Mission and Memory: A History of the Catholic Church in Arkansas

From the introduction by Andrew McDonald, Bishop of Little Rock In June 1541, De Soto and his men, together with less than a dozen Catholic clergymen, arrived in what is now the state of Arkansas. Later, missionaries, pioneers, and immigrants endured the perilous journey from foreign lands to come to America and Arkansas. They came to the state not bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but bearing the gifts of Faith, Hope, and Charity, virtues inspired by their Catholic Christianity. This story is really a story representing these virtues. It took a great deal of faith to come to America and Arkansas. Even more faith was needed to preserve the faith of the forebears in their new environment. They labored with hope that their lives in this new world would provide themselves and their children more freedom and opportunities. They also practiced charity, as they shared their love and concern with their neighbors of different religious faiths. As the pages of our history unfold, read them in the spirit in which they were lived and in which they were written. Read these pages with a generous heart and with the courageous spirit of those who first came to Arkansas bringing their great gifts of FAITH, HOPE, and CHARITY.