4:10 p.m.
Parish History
Sacred Heart Church in Charleston was first dedicated on November 4, 1880, and has been a spiritual home for Catholics in the Arkansas River Valley for more than 140 years. In 2018, the parish launched a major restoration campaign to preserve its historic architecture and prepare the building for future generations. The project was projected at $480,000 and addressed both aesthetic and structural elements of the original church.
Church Restoration & Renovation
The 2018 renovation was undertaken to restore the 1880 church to honor the parish's past and ensure its future. Committee member Michele Schmitz said excitement and enthusiasm were evident throughout the parish for the project. Donations and pledges were directed to the Sacred Heart Parish Restoration Fund.
- Removal of the existing drop ceiling to reveal the original ornamental metal ceiling
- Twenty-two new stained glass windows added to complement the existing stained glass
- Decorative finishes to highlight the existing church architecture and return focus to the altar and tabernacle
- A new Holy Spirit mural in the sanctuary
- Repainting of the church interior
- Total projected cost: $480,000
Clergy & Staff
Sacred Heart is currently served by Sacramental Minister Fr. Polycarp Ssebbowa, with Deacon Mark Verkamp serving as parish administrator and deacon. The parish also has a secretary, bookkeeper, faith formation director, OCIA coordinator, youth ministry directors, and a choir director.
- Sacramental Minister: Fr. Polycarp Ssebbowa
- Parish Administrator / Deacon: Dc. Mark Verkamp ([email protected])
- Secretary: Madeline Stengel
- Bookkeeper: William Kennedy — (479) 461-3334
- C/DRE: Laura McFall — (479) 965-2532
- OCIA Coordinator: Laura McFall — (479) 965-2532
- CYM (Christian Youth Ministry) Directors: Sabrina and Joe Ketter — (479) 965-3108
- Choir Director: Mary Lynn Holland — (479) 650-3784
Faith Formation & OCIA
Faith formation for children is offered through the parish's Christian Youth Ministry (CYM), and adults preparing for full initiation into the Catholic Church are served through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Laura McFall serves as both the C/DRE and the OCIA coordinator, with Sabrina and Joe Ketter directing youth ministry.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — Coordinator: Laura McFall
- Christian Youth Ministry (CYM) — Directors: Sabrina and Joe Ketter
- Sacramental preparation for children
Music Ministry
Sacred Heart has an active parish choir that supports sung liturgy at weekend and Holy Day Masses. The choir is directed by Mary Lynn Holland, who can be contacted at (479) 650-3784.
- Choir Director: Mary Lynn Holland — (479) 650-3784
Shared Ministry with St. Anthony — Ratcliff
Sacred Heart Charleston also attends to St. Anthony Church in Ratcliff, extending Catholic ministry across Franklin County. Together the two parishes serve Catholics throughout the River Valley Deanery of the Diocese of Little Rock.
- St. Anthony Church — Ratcliff, Arkansas
Parish Office & Contact
The parish office is located at 100 Prairie Street, Charleston, AR 72933, and is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1087, Charleston, AR 72933, and the parish can be reached by phone at (479) 965-2532 or by email at [email protected].
- Office Address: 100 Prairie St., Charleston, AR 72933
- Mailing: P.O. Box 1087, Charleston, AR 72933
- Phone: (479) 965-2532
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Tuesday – Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Online Giving & Restoration Donations
The parish supports online giving through the Diocese of Little Rock, and gifts to the ongoing restoration of the 1880 church can be directed to the Sacred Heart Parish Restoration Fund. Checks may be made payable to Sacred Heart Parish Restoration Fund and mailed to the parish office.
- Online Giving via the Diocese of Little Rock
- Sacred Heart Parish Restoration Fund (checks payable to 'Sacred Heart Parish Restoration Fund')
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Patrick Wat
Referenced in 2018 Arkansas Catholic coverage of the parish's restoration campaign as 'Father Patrick Wat'.