About St. Michael · Van Buren, Arkansas
St. Michael Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic parish in Van Buren, Arkansas, belonging to the Diocese of Little Rock (West River Valley Deanery). Located at 1025 East Pointer Trail, the parish traces its roots to 1845 and 1851, was formally organized with its first church in 1872, and moved into its present brick church on March 20, 1983. Under the vision to 'Engage, Enlighten, and Motivate each Parishioner to be Disciples of Christ,' it serves the Crawford County community with daily Mass in English and Spanish, a robust Religious Education program (PRE), year-round OCIA formation, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and a wide range of lay ministries.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Rev. C. Richard "Rick" Hobbs, III
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (West River Valley Deanery, Crawford County)
Why belong here
Becoming a registered parishioner at St. Michael is the simplest way to stay plugged into parish life: it lets the staff keep you informed, helps the parish gauge its size to serve families well, and connects you to a full sacramental schedule (Daily Mass in English and Spanish, Reconciliation, Adoration), an active PRE program for K–8, year-round OCIA for adults, Adult Bible Study, a Hispanic Prayer Group, a youth Mass, Altar Society, bereavement ministry, Vacation Bible School, and a choir. The parish describes itself as a community that 'makes Christ present through prayer, the celebration of the sacraments, religious education, and the example of our lives of faith, hope, and love.'
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each weekday Mass except Tuesday morning and Wednesday evening (per the parish schedule page)
- 45 minutes before weekday Masses (per the Diocese of Little Rock listing)
- Saturdays, bilingual, 2:30–3:30 p.m.
- Saturdays, 2:30–3:45 p.m. (per the DOLR listing)
- No reconciliation on Sundays
Adoration times
- Sundays: 7:00 a.m. (Spanish), 9:15 a.m. (English), 11:15 a.m. (Spanish)
- Mondays: 7:00–7:50 a.m.
- Tuesdays: 7:00–7:50 a.m.
- Wednesdays: 7:00–7:50 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (extended, per parish ministries page)
- Thursdays: 11:00–11:50 a.m. (English), 6:00–6:50 p.m. (Spanish)
- Fridays: 7:00–7:50 a.m.
- Saturdays: 2:30–3:50 p.m.
- First Friday of the month: Hora Santa at 7:00 p.m.
Parish History
St. Michael Catholic Church in Van Buren is one of the older Catholic communities in the River Valley, with foundations stretching back to 1845 and the Drennen land gift, the first Mass said in the home of Michael Lynch in 1851, and a formal first church dedicated on May 16, 1872. After the original frame church burned in February 1907, the parish rebuilt at 13th and Cherry (cornerstone 1912, dedicated May 14, 1913, by Bishop John Morris). That church served the parish until growth and changing needs led to construction of the present brick-veneer church on Pointer Trail, dedicated March 20, 1983, under Fr. John Choppesky. The parish marked its 150th anniversary in September 2022 with a bilingual Mass.
- 1845 — Colonel John Drennen donates six acres
- 1851 — First Mass in the home of Michael Lynch
- 1872 — First frame church dedicated May 16 at 6th & Broad/Broadway
- 1907 — Fire destroys the first church and damages the rectory
- 1908 — Ladies of the parish hold an ice cream social to raise rebuilding funds
- 1912 — Cornerstone laid for the 13th & Cherry church (Oct. 22)
- 1913 — Second church dedicated May 14 by Bishop John Morris
- 1949 — Two-story rectory built
- 1974 — Rectory burns during Fr. William E. Kane's pastorate
- 1976 — Present rectory at 1412 N. 11th St. acquired under Fr. John F. Davacek
- 1982 — Construction begins under Fr. John Choppesky
- 1983 — Present church dedicated March 20; bell from the old church hung in tower
- 1992 — Family Life Center (gym, classrooms, kitchen) added at rear
- 2022 — 150th anniversary celebrated with a bilingual Mass
Vision, Welcome & Parish Registration
The parish's stated vision is 'to Engage, Enlighten, and Motivate each Parishioner to be Disciples of Christ and to be Good Stewards of the Gifts God has blessed us with.' The Welcome statement reads: 'We make Christ present through prayer, the celebration of the sacraments, religious education, and the example of our lives of faith, hope, and love.' Registration is encouraged so the parish can keep families informed and plan to serve its actual size; an online registration form is available on the website's About Us page.
- Vision: Engage · Enlighten · Motivate disciples and good stewards
- Online Parish Registration form available on the About Us page
Faith Formation — Parish Religious Education (PRE)
St. Michael's catechetical program (PRE) prepares children and youth from Kindergarten through 8th grade 'to become faithful and fruitful disciples of Jesus' and provides the sacramental preparation needed for First Communion and Confirmation. PRE meets Wednesday evenings, 6:30–7:00 p.m., September through May. Registration for the 2026–2027 school year opens July 1 (in the office and online), with in-person registration also offered in the parish hall after Masses on Aug. 1–2 and Aug. 22–23. A bilingual parent note and sacramental registration forms (First Communion, Confirmation, Sponsor/Godparent) are posted on the PRE page.
- PRE — Wednesday evenings, 6:30–7:00 p.m., September–May
- Sacramental prep: First Communion and Confirmation
- 2026–2027 PRE & Sacrament registration begins July 1
- Registration in office, online, or at the parish hall after Masses (Aug. 1–2 and Aug. 22–23)
- Coordinator: Angela Long ([email protected], 479-471-1211)
Becoming Catholic — OCIA
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) at St. Michael is a year-round process welcoming unbaptized adults (Catechumens), baptized Christians seeking full communion (Candidates), and baptized Catholic adults who have not yet received Eucharist or Confirmation. Catechesis formally begins with the Rites of Acceptance and Welcome throughout the year, with the journey culminating at the Easter Vigil for those ready. Meetings are held Saturdays at 8:45 a.m. and Sundays at 11:15 a.m. in the lounge on the second floor of the parish offices next to the church, with breaks for holiday weekends and Easter.
- Year-round OCIA process — meetings Sat 8:45 a.m. & Sun 11:15 a.m.
- Welcomes: unbaptized adults; baptized Christians seeking full communion; baptized Catholic adults needing Eucharist/Confirmation
- Culmination at the Easter Vigil
- Coordinator: Raina Marciano ([email protected])
Adult Bible Study & Vacation Bible School
The parish's Adult Bible Study meets in three different time slots — Monday evenings 6:30–8:00 p.m. (with an optional 6:00–6:30 p.m. potluck), Thursday mornings 10:00–11:45 a.m., and Thursday evenings 6:30 p.m. — opening in prayer, studying Scripture, and offering discussion to deepen members' understanding of God's Word. New sessions are offered each spring and fall. Vacation Bible School, meanwhile, is an annual summer program offering children of the parish and the wider community a fun, interactive introduction to faith.
- Monday evenings with optional potluck (6:00–6:30 p.m.); class 6:30–8:00 p.m.
- Thursday mornings 10:00–11:45 a.m.
- Thursday evenings 6:30 p.m.
- Annual Vacation Bible School for parish and community youth
Liturgical Ministries — Greeters, Servers, Choir, Altar Society
Lay liturgical and hospitality ministries form the backbone of Sunday celebration at St. Michael. Greeters welcome newcomers and parishioners with a warm smile as they arrive for Mass. Altar servers — open to boys and girls who have made their First Communion — assist the priest and deacon at the altar and in the procession of gifts, with periodic training sessions. The Choir is led by TC Long ([email protected]). The Altar Society — open to all women — provides altar bread, wine, linens, and decorations, and also prepares bereavement dinners for grieving families.
- Greeters — first-impressions ministry at the church doors
- Altar Servers — open to boys and girls after First Communion
- Parish Choir directed by TC Long
- Altar Society (bread, wine, linens, decorations, bereavement dinners) — Rosemary Sellers
Hispanic Ministry & Youth Mass
Hispanic ministry is woven through every level of parish life: two of three Sunday Masses are celebrated in Spanish (8:00 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.), Thursday evening Mass and Friday evening Mass are in Spanish, Adoration hours are scheduled in Spanish on Sundays and Thursdays, and the parish runs a bilingual PRE track under the name 'Programa de Doctrina San Miguel.' A Hispanic Prayer Group, coordinated by Blas Onofre, supports this community. A special Youth Mass is offered on the fourth Sunday of the month at the 10:00 a.m. Mass, with an additional Wednesday-evening youth Mass and fellowship once a month during the school year; teens serve as readers, servers, ushers, gift bearers, greeters, and choir participants.
- Hispanic Prayer Group — Blas Onofre, (479) 420-6704
- Bilingual PRE track: Programa de Doctrina San Miguel
- Youth Mass 4th Sunday of the month at 10 a.m. Mass
- Wednesday-evening youth Mass with fellowship during school year
Outreach — Bereavement Dinners & Prayer Chain
Parishioners at St. Michael extend care beyond the parish walls through the Bereavement Dinners ministry, which prepares meals for families who have just lost a loved one or are in a difficult situation (coordinated by Diane Boeckman and Annette Knitting), and through the Prayer Chain, which prays for the needs of the parish, the sick, and special intentions (contact Mary Burdick). Greeters, Altar Society, and the Hispanic Prayer Group also serve parishioners and visitors in moments of welcome and loss.
- Bereavement Dinners — Diane Boeckman & Annette Knitting
- Prayer Chain — Mary Burdick
- Greeters and Altar Society serve in moments of welcome and mourning
Staff & Contacts
Pastoral and office staff are listed on the parish website's Staff page and mirrored by the Diocese of Little Rock. Fr. Rick Hobbs is Pastor. Office staff include Deysi Sandoval (Business Manager), Jennifer Cummins (Secretary), and Angela Long (Coordinator of Religious Education / C-DRE). Lay coordinators include Raina Marciano (OCIA), Blas Onofre (Hispanic Prayer Group), and TC Long (Choir Director). The pastor may also be reached via the parish office phone line, (479) 471-1211.
- Pastor: Rev. C. Richard "Rick" Hobbs, III — [email protected]
- Business Manager: Deysi Sandoval — [email protected]
- Secretary: Jenn Cummins — [email protected]
- Religious Education: Angela Long — [email protected] · 479-471-1211
- OCIA: Raina Marciano — [email protected]
- Hispanic Prayer Group: Blas Onofre — 479-420-6704
- Choir: TC Long — [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael Smythe
Among the early priests mentioned in parish records serving the Van Buren community before there was a resident priest.
- Fr. P. Horan
Among the early priests mentioned in parish records serving Van Buren periodically in the mid-19th century.
- Rev. J. P. Maurel
First resident priest of St. Michael's, serving during and just after the Civil War era.
- Rev. Charles C. Truemper
First resident priest after the 1907 fire; oversaw construction of the 1912–1913 church and built its high altar.
- Rev. Joseph N. Dole
First pastor to reside in the new two-story rectory (built 1949), blessed by Bishop Albert Fletcher on April 4, 1950.
- Rev. William E. Kane
Pastor in June 1974 when the 1949 rectory burned.
- Rev. John F. Davacek
Acquired the present rectory at 1412 North 11th Street in 1976; bought the land for the new church on Pointer Trail.
- Fr. John Choppesky
Pastor during whose tenure construction of the present church began in 1982; church dedicated March 20, 1983.
- Fr. Rick Hobbs
Appointed from administrator to pastor of St. Michael Church by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor (announced April 28/May 2, 2017). Also celebrates Mass in Spanish.