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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.
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 responds to Arkansas synod report
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor prepared the following response, Dec. 3, 2022, about the Diocese of Little Rock synod report to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for the Synod on Synodality. "Here in Arkansas, we have spent the last year participating on the local level in the Synod on Synodality called for by Pope Francis, which will culminate in a meeting of bishops and other delegates from around the world to take place in Rome in October of 2023 and 2024. We have had meetings on the parish level throughout our state — all parishes were invited and 43% of our ... More
Say St. Andrew Christmas Novena in Advent
We celebrate the feast of St. Andrew, the apostle on Nov. 30. He is the first saint to be celebrated during Advent, which is the fitting since he was the first of the Twelve Apostles to be called by Jesus. Advent is a season of joy and anticipation for the coming of the Lord. St. Andrew's example of this in evident in the Scriptures. After St. John the Baptist pointed out the "Lamb of God," to two of his disciples, Andrew, one of the two, heard John and immediately followed Jesus. He later went to his brother, Simon, and exclaimed: "We have found the Messiah." (John 1:35-41) ... More
Eucharist is the true food of thanksgiving
As we prepare to celebrate the day set aside to grateful for our blessings, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor cautions us not to let Thanksgiving be the only day we give thanks. "When Thanksgiving is celebrated as an isolated event that does not flow from an everyday attitude of humble gratitude, it can easily degenerate into a celebration of the superiority of our nation and indeed the pride of place of certain groups of people in our national self-understanding," he said in his 2021 Thanksgiving homily. "The Puritans interpreted God's goodness to them to be a sign of God's favor for them, ... More
Pray for U.S. veterans at Mass on Nov. 11
Father Daniel Velasco, administrator of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock, will celebrate the annual Veterans Day Mass at 9:30 a.m., Friday, Nov. 11 in the pavilion at the Little Rock National Cemetery at 2523 Springer Blvd, which is about two miles southeast of the state Capitol. All are invited to attend. Because seating is limited, participants are encouraged to bring their own chairs. Catholic parishes and schools across Arkansas will also host programs to honor veterans. To find events in your area, contact the parish or school near you. ... More
Father James Fanrak, 79, dies Oct. 29
Father Gregory Luyet, judicial vicar, released the following letter regarding the death of Father James Michael Fanrak on Friday, Oct. 29, 2022. "Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: With faith in eternal life that comes through our Lord Jesus Christ, I announce the death of Father James Michael Fanrak on Friday, Oct. 29, 2022, in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Father Fanrak was born to Thomas Francis Fanrak and Helen Theresa Potts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on May 12, 1943. He attended Catholic parochial and high school in Philadelphia before going to Lewiston, ... More
Father Joseph Pallo, 92, dies Oct. 27
Father Gregory Luyet, judicial vicar, released the following letter regarding the death of Father Joseph L. Pallo on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. "Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ: With faith in eternal life that comes through our Lord Jesus Christ, it is my sad duty to announce the death of Father Joseph Pallo. His 61 years of faithful priestly ministry touched many lives through the years as a pastor, youth director and vocations director. Even after transitioning to senior priest status, Father Pallo continued to assist at his adopted parish in California. Rev. Joseph Lawrence ... More
Catechists to study mystery of Eucharist
Parish catechists, youth ministers, RCIA coordinators and other leaders are invited to attend an upcoming Formation Day to study, "The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church," the 2021 document released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) outlining the goals of the National Eucharistic Revival going on now through 2025. Formation Days will be held in five parishes across the Diocese of Little Rock from November to May in English and Spanish. Participants may register online or by mail at one of the following locations: St. Theresa Church in Little Rock, Nov. 12 ... More
