HISTORY OF OUR CHURCH
In the mid-1800's St. Mary of the Springs Catholic Church was founded by missionary priest Father Patrick McGowan. Father McGowan rode from eastern Arkansas to Hot Springs to celebrate Masses in private homes. By May 09, 1869, the parish had grown in number and a small frame church was built at the corner of Central and Whittington Avenues in downtown Hot Springs. This site has been the continuous home of the parish from the beginning.
In 1870, Father Patrick H. Garaghty was assigned as the first permanent pastor. Father Garaghty served the parish for 25 years before his death in 1895 during a small pox epidemic.
The population of Hot Springs tripled by 1887 and the young parish grew as well. A new brick church was built and dedicated by Bishop Edward Fitzgerald. Stained glass windows were donated and a pipe organ was purchased a few years later.
Several pastors served St. Mary's Parish after Father Garaghty's death. On August 17, 1913, Father William J. Carroll was appointed the pastor of St. Mary's. He served for 40 years, earning the nickname, "The Padre of the Valley." During his pastorate he served 13 years as pastor of both St. Mary and St. John the Baptist parishes until they returned to separate status in 1930. Father Carroll had a deep love for Catholic schooling, prompting him to raise and donate $100,000 to St. John's parish for their school. The playground at the school, Carroll Field, is named in his honor.
By 1923, the old brick St. Mary's was torn down and the present day church was erected. The new church was dedicated on May 18, 1924 with a High Mass. Local designer and builder Chris Ledwidge constructed the new St. Mary's Church with a capacity of 600 people. The design included a red tapestry of brick, steel, and stone with a green tile roof surmounted by a stone cupola in the Spanish Mission style. The parishioners also built a rectory on the site.
The grotto with the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace was dedicated by Bishop Albert L. Fletcher on November 21, 1956. The white Carrara marble statue was sculpted in Italy and donated by parishioner Marie Schnebelen. In December 1960, a two-story addition was added at the back of the church along with a conference room, the Carroll Room, on the first floor. The stained glass windows of the seven sacraments were added in 1975.
Monsignor Leo Riedmueller was appointed pastor for St. Mary's parish in 1988 and served for the next 18 years. During his tenure, the first permanent deacon, Joe Harrison, was assigned to serve the parish. A second deacon, Lee Leckner, was assigned to the parish in 2002. Monsignor Leo celebrated his Golden Jubilee on May 22, 1998. In 2001 property west of the church was purchased to add more parking and future growth space for the parish. Following a long illness, Monsignor Leo passed away on January 22, 2006.
In June 2007, Father Erik Pohlmeier, pastor at St. John the Baptist parish, was appointed to serve also as pastor of St. Mary's parish. Father T.J. Hart became associate pastor of St. Mary's parish in July 2007, leading a mission team to the sister church in Haiti in October 2008. This 'shared' pastoral arrangement continued until February 2010. In June 2010, Father William Thomas became pastor of St. Mary's parish. After a battle with leukemia, Father Bill passed away in 2012 following his retirement.
Father Innocent Okore became the pastor of St. Mary's parish on June 29, 2012. Plans to build a new parish hall became a reality with the groundbreaking in May 2013. The parish hall was completed and blessed on June 20, 2014 by bishop Anthony B. Taylor.
The church offices were relocated to this new facility on July 11, 2014. Father George Sanders, a married priest, became the pastor in 2014. In 2019, Father Ravi Gudipalli became the priest after Father Sanders was re-assigned to a church across town.
In the mid-1800's St. Mary of the Springs Catholic Church was founded by missionary priest Father Patrick McGowan. Father McGowan rode from eastern Arkansas to Hot Springs to celebrate Masses in private homes. By May 09, 1869, the parish had grown in number and a small frame church was built at the corner of Central and Whittington Avenues in downtown Hot Springs. This site has been the continuous home of the parish from the beginning.
In 1870, Father Patrick H. Garaghty was assigned as the first permanent pastor. Father Garaghty served the parish for 25 years before his death in 1895 during a small pox epidemic.
The population of Hot Springs tripled by 1887 and the young parish grew as well. A new brick church was built and dedicated by Bishop Edward Fitzgerald. Stained glass windows were donated and a pipe organ was purchased a few years later.
Several pastors served St. Mary's Parish after Father Garaghty's death. On August 17, 1913, Father William J. Carroll was appointed the pastor of St. Mary's. He served for 40 years, earning the nickname, "The Padre of the Valley." During his pastorate he served 13 years as pastor of both St. Mary and St. John the Baptist parishes until they returned to separate status in 1930. Father Carroll had a deep love for Catholic schooling, prompting him to raise and donate $100,000 to St. John's parish for their school. The playground at the school, Carroll Field, is named in his honor.
By 1923, the old brick St. Mary's was torn down and the present day church was erected. The new church was dedicated on May 18, 1924 with a High Mass. Local designer and builder Chris Ledwidge constructed the new St. Mary's Church with a capacity of 600 people. The design included a red tapestry of brick, steel, and stone with a green tile roof surmounted by a stone cupola in the Spanish Mission style. The parishioners also built a rectory on the site.
The grotto with the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace was dedicated by Bishop Albert L. Fletcher on November 21, 1956. The white Carrara marble statue was sculpted in Italy and donated by parishioner Marie Schnebelen. In December 1960, a two-story addition was added at the back of the church along with a conference room, the Carroll Room, on the first floor. The stained glass windows of the seven sacraments were added in 1975.
Monsignor Leo Riedmueller was appointed pastor for St. Mary's parish in 1988 and served for the next 18 years. During his tenure, the first permanent deacon, Joe Harrison, was assigned to serve the parish. A second deacon, Lee Leckner, was assigned to the parish in 2002. Monsignor Leo celebrated his Golden Jubilee on May 22, 1998. In 2001 property west of the church was purchased to add more parking and future growth space for the parish. Following a long illness, Monsignor Leo passed away on January 22, 2006.
In June 2007, Father Erik Pohlmeier, pastor at St. John the Baptist parish, was appointed to serve also as pastor of St. Mary's parish. Father T.J. Hart became associate pastor of St. Mary's parish in July 2007, leading a mission team to the sister church in Haiti in October 2008. This 'shared' pastoral arrangement continued until February 2010. In June 2010, Father William Thomas became pastor of St. Mary's parish. After a battle with leukemia, Father Bill passed away in 2012 following his retirement.
Father Innocent Okore became the pastor of St. Mary's parish on June 29, 2012. Plans to build a new parish hall became a reality with the groundbreaking in May 2013. The parish hall was completed and blessed on June 20, 2014 by bishop Anthony B. Taylor.
The church offices were relocated to this new facility on July 11, 2014. Father George Sanders, a married priest, became the pastor in 2014. In 2019, Father Ravi Gudipalli became the priest after Father Sanders was re-assigned to a church across town.
This triangle is where the round fountain at Central and Whittington is currently located. St. Mary's Church is the building with the steeple on the left.