The following story first appeared in the Spring 2004 Glenmary Challenge.
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Welcome to Western Arkansas
Enthusiasm, generosity fill Father Neil's first months in Glenmary's newest mission.
By Jean Bach

YOUTH CELEBRATION: Father Neil slices a mammoth submarine sandwich at a youth gathering held during Christmas break.

Last December Glenmary moved into two new mission counties in western Arkansas and two new missions—St. Jude in Waldron and St. Andrew in Danville. Father Neil Pezzulo, the pastor of both missions, is no stranger to Arkansas. He spent three years as associate pastor at Glenmary’s Crossett and Hamburg, Ark., missions before moving a couple hundred miles northwest to Waldron. The Crossett and Hamburg missions were turned back to the Diocese of Little Rock in July 2003.

When he arrived in Waldron, his first order of business was finding a house to rent, which he did. But he had no furnishings.

“Within two days, through the generosity of the community, I had everything I needed to furnish the house,” Father Neil says. One parishioner even made him a complete set of bedroom furniture.

“The people of both communities (Waldron and Danville) have been tremendous with hospitality and welcome,” he says.

Waldron and Danville—located in Scott and Yell counties, respectively—had established Catholic communities when Father Neil arrived. But he is the first resident pastor in Scott County. Both counties meet Glenmary’s criteria for mission need in that they are poor and rural with small Catholic populations.

Since his arrival, he has been busy getting to know both faith communities as well as both counties. In Waldron, the parish consists of about 30 Anglo families, a “very good” religious education program as well as outreach in the greater community, including to the local Spanish-speakers.

Father Neil says he has heard there are over 300 Spanish-speakers who claim to be Catholic living in the Waldron area, but none are registered in the parish.

“We are working to bring awareness to the greater community that I speak Spanish and we’re hoping that will draw some of the Spanish-speakers to the church,” he says.

Drawing Spanish-speakers is not a problem in Danville, 47 miles away. The congregation, which numbers over 100 and meets in a local house, is 100 percent Spanish-speaking.

“The folks in Danville really take the lead in the mission,” Father Neil says. “We also have a 16-member choir who fill the dining room of our ‘house’ of worship each week,” he says. The choir hopes to record a music CD this summer, and Father Neil is helping them arrange for that to happen.

The Danville community is planning for the future. Two acres of land were bought last year with the hope of building a church next year. But the building plan depends on available finances.

Both counties are very poor, Father Neil says, with residents relying on local chicken processing plants for employment. There are several plants in the area which pay “$7-$8 an hour and offer benefits,” he says, adding that there is also a small timber industry. “Folks are making the best out of these tough economic times, but it’s difficult.”

Father Neil is looking forward to Easter when three people will be welcomed into the Church in Danville and one in Waldron. There are plans for an ecumenical Bible school in June and for more outreach to both communities.

“I’ve met so many wonderful people,” Father Neil says. “I look forward to working together to find ways to meet the needs of the community.”

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