News

Religious orders in Arkansas vary in ministries and cultures

Published: May 12, 2007   

Malea Hargett

Father Tom Stehlik, CM, celebrates Mass Sept. 27, 2006, in Morris Hall chapel at St. John Center in Little Rock. Deacon Arnold Hernandez, CM, assists him. The Mass was a celebration of the deacon's 25th anniversary of ordination to the permanent diaconate. Behind his head is a picture of St. Vincent de Paul, founder of the Congregation of the Missions.

Malea Hargett

Father Tom Stehlik, CM, celebrates Mass Sept. 27, 2006, in Morris Hall chapel at St. John Center in Little Rock. Deacon Arnold Hernandez, CM, assists him. The Mass was a celebration of the deacon's 25th anniversary of ordination to the permanent diaconate. Behind his head is a picture of St. Vincent de Paul, founder of the Congregation of the Missions.

Updated Feb. 28, 2008

In addition to the 77 active diocesan and extern priests and 69 active deacons serving in Arkansas Catholic parishes and ministries, men and women religious serve as priests, brothers and sisters across the Diocese of Little Rock.

According to the 2007 Official Catholic Directory, there are 44 religious priests, 30 religious brothers and 232 religious sisters representing a wide variety of religious orders in Arkansas.

For anyone considering a religious vocation, the following list of religious orders serving in the state offers many options to choose from.

*Offers formation in Arkansas

Men Religious

Monastery of Marylake, Little Rock*
Discalced Carmelites (OCD)
Four priests, 1 brother
Superior: Father Ralph Reyes, OCD
Vocations Director: Father Luis Joaquin (405) 235-2037
For more information, call the monastery at (501) 888-3052.

Subiaco Abbey, Subiaco*
Order of St. Benedict (OSB)
25 priests, 29 brothers
Abbot: Jerome Kodell, OSB
Vocations Director: Brother Francis Kirchner, OSB ()
For more information, call (479) 934-1047 or visit http://www.subi.org.

Benedictine Fathers of Conception Abbey (OSB)
Three priests in Arkansas
Based in Conception, Mo.
Vocations Director: Father Albert Bruecken ()
For more information, call (660) 944-2857 or visit http://www.conceptionabbey.org.

Brothers of the Poor of St. Francis (CFP)
One brother in Arkansas
Based in Cincinnati, Ohio
For more information, call (513) 924-0111, e-mail or visit http://www.franciscan-brothers.net.

Clerics of St. Viator (CSV)
One priest in Arkansas
Part of Chicago Province
Vocations Director: Father Dan Nolan, CSV ()
For more information, call (847) 398-1354 or visit http://www.viatorians.com.

Congregation of the Mission (CM) (Vincentian Missionaries)
Three priests, one deacon in Arkansas
Part of Southern Province in Dallas
For more information, call Father Tom Stehlik at (501) 753-9117 or visit http://www.cmsouth.org.

Divine Word Missionaries (SVD)
Three priests in Arkansas
Vocations Office in Epworth, Iowa
Vocations Director: Len Uhal ()
For more information, call (800) 553-3321 or visit http://www.svdvocations.org.

Glenmary Home Missioners (GHM)
Two priests in Arkansas
Based in Cincinnati, Ohio
Vocations Director: Father Steve Pawelk ()
For more information, call (513) 881-7428 or visit http://www.glenmary.org.

Holy Ghost Fathers and Brothers (CSSp)
Six priests in Arkansas
Part of Holy Spirit Provincialate in Houston
Vocations Director: Brother Michael Suazo, CSSp ()
For more information, call (713) 522-2882 or visit http://www.spiritans.org.

Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP)
Two priests in Arkansas
Vocations Office at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Neb.
For more information, call (402) 797-7700, e-mail or visit http://www.fsspolgs.org

Women Religious

Carmelite Monastery of St. Teresa of Jesus, Little Rock*
Discalced Carmelite Nuns/Cloistered Nuns (OCD)
14 nuns
Prioress: Sister Cecilia Chun, OCD
Vocations Directress: Sister Mary Alice Grace, OCD
For more information, call (501) 565-5121, e-mail or visit http://www.littlerockcarmel.org.

Holy Angels Convent, Jonesboro*
Congregation of Olivetan Benedictines (OSB)
44 sisters and four novices
Prioress: Sister Mary Anne Nuce, OSB
Vocations Directress: Sister M. Thérèse Johnson, OSB ()
For more information, call (870) 273-6872 or visit http://www.olivben.org.

St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith*
Order of St. Benedict, Benedictine Sisters (OSB)
67 sisters
Prioress: Sister Cabrini Schmitz, OSB
Vocation Director: Sister Kimberly Rose Prohaska, OSB ()
For more information, call (479) 783-4147 or visit http://www.stscho.org.

Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word (CCVI)
One sister in Arkansas
Based in Houston (Villa de Matel)
Vocation Director: Sister Maura Theriot, CCVI ()
For more information, call (713) 928-6053 or visit http://www.sistersofcharity.org.

Daughters of Charity (DC)
Eight sisters in Arkansas
West Central Province in St. Louis
Vocations Director: Sister Teresa Daly, DC ()
For more information, call (314) 533-4770, ext. 103, or visit http://www.daughters-of-charity.org.

Dominican of the Immaculate Conception (OP)
Three sisters in Arkansas
Part of Provincial House of Justice, Ill.
Promoter of Vocations: Sister Margaret Lekan, OP ()
For more information, call (708) 458-3040 or visit http://www.sistersop.com.

Missionaries of Charity, Calcutta (MC)
Four sisters in Arkansas
Part of Midwest Region in St. Louis
For more information, call Abba House Convent in Little Rock at (501) 663-3596 or the St. Louis regional office at (314) 533-2777.

Missionary Carmelites of St. Teresa (CMST)
13 sisters in Arkansas
Vocations Office at CMST Provincial House in Houston
Vocation Director: Sister Elsa Margaret Galdeano, CMST ()
For more information, call Sister Soledad Arellano, CMST, in DeQueen at (870) 642-8487 or call the Houston Provincial House at (281) 820-8961.

Missionary Catechists of the Poor (MCP)
Four sisters in Arkansas
Based in Monterrey, Mexico
Little Rock Vocation Director: Sister Georgina Machado, MCP ()
For more information, call (501) 603-5346 or visit http://www.misionerasmcp.com.

Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart (MSC)
One sister in Arkansas
Based in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
For more information, call Sister Josefina Gutierrez, MSC, in Fort Smith at (479) 784-9450.

Religious Sisters of Mercy (RSM)
39 sisters in Arkansas
Part of Regional Community of St. Louis and emerging South Central Community
For more information in Arkansas, call (501) 607-0585 in Little Rock, (501) 321-1554 in Hot Springs or (479) 314-6098 in Fort Smith, or visit http://www.sistersofmercy.org

School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND)
Two sisters in Arkansas
Part of Dallas Province
For more information, call Sisters Sylvia Provost or Carol Nishke, SSND, in North Little Rock at (501) 375-7422 or visit http://www.ssnd.org.

Sisters of Charity of Nazareth (SCN)
One sister in Arkansas
Based in Nazareth, Ky.
Vocations Director: Sister Luke Boiarski, SCN ()
For more information, call (740) 859-2946 or visit http://www.scnfamily.com.

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ)
One sister in Arkansas
Part of St. Louis Province
For more information, call Sister Marianne Keena, CSJ, at (314) 678-0315, e-mail or visit http://www.csjsl.org.

Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny (SJC)
One sister in Arkansas
Part of Cluny Provincialate House in Newport, R.I.
For more information, call (401) 846-4757.