Don and Anne Dierks

Don and Anne have been married 53 years and have lived inHot Springs Village since 2002, although the Dierks family originally owned the forest area encompassing the Village and sold it to Cooper in 1970.  They have 4 children and 14 grandchildren.

Don has been a Eucharistic Minister, lector, usher and served on the Parish Council.  He was a Eucharistic Adorer in Hot Springs and is one now at Sacred Heart.  For 10 years Don was the Director of Finance and then Executive Director of Christopher Homes of Arkansas, a Ministry of the Diocese that provides housing for the very low income elderly.  He is also the author of a book on the history of Hot Springs Village entitled “Full Circle 1957 to 2002.”

Anne has sung in the choir, been a cantor, Eucharistic Minister and lector, and taught CCD and Pre-Cana classes.  When they were in Hot Springs, she was the first woman president of the St. John’s Parish Council and in 1989 became the Respect Life Director for the Diocese, a position she served in for 16 years.  She founded Project Rachel in 1991, an outreach to women who have had an abortion, and is still its Director.  Anne served for four years on the National Advisory Board to the U.S. Conference of Bishops, the only women representing Region 10 which encompasses Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

At present she is a member of St. Monica’s Guild, sings in the Resurrection Choir, is a homebound Eucharistic Minister, is on the New Parishioners Greeting Committee and is an Hourly Captain for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.