In 1907 the first Mass in Arkadelphia was celebrated by Father Matthew, a Missionary priest, at Mrs. Mackey's Boarding House.

    The next record of the Holy Sacrifice being celebrated is during World War II, when Rev. John M. Blann, Secretary to His Excellency Bishop Albert L. Fletcher, celebrated Mass at Henderson State College for the Catholic soldiers who were attending classes there. There were only a few Catholic residents in Arkadelphia at that time.

    After the war, Mass was discontinued, and the faithful traveled to Hot Springs, 30 miles away, or to Malvern 26 miles away, to fulfill their religious obligations.

    By 1948 the Catholic population had increased to about 25 and the Rev. Father Charles Diamond, who was in charge of the mission at Malvern, arranged to resume the celebration of the Mass at Henderson College.

    In September of 1949, Father Louis Stemac was appointed pastor of St. John the Baptist parish in Malvern, as resident priest. On June 1, 1950 the parish was established as a movable parish and its pastor constituted as a movable pastor. Arkadelphia was a mission attached to the parish.

    In 1947, the Catholic women of Arkadelphia and Gurdon met and organized a local chapter of the Alter Society;. Because of their hard work and unyielding spirit, it can truly be said that "upon this foundation" St. Mary's Church was built. The love of God, each other and a burning desire to see a house of worship in Arkadelphia, carried them, Father Stemac and all the parishioners down many rocky paths to the fulfillment of their dream. To this group of dedicated women all parishioners, past, present, and future are forever indebted.

    By 1950 Mass was being said every Sunday at the National Guard Armory and catechism classes were being taught, first by Father Stemac and later by the ladies of the parish.

    About this time, the Reynolds Aluminum Co. opened a new plant at Gum Springs and this increased the number of Catholics in the region. It was this growth that gave rise to thoughts of providing a Mission Church for Arkadelphia.

    Fund raising activities were started by the Arkadelphia - Gurdon parishioners in October of 1952 and by February 27, 1954 the property on Logan Street was purchased from Emma Moore O'Neal and Emma Sue O'Neal Steele. Then permission was secured from His Excellency the Most Rev. Albert L. Fletcher, Bishop of Little Rock, to move the Catholic Church from Stamps, Arkansas, eighty miles southwest of Arkadelphia to the Logan Street Site.

    On August 16, 1954 the little church building, St. Mark's to the people of Stamps, was moved by Payne Bros. and the next day construction and renovation was begun by the Ed Mooney Construction Co. of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Although the work was not completed until October 9^th, Father Stemac celebrated the first Mass in the new church on September 5, 1954. At this one there were 40 adults and 25 children in the Arkadelphia - Gurdon parish.

    Because the work of moving and renovating the church was Marian Year activity, the parishioners, through Father Stemac, petitioned Bishop Fletcher to name the church St. Mary's honoring the Blessed Mother under the title Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Bishop thought such would be fitting and gave his consent. But as time passed, the full title was dropped and the church became "St. Mary's" to everyone.

    The new church was dedicated on Thursday afternoon March 17, 1955 by His Excellency Archbishop William D. O'Brien of Chicago, followed by a Solemn High Mass. This, in turn, was followed by the Confirmation of a class of 18 adults and children, administered by Bishop Flectcher. After the services a banquet was served at the Caddo Hotel for the clergy, guests and parishioners. Father Stemac was succeeded in 1959 by Father Joseph Quinn. During his pastorage the stained glass windows, that are now in the new church, were installed.

    Father Quinn was succeeded in May, 1963 by Father James P. McDonnell who served for only three months. He was succeeded in August, 1963 by Father John Kettler.

    On August 17, 1966, Father John J. McDaniel was appointed to serve the faithful. During his pastorate the altar was turned for Mass to face the people and the house on the corner of 14^th and Logan streets, now used as the parish activity center was purchased from the S. G. O'Neal estate (Jan. 1970).

    Under the caring hands of Father John Doyle, who came to St. Mary's in 1970, the parish family grew I faith and numbers. It was during his pastorate that the Parish Council was organized.

    In succeeding years, 1972-1975, Fathers Edward Simpson and Louis Cooper served the people of St. Mary's. It was during this time that the faithful began to talk and plan for a new and larger church.

    On a hot sunny Sunday morning (Summer of 1974) Father Cooper asked that all those interested in building a new church stay after Mass for a meeting. About a dozen members remained and the first seeds of a new growth were planted.

    On January 10, 1975, Bishop Andrew J. McDonald, who became episcopal head of the Little Rock Diocese in September of 1972, came for a visit. He met with the members of the congregation, after a Mass concelebrated with Father Cooper, for supper and to discuss plans for a proposed new church building.

    In the ensuing eighteen months, Father John Riddell, who came to St. Mary's in November of 1975, Bishop McDonald, the members of the Parish Council, the Women's Christian Society (formally Alter Society) and all the congregation worked and prayed. But when they learned of the generous gift from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Fogarty of Miami Shores, Florida came to their cause they knew that it was not the work of man but of the Holy Spirit, that had fulfilled their dream.

    The first Eucharistic Ministers, Mr. Joseph Fhaerty and Mrs. Kay Hooseman, were installed on March 7, 1976.

    On June 6, 1976, the Bishop came to Arkadelphia and turned the first shovel of earth to launch construction of the new St. Mary's. The old church had been vacated and the parishioners were meeting on the church grounds between the parish house and the church to celebrate Holy Mass with or when the weather was wet and cold they met in the house. There was mixed emotion of tears and smiles among many of the people when the Bunn Construction Co. of Hot Springs came to demolish the old St. Mary's.

    In the following months the people went to Mass and watched the Harrington Construction Co. of Arkadelphia, make a reality of all the architectural drawings and instructions.

    On February 27, 1977, Bishop McDonald, assisted by Father Riddell, officiated the dedication of the new church under the title, St. Mary's Church, "Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes." When Mr. and Mrs. Fogarty presented their gift to the parish they requested this title and that a grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes be erected on the church grounds. The grotto was built at the same time the church was, but was not completed until May 1978. At that time the Bishop returned to celebrate the occasion with an outdoor Mass for the people. That statues of St. Bernadette and the Blessed Mother that are in the grotto came from Italy.

    The Knights of Columbus was organized on June 5, 1977 under the official title, "Pope John XXIII Council no. 6942". There were 22 members.