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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.
May dedicated to Mary, our greatest saint
In Catholic tradition, the month of May is dedicated to Mary. Chosen by God above all other women, Mary's faith and obedience paved the way for the Incarnation. Her example teaches us faith, obedience, humility and most of all, how to love. According to St. Thomas of Villanova, "If in this world any creature ever loved God with whole heart, with whole soul, and with whole mind, she was the creature.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines Mary's unique role as being honored above all other saints, including the Apostles. At the foot of the cross, her heart broke ... More
Pray rosary marathon to end the pandemic
Pope Francis first appealed to Catholics worldwide to pray the rosary to end the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020. In Catholic tradition, the month of May is dedicated to Mary. Now, as the virus rages on in places like India, he is asking the faithful again to dedicate the month of May to a "marathon of prayer,' which "rises continuously from the entire Church to the Father" to end this global threat. See How to Pray the Rosary Guide. The theme: "Prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God" (Acts 12:5) refers to the faithful praying for Peter (Acts 12:1-12) "who was imprisoned ... More
June youth rally to feature Steve Angrisano
The "Glory on the Grounds United Through Faith Youth Rally" will be held Sunday, June 6 at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. This event, open to incoming seventh graders to outgoing 12th graders, is the first statewide, in-person event hosted by the Catholic Youth Ministry Office since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020. The outdoor event will be held on the grounds of the offices for the Diocese of Little Rock at 2500 N. Tyler St. Parish check-in will begin at 10 a.m. The program will begin with music at 10:45 a.m. followed by a skit and opening prayer lead by the Youth Advisory Council ... More
Diaconate inquiry meetings begin this fall
The Diocese of Little Rock is starting to prepare for its next permanent diaconate class, which will graduate in 2028. Inquiry meetings will be held at seven locations this fall. Catholic men in good standing with the Church who will be at least 35 years old by 2028 are invited to attend. The five-year diaconate formation program, which is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2023, will be explained. The meetings will be presented in English and Spanish at the same location and time, but in separate rooms. Those discerning a vocation to the permanent diaconate should attend one of these ... More
Schools' staff honored for years of service
Fifteen Catholic school teachers, staff members and administrators were recognized for serving 25 and 50 years in Catholic schools in Arkansas recently. These honorees are usually recognized by the Catholic Schools Office during its Professional Day for Teachers, but this event was not held in 2020 or 2021. 50 Years — Sister Joan Pfauser, RSM, director of archives and Mercy charism at Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock. She previously served at Mercy High School, St. Louis; St. Alphonsus School and Holy Name of Jesus School, both in New Orleans; and Mount ... More
Mental illness sufferers: You're not alone
After a year of isolation because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Alliance on Mental Illness wants to stress "now more than ever, we need to find ways to stay connected with our community. No one should feel alone or without the information, support and help they need." Arkansas' NAMI affiliate offers a toll-free helpline at (800) 844-0381 for anyone who needs support. If you need help immediately, call Arkansas Crisis Center at (888) 274-7472 at any time. Calls are answered 24 hours per day, seven days per week. The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (NCPD) ... More
Newest Catholics join during the pandemic
Catholic parishes in the Diocese of Little Rock welcomed 382 new Catholics into the Church from May 2020 through the Easter Vigil Masses on Saturday, April 3, 2021. Normally, all would have entered during the Easter Vigil, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the process was disrupted when public Masses were suspended in 2020. These neophytes participated in their parish's Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process and fell into two groups: the elect and candidates. The elect had not been baptized or formed in the Christian faith and life. ... More
90 years later we celebrate Divine Mercy
St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun, wrote in her diary that she witnessed a vision of Jesus on Feb. 22, 1931, while she was living at a convent in Plock, Poland. She wrote that Jesus had one hand raised in benediction and the other resting over his heart, from which emanated two rays of light. On the 90th anniversary of this first apparition, Pope Francis wrote a letter to the bishop of the Diocese of Płock, Poland. In his Feb. 22 letter, the Holy Father recalled the words of Jesus heard by St. Faustina: “Paint a picture according to the pattern you see, with the caption: 'Jesus, I trust in You.' ... More
