St. Mary Catholic Church
220 North Second Street
Paragould, AR 72450
Phone 870-236-2568
Email: secretary@stmaryparagould.org
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Mass Schedule
Saturday 4:00 p.m.
Thursday 12:00p.m.
Easter Sunday 8:00a.m.
St. Mary Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 9:30 a.m.
Monday 8:00a.m.
Wednesday 6:00p.m.
Friday 8:00a.m.
Welcome to St. Mary Catholic Church
History of St. Mary Church
St. Mary's Congregation, Paragould, was organized by Monsignor John Eugene Weibel, in December, 1883. Since there was no church building in Paragould at the time, the first Mass was celebrated in the Commercial Hotel, which was owned by John Staudt. Soon after its foundation, the small parish began to grow. The Kasper, Springle, and Meistrel families moved to Paragould, and were added to the parish.
Reverend George Gleisner came to Northeast Arkansas and conducted services in Jonesboro, Pocahontas, and Paragould from 1887 to 1889. Father Weibel resumed the pastorate of St. Mary's Church in 1889, bought the location on Second and Highland streets for $300, and erected a frame church for $680.
One year later, 1890, the Olivetan Benedictine Sisters came to Paragould, bought a lot close to the Church, and built a small school and convent. At the time, only seventy-three Catholics lived in Paragould, including the Brinkman, Wrape, English, Staudt, Meistrel, Bleier, Weber, Isler, and Kirchoff families.
The Small school served the parish until 1906, when the present school was built in 1956 at a cost of $10,000. The frame church served until December 13, 1936, when the present $50,000 church building was dedicated.
ST. MARY
Catholic Church and School