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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.
Jubilee Year 2025 Opening Mass is Dec. 29
The Diocese of Little Rock will kick off its celebration of Jubilee Year 2025 with a special procession and Mass on Sunday. Dec. 29 in Little Rock. It begins with a half-mile procession from St. Edward Church to the Cathedral of St. Andrew at 2:30 p.m. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will then celebrate a bilingual Mass at 3:15 p.m. at the Cathedral. During the Mass, he will give an apostolic blessing to all in attendance. Refreshments will be served after Mass in McDonald Hall. An apostolic blessing, also known as a papal blessing, includes a plenary indulgence and may be given ... More
2025 Confirmation Retreat will be Feb. 16
The 2025 Diocese of Little Rock Confirmation Retreat will be held Sunday, Feb. 16 at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. This peer-led event is open to Catholic youth who are preparing to receive the sacrament of confirmation during the school year. It is available to small parishes lacking the resources to organize their own retreat and any youth unable to attend a confirmation retreat in their own parish. This year's theme is "Renewed." Focusing on the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit, activities will include praise and worship music, games, skits, videos ... More
Count down to Christmas with O Antiphons
An antiphon is verse that is sung or recited to give emphasis to what follows, such as a prayer, psalm, Scripture or canticle. The O Antiphons are an ancient, Advent tradition that refer to the seven antiphons that come before the Magnificat (Canticle of Mary) in the Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours from Dec. 17-23. They cover the special time of Advent known as the Octave before Christmas, with Dec. 24 being Christmas Eve and Vespers for that evening being for the Christmas Vigil. No one knows the exact origin of the O Antiphons, but Roman Catholics have been singing them ... More
Youth: Apply now for Búsqueda #54 team
Applications are now being accepted for the youth team to lead Búsqueda #54. The deadline to apply is Jan. 16. Youth applicants must have lived Busqueda, be active in their parish and youth group, be recommended by their pastor and able to attend planning meetings. See the application form for details. It must be completed and returned to the address provided with fee by the deadline. The cost to serve on the Busqueda team is $70, which includes all meetings, materials, retreats, lodging, food and T-shirt. All team members must attend the ... 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
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
