About St. Edward · Texarkana, Arkansas
St. Edward Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Texarkana, Arkansas, part of the Diocese of Little Rock and the Ouachita Deanery (Miller County). Founded on June 20, 1903, under Bishop Edward M. Fitzgerald, the parish serves a vibrant, multilingual community with daily Masses in English, weekly Masses in Spanish, and bi-monthly Masses in Vietnamese. St. Edward is also responsible for two mission churches — Sacred Heart in Foreman and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Ashdown — and operates an Outreach Center that feeds around 150 people in need each day.
- Established
- 1903
- Patron
- St. Edward the King and Confessor
- Rector
- Fr. William Burmester
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (Ouachita Deanery, Miller County)
Why belong here
St. Edward's is a warm, multilingual Catholic community in the heart of Texarkana where you can worship daily in English, weekly in Spanish, and bi-monthly in Vietnamese. The parish feeds roughly 150 homeless and in-need neighbors a day through its Outreach Center, supports an active Faith Formation program for children and adults, and offers ongoing spiritual formation for every age — a place where newcomers, returning Catholics, and lifelong members find a home in the Gospel.
Mass times at St. Edward
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 6:00 – 6:45 PM
- Wednesday 8:00 – 8:45 AM
- Thursday 8:00 – 8:45 AM
- Friday 11:00 – 11:45 AM
- Friday 6:00 – 6:45 PM
- Saturday 4:00 – 4:45 PM
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Sunday: 24 hours a day in chapel (except 8 AM – 3 PM)
- Monday: 24 hours a day (chapel)
- Tuesday: 24 hours a day (chapel); 6 PM in church
- Wednesday: 24 hours a day (chapel); 8 AM in church
- Thursday: 24 hours a day (chapel); 8 AM in church
- Friday: 24 hours a day (chapel); 11 AM in church; 6 PM in church
- Saturday: 24 hours a day (chapel)
Parish History
St. Edward was founded June 20, 1903, by Rev. E.W. Fowler under Bishop Edward Fitzgerald of Little Rock. The first Mass was held in the Miller County Courthouse, with Father Fowler, Father M.J. Delaney, and Very Rev. Fintan Kraemer, O.S.B. (later Vicar General) serving the young parish in turn. On Christmas Day 1903 a frame chapel at Fourth and Hickory Streets was dedicated, and the parish worshipped there for twenty years.
- Founded June 20, 1903
- First Mass in Miller County Courthouse
- Chapel dedicated December 25, 1903 at Fourth and Hickory
- Current sanctuary built 1923; first Pontifical Mass in Arkansas
The 1923 Sanctuary & Architecture
The 1923 church was designed and built under the supervision of Lambert deKonning, modeled on the Church of the Most Holy Trinity at the top of the Spanish Steps in Rome. Clad in brown brick with limestone trim and raised on a high basement, the building soars over the neighborhood with twin hexagonal towers capped with domical roofs and Renaissance Revival round-arched windows. A prominent limestone stringcourse wraps the building. Inside, the church retains exceptional original appointments: a 21-foot-high altar and communion rail of Carrara marble with mosaic bands, and stained-glass windows depicting the seven sacraments, the Nativity, the birth of St. John the Baptist, and St. Gregory the Great. A new entrance foyer with elevator was added on the north side in 1996.
- Designed by Lambert deKonning
- Brown brick with limestone trim; twin hexagonal towers
- Carrara marble altar (21 ft) and communion rail with mosaic bands
- Four large round stained-glass windows of the seven sacraments, Nativity, St. John the Baptist, and St. Gregory the Great
- 1996 north-side entrance foyer with elevator
Vietnamese & Hispanic Communities
Decades ago St. Edward welcomed many Vietnamese refugees, who today are a vital part of the parish as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and commission members; a Vietnamese Mass is celebrated at 9:30 AM on the fourth Sunday of each month. In 1987 the parish reached out to migrant Hispanic workers with its first Spanish Mass (ten attended), and today the parish has multiple weekly Spanish Masses, a bilingual bulletin, religious education classes for children, Bible classes for adults, and a Hispanic council represented on the Parish Council.
- Vietnamese Mass: 9:30 AM, fourth Sunday of each month
- Hispanic outreach began 1987 with first Spanish Mass to migrant workers
- Multiple weekly Spanish Masses; bilingual bulletin
- Religious education and Bible classes in Spanish
- Hispanic council with representation on Parish Council
Faith Formation & Christian Initiation (OCIA)
St. Edward's Religious Education program — housed in the original school building — offers ongoing spiritual formation in English and Spanish to both youth and adults. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), coordinated by Deacon Greg Casteel, is the normal way non-baptized men and women enter the Catholic Church through study, prayer, and the rites of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist. Already-baptized Christians may enter as candidates, with preparation tailored to their background. Attending OCIA does not commit one to becoming Catholic — many come simply to learn about the faith.
- Faith Formation Director: Kelli Nugent
- OCIA Coordinator: Dc. Greg Casteel
- Classes for children and adults in English and Spanish
- Bible classes for Spanish-speaking adults
Youth Ministry & Nursery
St. Edward's active youth ministry is led by Youth Director Loren Sanchez, with programs and gatherings for the parish's young people. A parish nursery, directed by Aisa Hines, is available during Masses and parish activities.
- Youth Director: Loren Sanchez ([email protected])
- Nursery Director: Aisa Hines
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Edward's is shaped by three choirs led by directors Chrys Capshaw, Jacobo Sanchez, and Melissa Carson, serving the parish's English, Spanish, and Vietnamese communities.
- Choir Directors: Chrys Capshaw, Jacobo Sanchez, Melissa Carson
Outreach Center & Charity
As an expression of love for the marginalized, St. Edward's operates an Outreach Center that serves daily lunches Monday through Friday and offers financial assistance when funds are available. The center now feeds around 150 homeless and in-need people each day, and is a central ministry of the parish, led by Deacon Leon Pesek Jr.
- Daily lunches Monday – Friday
- Financial assistance when funds are available
- Approximately 150 people fed per day
- Director: Dc. Leon Pesek Jr.
- Outreach Assistant: Gi Do
Mission Churches
St. Edward is responsible for two mission churches in southwest Arkansas: Sacred Heart in Foreman and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Ashdown. The pastor and associate pastor also celebrate Masses at these missions on a regular rotation.
- Sacred Heart Church — Foreman, AR
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church — Ashdown, AR
Parish Staff & Office
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. William Burmester and Associate Pastor Fr. Joseph Nguyen, with two deacons, a full office team, and dedicated maintenance and housekeeping staff. The church office is at 410 Beech Street and is open Monday – Friday, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM, with a closure from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Fridays for staff prayer and lunch.
- Pastor: Fr. William Burmester
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Joseph Nguyen
- Deacons: Dc. Gregory L. Casteel, Dc. Leon Pesek Jr.
- Business Manager: Louisa Strutton
- Receptionist: Carolina Mejia
- Bilingual Secretary: Victoria Vieiro Shelton
- Director of Faith Formation: Kelli Nugent
- Youth Director: Loren Sanchez
- Director of Outreach Services: Dc. Leon Pesek Jr.
- Maintenance: Mike Naples
- Housekeeping: Maria Hernandez & Jackie Lopez
Becoming a Member
St. Edward's welcomes new members of every background. Registration forms (English and Spanish) are available in the parish vestibule and online, and can be returned to the church office. Those interested in learning about the Catholic faith — whether unbaptized, baptized in another Christian tradition, or returning after time away — are invited to explore the OCIA (RCIA) program.
- English and Spanish registration forms
- Forms in the parish vestibule and on the website
- OCIA (RCIA) for inquiry into the Catholic faith
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. E.W. Fowler1903
Founded the parish on June 20, 1903
- Rev. M.J. Delaneyearly 1900s
Succeeded Fowler
- Very Rev. Fintan Kraemer, O.S.B.1903
Then Vicar General of the Diocese; dedicated the chapel Dec 25, 1903
- Rev. Edward Maloy, V.F.before 1979
Became pastor emeritus in 1979; remained dean of Southwestern Deanery
- Rev. Reuben Groff1979
Administrator, transferred from Searcy and Heber Springs
- Father Edward E. Simpson1979
Associate pastor in 1979; celebrating silver jubilee in 1979
- Fr. William Burmesterpresent
Current pastor; oversaw 2023 centennial of church building