The Official Newspaper of the Diocese of Little Rock
A Catholic You Want to Know is a monthly series in Arkansas Catholic, featuring some of the individuals and families who make our parishes tick and give back to their families, parishes and communities.
Name: Wendy Saer
Parish: Our Lady of the Holy Souls
City: Little Rock
Age: 69
Family: Husband, Ted; six children; and 12 grandchildren
Why you want to know Wendy: Wendy founded a program called Safety Town back in 1984, and over the years, she has taught thousands of kids in central Arkansas how to stay safe on streets, sidewalks and at home. Every summer she hosts a one-week program for students entering kindergarten or first grade. Since moving to Little More... 
Name: Don Kremer
Parish: St. Joseph Church
City: Conway
Age: 69
Family: Late wife Cherie, who died in 2015; four children
Education: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, General Motors Institute, 1976; master’s degree in business administration, Michigan State University, 1978; master’s degree in theological studies, University of Dallas, 2014; doctorate of ministry, Fordham University, 2022
Why you want to know Don Kremer: For the past 20 years, Don Kremer has been working to make the world a better place by bringing More...
Name: Dayton Myers
Parish: St. John the Baptist
City: Hot Springs
Age: 20
Family: father, David; mother, Darla; sister, Lexi; two nephews
Why you want to know Dayton: Dayton is the deputy grand knight and program director of Knights of Columbus Council #6419 in Hot Springs. He is involved in most of the council’s projects from pro-life fundraising to organizing an annual first responders’ breakfast. Dayton also is in his first year as a Garland County justice of the peace More...
Name: Mary Hunt
Parish: Christ the King
City: Little Rock
Age: 68
Family: Husband, Kevin; three children, Jessica, Jodi and Ryan; and four grandchildren
Why you want to know Mary: Mary Hunt is in her first year as president of Pax Christi Little Rock. She moved to Little Rock with her family in 1993 to take an information technology and services position until she retired from FIS and its predecessors in May 2020. In addition to being a founding member of More...
Name: Lloyd Cambre
Parish: Our Lady of Fatima
City: Benton
Age: 67
Family: Wife, Veronica; two children, Tracy and Mark, one grandchild, three step-grandchildren
Why you want to know Lloyd: He is the state deputy of the Knights of Columbus, who oversees 60 active councils across the state with about 7,300 knights. Since taking the leadership role, he has actively worked to change the perception in the state. He said he would not have joined the organization had he not More...
Name: Connie Boutwell
Parish: St. Joseph Church in Pine Bluff
City: White Hall
Age: 72
Family: Husband Timothy, three adult children, six grandchildren and one great-grandchild
Why you want to know Connie: She is the state regent for the Arkansas State Court of Catholic Daughters of the Americas, an organization of more than 63,000 Catholic women in 1,150 courts (local chapters) across the United States and Mexico. For 25 years, she served as the only female civilian Army construction inspector More...
Name: Paul James
Parish: Our Lady of the Holy Souls
City: Little Rock
Age: 65
Family: Wife, Sarah, married 29 years; three children, Frances, Drew and Caroline
Why you want to know Paul: Paul James grew up in West Memphis, where his family were members of St. Michael Church. As a teen, he was president of St. Michael’s CYO and member of the parish council. He received his law degree in 1982 from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and More...
Name: Joe Giompoletti
Age: 83
Parish: St. John the Baptist, Hot Springs
Family: Widower of the late Mildred Adele Giompoletti, who died in February 2021. He has a stepdaughter, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Why you want to know Joe: Knights of Columbus Arkansas’ Knight of the Year in 2022 is a retired home builder who spends many waking hours helping others through construction and cooking. He is a founding member and the charter grand knight of Knight of More...
Name: Mike Woodrum
Age: 72
Parish: St. Joseph Church
City: Conway
Family: wife of 34 years, Dee Woodrum
Career: 27 years in radio broadcasting full time, working in stations in his native Kentucky, Hot Springs and Conway. He spent another eight years as the “voice of the Wampus Cats” for Conway High School football and basketball. He was a supervisor of the James H. Clark Auditorium at Conway High School from 1998 until his retirement in 2016.
Why you want to More...
Name: Mark Verkamp
Age: 59
Parish: Sacred Heart Church
City: Charleston
Family: wife, Tracy; daughters, Jennifer, Bethany, Emily and Erica; granddaughter, Frances
Why You Want to Know Mark: Mark Verkamp, owner of a remodeling business, was the project manager for the $500,000 renovation of the sanctuary of Sacred Heart Church in Charleston in 2019. He not only built a new altar, ambo, presider’s chair and rebuilt the staircase to the choir loft at Sacred Heart, but also has built liturgical More...
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Name: Alma Stewart
Age: 71
Parish: St. Bartholomew Church
City: Little Rock
Family: Two sons, Christopher (who died March 2015) and Curtis, 39; and one granddaughter, Morgan, 3
Why You Want to Know Alma: Alma Stewart is the kind of parishioner every pastor wishes they had in their church. She grew up in a Baptist family on a farm in Monroe (Monroe County). After graduating from Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College (now the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) in 1972, she moved to More...
Why You Want to Know Beau: Beau Baldwin grew up in Little Rock and Fayetteville and went to the University of Arkansas to study accounting. After he earned a degree and it was time to start his career, he realized how much he “absolutely hated accounting.” He returned to his first love, music, and when the position of organist and director of music at the Cathedral of St. Andrew opened in 2015, he jumped at More...
Why You Want to Know Mary Charlton: Since moving to Fort Smith and joining Christ the King Parish 31 years ago, Charlton has served as a sacristan, lector, eucharistic minister and parish council member. She designs, delivers and sets up the floral arrangements and live plants on the church altars, creates and installs displays at Easter and Christmas and helps tend the gardens at Mary’s Grotto.
Age: 70
Parish: Christ the King, Fort Smith
Family: Husband Mike, three More...
Why you want to know Peggy Bodeman: She grew up one of 12 children in a family that operated a diner in Iola, Kan., which caused Peggy to learn quickly to prepare a meal. Her parents, Joseph and Helen Brough Audley, taught her not only how to cook but made cooking enjoyable. She said all of her family worked in the diner, which served home cooking for their patrons.
She always enjoyed cooking and when she More...
Why you want to know George Franklin “Frank” Klein: After retiring in 2001, Klein completed many maintenance projects at St. Boniface School, including rewiring the school cafeteria. When the school closed in 2019, Klein turned his attention to Trinity Junior High School, fixing its automated clock system and building a white marble sidewalk to the school’s rear parking lot. In 2004, as a member of St. Boniface’s endowment board, he began a football fundraiser that More...
Why you want to know Raymond: Raymond Bertasi feels closest to God in nature. It’s why he has dedicated his woodworking skills to building bluebird houses the past five years to help protect and boost the bluebird population. As a fundraiser for Pax Christi Little Rock, a Catholic peace and social justice group, Bertasi is offering bluebird houses for a minimum donation of $75 to the organization. The Bertasis are close friends and neighbors of More...
Why you want to know David and Sharon Robinson: The Robinsons have visited the McPherson women’s prison unit for about 10 years in Jackson County. The couple, married 41 years, visit incarcerated women typically twice a month, attending Mass celebrated by pastor Father Stephen Gadberry and sharing their faith one-on-one. With the help of their sons, they also mail religious materials once a month to the women. Sharon, a CPA, helps as an accountant for More...
Why you want to know Frances “Fran” Kasemeier: For half her life, she never thought there would come a day when women would have a role in the celebration of the Mass. Then after the Second Vatican Council, which allowed greater participation of the laity — both men and women — she was selected to become the first female lector at St. John the Baptist Church in Hot Springs in 1979.
“I was speechless,” Kasemeier remembered. More...
Why you want to know Virginia Ricketts: Virginia has been sharing her culinary and event planning talents with Fort Smith’s Catholic community for 32 years. She serves as the Parish Life Commission coordinator at Immaculate Conception Church, preparing food for retreats, picnics, pot lucks, receptions and other events. She is the on-site manager for the Center at Trinity’s retreats. She volunteers at Immaculate Conception School and helps St. Scholastica Monastery, catering its alumnae retreats and More...
Why you want to know Deacon John Pate: “Deacon Pate” has served St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers for the past 17 years. He was an accomplished drummer for the Carl Perkins band in Memphis for a short time and now has his set of drums in the Rock and Roll Highway 67 Museum in Newport. At 19, he retired from drumming and went on to graduate with two degrees, an engineering degree from More...
Why you want to know Mary Alyce Shenker: After working as a nurse, including two years in the U.S. Air Force Nurse Corps and then 35 years as a nurse anesthetist, Mary Shenker fully retired around 2011, fulfilling her promise to God: “I promised the Lord when I retired, I would start working for him.” For the past 10 years, she has led a team of about 20 people, about half Catholic, serving a hot More...
Why you want to know Manuel Ordoñez: Trinity Junior High School’s new Spanish teacher aims to inspire students to excel not only in Spanish but in life. In a classroom filled with positive messages, he wears a T-shirt saying, “Never Give Up.”
Growing up during El Salvador’s 12-year civil war, Ordoñez spent much of his childhood indoors. When the war ended, he attended Don Bosco University for three years and worked as a radio DJ and More...
Why you want to know James L. "Jim" Lockwood: The hungry are fed, the sick are cured and families in need get shelter when Jim Lockwood miraculously turns Hot Springs’ trash into cash. Lockwood has held the distinct title of rummage sale chairman for the Knights of Columbus Council 6419 in Hot Springs since 2004. Lockwood is adamant that the success of the program is possible only by the support from the team of volunteers More...
Why you want to know Susej KrisAnn Thompson: For the past two and a half years, she has been the pastoral music director at Our Lady of the Holy Souls in Little Rock, growing the ministry which includes a traditional choir, praise and worship team, special ensemble and a handbell choir.
But her background is rooted in youth and young adult ministry. For about 14 years, she served as a volunteer or staff member in youth More...
Why you want to know Lee Bass: A cradle Catholic and farm boy from Southeast Arkansas, Lee Bass has lived out his faith by rarely saying no when asked to help. Most prominently, he has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity of Central Arkansas the past seven years. He served on the construction team and for a year as interim executive director until March. He is now back on the board of directors. He has helped More...
Why you want to know Christie Powell: For 33 years, Christie Powell has been leading Catholic youth. A native of Morrilton, she was asked by three different priests to get involved with youth ministry and turned them down twice — the third time was the charm. She served as a director of religious education at Sacred Heart Church in Morrilton and taught religion and art at the school, her alma mater. She taught art and More...
Why you want to know Bryan Nguyen: Bryan became a parishioner at St. Vincent de Paul in 1981. Realizing there were other Vietnamese families in the parish who longed for a Mass in their native language, Bryan began working to have one said regularly. Today, a Vietnamese Mass is offered the third Sunday of every month at St. Vincent de Paul Parish with around 50 people attending.
Parish: St. Vincent de Paul
City: Rogers
Age: 64
Family: Married to More...
Why you want to know Mike Ferguson: Ferguson, who converted to Catholicism in 1998, has shared his many gifts and talents with the Catholic Charismatic Conference, playing music with a group for 18 years. In his parish, he has been a substitute musician, Eucharistic minister and religious education teacher. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus fourth degree assembly and Our Lady of the Assumption, Booneville Council. He has helped a number of More...
Why you want to know Aj Smith and Marjorie Williams-Smith: Aj and Marjorie bring spirituality into their work as artists, drawing from their faith. Both have served as professors in the University of Arkansas Little Rock art department, where Aj currently teaches all levels of drawing. Aj is a master printer and his art is in private and public collections, including in the U.S. Library of Congress. Marjorie, who was an art professor for 33 More...
Why you want to know Robert Francis “Bob” Honzik: Bob Honzik has done more in his 20 years in Arkansas for the diocese and his parish than many do in a lifetime. He is dedicated to raising money and volunteering as a trustee with Knights of Columbus Council 10208, where he served in the past as a grand knight. He is currently the director of vocations for the state council. Some of his charitable efforts More...
Why you want to know Debbie Eckert: A businesswoman of more than 30 years, Debbie was inspired several years ago to be more outward in her faith, completing the diocese’s spiritual direction training and being a fixture of Cursillo, Magnificat ministry and Charismatic Catholic activities. Today she gives talks on her faith journey and is working on a book, “Hairspray, Holy Water and the Healing Hand of God.”
Parish: St. Joseph Church
City: Conway
Age: 63
Family: Husband of More...
Why you want to know Karen Flake: For six years, Karen Flake has been the president and CEO of Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock. In the late 1990s, she was co-owner of Flake-Wilkerson Market Insights and sold it in 2007. She founded Karen Flake & Associates of Little Rock in 2009. In 2000, she and her husband John, chairman of Flake & Kelley Commercial, gave back to their community and the Church, including More...
Why you want to know Tom Rohr: Tom was instrumental in acquiring a license to begin a Catholic radio station on the campus of St. Vincent de Paul in 2000. Since 2005, this station, KDUA 96.5 FM, is currently the only radio station in Arkansas that broadcasts Relevant Radio. Out of this ministry, Tom also began a garden ministry that provides fresh, locally grown produce for families in need and those served at the parish More...
Why you want to know Letitia “Tia” Marsh: Tia and Tom Marsh moved to Fort Smith with their four young children in August 1990 and quickly became involved at Christ the King Parish. Tia Marsh directed a children’s choir and taught music at Christ the King School. In 2000, she began substitute teaching at Trinity Junior High School and assisting with its Quiz Bowl program. Four years later, she became the school’s 8th grade religion More...
Why you want to know Deacon Danny Hartnedy: Hartnedy has been teaching religion to seventh- and eighth-grade students at Christ the King School in Little Rock for about 20 years. From the unique student art to saint cards tacked to the ceiling to remind them that they are being watched over, Hartnedy makes sure his classroom is a place where students can learn to take ownership of their faith. A parishioner of St. Edward Church More...
Why you want to know Diane Bausom: Diane has served on the St. Joseph Parish Council in the past, participated in Scripture studies and for five years, she served on the Magnificat service team. For about three or four years, she has taught a six-week forgiveness course, based on the Allen Hunt book, “Everybody Needs to Forgive Somebody.” She is a Eucharistic minister and lector when needed while attending daily Mass. Bausom graduated from the More...
Why you want to know Veronica Frederick: Veronica, who is a database administrator at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, served as Sacred Heart’s youth director from 2002-2014. She has led three mission trips to Esquipulas, Guatemala. She has now transitioned to serving as Sacred Heart’s mission outreach coordinator.
Parish: Sacred Heart
City: Charleston
Age: 51
Family: Married to Jim for 30 years; two daughters, Brook, 26, and Nicole, 22. Brook and her husband Josh have two children, a 5-year-old More...
Why you want to know David and Judy Peters: For about four years, David Peters has been the altar server coordinator at St. Mary Church. With the help of his wife Judy, the two create an environment of teamwork and pride. It is emphasized that they are not just serving; they are “serving on God’s holy altar” and are to be role models of the faith, he said. The Peters reward "their" children, everything from More...
Why you want to know Dorothy Mae Clayborne Gillam: She grew up attending St. Bartholomew School in Little Rock and converted to the Catholic faith while in grade school when “those sweet little nuns talked me into it.” She has remained dedicated to St. Bartholomew Church. For several years, she sang in the choir and made the monthly liturgy schedule. Dorothy and her husband John lead the committee to administer Communion to the sick and More...
Why you want to know Elizabeth Ann “Beth” Boucher: Since becoming a parishioner at St. Joseph Church 19 years ago, Beth has been a co-leader of the Pro-Life Committee, is the respect life contact for the parish and liaison of the parish for Life Choices pregnancy crisis center. She is a member of the Close Knit Faith group, which studies Scripture and knits items for people in need, including nursing home seniors and patients in More...
Why you want to know Dr. Patrick Wolf: Patrick is both a leader and advocate for education policy and serves as distinguished professor and endowed chair in school choice in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Besides teaching a graduate course and a seminar class at UA, he is a national lecturer, has written four books and published more than 50 journal articles on school choice. He continues to More...
Why you want to know Anita Marie Lockwood: Anita helped start Holy Redeemer’s Gift Shop a few years ago and is quick to make sure that anyone asking knows that “the gift shop is a group effort with a lot of people helping.” She is also in her second term as treasurer of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas state board and is active with the church’s candle ministry.
Parish: Holy Redeemer Church
City: El Dorado
Age: 61
Family: More...
Why you want to know Lynda Kaye Barnes: For 33 years, Lynda Barnes has served as the financial secretary of St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home. The Barnes moved to Mountain Home in 1981. Lynda started as the secretary in 1984 and was the only church staff member at the time. She has served under 21 priests and helped work on the church’s first parish directory and census before the digital age of More...
Why you want to know Maria Therese “Tessie” Bell: For 50 years, Tessie has worked at what is now CHI St. Vincent in Little Rock. For most of her career, she has been a surgical nurse, assisting the surgeon and focusing on patient care. Bell graduated from what was then St. Vincent Infirmary School of Nursing as a registered nurse in February 1969, thinking it would be an “interesting career.” She was honored June 5 More...
Why you want to know Angie Elser: Angie, the mother of seminarian Stephen Elser, founded the prayer group MOMMS — Mothers of Major and Minor Seminarians — to pray for the intentions of each seminarian every day. She is an hourly captain for perpetual adoration, a member of the women’s Bible study group “Walking with Purpose,” a founding committee member for the Taste of Faith annual dinner to raise money for seminarians and attends daily More...
Why you want to know Elden Lee Blakely: Elden has been involved in a ministry that serves the homeless in Rogers since its beginning in spring 2016. The “8th Street Motel Ministry,” so-called because of the location it serves, offers a meal, resources and counseling for those who are temporarily without a place to live and for those who continue to struggle with other issues of poverty. Elden serves as a social advocate in the ministry More...
Why you want to know Justin S. White: Justin is one of the founders of a faith formation class for parents and singles eager to learn more about their faith and to be of support to their parish family. He and his wife Kelli also teach a baptism class. He is the co-chairman for St. Edward’s capital campaign and helps with other fund-raising efforts. He is also active in First Choice Pregnancy Center, an ecumenical More...
Why you want to know Pat and Allison Montiel: Dr. Pat Montiel, currently completing his family practice residency, will be the director of Mercy Clinic at Riverview Hope Campus, providing comprehensive services to impoverished people, beginning in August. He is also on his parish council. Allison Montiel, a former nurse and teacher, is a member of Fort Smith Catholic High School Committee and chair of Immaculate Conception’s Catholic Schools Week activities. Together they have led More...
Why you want to know Kathy Webb Kordsmeier:
Kathy Webb Kordsmeier founded what is now called Beacon of Hope Ministry for the bereaved at St. Joseph Church in Conway in 2004. After years of working as a licensed psychological examiner, a series of losses and changes in her life led her to fulfill God’s call of ministry to the bereaved and sick. She became a chaplain, working at Hospice Home Care in Little Rock until More...
Why you want to know Erin and Jason Pohlmeier: Before becoming the principal of St. Joseph School in Fayetteville in 2014, Jason served as principal at St. Edward School in Little Rock for five years. Erin is a stay-at-home mom.
The couple is also the state chairmen for the Arkansas chapter of the Couple to Couple League, the nation’s largest provider of information and training for natural family planning. But more recently, they took on another More...
Why you want to know Jose Perez: Jose is a key to the smooth functioning of the Hispanic choir. The choir sings each Sunday at the Spanish Mass. He also contributes to Hispanic fundraising efforts to benefit St. Edward.
Parish: St. Edward Church
City: Texarkana
Age: 27
Family: Parents, Jose and Maria Perez; three younger brothers and one younger sister
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Arkansas Catholic’s theme this year is “Grow in your Family of Faith.” What are some ways you More...
Why you want to know Chase Logan Hawkins: Chase Hawkins, a cradle Catholic, does not just say he’s pro-life — he takes action. Hawkins has gone with his family throughout the years to pray in front of the abortion clinic in Little Rock and corresponds with a death-row inmate. Along with his mother, he also teaches faith formation to 16 third-graders. Hawkins graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2012 with a More...
Why you want to know Patrick Joseph Sweeney: Patrick Sweeney has been volunteering 21 years with Kairos Prison Ministry, an international ecumenical ministry that addresses the spiritual needs of the incarcerated and their families. Sweeney spends four to five hours at a time visiting with inmates at the Randall L. Williams Correctional Facility in Jefferson County once a month. According to kairosprisonmin istry.org, recidivism rates have lowered in certain areas thanks to the ministry. Sweeney More...
Why you want to know Tamara D’Annette Lynn “Tami” Ashcraft: Tami, raised Catholic, has been active in the Hispanic community and is a registered nurse care coordinator at Ouachita Valley Family Clinic in Camden. She is enrolled in the UAMS College of Nursing Accelerated RN to BSN/MNSc program.
Parish: St. Louis Church, Camden
City: Hampton
Age: 54
Family: Married to Tommy for nine years; three adult children and nine grandsons
IN HER OWN WORDS
Arkansas Catholic’s theme this year is “Grow More...
Why you want to know Fran Louise Searcy: At 21 years old, Fran Searcy joined the Church at the Cathedral, serving in various capacities including still being on the cleaning committee, dusting pews and adjusting the books. In March, Searcy was honored with the 2016 Oldest Volunteer award from the Arkansas Gerontological Society. She has been volunteering at the Maumelle Senior Wellness Center for 11 years, cooking and serving lunch to fellow seniors on Wednesdays. More...
Why you want to know John Curtis Barnes: For 35 years, John Barnes has been director of music, serving as the organist and choir director at St. Peter the Fisherman Church in Mountain Home. Except for the church’s first pastor, Barnes has played for every pastor (nine) whose name appears on the doors of St. Peter and 14 associate pastors. In 2014, he retired from Roller Funeral Home, where he served as regional manager and More...
Why you want to know Annette McCandless: Annette is the director of St. Edward Outreach Center. She has taught religious education to 7- and 8-year-olds for nine years. She prays in the adoration chapel and has served as a Eucharistic minister since 2006.
Parish: St. Edward Church
City: Texarkana
Family: Two grown daughters, Melissa Girdner and Elizabeth Bowman; four grandchildren
IN HER OWN WORDS
Arkansas Catholic’s theme this year is “Grow in your Family of Faith.” What are some ways More...
Why you want to know Belinda Ortner: Belinda, director of religious education and RCIA coordinator for St. Anne Church in North Little Rock, was recognized in January by the Diocese of Little Rock’s Office of Faith Formation for 20 years of service to religious education. Ortner, who was born Catholic in Kansas and was later a “revert” back to the faith, said the close-knit community at St. Anne’s is what she has loved about the More...
Why you want to know the Kellermans: Lifelong Catholics Austin and Laura Kellerman grew up in Texas, about 20 miles apart, but did not meet until college. For the past four years, Austin has been the news director for television stations KARK 4 and Fox 16 in Little Rock. Laura is the community service awards producer for the station on a freelance basis and is a portrait photographer for Lyndsey Sullivan Photography in Little Rock.
Laura More...
Why you want to know Marvin Salinas: Marvin has served as the president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of the Mother Teresa Conference for the past five years. He is also serving in his second year as treasurer of the District Council of the Arkansas Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Born in Managua, Nicaragua, Salinas has seen the face of poverty in his home country. Currently, the society serves 1,000 families each More...
Why you want to know MaryAnn Sladek: MaryAnn spends most of her time volunteering in the community and for the church. After 10 years at Baxter Regional Medical Center she has accumulated about 6,000 volunteer hours and serves on the HOPE (Hospitality, Orientation, Placement and Encouragement) committee. She continues her adoration hour that she started with her husband about 10 years ago every Friday night and quilts for the church. She helps with two blood More...
Why you want to know Dennis: Dennis, a dentist in Pocahontas, is known throughout the Catholic charismatic community for providing praise and worship music during charismatic events. He and his wife Janet also support overseas ministries.
Parish: St. Paul
City: Pocahontas
Age: 65
Family: I have been married to my wife, Janet Baltz Holt, for 43 years. We have four children, Dr. Brent Holt, Denise Holt Dawson, Mark Holt and Luke Holt. We have nine grandchildren.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Arkansas More...
Why you want to know Dr. Milburn Haynes: Milburn is an expert cook and has cooked for numerous functions at St. Edward through the years. He is always willing to provide food when called upon. Milburn is also a dentist with a busy practice, who takes time to gives his services to those who cannot pay.
Parish: St. Edward
City: Texarkana
Age: 65
Family: Wife Mary Catherine, married 44 years; three adult children and four grandchildren
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Arkansas More...
Why you want to know Connie Sue Jones: For 40 years, Connie shared her love of music as a teacher. In June, she retired after 35 years as the Our Lady of the Holy Souls School music teacher where they named the music room in her honor. She also served as the music director at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock for 11 years.
Parish: Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church
City: More...
Why you want to know Allen “Al” Ostergaard: In spite of numerous health problems, Al continues to volunteer every day at the Holy Redeemer Thrift Shop that he started in the parish.
Parish: Holy Redeemer
City: El Dorado
Age: 70
Family: Wife Judi, five grown children and four grandchildren
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Arkansas Catholic’s theme this year is “Worth it.” What investments of time or money have you made to enrich your faith?
I am limited because I’ve got lots More...
Name: Sheila Jane Pursell
Parish: St. Vincent de Paul Church
City: Rogers
Age: 58
Family: Married to husband, Arthur Pursell, for five years
Occupation: Part-time benefits consultant for Colonial Life Insurance
Why you want to know Sheila: Sheila has been involved with the respect life movement for more than 30 years, first becoming active as a college student. Currently, she is the executive director for the Northwest Arkansas Catholic Respect Life Council and has been president since 2010. She is also More...
Name: Richard Millé
Parish: St. Boniface Church
City: Fort Smith
Age: 67
Family: Richard has been married to Judy for 45 years. They have two daughters, Resa Green, and Danielle (deceased); and two grandchildren
Why you want to know Richard: He just completed building and installing a hand-carved ambry (holy oils cabinet) of alder wood in his church. The ambry matches the hand-carved altars that were imported from Germany many years ago. It was blessed at Mass Feb. 15.
In his More...
Name: Christine “Chris” Thomas
Parish: St. Edward Church
City: Texarkana
Family: Married to David Thomas for 34 years; and three children, Andrew, 29; Mark, 26; and Catherine, 18
Why you want to know Chris: Chris uses her many talents to serve the Lord both in her parish and in the community at large. For several years she was a faithful worker in the community garden, a project of several downtown churches to grow food to feed needy people. She More...
Name: Phyllis Garris
Parish: St. Andrew Church
City: Yellville
Family: Husband Larry
Why you want to know Phyllis: With volunteer activities ranging from Arkansas Right to Life, Shoebox Ministry, Operation Rice Bowl, Ministerial Alliance of Marion County and Operation Christmas Child to visiting the sick and serving as a extraordinary minister of holy Communion, the Michigan native and former General Motors assembly line welder is tireless in service to others. Bolstered by study in the diocese’s School of Spiritual Direction, More...
Name: George Hoelzeman
Parish: St. Mary Church
City: Saint Vincent
Family: Wife Cheryl and daughters, Anja and Heidi
Why you want to know George: From a single set of Stations of the Cross plaques carved for a priest friend, George has grown into one of the most sought-after liturgical artists in the country. Largely self-taught, his wood carving and design are on display in churches around the country. In each, the Morrilton native who once discerned a vocation to More...
Name: James Jackson “Jimmy” Rogers IV
Parish: St. Joseph, Conway
Family: Wife Jill and 9-month-old son Jackson Rogers V
Education/career: Bachelor’s degree in environmental science from the University of Central Arkansas; works as an environmental scientist for FTN Associates in Little Rock.
Why you want to know Jimmy Rogers: For approximately four years, Jimmy, 33, has been at the helm of the St. Joseph Community Assistance program, helping to organize meetings and report to the church council. Rogers oversees More...
Name: Silfida “Sil” Gomez
Parish: St. Edward
City: Texarkana
Family: Single
Why you want to know Sil: She is active at St. Edward, serving in the past on the Parish Life Committee, as leader of a Sunday study group and as a volunteer at the Outreach Center. She is now the parish’s youth minister. When she approached Father Paul Worm about getting more involved in the parish, he knew she was an answer to prayer. He said, “I knew More...
Name: Jim Miles
Parish: Christ the King Church
City: Little Rock
Age: 70
Family: wife Patricia; two children, Barbara and Steven; and six grandchildren
Why you want to know about Jim: About 25 years ago, Jim converted to the Catholic faith. Jim has been involved with his parish as a men’s group leader and lector. Additionally, he instills his faith in his company Covenant Medical Benefits in Jonesboro and looks forward every day to helping others.
In his own words:
Arkansas Catholic’s More...
Name: Roberto Regalado
Parish: Immaculate Conception
City: Fort Smith
Age: 38
Family: married to Laura 14 years, father to daughter Brianna, 13; and sons Esel,10, and Christopher 2½.
Why you want to know Roberto: He is the grand knight of Caballeros de Colon (Knights of Columbus) Council 15453, established two years ago and including members of four River Valley parishes: Immaculate Conception, Christ the King and St. Boniface Churches, all in Fort Smith, and St. Michael Church in Van Buren. More...
Name: Manuela Negrete
Parish: St. Edward Church
City: Little Rock
Age: 49
Family: Husband Miguel, married for 23 years; four children, daughters Mary Carmen and Maricruz and sons Miguel Jr. and Isidro
Why you want to know Manuela: A self-taught musician, Manuela is the director of St. Edward’s Hispanic choirs that sing at the parish’s Spanish Masses and various bilingual liturgies throughout the year. In 22 years she’s also become highly sought-after to perform at various Spanish religious events around More...
Name: James “Jim” Pomeroy
Parish: St. Edward
City: Texarkana
Family: Wife Trudy, married 45 years; three adult children; and four grandchildren
Why you want to know Jim: Jim is vice president of mission integration at Christus St. Michael Health System in Texarkana. In that role he has many opportunities to show Jesus’ mercy to needy people both in Arkansas and Texas, including the coordination of charity events.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Arkansas Catholic’s theme this year is “Tools for Discipleship.” What More...
Name: Jean Pappas
Parish: St. Vincent de Paul Church
City: Rogers
Age: 56
Family: Married to Dr. John Pappas for 30 years, two adult children
Why you want to know Jean Pappas: After 10 years of volunteer service and expansion with the food pantry at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Jean, a lifelong Catholic, retired from recruiting, training, scheduling and coordinating volunteers to spend more time with family and broaden her scope of ministering within the Church. Her background in More...
Name: Christine “Chris” Therese Langley
Parish: St. Peter the Fisherman Church, Mountain Home
Family: Husband Bruce, married 43 years; two adult sons and one adult daughter
Why you want to know Chris Langley: Chris has been active in religious education at St. Peter for at least 28 years. As religious education director, she keeps busy as a catechist, VIRTUS parish coordinator, as well as anything the church needs — from designing and developing the new St. Peter website More...
Name: Margie Pullam
Parish: Cathedral of St. Andrew
City: Little Rock
Age: 64
Family: Husband Tom, married for 42 years; two children, daughter Elise Cooley and son Zachary; and three grandchildren
Why you want to know Margie: As chairman of the Docent Committee of the parish Ladies’ Guild, Pullam and her cadre of volunteer docents, or tour guides, show Catholic and non-Catholic groups alike the historical, liturgical and architectural wonder that is the official mother church of the diocese.
In her More...
Name: Taffy Council
Parish: Our Lady of Fatima
City: Benton
Age: 65
Family: Husband Tony, married for 44 years; four children, Kristen McConnell, John Council, Sarah McConnell and Justin Council; six grandchildren
Why you want to know Taffy: A desire for a close personal relationship with Jesus led Taffy to establish a perpetual adoration ministry at her parish. Since then, she has become a recognized authority on the process, helping parishes throughout Arkansas and beyond start or resuscitate their own More...
Name: Guy Riga
Parish: Blessed Sacrament Church
City: Jonesboro
Age: 74
Family: Widowed (wife Martha died in 2009) with four children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Why you want to know Guy: A longtime parishioner of Blessed Sacrament, Guy is an active member of the Knights of Columbus and a volunteer at the Blessed Sacrament School. He admits he is a private person but goes out of his way to help the faculty, staff and students of the school whether More...
Name: Victoria Vieiro Shelton
Parish: St. Edward Church
City: Texarkana
Family: Widowed for eight years (married to the late Marvin C. Shelton Jr.) and one adult son, Hugh
Why you want to know Victoria: As a secretary in the parish office, Victoria serves as a bridge between English- and Spanish-speaking parishioners. She is a native of Caracas, Venezuela, and is fluent in Spanish and English. Father Paul Francis Worm, pastor, said of her: “Victoria has been a great help More...
Name: Rose Marie Mimms
Parish: St. Theresa Church, Little Rock
Age: 59
Family: Married 39 years to Larry Mimms; two children and six grandchildren.
Why you want to know Rose Mimms: Rose is a voice for the voiceless —- the roughly 1.2 million babies killed each year in the United States from abortion. Since the 1990s, her mission has been education on pro-life causes as executive director of Arkansas Right to Life in Little Rock.
In her own words
Why is More...
Name: Kathy Lorince
Parish: Holy Rosary Church
City: Stuttgart
Age: 52
Family: Husband David and son Alan
Why you want to know Kathy: Lorince is the principal at Holy Rosary School and teaches kindergarten and first grade. She is in the church choir and the chairwoman for Gala Circle, which she described as the working women’s altar society. She also administers Communion to the sick and is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma.
In her own words
Arkansas Catholic’s theme this year More...
Name: Rosalyn Pruitt
Parish: St. Augustine Church
City: North Little Rock
Age: 57
Family: Married to Tim for 31 years; and two sons, Tim, 28, and Jordan, 22
Why you want to know Rosalyn: For almost 25 years, Pruitt has been the hub that keeps wheels spinning as director of religious education at St. Augustine Church, an urban parish in North Little Rock. She’s also a driving force behind the Diocesan Council of Black Catholics, planning and implementing events to More...
Name: Deacon Tom Jakobs
Parish: Christ the King
City: Fort Smith
Age: 55
Family: married to Diane for 30 years; one son, Eric
Why you want to know Tom: Deacon Tom Jakobs, who was ordained on Nov. 17, 2012, enjoys the ministry of adult faith formation, RCIA, Theology on Tap and adult classes and guest lecturing for Little Rock Scripture Study on Job, Isaiah and Psalms. His company, Invotek, has been creating technology for disabled people for 25 years. Recently, More...
Name: Betsy McNeil
Parish: St. Vincent de Paul Parish
City: Rogers
Age: 61
Family: Married to Don McNeil for 29 years, widowed for 12 years; three adult children; and seven grandchildren.
Why you want to know Betsy: McNeil works as the “face” of the second largest parish in the diocese as the information coordinator at the church’s front desk. She is the warm smile, kind word and caring voice that greets every parishioner who walks through the doors of St. More...
Name: David Mounsey
Parish: St. Edward
City: Texarkana
Family: Wife Karon, married 41 years; three grown children, Patrick, Benjamin and Katie; and four grandchildren
Why you want to know David Mounsey: Pastor Father Paul Worm says of him: “I appreciate David’s commitment to the parish, which he exhibits in many different ways. I remember the day I arrived at St. Edward’s with my moving van. He was one of the first parishioners to greet me and he helped me More...
Name: Dr. Kevin Forte
Parish: Christ the King
City: Little Rock
Age: 52
Family: Wife Judy, 15-year-old twins, Matthew and Catherine, and mother Agnes.
Why you want to know Kevin: He loves his work as the music director and organist at Christ the King Church in addition to being a radiologist at Baptist Medical Center. On Memorial Day weekend, 26 members of the Christ the King Chancel Choir will travel to New York to perform at Lincoln Center in the More...
Name: Jack Dallas
Parish: Our Lady of Good Counsel Church
City: Little Rock
Age: 86
Family: A widower, Jack has four grown children, daughters Janie Koesy and Jeanenne Dallas and sons Johnny Dallas and Jimmy Dallas; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Why you want to know Jack: In the dozen years he spent in the restaurant business managing The Embers, a famed Little Rock steakhouse, Jack’s sense of hospitality set a welcoming tone for his customers. In the 35 years More...
Name: Theresa Paladino
Parish: St. Joseph Church
City: Center Ridge
Age: 57
Family: Widowed, with no children.
Why you want to know Theresa:
A product of one of the founding families in the area, Theresa was just finishing high school when she was approached to volunteer as church secretary. That was 40 years of evenings and weekends ago. She fills her days as a full-time customer service representative for an insurance company in Little Rock.
In her own words:
Arkansas Catholic’s theme this More...
Name: Veldah Marie Eberwein
Parish: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church
City: Ashdown
Family: Divorced mother of Stephanie Marie, 34, who is the director of religious education at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.
Why you want to know Veldah: Veldah's pastor, Father Paul Worm, said of her: "I don't know what I would do without Veldah in Ashdown. She and her two sisters, Rosemary and Eunace, are mainstays at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and take care of just about More...
Names: Deacon Ronnie Hoyt, wife Sharon and son Tony
Parish: St. Vincent de Paul
City: Rogers
Ages: Ronnie, 50; Sharon, 50; and Tony, 24
Family: Ronnie and Sharon have been married 27 years and have five children, Hillary, Andrew, Tony, Clay and Cameron, and three grandchildren
Why you want to know the Hoyt family: As members of St. Vincent de Paul Church for the past 27 years, the Hoyts have watched their family grow up in the parish. But the More...
Name: Annette Tracy
Parish: Our Lady of the Holy Souls, Little Rock
Age: 50
Family: Husband Tom of 22 years and two children Eryn, 18, and Morgan, 14
Why you want to know Annette: For the past 18 years, Annette has seen the cruelty of which humanity is capable as a crime scene specialist with the Little Rock Police Department and before that as a member of the California Highway Patrol. But regardless of what the day brings, she More...
Name: Rosario Castrejon
Parish: St. Vincent de Paul
City: Rogers
Age: 45
Family: Arturo, husband of 22 years, and two children, Jessica, 20, who is married, and Arturo, 17
Why you want to know Rosario: After leaving California in 2006, Rosario and her family left behind a close-knit parish family to move to Rogers. What they thought might be a vacation turned in to much more. Now, six years later, the couple plans to celebrate Arturo's ordination as a permanent More...
Name: Tom Devine
Parish: Our Lady of the Holy Souls
City: Little Rock
Age: 54
Family: Wife of 32 years, Mary, and four children, Tom IV, Katie, Michael and Megan
Why you want to know Tom: After walking away from a potentially lucrative career as a trial lawyer, Tom has been a fixture in the state's public defender's office for the past 27 years. In so doing, he has stood up for those who could not, due to financial or More...
Name: John Franklin "Duge" Gramlich
Parish: St. Boniface Church
City: Fort Smith
Age: 81
Family: Married to Gertrude 61 years, eight children: Cindy Toth, Debbie Hudson, Charlotte Weisenfels, Dianna Williams, Jeff Gramlich, Jim Gramlich, Maria Lau and Greg Gramlich; 23 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren
Why you want to know Duge Gramlich: Gramlich was recently honored by his parish for a lifetime of service, as a trustee of the Endowment Fund and for his work in parish sports and school programs, missions More...
Full Names: Al Espinda and Kristi Gonzalez
Parish: St. Mary Church in North Little Rock
Home: Sherwood
Age: Al is 62; Kristi is 30
Family: Al is married to Mary and they have five children, Mele, 39, Alika, 37, Alvin Jr., 31, Kristi, and Laura, 28; and eight grandchildren. Their second-youngest daughter, Kristi, is engaged to Joseph Acosta, and she has two sons: Joseph, 7, and Cristian, 3.
Why you want to know Al and Kristi: Al and Kristi are More...
Name: Henry Boeckmann
Parish: St. Peter Church
City: Wynne
Age: 42
Family: Mother, Gerta Boeckmann
Why you want to know Henry: As the parish's office assistant, Henry Boeckmann is ready to help pastor Father Arokiasamy Madhichetty Irudayaraj and administrative assistant Louise Hess with office and liturgical duties. On Sundays he is a lector and extraordinary minister of holy Communion. He occasionally takes Communion to the homebound and sick.
In his own words
Arkansas Catholic's theme this year is “Catholic Beyond Sunday.” How More...
Name: Sam Maranto
Parish: Our Lady of Good Hope
City: Hope
Age: 60
Family: Wife of almost 38 years, Rebecca, and two grown children
Why You Want to Know Sam Maranto: Maranto's influence as church secretary affects everyone in the parish and, as the administrator of the church's food pantry, he affects many outside the parish. Maranto was born with cerebral palsy and is also legally blind. His pastor, Father Alphonse Gollapalli, said, "He overcomes his disability by being active More...
Name: Barbara Wragg
Parish: St. Joseph Parish, Fayetteville
Age: 66
Family: One daughter, Kelly, and her husband, Gene Gangluff; one son, Eliot, and his fiancé, Erin Lowrie; and three grandsons
Why you want to know Barbara: A native of Northern Ireland, Wragg married an Englishman and lived in South Africa for a number of years before the family moved to Arkansas, first to Pine Bluff and 15 years ago to Fayetteville. She began cleaning at the church a decade More...
Name: Marianne McElyea
Parish: St. Theresa Church, Little Rock
Age: 62
Family: Husband of 42 years, David; one daughter, Natasha; and one granddaughter, Mia.
Why you want to know Marianne: A native of the Netherlands, Marianne came to the United States with her native Arkansan husband in 1971. After his conversion to Catholicism, she looked for a way to give thanks through action for his entering the Catholic Church. She chose teaching and has been involved with the faith More...
Full name: Verdell Bunting Jr.
Parish: St. Bartholomew Church in Little Rock
City: Sherwood
Age: 38
Family: Verdell has a goddaughter, Hannah Jenkins. Father Warren Harvey of Pine Bluff is his cousin.
Why you want to know Verdell Bunting: Since 2008, he has served as president of the Diocesan Council for Black Catholics. He has been a member of St. Bartholomew Church for almost 30 years, where he serves as extraordinary minister of holy Communion, sings in the adult choir, More...
Full name: Chrys Capshaw
Parish: St. Edward Church
City: Texarkana
Family: Chrys and attorney Don Capshaw were married in 1975. They have two grown children, Kyle Capshaw and Meredith Santucci, and two grandchildren.
Why you want to know Chrys Capshaw: A former public school fine arts teacher, Chrys has been one of St. Edward's organists since 1972, and for many years also served as choir director. She has been involved in many other activities at St. Edward and takes More...
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