About St. Jude the Apostle · Jacksonville, Arkansas
St. Jude the Apostle is a Roman Catholic parish in Jacksonville, Arkansas, part of the Diocese of Little Rock (Central Deanery, Pulaski County). The parish was founded in 1966-1967 to serve the Catholic faithful of Jacksonville, military families connected to nearby Little Rock Air Force Base, and Catholics from surrounding towns without their own parishes. Today the parish offers Mass in both English and Spanish, runs the OCIA process for adults, supports Catholic Youth Ministry, and carries on a strong tradition of lay organizations such as the Knights of Columbus (Council 11604). The current pastor is Fr. Alfhones Perikala, and the parish is located at 2403 McArthur Drive.
- Established
- 1966 (first Mass); formally dedicated January 22, 1967
- Patron
- St. Jude the Apostle (patron saint of hopeless or desperate causes)
- Rector
- Fr. Alfhones Perikala
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (Central Deanery, Pulaski County)
Why belong here
St. Jude the Apostle is a welcoming bilingual Catholic community in Jacksonville where Mass is celebrated in both English and Spanish, and where newcomers — including adults seeking a faith home through the OCIA process — are actively invited in. The parish offers a full sacramental life, weekly adoration, devotions such as the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, Religious Education and Catholic Youth Ministry, and active lay organizations including the Knights of Columbus Council 11604, the Ladies of St. Jude/Altar & Rosary Society, and a vibrant Hispanic Community. It is a place that combines a long history of serving military families around Little Rock Air Force Base with the warmth of a small, engaged parish.
Mass times at St. Jude the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Monday 6:30 – 7:30 PM
- Friday 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Parish History
St. Jude the Apostle traces its roots to 1957, when the Catholic faithful of Jacksonville were ministered to by Air Base chaplains at the recently-dedicated Little Rock Air Force Base Chapel and assigned as a mission of Immaculate Conception in North Little Rock. A 1963 census showed enough Catholic residents to warrant a mission church, and property was secured at 209 S. Oak Street in 1966. Fr. Milton Lange, then assistant pastor of Immaculate Conception, celebrated the first Mass on September 22, 1966, and was appointed the first resident pastor shortly thereafter. Bishop Albert L. Fletcher formally dedicated the church on January 22, 1967. From its earliest days, the Men's Club and the Ladies of St. Jude (later the Altar & Rosary Society) built and sustained the growing congregation, which drew from Jacksonville, base personnel, and surrounding un-served towns.
- 1957 – Little Rock Air Force Base Chapel dedicated; Jacksonville Catholics ministered by Air Base chaplains
- 1963 – Census shows enough residents to warrant a mission church
- 1966 – Property acquired at 209 S. Oak Street; first Mass celebrated September 22, 1966 by Fr. Milton Lange
- January 22, 1967 – Bishop Albert L. Fletcher dedicates St. Jude the Apostle
- 1978 – Fr. John Kordsmeier begins pastorate; begins multi-year building planning
- November 1978 – New property purchased across I-67 near the air base entrance (funded in part by parish bingos)
- January 1982 – Six-week pledge drive; construction begins March 1982
- May 29, 1983 – Bishop Andrew J. McDonald dedicates the present church
- June 1989 – End of Fr. Kordsmeier's 11-year pastorate; campus now includes church, rectory, parish hall, and education center
- May 7, 1995 – Education center renamed Connie Harbert Education Center
Devotions
Friday afternoons are a regular time of popular Catholic devotion at St. Jude's, with the Rosary prayed first and the Divine Mercy Chaplet following. Parishioners are encouraged to 'come and pray with Jesus' during the parish's adoration hours as well.
- Friday 2:00 – 2:45 PM — Holy Rosary
- Friday 3:00 – 3:30 PM (immediately after the Rosary) — Divine Mercy Chaplet
Faith Formation & OCIA
The parish welcomes adults seeking a faith home — including those not yet Catholic, those catechized but not fully initiated, and Catholics needing to complete their sacraments — through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, sometimes referred to as RCIA). Classes typically begin in September, all materials are supplied, and adults are warmly invited to come 'on our journey of faith.' Gretel Smith is the parish OCIA Coordinator and Annulment Advocate.
- OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) — coordinated by Gretel Smith
- Adult Education
- Religious Education (CCD) for children
- Annullment Advocacy
Youth Ministry
St. Jude's has a large number of young people, and its Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM) program is designed to help them grow in love of God and neighbor by sharing their talents and serving the community. Through the volunteer work of the CYM coordinator, youth learn the joy of helping others, deepening their faith by giving as Christ taught us. The parish also runs a Junior CYM for younger children.
- Catholic Youth Ministry (CYM)
- Junior CYM
- Director: Paula Price (C/DRE) — (501) 551-1873
Knights of Columbus Council 11604
Founded in the summer of 1995 by 30 men of St. Jude the Apostle, Jacksonville Council 11604 has grown to over 200 members drawn from Jacksonville, Cabot, and surrounding communities. It is repeatedly recognized as one of the top-performing councils in Arkansas, with multiple State Knight of the Year, State Family of the Year, State Council of the Year, and Star Council awards, and is known locally for its charity, youth, and right-to-life work — including displaying American flags in Jacksonville during patriotic holidays.
- Founded in 1995 by 30 men of the parish
- Over 200 members from Jacksonville, Cabot, and surrounding communities
- Affiliated with Bishop Edward Fitzgerald Assembly 2642 (4th Degree)
- Ladies of the Knights — women's group supporting hospitalized veterans, women's programs, and right-to-life
- Supported charities in 2017 including Pathfinders, local elementary lunch programs, Pregnancy Resource Centers, Mobile Medical Unit, Homeless Vets Programs, Jacksonville Care Channel, Catholic schools, and seminarian support
- Contact: Troy Gray — (501) 626-3684
- Principles: Charity, Unity, Fraternity, Patriotism
Hispanic Community / Hispanic Ministry
St. Jude the Apostle maintains an active Hispanic Ministry, with a dedicated Spanish-language Mass and a Spanish phone line for parish business. Spanish-language Mass is offered Sunday at 12:30 PM and Monday at 6:00 PM; Holy Days in Spanish are at 7:00 PM. The parish bilingual welcome is published right on the home page in both English and Spanish.
- Hispanic Ministry Director: Juanita Adineh-Kharat — (501) 747-6850
- Spanish-language Mass: Sunday 12:30 PM
- Spanish-language Mass: Monday 6:00 PM
- Spanish-language Mass: Holy Days 7:00 PM
- Spanish phone line: (501) 747-6850
Parish Staff & Office
The parish is led by its pastor and supported by a small staff and lay coordinators who handle faith formation, youth ministry, Christian initiation, music, Hispanic ministry, and parish administration. The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday 9:00 a.m. to noon.
- Pastor: Fr. Alfhones Perikala
- Secretary: Evie Gray — (501) 982-4891
- Bookkeeper: Melanie Coleman
- C/DRE & CYM/Junior CYM Director: Paula Price — (501) 551-1873
- Christian Initiation / Annulment Advocate: Gretel Smith — (501) 982-4891, [email protected]
- Hispanic Ministry Director: Juanita Adineh-Kharat — (501) 747-6850
- Music Minister: Vacant
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Fri 9:00 a.m. – noon
Prayer Ministries
St. Jude's frames all its ministries in prayer, and explicitly groups several ministries as 'Prayer Ministries' — efforts whose primary purpose is to lift up the parish and its members in prayer. The parish also maintains a Home School Co-Op supporting families who homeschool their children.
- Home School Co-Op
- Prayer-focused ministries supporting the parish and broader community
Community Outreach
St. Jude the Apostle and its ministries reach beyond the parish campus with hands-on service. The Knights of Columbus Council 11604 directs substantial charitable giving each year — including supporting Catholic schools, seminarians, the Mobile Medical Unit, Pregnancy Resource Centers, Homeless Veterans programs, and Jacksonville-area elementary school lunch programs. The parish also encourages parishioners to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House as a concrete way to serve neighbors in need. The Knights regularly display American flags in Jacksonville during patriotic holidays.
- Knights of Columbus charity giving (annual tens of thousands of dollars to local charities)
- Ronald McDonald House volunteering
- Pregnancy Resource Center support
- Mobile Medical Unit support
- Homeless Veterans Program support
- Jacksonville Care Channel
- Catholic school and seminarian support
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Milton Lange1966 – by November 1966 appointed first resident pastor; dedicated Jan 22, 1967
Served as assistant pastor of Immaculate Conception in North Little Rock before being placed in charge of the Jacksonville property and construction of the first church.
- Fr. John Kordsmeier1978 – June 1989 (about 11-year pastorate)
Restructured the Parish Council, appointed a Building Committee, oversaw the multi-year building program and pledge drive, and led construction of the present church, rectory, parish hall, and education center on the new site near the Air Base.