About St. Michael · West Memphis, Arkansas
St. Michael Church is a Roman Catholic parish in West Memphis, Crittenden County, Arkansas, part of the Diocese of Little Rock's North Delta Deanery. The parish serves West Memphis and also attends Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in nearby Crawfordsville from its rectory. It is currently pastored by Fr. Gilbert Tairo, CSSp, a Spiritan (Holy Ghost Fathers) priest, and shares its campus with St. Michael Catholic School, a PreK3–5th-grade elementary school founded in 1936 that is celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2025–26.
- Established
- 1936
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Fr. Gilbert Tairo, CSSp
- Diocese
- Diocese of Little Rock (North Delta Deanery, Crittenden County)
Why belong here
St. Michael is a welcoming, mission-minded parish in the Arkansas Delta where the same Spiritan pastor serves multiple small communities, meaning parishioners are known personally and supported by a tight-knit staff. It pairs vibrant liturgical life — daily Mass, weekly Confession, two weekly Eucharistic Adoration hours, and a Saturday Vigil — with a parish school (PreK3 through 5th grade) that has been forming young Catholics since 1936 and is currently celebrating its 90th anniversary. It's a great fit for Catholic families in West Memphis and Crittenden County looking for faithful teaching, traditional devotions, and a parish rooted in the Magisterium.
Mass times at St. Michael
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 – 4:45 p.m.
- Sunday 10:00 – 10:25 a.m.
Adoration times
- Tuesday 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Saturday 4:00 p.m.
Parish Identity & Location
St. Michael Church is the Catholic parish serving West Memphis and Crittenden County in eastern Arkansas, part of the Diocese of Little Rock's North Delta Deanery. The parish address is 411 N. Missouri Street, West Memphis, AR 72301, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 899, West Memphis, AR 72303, and the rectory located at 208 W. Cooper Avenue. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The parish also attends Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Crawfordsville, sharing the same pastor (Fr. Gilbert Tairo, CSSp) and secretary (Gladys Hampton).
- Location: 411 N. Missouri St., West Memphis, AR 72301
- Mailing: P.O. Box 899, West Memphis, AR 72303
- Rectory: 208 W. Cooper Ave., West Memphis, AR 72301
- Office Hours: Mon.–Fri. 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Phone: (870) 733-1212
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese: Little Rock — North Delta Deanery (Crittenden County)
Pastor & Parish Staff
St. Michael is pastored by Fr. Gilbert Tairo, CSSp, a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans / Holy Ghost Fathers). Fr. Tairo was ordained May 8, 2010, was appointed to the Diocese of Little Rock on July 1, 2015, and his birthday is December 15. According to the Arkansas Catholic, Fr. Tairo pastors four parishes in the Arkansas Delta, celebrates 12 Masses weekly, oversees a school, maintains administrative office hours, and ministers in state and federal prisons.
- Pastor: Fr. Gilbert Tairo, CSSp (Spiritan / Holy Ghost Fathers)
- Parish Secretary: Gladys Hampton
- OCIA Coordinator: Libby Burroughs
Sacraments & Faith Formation
The parish celebrates the standard sacraments and provides ongoing faith formation through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), coordinated by Libby Burroughs. Confession is available before each weekend Mass (Saturday 4:00–4:45 p.m. and Sunday 10:00–10:25 a.m.), and Eucharistic Adoration is offered on Tuesday mornings and Saturday afternoons.
- OCIA (adult initiation) — contact: parish office
- Confession: Saturday 4:00–4:45 p.m. and Sunday 10:00–10:25 a.m.
- Eucharistic Adoration: Tuesday 11 a.m.–1 p.m.; Saturday 4:00 p.m.
- Holy Day Mass: 6:00 p.m.
St. Michael Catholic School
St. Michael Catholic School has been forming young Catholics in West Memphis since 1936 and is currently celebrating its 90th Anniversary (1936–2026). Located next door to the parish at 405 N. Missouri Street, the school serves PreK3 through 5th grade. The school describes its mission as faithful to the Magisterium and committed to modeling Christian virtues, promoting the spiritual, intellectual, and emotional growth of each student, and perpetuating the legacy of Western tradition. The faculty averages 24 years of teaching experience and roughly a third hold master's or doctoral degrees. St. Michael's is a member of the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education.
- Established 1936 — celebrating 90th Anniversary (1936–2026)
- Address: 405 N. Missouri St., West Memphis, AR 72301
- Phone: (870) 735-1730
- Principal: Dr. Michael Beauregard
- Secretary: Jo Ann Vega — [email protected]
- Grades served: PreK3, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Diocesan/Parish school, Diocese of Little Rock
- School website: stmichaelwm.com
School Mission & Curriculum
In the school's own words: "St. Michael's School is a Catholic institution, and in its devotion to the Church and her teachings, its mission is to be faithful to the Magisterium and to model a life consistent with Christian virtues." The school emphasizes academic excellence, knowledge, and the perpetuation of the Western tradition, and welcomes families of all backgrounds into its supportive community. It views the family, the Church, and the school as a trinity working together in the sanctification of youth.
- Faithful to the Magisterium
- Christian atmosphere promoting spiritual, intellectual, and emotional growth
- Academic excellence rooted in Western tradition
- Member: Institute for Catholic Liberal Education
Sacred Heart of Jesus — Crawfordsville (Mission Parish)
St. Michael also provides pastoral care for Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Crawfordsville, also in Crittenden County. Sacred Heart's Sunday Mass is at 8:30 a.m., Confessions are heard before Mass, and Adoration is offered Friday 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. The Crawfordsville parish shares the same pastor (Fr. Gilbert Tairo, CSSp) and secretary (Gladys Hampton) and uses the same mailing address (P.O. Box 899, West Memphis, AR 72301).
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Church — 216 S. Main St., Crawfordsville, AR 72327
- Sunday Mass: 8:30 a.m.
- Holy Days: as announced
- Confession: before Mass
- Adoration: Friday 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Attended from St. Michael Church, West Memphis
90th Anniversary (1936–2026)
During the 2025–2026 school and parish year, St. Michael is marking 90 years since the founding of its Catholic school. The school website highlights an Opening 90th Anniversary Mass and other commemorative events, alongside a 90th Anniversary fundraising campaign through BetterWorld. The parish website (stmichaelwm.com) frames the anniversary as a moment to thank divine grace and the loyal friends and families who have sustained the parish's educational mission across nine decades.
- Anniversary span: 1936–2026
- Opening 90th Anniversary Mass celebrated
- 90th Anniversary fundraising campaign active (BetterWorld)
- School summer office hours: Tuesday–Thursday, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.