On Thursday, the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock declared that it will construct a college seminary on the site of the St. Joseph’s orphanage, which had suffered significant damage from a fire in March.
The St. Joseph Center of Arkansas, a nonprofit urban farm that has been on the land since 2010 and has grown to become a focal point of the expanding urban farming, education, and conservation community movement in Central Arkansas, will be forced to relocate as a result of the ruling. The St. Joseph Center has had a long-term lease to administer the property since 2010, but the diocese ended the Center’s lease a few weeks ago, which may indicate that the diocese had different ideas about what to do with the site.
After a horrific fire collapsed the roof of the ancient orphanage building in March, the diocese had earlier made the decision to demolish the structure due to the high expense of repairs and renovations.
In a release, Bishop Anthony Taylor stated, “I know this news will excite many throughout the state and cause sadness for others.” However, after much deliberation and prayer, I am certain that this is the finest use of this property and the money we have available, one that will ultimately benefit everyone in the Diocese.
In addition to meeting an urgent need, the new seminary project, according to the bishop, offers a vision and the possibility of significant future cost savings. I pray that our Diocese will benefit for many years to come from this fresh perspective that has been born out of suffering.
According to Taylor, the decision was made by the diocese since its present seminary is just too small to accommodate all of the seminarians. In remembrance of the former orphanage and the ministry history on the property, the new college will be called St. Joseph College Seminary. According to Taylor, there would be no need for a capital campaign because the diocese would use the insurance money from the fire to establish the new seminary. The 63-acre land would be used exclusively for the seminary and future requirements of the diocese.
St. Joseph Center has been given six months until January 31, 2026, to leave the site and remove all of their crops, animals, and other belongings.
Taylor wrote to Sandy DeCoursey, the executive director of the St. Joseph Center of Arkansas, saying, “It goes without saying that I know this news will be upsetting and disappointing to you and to many who have given so much to this property over the last 15 years.” However, the primary goal of the initial agreement with SJCA [St. Joseph Center of Arkansas] was to conserve and enhance the building rather than other developments on the property, no matter how advantageous or helpful they may be.
Taylor stated, “I have a duty to the people of the Diocese to proceed with this property in a direction that benefits our entire Diocese now that the historic building is not salvageable.” I want to express my gratitude to you and SJCA for all of the hard work you have done over the years, and I wish you luck as you move your operations in order to have a successful future.
The intention to construct a new seminary was revealed earlier Thursday in an article in the Arkansas Catholic newspaper, although it was unclear if this would require moving the farm.
Despite the heartbreaking news, DeCoursey told the Arkansas Times over the phone that the center will somehow manage to continue running their farm and other programs on a separate land.
She bemoaned the limited timeline for relocating the operations and stated that she would be discussing future plans with the organization’s board.The center said in a Facebook post that they first learned of the news Thursday morning and expressed their shock, disappointment, and sadness that SJCA’s remaining farming, education, and community outreach initiatives could not continue to support the new seminary. Why the farm and a new seminary couldn’t live together on the same property was a common question in the post’s comments.
St. Joseph Center of Arkansas raised more than $100,000 from the local community to rebuild after the March fire. The group just organized the annual Fat Cow 5K run, but they also host a weekly farmer’s market where local farmers may sell their wares and a near-daily farmstand where residents can purchase fresh fruit.The St. Joseph Center of Arkansas accepts donations.
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