The History of St. Mary's Church

Catholicism in Arkansas dates back to when Hernando DeSoto crossed the Mississippi River just below Helena June18, 1541 and established a Catholic presence. However, Catholicism was only a widely scattered missionary work until the 19^th century. From 1817 to 1844 the missionary work was under the labors of the Lazarist priests. In 1820 Phillips County was formed and 1826 Pope Leo VII divided the Diocese of Louisiana, and Helena was then placed in the St. Louis Diocese.

Helena located in Phillips County was at that time the largest city in Eastern Arkansas on the Mississippi River. The city was named in honor of the Miss Helena Phillips, the daughter of Sylvanus Phillips, one of the original owners of the site on which the city was built, and in honor of which the county was named. Nicholas Rightor, a government surveyor surveyed the site in 1821. Helena was noted for many industrial products, the chief among which was hardwood lumber. Helena was the second largest hardwood lumber producer in the world.

The first Catholic Church in Helena was built between Columbia and Franklin Streets and Porter and Perry Streets. An anti-Catholic group, called the "Know Nothings" burned the church in 1854. In 1856 a new frame church was built. Like many other settlements, Helena in her early days had no resident priest. The faithful continued to be attended by missionaries until July 18, 1858 when Right Reverend Andrew Byrne, the first Bishop of Arkansas, appointed Rev. Patrick Behan the first resident priest.

Bishop Byrne wanted to establish Irish colonies and there was a large Irish movement to Arkansas. Many of these Irishmen were from well-to-do families and wanted their children to have a Catholic education. Bishop Byrne requested the Sisters of Mercy establish an educational facility in Helena and in 1857 four sisters of Mercy arrived in Helena to open a convent and day school. To accommodate the Sisters, the Bishop purchased 10 acres in Helena for $10,000. This purchase included the home of Col. Henry L. Biscoe. (Col. Biscoe, one of the early State Legislators, helped write the State's 1834 Constitution and helped Arkansas obtain statehood.) The home provided a splendid view of the Mississippi River and was surrounded by gardens, orchards, and vine arbors.

For the next seventeen years the names of the Pastors who served St. Mary's were Rev. Patrick Behan (July 1858 to May 1859); Rev. P. J. Clark (May 1859 to 1860); Rev. Phillip Shanahan (1860 to 1864); Rev. D. J. Cogan (1864 to May 1868); Rev. Thomas McGiven (May 1868 to November 1868); Rev. Phillip Shanahan (November 1868 to October 1875).

Rev. J. W. Boetzkes served as Pastor from 1875 until 1891 when he died in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on February 28. Before his death he completed a large brick church on the 10 acres near the school which had been previously built on that property. It was a costly but wise undertaking, and had served its purpose well. This building was erected close by the grave of the Rt. Rev. Andrew Byrne who died at Helena, June 10 1862. The remains of this good man were removed to Little Rock by the Rt. Rev. Edward Fitzgerald, Bishop Byrne's successor, and placed under the sanctuary of St. Andrew's Cathedral, November 30, 1881.

Rev. P. F. O'Reilly served as Pastor from 1891 to 1894. Both Catholics and non-Catholics remember the eloquence of Father O'Reilly particularly on the occasion of his speech at the unveiling of the monument of Patrick Cloburn at the city cemetery.

Rev. P. J. Mazaret served as Pastor from 1894 to 1901. When Father Mazaret came he found St. Mary's Church burdened with a heavy debt which by his tireless zeal and energy succeeded paying off in a comparatively short time. Father Mazaret installed the first electric lights. He planned their installation so that they could be first used at Midnight Mass on Christmas, as a practical reminder that this was the hour when the "Light that illumineth every man came unto His own." Because of poor health he was removed to Eureka Springs where he died after a few months illness.

Rev. M. J. Enright served as Pastor from 1901 to 1913. Father Enright had the ceiling and walls of the church beautifully fescoed. This was the greatest improvement to the edifice since its erection by Father Boetzkes.

Rev. P. J. Higgins served as Pastor from 1913 to 1917. During this period the church was furnished with a efficient heating system.

Rev. J. J. McGrath who was resident pastor from 1917 to 1921 built the new commodious rectory adjoining the church. In February 1917 ground was broken and on May 24 the cornerstone was placed in the construction of the new Sacred Heart Academy. Because of wartime the school building was not completed until November. The formal opening of the new building was not held until the following December on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Rev. F. J. Van Oudenhoven attended to the parish work during Rev. McGrath's illness until Rev. J. A. McQuaid took charge in January 1, 1922.

In 1934 construction was begun on a large brick church to replace the smaller 45-year-old church which was razed to make room for the new church. Father Thomas J. Martin chose three virtually unknown people to design and build the medieval type early Christian Church we have today. Father Martin is buried at the northeast corner of the church that became the fulfillment of a lifelong dream as well as a monument to the people whom he loved and served for so many years. Construction was completed in 1936.

Over the years, improved public schooling lowered the demand for a boarding school, and the last boarders graduated in mid 50's. In 1964 day student enrollment started to dwindle and increased costs of maintaining the building grounds continually plagued the school. So after more than 100 years of service to the community, the doors of Sacred Heart Academy were closed in May 1968 and the building sold and razed in 1973. However, the Sisters of Charity donated to St. Mary's Parish the land that is currently used as the church parking lot.

A parochial school, under the Sacred Heart Academy name, operated until 1973 in what is currently the St. Mary's Parish Hall, which is within the shadows of the now bygone relic.

The cornerstone, originally placed on the Sacred Heart Academy grounds in 1917, and railing that was on a second floor balcony of the school were secured by local St. Mary's parishioners as the building was being razed. This cornerstone has been placed on the grounds in front of the St. Mary's Parish Hall with a befitting Italian marble statue of the Sacred Heart. This sight was selected because many of the Academy's functions took place in this building. A dedication of the placement of the cornerstone and the Sacred Heart statue was held on August 15, 1999: the one hundred twentieth anniversary of the Sisters leaving Nazareth for Helena. The dedication was held in conjunction with a reunion attended by persons of all ages who were students at Sacred Heart Academy.