About Sacred Heart of Jesus · Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, a resort and retirement community in Garland County. As of August 2025 the parish serves 1,197 registered families comprising 2,126 individual members. It belongs to the Diocese of Little Rock, sits in the Central Deanery, and is best known locally for its Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, which keeps the Blessed Sacrament exposed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pastors, deacons, and laity work together under the spiritual patronage of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to worship, pray, serve, share, heal, and love as one faith community.
- Established
- 1982
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. George W. Sanders
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock
Why belong here
Sacred Heart of Jesus is an intimate Catholic community rooted in Hot Springs Village since 1973, where four priests (one pastor and three deacons) walk alongside an active laity of more than 2,100 members. The parish combines a full schedule of daily and weekend Masses with one of the few Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration chapels in Arkansas, supported by more than two hundred Ladies of the Sacred Heart members, a Knights of Columbus council, eight LOSH guilds, parish social-life gatherings, and outreach ministries — Helping Hands transportation, Respect Life, prison/Kairos ministry, Rosary Makers, and a Shawl Ministry — that put faith into action in the Village and beyond.
Mass times at Sacred Heart of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8:40 – 8:55 a.m.
- Wednesday: 3:30 – 3:50 p.m.
- Saturday: 3:15 – 3:50 p.m.
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except during Mass) in the parish Adoration Chapel
Our Parish and Mission
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, describes itself as an intimate community of faith serving members since 1973, in the Diocese of Little Rock. The parish mission statement reads: 'We, the people of Sacred Heart Jesus Parish welcome you to our Catholic, Christian community in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We all believe our mission is to live and nurture our faith by: worshiping, praying, serving, sharing, healing, loving together.' As of August 2025 the parish community numbers 1,197 families and 2,126 individual members, served by a pastor, three deacons, office staff, and many lay volunteers organized into commissions and ministries.
History of Sacred Heart
The parish traces its roots to June 1973, when 15 Catholics gathered for the first Mass at the Calella Fire Station. Weekly Masses eventually moved to the Village Methodist Church, and in 1978 the Village Catholics petitioned Bishop Andrew J. McDonald for permission to build. After fundraising, ground was broken in July 1981; Bishop McDonald dedicated the original church on May 11, 1982. The parish was canonically erected in 1993, and the larger present-day church seating about 800 was dedicated in October 1994. The 1982 sanctuary is preserved as a chapel whose original doors and stained-glass windows were retained.
- 1973 — first Mass for 15 Catholics at Calella Fire Station, celebrated by Monsignor Bernard Malone
- 1978 — 'Village Catholics' association formed; petition to Bishop McDonald to build a church
- May 11, 1982 — original church dedicated by Bishop McDonald
- 1993 — Sacred Heart canonically erected as a parish
- October 1994 — present larger church dedicated (seating ~800)
- June 2007 — Administration and Education Building, rectory, and Memorial Gardens added
- June 2025 — Fr. George Sanders welcomed as the new pastor
Clergy and Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. George W. Sanders, who began in June 2025, and is assisted by three permanent deacons: Lawrence (Larry) Lipsmeyer, Gary Christoff, and William (B.J.) Bowen. Lay staff include Gina Biondillo (Front Office, ext. 10), Sheila Miller (Accounting Specialist, ext. 12), Lou Ann Otero (Director of Youth Faith Formation, ext. 11), Susan Giovengo (Director of Music Ministry), Danny Elser (Building Supervisor / Head Custodian, ext. 14), and Jeff Wright (Lower Hall Attendant).
- Fr. George W. Sanders — Pastor (since June 2025)
- Deacon Lawrence (Larry) Lipsmeyer
- Deacon Gary Christoff
- Deacon William (B.J.) Bowen
- Gina Biondillo — Front Office
- Sheila Miller — Accounting Specialist
- Lou Ann Otero — Director of Youth Faith Formation
- Susan Giovengo — Director of Music Ministry
- Danny Elser — Building Supervisor / Head Custodian
- Jeff Wright — Lower Hall Attendant
Liturgy Commission
The Liturgy Commission is responsible for the planning of all liturgy services at Sacred Heart, coordinating the many lay roles that come together to make Sunday and weekday Mass reverent and welcoming.
- Lectors
- Servers (altar servers)
- Ushers
- Gift Bearers
- Music (Saturday and Sunday Choirs; Director of Music Ministry — Susan Giovengo)
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (EMs)
- Sacristans
- Liturgical Environment
Parish Life Commission
The Parish Life Commission exists to live and nurture faith through parish-wide social activities, meeting every other month to plan upcoming events and review past ones. It coordinates a rich calendar of community-building meals, receptions, and gatherings that mark the liturgical year and bring parishioners together across ministries.
- Communications
- Health & Wellness
- Knights of Columbus
- Ladies of the Sacred Heart (LOSH)
- Men's Club
- Newcomers
- Singles
- Spades & Table Games
- Sociable Six
- Feast of Sacred Heart celebration
- Holy Thursday Feast Before the Fast Dinner
- Thanksgiving and Christmas noon meals
- Epiphany Sunday potluck dinner
- Good Friday light lunch and meditation
- Lenten Meals and Video Study
- Easter Vigil Reception for adults joining the Church
- Parish Mission with visiting priests
Ladies of the Sacred Heart (LOSH)
LOSH unites the women of Sacred Heart in spiritual, social, and charitable activities that benefit the parish and the wider community. With 235 active members organized into eight guilds, LOSH holds General Membership meetings on the second Monday of each month from September through May (9:45 a.m., or after morning Mass), prays the rosary before 9:00 a.m. Mass, and raises funds through bake sales, a Card Party, and an annual Charity Golf Scramble. The group's annual charitable giving has reached $27,265, plus an estimated $5,000 in non-monetary gifts for 'Something Extra' collections. The 2025–2026 theme is drawn from Luke 1:75: 'Let us serve the Lord in holiness all the days of our life.'
- 235 active members in 8 guilds (19–44 members each)
- Annual charitable giving: $27,265
- Non-monetary gifts: ~$5,000
- 2025–2026 theme: Luke 1:75
- Officers: Candy Helton (President), Gretchen Dilday (Vice President), Diane Holtz (Secretary), Traci Steiner (Treasurer), Donna Mullaney (Financial Reporter)
Social Justice and Charitable Outreach
The Social Justice and Charitable Outreach Commission meets after Mass on the fourth Friday of odd months and recommends to the pastor which charities — Catholic and non-Catholic — Sacred Heart will support. Its Family Assistance program and seasonal food-basket distributions at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter care for individuals and families in need. Sub-ministries reach beyond the parish through Rosary Makers, a Shawl Ministry, Helping Hands, Kairos prison ministry, and a Respect Life ministry that participates in Crosses for Life and benefits local pregnancy help centers.
- Family Assistance program
- Seasonal food baskets (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter)
- Rosary Makers — rosaries for schools and foreign missions
- Shawl Ministry — comfort shawls for the ill and bereaved
- Helping Hands — transportation, temporary meals, caregiver respite, referral information
- Prison Ministry in conjunction with Kairos
- Respect Life — Crosses for Life, baby shower for local pregnancy help centers, support of Catholic Charities' death-penalty abolition efforts
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
Faith formation at Sacred Heart of Jesus is coordinated through the parish office and its volunteer Youth Faith Formation / PRE Coordinator. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) accompanies adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church, with sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, and Marriage coordinated through the parish office as well.
- Youth Faith Formation / Parish Religious Education (PRE) — Director Lou Ann Otero (ext. 11)
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) — coordinator position currently vacant
- Baptism, Marriage, and other sacramental preparations
Music Ministry
Music at Sacred Heart is led by Director of Music Ministry Susan Giovengo, with two parish choirs sharing the work of sung worship: the Saturday Choir is coordinated by Diane Patterson, and the Sunday Choir by Susan Giovengo. Eucharistic Adoration and the parish's perpetual-adoration chapel also draw on dedicated musicians and sung prayer.
- Director of Music Ministry: Susan Giovengo
- Saturday Choir Coordinator: Diane Patterson
- Sunday Choir Coordinator: Susan Giovengo
Facilities and Campus
The parish campus at 295 Balearic Road includes the present-day church (dedicated October 1994, seating about 800), the original 1982 sanctuary preserved as a chapel, the Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, a parish library, an Administration and Education Building added in June 2007, a rectory (also added in 2007), and Memorial Gardens. Office hours are Tuesday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Present church — dedicated October 1994, ~800 seats
- Original sanctuary preserved as a chapel (1982 doors and stained glass retained)
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel and parish library
- Administration and Education Building (added 2007)
- Rectory (added 2007)
- Memorial Gardens (added 2007)
- Office hours: Tuesday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Fax: 501-922-4153
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the church office at (501) 922-2062 during office hours (Tuesday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) or by fax at (501) 922-4153. The parish email is [email protected]; staff members have individual addresses listed on the website's Contact page. The parish website at hsvsacredheart.com provides maps, directions, weekly bulletins, and a calendar of upcoming events, funerals, and parish activities.
- Address: 295 Balearic Road, Hot Springs Village, AR 71909
- Phone: (501) 922-2062
- Fax: (501) 922-4153
- Office Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: hsvsacredheart.com
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert Kepple1979–1986
Celebrated weekend Mass at the Coronado Center during the founding period and at the new church until 1986; chose the name 'Sacred Heart of Jesus' for the parish.
- Fr. Frank Draude1986–1996
Assigned by Bishop McDonald in 1986, often assisted by newly-ordained Fr. Alan Rosenau; later Associate Pastor under Msgr. Riedmuller; retired in 1996.
- Monsignor Riedmuller1993–1996
First canonical pastor when Bishop McDonald erected Sacred Heart as a parish in 1993; also remained pastor of St. Mary's in Hot Springs.
- Fr. Raymond Rossi1996–2002
Assigned pastor in 1996; retired in 2002.
- Monsignor Bernard Malone2002–2010
Returned as pastor in 2002 — he had celebrated the very first 1973 Mass for the 15 founding Catholics; oversaw 2007 building additions; retired June 2010.
- Fr. William (Bill) Elser2010–2025
Served as Administrator (then pastor) from June 2010; granted Senior Priest status by the bishop in June 2025.
- Fr. George W. Sanders2025–present
Began as pastor in June 2025.