About St. James · Searcy, Arkansas
St. James Catholic Church is a bilingual English/Spanish parish of the Diocese of Little Rock located at 1102 Pioneer Road in Searcy, Arkansas, in White County. It traces its roots to 1928, when Searcy had only two Catholic residents — Mr. and Mrs. John L. Wrape — and today serves as the home parish for a growing community that also reaches the mission church of St. Richard in nearby Bald Knob. The parish is led by Fr. Nelson Rubio (Fr. Nelson Jesús Rubio Villalobos), who arrived in the summer of 2022 and has since overseen a sweeping renewal of both the church building and parish life.
- Established
- 1928
- Patron
- St. James (the Greater)
- Rector
- Fr. Nelson Jesús Rubio Villalobos
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (Catholic Diocese of Little Rock), Central Deanery
Why belong here
St. James is a warm, bilingual parish that combines a small-town Catholic history (rooted in Searcy since 1928) with a vibrant, growing community life. Worship is offered in both English and Spanish throughout the week, with a daily Mass schedule, Eucharistic Adoration multiple days, and frequent Reconciliation. Parishioners of all ages can get involved through the Ladies Guild, Sizzling Seniors, K4J and Youth Faith Formation, Catholic Campus Ministry (Harding University students), OCIA, weekly Bible Study, and ongoing retreats and Healing Masses — all under a pastor who has invested heavily in both the building and the spiritual life of the parish.
Mass times at St. James
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Sunday: 8:00–8:45 a.m.
- Wednesday: 5:00–5:45 p.m.
- Thursday / Jueves: 6:00–6:45 p.m.
- Or by appointment — contact Fr. Nelson Rubio
Adoration times
- Friday: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Thursday / Jueves: 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. (Hora Santa)
- First Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
About St. James Catholic Church
St. James Catholic Church is a bilingual parish of the Diocese of Little Rock serving Searcy, Arkansas and the surrounding White County area. The parish warmly welcomes new arrivals and returning Catholics and invites visitors to call the office to be met. Its mission statement describes the community as 'a Catholic family of God's people devoted to the spiritual, moral, and material care of its members and others, in their journey with Christ,' committed to using the gifts of time, talent, and treasure to create a welcoming environment of worship.
Parish History
The parish's roots reach back to 1928, when Searcy had no Catholic church and only two Catholic residents — the Wrape family — who donated land on East Race Street. The cornerstone was laid that year with help from Rev. Matthew Soettle, OSB, Bishop John B. Morris, and the Extension Society. After decades served by circuit priests from Little Rock and Morris School for Boys, the parishioners purchased a ten-acre tract on Pioneer Road in 1960; construction began in 1966 and the first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Eve. Bishop Albert L. Fletcher dedicated the new church on February 28, 1967. In 2008 a new sanctuary was added and dedicated by acting Bishop Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert.
- 1928 — Cornerstone laid on East Race Street with just two Catholic families
- 1930s — 'My brother will be here in a minute' — the famous Wrape quip to a visiting priest
- 1960 — Ten acres purchased on Pioneer Road
- 1966 (July) — Construction begins; Christmas Eve — first Mass in the new church
- 1967 (Feb. 28) — Dedicated by Bishop Albert L. Fletcher
- 2008 — New sanctuary built and dedicated by Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert, PA
- Summer 2022 — Fr. Nelson Rubio arrives as pastor
- 2025 — Major interior and exterior renovation completed
Parish Staff & Contacts
The parish is served by a small lay staff alongside its pastor. Fr. Nelson Rubio (Fr. Nelson Jesús Rubio Villalobos) is pastor of both St. James in Searcy and St. Richard in Bald Knob.
- Pastor: Fr. Nelson Jesús Rubio Villalobos — (501) 400-4724 (text first); [email protected]
- Secretary: Theresa Aasen — [email protected]
- Bookkeeper: Alicia Cook — [email protected]
- Faith Formation Director / Safe Environment: Carmen Lambert Rios — [email protected]
- OCIA Coordinator: Stacy Stumpenhaus — [email protected]
- Catholic Campus Ministry & Ladies Guild: Yolanda Garcia
- Youth Director: Luis Yingling
Faith Formation, Youth & OCIA
St. James runs a year-round Youth Faith Formation program (also called K4J) that takes students to the annual Diocesan Youth Conference in Little Rock. The parish also coordinates preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation (scheduled Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.) and welcomes new Catholics through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). Carmen Lambert Rios serves as Faith Formation Director and Safe Environment Coordinator; Luis Yingling leads the youth; Stacy Stumpenhaus coordinates OCIA.
- Youth Faith Formation & K4J
- Diocesan Youth Conference participation (April 10–12)
- Confirmation preparation — June 27, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for adults entering the Church
- Safe Environment program
Parish Organizations & Community Life
Parish life at St. James is enriched by a number of long-running groups and gatherings. The Ladies Guild, open to all women 18 and older, meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Sizzling Seniors offers fellowship for older parishioners. Weekly Bible Study gathers on Mondays (5:30 p.m.), Wednesdays (5:00 p.m.), and Fridays (10:00 a.m.). Catholic Campus Ministry extends the parish's reach to college students — including those at nearby Harding University — with Mass, social events, retreats, and service projects.
- St. James Ladies Guild — first Tuesday, 6:00 p.m. (President: Yolanda Garcia)
- Sizzling Seniors
- Catholic Campus Ministry (contact: Yolanda Garcia)
- Weekly Bible Study — Mon 5:30 p.m., Wed 5:00 p.m., Fri 10:00 a.m.
- Hispanic Ministry — Spanish Mass, Hora Santa, Confirmación en Español
Renovation & Building Campaign (2025)
Since arriving in the summer of 2022, Fr. Nelson Rubio has led a comprehensive assessment and renovation of the parish plant. Many projects were completed in 2025 just before Holy Week, with additional work expected before Holy Week 2026.
- Freshly painted church interior
- Outdoor statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe with fountain and seated area
- New courtyard with expanded columbarium
- Repainted and remodeled parish offices and chapel
- Rebuilt side altars with statues and paintings of Jesus and Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Hand-painted stencils around each Station of the Cross
- New altar, altar tile work and niches; repainted crucifix; new tabernacle
- Planned: renovated bathrooms, expanded parking lot, new vinyl flooring, enlarged parish hall, possible outdoor Stations of the Cross
Visiting, Joining & Getting Involved
St. James explicitly welcomes newcomers, returning Catholics, and visitors, asking only that they call the office so the parish can meet them. With a bilingual Mass schedule, daily Adoration, multiple ministries for women, youth, seniors, and college students, plus seasonal retreats and Healing Masses, the parish offers many ways to plug in.
- Newcomers: call the parish office at (501) 268-5252
- Office Hours (parish website): Mon–Wed and Fri 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.; Thu closed
- Office Hours (DOLR listing): Mon 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; Tue–Wed 10 a.m.–3 p.m.; Fri 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Mailing Address: 1102 Pioneer Rd, Searcy, AR 72143
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor direct line (text first): (501) 400-4724
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Matthew Soettle, OSB1928
Built the original East Race Street church — the last church he built in Arkansas. Helped fund construction along with Bishop John B. Morris, John L. Wrape, and the Extension Society.
- Priests from Little Rock / Morris School circuit1928–1960s
For many years priests drove up from Little Rock to celebrate Mass; later they lived at Morris School for Boys while serving St. James, St. Richard (Bald Knob), and Heber Springs.
- Bishop Albert L. Fletcher (dedicator)1967
Bishop of Little Rock who dedicated the new Pioneer Road church on February 28, 1967.
- Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert, PA (acting bishop, dedicator)2008
Dedicated the new 2008 sanctuary because the Diocese had no assigned bishop at the time.
- Fr. Nelson Rubio (Fr. Nelson Jesús Rubio Villalobos)Summer 2022–present
Also pastor of St. Richard Church in Bald Knob. Oversaw the major 2025 renovation campaign and growth in retreats, Healing Masses, and Hispanic ministry.