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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.
Bishop issues pastoral changes Jan. 30
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments, Jan. 30, 2024, for the Diocese of Little Rock: Effective Feb. 1: Deacon Matthew A. Glover, JD, JCL, assigned to minister as deacon of St. Theresa Church in Little Rock. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as deacon of Christ the King Church in Little Rock and as chancellor for canonical affairs for the Diocese of Little Rock; Rev. Michael Kokoszka, FSSP, relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Cabot to continue his ministry with the ... More
Catholic schools in Arkansas celebrate
Catholic Schools Week is observed nationwide Jan. 28 to Feb. 3. Catholic schools will celebrate the week with special Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and the community. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to the Church, communities and the nation. "National Catholic Schools Week is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our Catholic school communities," said Marguerite Olberts, associate superintendent of schools of the Diocese of Little Rock. "The week ... More
Diocese to open at 10:30 a.m., Jan. 22
Because of the forecast calling for freezing rain and sleet in the early morning hours, the offices of the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock will open two hours late, at 10:30 a.m., on Monday, Jan. 22. If you need to reach a member of the staff before 10:30 a.m., visit our staff directory, which is listed in alphabetical order. Look for the name of the person you wish to reach and click on the red button under his or her name to send an email. Or leave a phone message by calling (501) 664-0340. He or she will respond as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience. For information about ... More
Father Michael Bass, 63, died Jan. 1
Father Michael Edmond Bass, who served parishes across Arkansas, died Jan. 1. He was 63. Father Bass was born Aug. 23, 1960, in Little Rock to the late Margaret Ann Lockhart and the late Samuel A. Bass. He converted to the Catholic Church when he was 18. He began his seminary formation at St. Meinrad College Seminary in St. Meinrad, Ind., graduating with a bachelor’s degree in classics. After graduation, Father Bass continued his formation at St. Mary Seminary University in Baltimore, where he earned a baccalaureate in sacred theology and a masters of divinity. ... More
College students: Trust in God's plan in life
The Catholic Campus Ministry Office will host a weekend retreat for college students Jan. 26-28 at at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. Retreat master will be Susej Thompson, director of faith formation and music at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock. Thompson has served as a Catholic youth, music and campus ministry leader in Little Rock for many years. She has also led music, retreats and spoken at various events throughout Arkansas. Most recently, she led the first Praise and Worship Conference at Our Lady of the Holy Souls. She will address the ... More
Bishop addresses new blessings document
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor issued the following statement, Dec. 19, in response to the Vatican declaration regarding informal blessings for same-sex and unmarried couples. “As many of you know, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) recently issued the declaration 'Fiducia Supplicans' ('Supplicating Trust'), approved by Pope Francis, which discusses the pastoral meaning of blessings by ordained clergy (bishops, priests and deacons). It’s important to remember that such documents are addressed to the worldwide Church, with its differing pastoral concerns ... More
First Thanksgiving began with the Mass
Thanksgiving, as an American holiday, traces its roots back to 1621 when Gov. Bradford of the Plymouth colony called for a day of public praise and prayer to celebrate the first harvest. But the very first Thanksgiving on American soil took place much earlier; 56 years earlier to be exact, and the highlight of the occasion was a Catholic Mass. The first thing Spanish settlers did when they arrived safely in St. Augustine, Fla., was celebrate Mass in thanksgiving to God on Sept. 8, 1565. "After the Mass, Father Francisco Lopez, the chaplain of the Spanish ships and the first pastor of St. Augustine ... More
Adopting a child is a great work of love
Many in our culture have a negative view of adoption, but St. Pope John Paul II, in an address to adoptive families in the year 2000, made it clear that creating a family through adoption "is in no way inferior to one based on a biological connection. ... Adopting children, regarding and treating them as one's own children, means recognizing that the relationship between parents and children is not measured only by genetic standards. Procreative love is first and foremost a gift of self. There is a form of 'procreation,' which occurs through acceptance, concern and devotion," he explained. ... More
