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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.
Immaculate Conception is a beautiful gift
Although we celebrate the Immaculate Conception during Advent, the season during which we prepare for the birth of Jesus, this feast is NOT about the conception of Jesus. This can be confusing because the Gospel reading for this holy day focuses on the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary. "The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.'" (Luke 1:30-31) The Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The "immaculate" ... More
Add St. Nicholas Day to Advent traditions
Advent is full of traditions that can make this wonderful season of anticipation lots of fun for kids. At the top of the list is the feast of St. Nicholas on Dec. 6. One of the most popular ways to celebrate St. Nicholas Day is to leave your shoes outside your bedroom door or on the fireplace hearth on the night of Dec. 5 along with a plate of carrots for St. Nicholas' horse. And sometime during the night, St. Nicholas will visit and leave gifts in your shoes. What he gives may vary, but traditionally he gives gold coins or a candy cane to represent his crozier (staff carried by bishops ... More
Bishop appoints jubilee sites in Arkansas
"Dear People of the Diocese of Little Rock, I am delighted to share that Pope Francis will officially open the holy door at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on Dec. 24, 2024, marking the start of the Ordinary Jubilee Year of 2025. This jubilee, centered on the theme 'Pilgrims of Hope,' will be a year dedicated to fostering hope within our hearts and communities, concluding on Jan. 6, 2026. In a special decree issued on May 14, 2024, the Apostolic Penitentiary authorized diocesan bishops to designate churches within their dioceses as pilgrimage sites for the jubilee ... More
Brother Raban Heyer, OSB, ordained priest
Bishop Francis I. Malone of the Diocese of Shreveport ordained Brother Raban Heyer, OSB, to the priesthood on Friday, Nov. 22 at St. Benedict Church on the grounds of Subiaco Abbey. Abbot Elijah Owens, OSB, and other priests concelebrated the Mass. A reception followed in Fuhrmann Hall. Following his ordination, Father Raban, 35, returned to teaching as Subiaco Academy's English department chair and cross-country coach. He recently completed his theology studies at Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant'Anselmo (St. Anselm Pontifical University) in Rome. ... More
Msgr. Richard Oswald, 84, died Nov. 25
Msgr. Richard S. Oswald, the longtime pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers who once oversaw Little Rock Scripture Study, died Nov. 25 at Arkansas Hospice. He was 84. The son of the late Oscar J. and Hilda M. Oswald graduated from Catholic High School in Little Rock and began his priestly formation at St. John Home Mission Seminary in Little Rock. On May 29, 1965, Bishop Albert L. Fletcher ordained him to the priesthood for the Diocese of Little Rock. Noting his ordination after Vatican II, he told Arkansas Catholic on his 50th priestly anniversary in 2015 ... More
Bishop: Dec. 9 is a holy day of obligation
"My brothers and sisters in Christ, the feast of the Immaculate Conception is the patronal feast of the United States and is a holy day of obligation. For a period of time, when this feast fell on a Monday or a Saturday, as it does this year, it was not obligatory. However, the Vatican recently clarified that even when a holy day of obligation is transferred to a Saturday or Monday, there remains the obligation to attend Mass on that day. Elsewhere in the United States a few bishops have made an exception for their diocese, lifting the obligation. We have not done that here. ... More
Nearly $700,000 raised for seminarians
Taste of Faith dinners were held in Little Rock, Jonesboro and Hot Springs Village in 2024. Along with donations through the mail and online, more than $670,000 was raised through the Taste of Faith campaign to benefit seminarian education in the Diocese of Little Rock. This includes $73,227 in Jonesboro, $83,552 in Hot Springs Village and $254,089 in Little Rock. Taste of Faith is hosted by the Vocations and Seminarians Office. In addition to the meal, attendees at Taste of Faith dinners were treated to music, entertainment and testimonials from ... More
Share time, talent and treasure this Advent
Advent begins Sunday, Dec. 1. The word "advent" originated from the Latin "adventus," which means coming. The season of Advent, therefore, is the preparation for the coming of Jesus, first through his birth and ultimately, his coming again in glory at the end of time. This year it runs from Dec. 1-24. Pope Francis encouraged people to carefully prepare their hearts for the coming of the Lord with prayer and charity in a 2023 reflection on the season's purpose. "A good program for Advent," he suggested, would be "to encounter Jesus coming in every brother and ... More
