About St. Elizabeth of Hungary · Eureka Springs, Arkansas
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church is a small, historic Catholic parish nestled on Crescent Drive in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, in the Ozark region of northwest Arkansas. The parish belongs to the Diocese of Little Rock (West Ozark Deanery, Carroll County) and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, best known for its dolomite-limestone church, distinctive Bell Tower, marble statuary imported from Italy, and beautifully landscaped gardens. Its current pastor, Fr. Joseph Archibong (since 2016), leads a Eucharistic-centered community that welcomes both parishioners and the many visitors who come to Eureka Springs each year. The parish operates from two locations — the historic stone church at 30 Crescent Drive and the Parish Center at 232 Passion Play Road — and offers daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and a robust set of outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1882 (Diocese of Little Rock recognized as a 'station with a church'); current church dedicated 1909
- Patron
- St. Elizabeth of Hungary
- Rector
- Rev. Joseph Archibong
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (West Ozark Deanery, Carroll County)
Why belong here
St. Elizabeth of Hungary is a small, vibrant, Eucharistic-centered parish family described by its pastor as a 'precious gem' tucked into the historic spa town of Eureka Springs. The parish makes daily Mass available in a stunning setting — the National Register-listed stone church on Crescent Drive — and operates a Parish Center on Passion Play Road that hosts the Saturday Vigil Mass (wheelchair accessible), First Friday Mass with Anointing of the Sick, the gift shop, parish offices, and outreach. Whether you are a lifelong Catholic, returning to the faith, exploring the Church through RCIA, planning a destination wedding, or simply passing through the Ozarks, the parish welcomes you to worship alongside parishioners and visitors from around the world.
Mass times at St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 2:30–3:30 p.m. — Parish Center, 232 Passion Play Rd (wheelchair accessible)
- Thursday 9:15–10:15 a.m. — Historic Church, 30 Crescent Dr
Adoration times
- Tuesday 8:00–8:30 a.m. — Historic Church
- Last Tuesday of the month: Extended Adoration 9:00–11:00 a.m. — Historic Church
Welcome to St. Elizabeth of Hungary
In his welcome message, Fr. Joseph Archibong describes St. Elizabeth Catholic Church as 'a small but vibrant and hospitable parish family, hidden like a precious gem in the beautiful city of Eureka Springs, AR.' The parish identifies itself as a Eucharistic-centered community serving both parishioners and visitors from all over the world. Whether you are a parishioner, new to the area, looking for a new parish home, beginning the journey into the Catholic faith, returning to the Church, or simply passing through, the parish invites you to worship with them. New parishioners are asked to call the Parish Office (Tuesday and Thursday, 253-2222) or pick up registration forms in the narthex at either location.
- Parish motto: 'We are a Eucharistic centered community.'
- Pastor: Rev. Joseph Archibong
- Office Phone: (479) 253-2222
Parish History
Catholic life in Eureka Springs began c. 1880 when Father Michael Smythe started a frame church completed in 1882, recognized by the Diocese of Little Rock as a 'station with a church.' In the early 1900s railroad entrepreneur and Eureka Springs Improvement Company member Richard C. Kerens built a Byzantine-style limestone memorial chapel for his mother, Elizabeth; in 1908 Bishop Edward Fitzgerald allowed him to add a church proper, and St. Elizabeth Catholic Church was dedicated May 11, 1909, with the Bell Tower added in 1910. After years of disrepair, Father Joseph W. Lauro led a major restoration in the 1950s, commissioning the Italian marble garden statues (1953) and the Carrara marble Stations of the Cross (1958). Subsequent milestones include the 1983 crystal chandelier, the 2014 roof rebuild, the 2018 rewiring, and the 2019 blue-and-gold Rotunda ceiling restoration.
- 1880 — Father Michael Smythe begins construction of frame church
- 1882 — Diocese of Little Rock recognizes 'station with a church'
- 1904–1906 — Richard Kerens builds Memorial Chapel (Rotunda) for his mother Elizabeth
- 1908 — Bishop Fitzgerald permits Kerens to extend the chapel into a church
- May 11, 1909 — Dedication of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church
- 1910 — Bell Tower constructed (funded by Kerens)
- 1909 — Richard Kerens becomes U.S. Ambassador to Austria-Hungary
- 1951–1958, 1960 — Fr. Joseph W. Lauro's restoration pastorate
- 1953 — Italian marble garden statues installed
- 1958 — Carrara marble Stations of the Cross installed
- 1983 — Crystal chandelier donated (~7,500 crystals, 19 lights)
- 2014 — Main roof rebuilt with retained terracotta tiles
- 2018 — Church totally rewired
- 2019 — Rotunda ceiling painted deep blue with gold stars; art restoration completed
- Ongoing — 'Project Revival' capital campaign for roofing, guttering, and drainage
Sacraments & Sacramental Life
The parish prepares parishioners for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) and offers Reconciliation weekly on Saturday afternoons and Thursday mornings. Anointing of the Sick is offered at the First Friday noon Mass and through home/hospital visits by the Ministry of Care team. St. Elizabeth welcomes couples from around the world to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony in the historic church — a popular draw for destination weddings. Adult initiation (RCIA) and youth religious education are coordinated through the parish's sister community, St. Anne Church in Berryville, AR.
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation — contact the Parish Office
- Reconciliation — Saturday 2:30–3:30 p.m. (Parish Center); Thursday 9:15–10:15 a.m. (Historic Church)
- Anointing of the Sick — First Friday 12:00 Noon Mass at Parish Center; home/hospital visits on request
- Matrimony — for couples from around the world; contact (479) 253-2222
- RCIA — through St. Anne Church, Berryville (870-423-3927)
- Youth Religious Education — through St. Anne Church, Berryville
Parish Staff & Administration
St. Elizabeth is pastored by Fr. Joseph Archibong and supported by a small staff and many lay ministry leaders. The Parish Center office at 232 Passion Play Road is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Pastor — Rev. Joseph Archibong
- Parish Secretary & Bookkeeper — Nancy Elfter
- Director of Music Ministries — Sharon Parker
- Parish Council Chair, Parish Life, Gift Shop Manager — Rod McGuire
- Finance Council Chair — Ted Meyer
- Liturgical Ministers & Ministry of Care — Leva Murphy
- Director of Religious Education / RCIA / Youth & Adult Religious Ed. — referrals to St. Anne, Berryville
- Knights of Columbus — Mike Godfrey
- St. Joseph Guild & Gardens — Mike Lubbers
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Steve & Kari Vitt (870-423-3572)
- Parish Center Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Parish & Community Outreach
St. Elizabeth of Hungary describes outreach as 'people helping people in their church and in their community,' with parishioners serving not only the parish directly but also neighbors in need. The flagship outreach is the local Society of St. Vincent de Paul, funded by the SVdP thrift store in Berryville, which provides financial and utility assistance regardless of race, color, creed, or gender. The parish also partners with other Eureka Springs churches to deliver Meals on Wheels, supports the Knights of Columbus' fraternal charitable work, and operates a volunteer-staffed Gift Shop. Volunteers also tend the historic church gardens and serve on the Funeral Committee that prepares and serves luncheons for grieving parish families.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — financial/utility assistance; thrift store in Berryville
- Knights of Columbus — Catholic fraternal service organization
- Meals on Wheels — partnership with other local churches
- Funeral Committee — meals, setup, and service for parish families after a death
- Church Gardens — volunteer gardening at the historic church and Parish Center
- St. Elizabeth Gift Shop — volunteer-run religious items shop
St. Elizabeth Gift Shop
Tucked behind the historic church in a small building, the parish Gift Shop is completely operated by volunteers and offers a large selection of medals, holy cards, rosaries, crucifixes, statuary, and religious art. It is generally open seven days a week from March through October, and on weekends through the holiday season. Three- or six-hour volunteer shifts are available — a popular way for visitors and parishioners to support the parish.
- Gift Shop Manager — Rod McGuire
- Phone — (479) 253-8045
- Hours — seven days a week (March–October); weekends through the holiday season
- Volunteer shifts — three or six hours
Faith Formation & RCIA
Religious education for youth and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) are coordinated through the parish's sister community, St. Anne Catholic Church in Berryville, AR. Inquirers, those returning to the Catholic Church, and parents seeking faith formation for their children are encouraged to contact St. Anne directly at 614 Main Street, Berryville, AR 72616, (870) 423-3927.
- RCIA — St. Anne Catholic Church, Berryville (870-423-3927)
- Youth Religious Education — St. Anne Catholic Church, Berryville
- Adult Religious Education — referrals through the Parish Office
Music & Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical music is led by Sharon Parker, Director of Music Ministries, working alongside a corps of liturgical ministers coordinated by Leva Murphy. Liturgical ministers also serve the Ministry of Care, taking Communion to the sick and homebound in the parish's surrounding community.
- Director of Music Ministries — Sharon Parker
- Liturgical Ministers & Ministry of Care — Leva Murphy
Project Revival — Capital Campaign
Project Revival is the parish's current capital campaign to fund long-deferred repairs to the historic 1909 church on Crescent Drive. After a 'Revival Architecture' evaluation of the building's needs, detailed specifications were sent to six national roofing contractors; three returned bids ranging from $600,000 to $900,000. The parish council selected the bid from the Durable Slate Company of Columbus, Ohio, at $622,944. The scope covers replacement/repair of all roofing, guttering, and drainage systems. Fr. Joseph Archibong has communicated the campaign to parishioners as essential to preserving the church for future generations.
- Selected contractor — Durable Slate Company, Columbus, Ohio
- Selected bid — $622,944
- Scope — roofing, guttering, and drainage systems at the Historic Church
Visiting & Private Tours
Because St. Elizabeth sits in a city that welcomes tourists from around the world, the parish offers private, historically accurate guided tours of the church by booking through the parish secretary at (479) 253-2222. Tour length and cost depend on the size of the group. The church is also open to visitors who wish simply to stop in and pray.
- Tour bookings — parish secretary, (479) 253-2222
- Length and cost — based on group size
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William J. Carroll1909–1913
First resident pastor after the church's 1909 dedication.
- Rev. B. H. Feurst1914
- Rev. Augustine H. Metz1920–1930
- Rev. Joseph M. Burns1931
- Rev. R. J. Marmon1932–1940
- Rev. L. H. Schaefer1941–1942
- Rev. Louis V. Stemac1943–1944
- Rev. Edward R. Maloy1945
- Rev. Amos H. Enderlin1946
- Rev. Henry J. Chinery1947–1950
- Rev. Joseph W. Lauro1951–1958, 1960
Led extensive interior restoration, built stone rectory, commissioned the Italian marble garden statues (1953) and Carrara marble Stations of the Cross (installed 1958).
- Rev. Francis J. Janesko1959, 1961–1964
Served in two stints around Fr. Lauro's second term.
- Rev. Edward L. Mooney1966–1967
- Rev. Walter B. Clancy1968
- Rev. Francis D. Colavechio1969
- Rev. Raymond L. O'Dwyer1970
- Rev. Edward E. Simpson1971–1972
- Rev. Herman P. Strassle1973–1974
- Rev. Vincent E. McGuire1975–1976
- Rev. Richard P. Davis1977–1979
- Rev. Raymond R. Rossi1980–1984
- Rev. Robert A. Dagwell1985–1986
- Rev. Robert T. Dienert1987–1995
- Rev. James M. Fanrak1996–2001
- Rev. Thomas A. Arackal2002–2009
- Rev. Shaun C. Wesley2010–2013
- Very Rev. Kevin Atunzu2014–2015
- Rev. Joseph Archibong2016–Present
Current pastor; oversaw major 'Project Revival' capital campaign for the historic church.