About St. Francis of Assisi · Forrest City, Arkansas
St. Francis of Assisi Church is a small Catholic mission parish in Forrest City, Arkansas (St. Francis County), belonging to the North Delta Deanery of the Diocese of Little Rock. It is served by the Spiritans (Congregation of the Holy Ghost / CSSp), who took on ministry in the Arkansas Delta in 2010 after the order's 131-year tenure in Conway. The parish is pastored from nearby St. Mary Church in Helena and offers Sunday Mass, weekday Masses, confession, and Thursday adoration. In 2026 it was named one of three Arkansas pilgrimage churches for the universal Year of St. Francis, marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis's death.
- Patron
- St. Francis of Assisi
- Rector
- Fr. Honest Munishi, CSSp (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock
Why belong here
St. Francis of Assisi is a welcoming, mission-sized Catholic community in the heart of the Arkansas Delta where the Eucharist is celebrated several times a week and the faithful are looked after by the Spiritans, a religious order with a 300-year tradition of evangelizing the poor. Visitors are warmly received at a single Sunday Mass and at weekday noon Masses on Tuesday and Thursday, with confession before those weekday Masses and a quiet hour of adoration before Thursday Mass. The parish is also currently a designated pilgrimage church for the 2026–2027 Year of St. Francis, making it a particularly meaningful place to visit, pray, and encounter the poor Christ of Assisi alongside a small, close-knit Catholic family.
Mass times at St. Francis of Assisi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- After Sunday Mass (per third-party listing)
Adoration times
- Thursday 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
About St. Francis of Assisi Church
St. Francis of Assisi Church is a small Catholic mission parish in Forrest City, St. Francis County, Arkansas, in the North Delta Deanery of the Diocese of Little Rock. It is one of a cluster of Delta churches served since 2010 by the Spiritans (Congregation of the Holy Ghost, CSSp) and is administered from St. Mary Church in Helena. Mass is offered on Sunday morning, on Tuesday and Thursday at noon, and on Holy Days as announced, with a brief period of confession before the weekday Masses and a short holy hour of adoration before Thursday Mass.
History & Identity
The parish is rooted in the broader Spiritan presence in the Arkansas Delta. In 2010, after 131 years at St. Joseph Church in Conway, the Congregation of the Holy Ghost was asked by Bishop Anthony Taylor to take on a group of mission parishes in the Delta, including Forrest City. 'It is an area that fits well with the mission of the Spiritans. Maybe we as the Church can bring the good news to the Delta,' the bishop said at the time, and the order's leadership embraced the change as 'a new opportunity to serve our mission.' The parish shares that Spiritan identity with sister Delta missions in Marianna, Brinkley, and Helena-West Helena.
- Served by the Spiritans (CSSp) since 2010
- Diocese of Little Rock, North Delta Deanery
- Attended from St. Mary Church – Helena
Year of St. Francis Pilgrimage Church (2026–2027)
In January 2026, Pope Leo XIV proclaimed a universal Year of St. Francis running through January 10, 2027, to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. The Apostolic Penitentiary granted a plenary indulgence to the faithful who visit a church dedicated to St. Francis during this jubilee year. St. Francis of Assisi in Forrest City is one of only three Arkansas pilgrimage churches so designated, alongside St. Francis missions in Little Italy and Fairfield Bay. Father Juan Guido, diocesan director of the Divine Worship Office, said Catholics are warmly invited to visit. To receive the indulgence, the faithful must make a sacramental confession within 20 days, receive Communion within 20 days, and pray for the intentions of the pope; confession and Communion may take place anywhere.
- Weekend Mass in Forrest City: Sunday 11:00 a.m. (diocesan directory) / 12:15 p.m. (Arkansas Catholic)
- All Masses in English
- Call the parish office (870) 633-1665 to arrange weekday visits during the jubilee year
Clergy & Staff
The parish is served by Spiritan priests assigned to the Delta region and supported by a parish secretary. The Coordinator of Religious Education / Director of Religious Education (C/DRE) position is currently vacant, as listed by the Diocese of Little Rock.
- Administrator: Fr. Honest Munishi, CSSp
- Associate Pastor: Fr. Peter Ocholi Okolo, CSSp
- Secretary: Patricia Henson
- C/DRE: Vacant
Visiting & Pilgrimage
St. Francis of Assisi is small but actively welcomes visitors, especially during the 2026–2027 Year of St. Francis. Those planning a pilgrimage during the week are encouraged to call the parish office in advance so the community can be ready to receive them.
- Address: 621 S. Washington St., Forrest City, AR 72335
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 786, Forrest City, AR 72336
- Parish phone: (870) 633-1665
- Email: [email protected]