The Parish: 1947-1960
In 1947, following the death of Bishop Morris and the accession of The Most Rev. Albert L. Fletcher, D.D., the former Auxiliary bishop, as the fourth Bishop of Little Rock, the mission was erected as the parish of Our Lady of Holy Souls (in Purgatory) on August 22, the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

At the same time, Monsignor Allen was transferred from the Cathedral rectorship to begin a remarkable 40-year tenure as pastor of the new parish which embraced all of Pulaski Heights, Hillcrest and Stifft Station but was open-ended to the west.  The first assistant pastor was The Rev. Francis J. Janesko.  He and Monsignor Allen resided at 802 Center Street in downtown Little Rock and commuted by automobile to serve the parish until a rented house at 4915 Hillcrest became the parish  rectory in January 1948.  The parish priests remained at this address for the next five years.

A Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) was formed on September 19, 1947 and all school-age parishioners were enrolled.

Two months after erection of the parish, 86 women parishioners organized an Altar Society that continues today as one of the parish's main support groups

Meanwhile, Bishop Fletcher opted to abandon Bishop Morris' choice of the Cathedral rectory as his residence, and he and his secretary, The Rev. (later Monsignor) John M. Bann, became residents of Holy Souls parish when the diocese purchased a fine home on Crestwood Drive in Pulaski Heights as the Bishop's residence.

All the while, the parish's population had been growing as the convenience of a local church attracted more Catholic to the prettier environs of Pulaksi Heights from other sections of the city.  Parish activities grew apace.  "circles" of parishioners were created by Monsignor Allen to promote social and fund-raising activities.  Pastoral responsibilities  grew to the point where Bishop Fletcher assigned a second assistant pastor to the parish - Father John C. O'Dwyer.

(Over the years, Monsignor Allen and Holy Souls parish were used by the bishop to provide "field training" for numerous newly-ordained priests).

Four years after the erection of the parish, it became necessary to expand the church, and in 1951, an east transept wing was added.  Two years later, parish growth necessitated addition of a west transept, increasing the church's seating capacity to 425.

Addition of the west transept to the church was part of a spectacular expansion of the parish plant.  In 1953, generous contributions from enthusiastic parishioners financed construction of a buff brick, two-story convent at the northeast corner of Tyler and "H" Streets, further expansion of the school, provision of off-street parking, improvements to the playground, and rental of a rectory closer to the church.  The new rectory was a rented house at 914 North Harrison Street, around the corner from the church.

Meanwhile, in My 1953, Holy Souls Church and School sponsored the first two-day retreat for eighth grade students in history of the Diocese of Little Rock.  It was conducted by The Rev. (later Msgr.) George W. Tribou, a teacher (later principal) at Catholic High School for Boys. 

The parish of Our Lady of the Holy Souls was rapidly becoming the most populous in the diocese.  Deep religious conviction, too, continued growing and the parish already had several young men studying at St. John's Home Missions Seminary for ordination to the priesthood, and over the years would send several young women to the convent and one young man to the brotherhood.

The Marian Year was inaugurated in the parish on January 15, 1954 with the dedication of its shrine honoring Our Lady of Confidence (also known as Our Lady of Good Hope), a devotion dear to the heart of Monsignor Allen.  Installed above the shrine's side altar at the front of the church was a duplicate in oils of the original "Madonna della Fiducia", the renowned painting preserved in the chapel of the Pontifical Roman Seminary where Monsignor studied and was ordained in 1931.

(The copy obtained by Monsignor Allen was the work of a Franciscan Missionary Sister at the order's Motherhouse in Rome.  Italian artisan made the ornate frame, wrought in bronze, plated in gold, and shaped to form rays of light emanating from a circle of clouds).

The two new wings of the church were blessed by Bishop Fletcher in solemn ceremonies April 30, 1954, and the stunning growth of the parish was reflected in the standing room only congregation that overflowed the church.

A program of school tuitions was instituted in 1954 at the behest of the diocese.  Bishop Fletcher and his education advisors determine that voluntary contributions to Sunday collections were insufficient to cover the cost of maintaining a diocesan school system.  Previously, as in other Catholic schools in Arkansas, Holy Souls had charged no tuition for parishioners' children, but $3 per month for each child from another parish.

(For many years, it was diocesan policy that all Arkansas Catholics send their children to parochial schools, if such schools were available, aw well as to Catholic high schools where they existed.  This requirement was in obedience to the old Code of Canon Law and was enforced both by Bishop Morris and Bishop Fletcher).

Parish pride swelled on June 16, 1954 when the first son of Holy Souls was ordained to Jesuit priesthood.  He was The Rev. James E. Browning, S.J., son of Dr. and Mrs. Harry Browning.

A year later, on May 28, 1955, a second son of Holy Souls was ordained for the diocesan priesthood when Bishop Fletcher conferred Holy Orders on The Rev. Joseph M. Biltz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Biltz.  (Father Biltz later earned his doctorate in moral theology and served the diocese for many years as director of its post-Vatican II Department of Justice and Peace. ...)

In the late 1950s, Monsignor Allen activated a parish Confraternity of Christian Doctrine and assignee done of his assistant pastors, The Rev. Edward E. Simpson, to direct it.  Small neighborhood discussion groups were organized, all of them meeting regularly to study the Holy Bible and teachings of the church.  Father Simpson made the rounds of these sessions, held in private homes.

Two years before the end of the decade, an extraordinary proposal was made to Monsignor Allen that ultimately brought the parish to national acclaim.  Mrs. Edwina Taylor recommended that the parish sponsor a non-denominational school for exceptional children because there were no educational facilities anywhere in the region for children with mental of physical handicaps.

Monsignor admitted later the he first told Edwina, "I think you're crazy," but her persistence led him to consult religious and secular educators and they confirmed the urgent need for an exceptional school.

For weeks Monsignor prayed for guidance and meditated on the subject, and finally he told Edwina she could undertake the project provided she did not expect financial support from the parish.

A census by Mrs. Taylor and a few collaborators revealed the extent of the need and with this information a schedule of tuitions was established, and Holy Souls School for Exceptional Children was founded in a parish-owned house at 5315 "H" Street, across the street from Holy Souls Parochial School.

It was the first such parish-level school in the United States.  Children from all parts of central Arkansas were enrolled.  A Parent-Teacher Organization was formed with Edwina Taylor as its president.  Mrs. R.O. Bachmann was hired as the school's first supervisor and Mrs. Dorothy Magruder, a registered nurse, became her assistant.  The P.T.O. immediately undertook a continuing program of fund-raising projects to meet the exceptional school's expenses.

Suggestions for equipment and setting up the original program were make by Roger Warner and Dr. Gerald Bensberg at the Child Development Center.

Vocation wise, 1959 was a banner year for the parish.  On May 7, Bishop Fletcher ordained another native son to the priesthood -- The Rev. Bernard E. DeBosier, son of Mr. and Mrs. D.V. DeBosier, son of Mr. and Mrs. D.V. DeBosier, and on November 13, at New Subiaco Abbey in Subiaco, Arkansas, still another native son, Brother Anselm Allen, O.S.B. (not related to Monsignor Allen) made vows as a Benedictine monk.  He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell N. Allen.