About Us

The Saint Pio da Pietralcina Community has been serving Catholics of Northern Arkansas and Southern Missouri for 10 years.  It is one of only two F.S.S.P. apostolates in Arkansas. 

Traditional Latin Mass is offered almost daily in this community according to the rubrics prescribed in the 1962 Missal.  The chaplain is on call anytime for confession or other sacraments if necessary.

Many of the members of the Community are active in all of the functions necessary for the proper celebration of the Mass.  Most of the boys in the community are altar boys.  Many of the girls are in the choir, and several men contribute their talents by singing in the schola.  In general, everybody in the community contributes in his own special way to the worship of God in the Mass.

The community also includes three smaller specialized groups.  The first of these is the Knights of the Altar, the society that is made up of the altar boys in the community and headed by the chaplain and the sacristan.  This group is dedicated to seeing that every Mass is well-served and that all the boys are properly trained to serve the mass.  The second is the Little Flowers, a group made up of the girls of the parish under the age of thirteen.  This group is dedicated to enriching the minds and hearts of the girls in the community.  Finally, the third group is the Ladies’ Sodality, made up of the women and young ladies of the community.  This group is dedicated to such tasks as cleaning the altar linens, repairing them if they need repair, caring for the chaplain’s clerical garb, etc. 

The current Chaplain is Fr. Laurent Demets, a French priest who has the utmost concern for the souls that are entrusted to him and not only delivers thought-provoking and highly spiritual homilies, but also has led several retreats for men, women, and the Knights of the Altar. 

The current Sacristan is John C. Kazyak, Sr.  He has held this position for about two years.  He was a Knight of the Altar when he was a boy, and as such has a great love for the Latin Mass.  He expects the best service possible from the Knights of the Altar and often trains the boys himself. 

The current schola director is Robert W. Clayton, a native of Northeast Arkansas.  Mr. Clayton spent several years in the seminary and is well trained in Gregorian chant.  He also serves the community as an organist.

The current choir director is Emily Byrne.  She has held this position for over two years.