About St. Agnes · Mena, Arkansas
St. Agnes Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic parish in Mena, Arkansas, established in 1896 — just one month after the founding of the town itself. The parish worships in a striking Spanish Mission Revival church of native stone and pale-green arch-ribbed roof tiles, designed by its legendary long-serving pastor, Father A. P. Gallagher, and dedicated in 1922. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, St. Agnes continues to serve Polk County Catholics under the Diocese of Little Rock with a full schedule of Masses, confession, Eucharistic adoration, faith formation for grades K–12, RCIA, and a wide range of lay ministries.
- Established
- 1896
- Patron
- St. Agnes of Rome
- Rector
- Fr. Joseph Shantiraj
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (Ouachita Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Agnes is a small, historic parish where one priest and a committed network of lay ministers know their people by name. The parish offers the full rhythm of Catholic life — daily Mass, Saturday Vigil, two Sunday Masses, weekly confession, two periods of Eucharistic adoration, RCIA, and faith formation for K–12 — alongside active outreach through the Knights of Columbus, a parish food bank, sick visitation, funeral meals, and a Rice Bowl program. Visitors and newcomers are warmly invited to take part in ministries as prayerful service, and the parish's motto is to "welcome and support all God's people in every phase of life" through individual gifts and talents.
Mass times at St. Agnes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 – 4:45 p.m.
- Sunday 8:15 – 8:45 a.m.
- Wednesday 4:45 – 5:15 p.m.
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Sunday 8:00 – 8:45 a.m.
- Wednesday 8:00 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Parish History
St. Agnes Catholic Church was established in 1896 by Bishop Edward Fitzgerald of the Diocese of Little Rock, less than a month after the town of Mena itself was founded. The first pastor, Fr. McCormick, built a small 26-by-40-foot frame church and parsonage; the first Mass was offered on All Saints Day, November 1, 1896. Within a year, the young Fr. A. P. Gallagher arrived (ordained June 1897) and would go on to serve the parish for fifty years, covering a mission territory that stretched from Fort Smith to Texarkana — about 10,000 square miles — by train, handcar, mule, or on foot. When the original church fell into ruin and flooding became a problem, Gallagher received a famously brief note from the Bishop granting permission to relocate: "Go ahead. - God Help You." The chosen site is where the current church stands today. The parish's historic details, including the construction of the present church and Father Gallagher's Silver and Golden Jubilees, are documented in depth on the parish website.
- Parish established 1896 by Bishop Edward Fitzgerald of Little Rock
- First Mass November 1, 1896 (All Saints Day)
- Fr. A. P. Gallagher served as pastor 1897–1947 (50 years)
- Former St. Joseph's Academy on parish grounds; closed by 1980
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places June 5, 1991
Building & Architecture
Father Gallagher personally drew up the plans for the current church, laying it out in the shape of a cross. It is built in the Spanish Mission Revival style, with arch-ribbed pale-green clay roof tiles set above walls of native fieldstone gathered from the surrounding countryside and laid by local masons Fred Warren and N. W. Swift. Two massive towers of unequal height rise above the entrance, each crowned with a cross. The body of the church measures 85 by 50 feet with a 50-foot nave, and the basement serves as the Parish Hall. The beautiful stained-glass windows were shipped from Germany and paid for by donations from parishioners.
- Spanish Mission Revival style, cruciform plan
- Native fieldstone walls laid by Fred Warren and N. W. Swift
- Two towers of unequal height above the entrance
- German stained-glass windows, paid for by parishioner donations
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1991
Construction of the 1922 Church
Construction of the present church began in earnest after Gallagher laid the cornerstone on February 10, 1922. Costs ultimately totaled about $25,000 including interior decoration and furnishings, but the parish finished with only about $5,000 in debt. The new St. Agnes was dedicated on October 16, 1922 — exactly twenty-five years to the day since Gallagher's appointment to the parish. He often called the finished building "The Pride of Mena."
- Cornerstone laid February 10, 1922
- Dedicated October 16, 1922
- Final cost ~$25,000; parish debt ~$5,000
- Every man, woman, and child prayed three Hail Marys daily during construction
Father A. P. Gallagher's Golden Jubilee (1947)
On October 16, 1947, Father Gallagher celebrated an extraordinary Golden Jubilee — fifty years as pastor of St. Agnes and fifty years living in the same house. A special Golden Jubilee booklet was produced for the occasion and is preserved on the parish website. His record of fifty continuous years of service to a single parish remains an extraordinary chapter in the Diocese of Little Rock.
- Golden Jubilee celebrated October 16, 1947
- 50 years as pastor; 50 years in the same house
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Parish faith formation classes for students in grades K–12 are held on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., beginning September 1st and ending the last Sunday in April. First Confession is celebrated in mid-December, and First Holy Communion is received on the first Sunday in May, accompanied by the traditional May Crowning. The program is directed by Wendy Martin and Ashley Vacca.
- K–12 classes: Wednesdays 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. (September through April)
- First Confession in mid-December
- First Holy Communion and May Crowning on the first Sunday of May
- Directors: Wendy Martin and Ashley Vacca
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
The parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (also referred to as OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for non-Catholics seeking full reception into the Catholic faith. Sessions meet Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. from September through April, in conjunction with the parish faith formation calendar.
- Meets Wednesdays 5:30 p.m., September – April
- Required for non-Catholics joining the Church
- Coordinators: Diane Garcia, Stephanie Rostollan, and Terri Francis
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Agnes is led by two choir directors who together prepare the parish for both weekend Masses and special liturgies. Volunteers are welcome to participate, and the music ministry is one of the parish's active Sacramental/Spiritual/Liturgy teams.
- Choir Directors: Liz Super and Hope Brotherton
- Volunteer Sunday singers and musicians are welcome
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Agnes maintains an extensive list of lay-led ministries organized under Sacramental/Spiritual/Liturgy ministries, Catholic Christian Growth and Formation, and Social Action/Outreach. The parish invites parishioners to share their gifts and talents in service to one another and the wider Mena community.
- Faith Formation — Wendy Martin
- RCIA — Diane Garcia, Stephanie Rostollan, Terri Francis
- Music Ministry — Liz Super, Hope Brotherton
- Adoration — Tammy Blacke
- Rosary — Peggy Severson
- Prayer Chain & Bible Study — Peggy Severson
- Ultreya/Cursillo — Scott Vacca, Johnny & Christi Vacca
- Marriage Tribunal — Wendy Martin
- Funeral & Cemetery Information — Mike Rostallan
- Funeral Meals — Paula Brotherton & Lori Brotherton
- Parish Life — Lori Brotherton
- Sick Visitation — Tom Brough
- Social Action — Peggy Severson
- Rice Bowl (CRS) — Kaylon Scroggins
- Food Bank — Evelyn Reimer (open first Thursday of the month, 9–11 a.m.)
- Knights of Columbus — John Golding
Sacraments & Pastoral Care
Beyond the regular Mass and confession schedule, St. Agnes coordinates preparation for First Confession and First Holy Communion, hosts the RCIA process, and supports parishioners through sick visitation, funeral meals, and a parish marriage tribunal liaison. The parish office is the first point of contact for arrangements.
- First Confession — mid-December
- First Holy Communion & May Crowning — first Sunday in May
- Sick Visitation — Tom Brough
- Funeral Meals — Paula & Lori Brotherton
- Funeral & Cemetery Information — Mike Rostallan (parish office)
- Marriage Tribunal liaison — Wendy Martin
Knights of Columbus
St. Agnes is home to a council of the Knights of Columbus, the worldwide Catholic fraternal service organization. The local council provides a key channel for men's service, fellowship, and fundraising in support of parish and community life.
- Council contact: John Golding
- Affiliated with the international Knights of Columbus (kofc.org)
Parish Food Bank
The parish operates a food bank serving the broader Mena community. It is open the first Thursday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., coordinated by Evelyn Reimer.
- Open first Thursday of the month, 9 – 11 a.m.
- Coordinator: Evelyn Reimer
Parish Staff & Office
The parish is led by Fr. Joseph Shantiraj and supported by a small staff and many lay ministry coordinators. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to noon, and the parish can also be reached by text message.
- Pastor — Fr. Joseph Shantiraj
- Secretary — Philip Ference
- Accountant — Karl Cunningham, CPA
- Faith Formation Directors — Wendy Martin, Ashley Vacca
- OCIA / RCIA Coordinators — Diane Garcia, Terri Francis
- Choir Directors — Liz Super, Hope Brotherton
- Office Hours: Mon.–Thu. 8:00 a.m. – noon
- Phone: (479) 394-1017
- Text only: (479) 216-7778
Deanery & Wider Mission
St. Agnes belongs to the Ouachita Deanery of the Diocese of Little Rock and also ministers to All Saints Church in Mount Ida, helping to bring the sacraments and pastoral care to Catholics across rural Polk County and the surrounding Ouachita Mountains region.
- Ouachita Deanery, Diocese of Little Rock
- Also attends All Saints Church, Mount Ida
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. McCormick1896
Missionary priest who built the first small frame church and parsonage in Mena.
- Fr. A. P. Gallagher1897–1947
Served 50 years as pastor; designed the current Spanish Mission-style stone church; celebrated Silver Jubilee at the 1922 dedication and Golden Jubilee on October 16, 1947.
- Fr. Jessie Chaney
- Fr. Charles Diamond
- Fr. Rainer DeClerk
- Fr. Fredrick Zarrilli
- Fr. Thomas Keller
- Fr. Richard Strock
- Fr. Jeremiah Murphy
- Fr. Joseph Corenti
- Fr. John Hlavacek
- Fr. Ernest Hardesty
- Fr. Dan Eakin
- Fr. Jim Fanrack
- Fr. Kevin Lee
- Fr. Emmanuel Iheaka
- Fr. Clayton Gould
- Fr. Norbert Rappold11 years
- Fr. Joshua Stengel
- Fr. John Tuyen Tran
- Fr. Joseph Shantiraj
Current pastor.