About St. Andrew · Little Rock, Arkansas
The Cathedral of St. Andrew is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, and the oldest continuously used house of worship in the city. Located at 617 South Louisiana Street in downtown Little Rock, this English Gothic Revival cathedral was built of native Arkansas granite and dedicated in 1881. As the seat of the diocesan bishop, the cathedral serves as a center for liturgy, faith formation, outreach, and historic preservation, welcoming a diverse downtown congregation for daily and Sunday Mass in both English and Spanish.
- Established
- 1845
- Patron
- St. Andrew the Apostle
- Rector
- Very Rev. Joseph L. de Orbegozo, PhL (Rector)
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
Why belong here
Cathedral of St. Andrew offers downtown Catholics daily and Sunday Mass in an architecturally storied setting, ample weekday confession and Eucharistic Adoration times, robust liturgical ministry through which parishioners can serve as lectors, extraordinary ministers, altar servers, or ushers, plus outreach like the Samaritan Ministry serving the unsheltered of Little Rock and North Little Rock, and small-group formation such as the Cathedral Men of Hope. As the mother church of the diocese, it provides a uniquely central place to belong — a registered Catholic family gains both a parish home and a connection to the wider life of the Diocese of Little Rock.
Mass times at St. Andrew
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 p.m.
- Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
- Tuesday 11:30 a.m. (May–August and December as announced)
- Wednesday 11:30 a.m. (or by appointment)
- Wednesday 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
- Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
- Friday 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Sunday 11:20 a.m. (Adoration, Benediction, and Rosary preceding the 12:05 p.m. Mass)
- Wednesday 11:00 a.m. – noon
- Thursday 11:00 a.m. – noon
- Friday 11:00 a.m. – noon
History of the Cathedral Parish and Diocese
The Catholic presence in Little Rock dates to 1830, when the first Mass was offered over a downtown store. The first church — the 'Old French Church' on Louisiana Street — was built by the Lazarist Fathers in 1839 and dedicated in 1841. When Pope Gregory XVI erected the Diocese of Little Rock in 1843, Bishop Andrew J. Byrne became its first bishop in 1844 and dedicated the first St. Andrew Cathedral on November 1, 1845. Bishop Edward Fitzgerald, the second bishop, oversaw construction of the present English Gothic granite cathedral at 7th and Louisiana, dedicated November 27, 1881. The first Catholic school in the parish evolved through the Sisters of Loretto and Sisters of Mercy into what became Mount St. Mary Academy (1851). The cathedral remains the mother church of the Diocese of Little Rock and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1830 — First Mass in Little Rock by Fr. Peter Donnelly
- 1843 — Diocese of Little Rock erected by Pope Gregory XVI
- 1844 — Bishop Andrew J. Byrne consecrated
- 1845 — First cathedral at 2nd & Center Streets dedicated
- 1878 — Cornerstone laid by Bishop Fitzgerald (with Archbishop Patrick John Ryan preaching)
- 1881 — Cathedral dedicated November 27
- 1887 — Two towers completed (taller tower 231 feet)
- 1941 — Parish Hall built at 9th & Louisiana
- 1947 — Repairs to roof, walls and steeple
- 1950 — Tornado damages spire cross and stained glass
- 1952 — St. Andrew School closes
- 1962 — New crypt constructed in the north transept
- 1966 — Rectory rebuilt
- 1975 — Sanctuary renovation and new sacrifice altar
- 1986 — Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 2002 — Launch of the $2 million 'Our Cathedral; Our Heritage' capital campaign
Architecture and Interior
The current cathedral was designed by architect Thomas Harding in the English Gothic Revival style and built of rusticated gray granite quarried at nearby Fourche Mountain. It measures 140 by 86 feet with 36-foot walls, seats up to 450, and is topped by a 231-foot bell tower and a shorter steeple — the latter deliberately not built higher than the local Masonic Temple. Inside, a 1962 crypt beneath the north transept holds the tombs of the first four bishops of Little Rock, and the 1975 renovation extended the sanctuary into the apse with a new sacrifice altar. Stained-glass windows were partially damaged in a 1950 tornado and have since been repaired.
- Architect: Thomas Harding
- Style: English Gothic Revival
- Material: Native Arkansas granite from Fourche Mountain
- Length: ~140 feet; Transept width: 86 feet; Wall height: 36 feet
- Bell tower: 231 feet tall
- Bell weight: 3,400 pounds
- Capacity: ~450
- Crypt: built 1962 in north transept, containing four bishops' tombs
- Renovations: 1947 (roof/walls/steeple), 1975 (sanctuary)
Clergy and Staff
The Cathedral of St. Andrew is led by its Rector, supported by two deacons, and accompanied by the diocesan bishop, Most Reverend Anthony B. Taylor, DD. The pastoral team also includes a Director / Co-Director of Religious Education, an Office Manager, an Organist/Director of Music, an OCIA Coordinator, a Wedding Coordinator, and a maintenance staff member. Father de Orbegozo, the current rector, also serves part-time as an instructor at the diocesan House of Formation.
- Rector: Very Rev. Joseph L. de Orbegozo, PhL ([email protected])
- Bishop of Little Rock: Most Rev. Anthony B. Taylor, DD
- Deacon Charles 'Chuck' Ashburn (Assistant Director for Development & Academic Advising)
- Deacon Marc Rios ([email protected])
- Office Manager: Shawn Hallman ([email protected])
- Director of Religious Education / Co-DRE: Sr. Mary Rose Tin Vu, FMSR ([email protected])
- OCIA Coordinator: Debbie King ([email protected])
- Organist / Director of Music: Beau Baldwin ([email protected])
- Wedding Coordinator: Margie Pullam
- Religious Education: Sr. Imelda Nguyen
- Maintenance: Miguel Negrete
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners can serve at the altar and in the assembly through formal liturgical roles: Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers, Choir/Cantors, and Instrumentalists. These are baptismal ministries; in addition to ordained roles, lay people help plan and decorate for the liturgy, and keep the church, vestments, vessels, and appointments in order. Servers may be boys or girls in third grade and up, teens, or adults.
- Altar Servers (3rd grade and up)
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (3-year term appointment)
- Ushers (hospitality/collection)
- Cantors and Choir Members
- Instrumentalists
Faith Formation and OCIA (RCIA)
Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is coordinated by Debbie King and welcomes those seeking to become Catholic or to complete sacraments of initiation. Religious Education for children is co-directed by Sr. Mary Rose Tin Vu, FMSR, and Sr. Imelda Nguyen. Lay liturgical formation for lectors and extraordinary ministers is provided by the Rector's office.
- OCIA Coordinator: Debbie King ([email protected])
- Co-Director Religious Education: Sr. Mary Rose Tin Vu, FMSR ([email protected])
- Religious Education: Sr. Imelda Nguyen
Men's Ministries
Two distinct men's groups serve at the Cathedral: the Cathedral Men's Club, which supports the Rector and parish through service projects, and Cathedral Men of Hope, a small-group fellowship focused on biblical and theological growth, accountability, and speakers. Both meet in McDonald Hall.
- Cathedral Men's Club — 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 6:00 p.m., McDonald Hall — Chuck Byrd, (501) 517-2842, [email protected]
- Cathedral Men of Hope — 2nd Thursday, 6:00 p.m., McDonald Hall — Steve Osborn, [email protected]
Samaritan Ministry — Outreach to the Unsheltered
The Cathedral's Samaritan Ministry is a volunteer-run outreach inspired by Matthew 25:40. The ministry focuses narrowly on lessening the suffering and misery of the unsheltered in Little Rock and North Little Rock, distributing more than 1,500 kits to date, ranging from winterize kits to water kits. Volunteers and donations are coordinated through the contact below.
- Contact: John Gillham, (501) 442-2910, [email protected]
- Region served: Little Rock and North Little Rock
- Distributed: 1,500+ kits (winterize, water, and other essentials)
Heritage and Significance
The Cathedral of St. Andrew is the spiritual and historic heart of the Diocese of Little Rock and the oldest continuously used house of worship in the city. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and is regularly featured in heritage tours such as the Department of Arkansas Heritage's 'Sandwiching in History' program. As the mother church, it has hosted diocesan, ecumenical, and Eastern-rite liturgical events — including the first Ukrainian Greek Catholic Byzantine Vespers celebrated there in recent years — drawing believers from across Pulaski County and beyond.
- Oldest continuously used house of worship in Little Rock
- National Register of Historic Places listing (1986)
- Mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
- Featured on Department of Arkansas Heritage 'Sandwiching in History' tour
- Hosted Ukrainian Greek Catholic Byzantine Vespers with Bishop Anthony Taylor
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Most Rev. Andrew J. Byrne, DD1844–1862
First Bishop of Little Rock; purchased 2nd & Center property in 1845 and erected the first St. Andrew Cathedral; died June 10, 1862 in Helena, buried initially there, then reinterred at the new cathedral Nov. 30, 1881.
- Most Rev. Edward M. Fitzgerald, DD1867–1907
Second Bishop of Little Rock; laid the cornerstone of the present cathedral on July 7, 1878; dedicated it on November 27, 1881.
- Most Rev. John Morris, DD1907–1946
Third Bishop of Little Rock; completed cathedral towers in 1887 reporting; during his tenure the parish built St. Andrew Parish Hall at 9th & Louisiana in 1941.
- Most Rev. Albert L. Fletcher, DD1946–1970
Fourth Bishop; succeeded Morris as auxiliary; oversaw 1947 repairs and 1962 crypt construction.
- Fr. Joseph de Orbegozo, PhL (current rector)Appointed rector effective July 1, 2022
Previously administrator of Cathedral of St. Andrew; also a part-time instructor at the House of Formation in Little Rock. Ordained June 2, 2018; also fluent in Spanish.