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Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
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Happening Now
The following offers the latest information about events and activities happening in the Diocese of Little Rock.
Epiphany reveals Jesus king of all nations
The Wise Men from the East followed the star of Bethlehem until it led them to the newborn king, Jesus Christ. They prostrated themselves and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2:1-12) Among Western Christians, tradition holds the names of the Wise Men to be Casper, Melchior and Balthasar. They are regarded as saints and their relics are enshrined in the cathedral at Cologne, Germany. It is traditionally believed there were three because they presented three gifts and the belief they were kings riding camels comes from two Old ... More
Mary, Mother of God is celebrated on Jan. 1
"Called in the Gospels 'the mother of Jesus,' Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as 'the mother of my Lord," explains the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this title for Mary. "In fact, the one whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became her son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly 'Mother of God ('Theotokos') '" (no. 495) "Theotokos," comes ... More
Holy Family is Role Model for All Families
We celebrate the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph during the Christmas season. The Catechism of the Catholic Church quotes the 1964 homily of Pope Paul VI on the feast of the Holy Family: “May Nazareth teach us what family life is, its communion of love, its austere and simply beauty, and its sacred and inviolable character.” (no. 533) And St. Pope John Paul II marveled at God's plan for the incarnation in his Dec., 31, 1978 homily: "The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem gave rise to this unique and exceptional family in the history of mankind. In this family ... More
We need a Savior and today we have one
"'Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'" (Luke 2:10-14) Merry Christmas! The word, "Christmas" is derived from the Greek, "Christos," which means ... More
Make Christmas brighter for retired priests
The annual Christmas collection is the primary source of income for the Clergy Welfare Fund, which supports 16 senior (retired) and infirm priests of the Diocese of Little Rock. This special collection will be taken up during all Masses at Catholic parishes in Arkansas on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. "Many of these priests continue a life of service by hearing confessions, praying for parishes and congregations and even substituting in parishes for pastors absent due to vacation or illness," wrote Bishop Anthony B. Taylor in a letter to be read at all Christmas Masses. ... More
Jubilee Year 2025 Closing Mass is Dec. 28
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will celebrate the closing Mass for the Jubilee Year 2025 in the Diocese of Little Rock at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock at 2 p.m., Dec. 28. Everyone is invited to attend this bilingual Mass and reception to follow in McDonald Hall. The Catholic Church has been celebrating the special jubilee year since Dec. 24, 2024. It concludes worldwide on Jan. 6, 2026. The theme was "Pilgrims of Hope." Millions of pilgrims have traveled in hope to visit the holy sites in Rome throughout the year, including Catholics from the Diocese of Little Rock. ... More
Mary, Joseph seek shelter in Las Posadas
Las Posadas, which means "the inns" or "the shelters" in Spanish, is a 400 year old Advent tradition in Spanish-speaking countries, particularly Mexico. This novena usually takes place from Dec. 16-24 and focuses on the struggle of Mary and Joseph to find shelter when they arrive in Bethlehem. Many Catholic parishes and schools in Arkansas host this novena during Advent. Although some have adapted the tradition for their community, generally, this is how it is practiced. Adults and children take part in an evening procession, with two people dressed as Mary ... More
Share joy and hope on Gaudete Sunday
"The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God; to comfort all who mourn ..." (Isaiah 61:1-2) These words begin the first reading on the third Sunday of Advent, which is called Gaudete Sunday. "Gaudete" (pronounced gow-deh-tay) is Latin for "rejoice," which refers to the first word of the entrance antiphon. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! ... More
