Official Website of the
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.
Support seminarians online Holy Thursday
The annual Holy Thursday Collection for Seminarian Education will be held April 9. The money from this Diocese of Little Rock collection will support the educational and housing expenses of the diocese's seminarians. Since the collection was established in 2010, the money has been able to support the seminarian’s urgent needs. “Since that time you have donated over $3,461,330.47,” vocations director Msgr. Scott Friend wrote in letter to parishioners. “As of 2009, Bishop Taylor has ordained 36 new priests.” A donation envelope will also be inserted in the April 4 issue ... More
Update: Catholic schools closed to April 17
UPDATE: Theresa Hall, superintendent of Catholic schools, announced March 19, 2020, that Catholic schools will now remain closed through April 17. This is an update to her previous letter below, issued on March 14, informing parents of the closure of all Catholic schools in Arkansas from March 16-30: "Dear Parents, In an effort to do what we can to minimize the spread of COVID-19, especially to the most vulnerable among us, the Catholic Schools Office, with approval from Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, has decided to close all the Catholic schools beginning March 16 until ... More
Bishop releases pastoral changes March 17
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments March 17, 2020, for the Diocese of Little Rock. Effective Feb. 24: Rev. Arokiasamy Madhichetty Irudayaraj, relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Fordyce. He remains pastor of St. Mary Church in Arkadelphia, and St. John the Baptist in Malvern; Rev. Joseph Marconi, appointed pastor of Good Shepherd Church in Fordyce. This is in addition to his current responsibilities as pastor of St. Joseph Church in Pine Bluff, Holy Cross Church in Sheridan, and St. Mary Church ... More
Bishop abuse reporting service launched
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, issued the following letter, March 16, 2020, about the creation of a third-party reporting system to specifically report and assess allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct with minors by bishops: "Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, "Following guidance from Pope Francis’ apostolic letter, "Vos Estis Lux Mundi" ("You are the light of the world"), the bishops of the United States met this past fall to address the issue of sexual abuse and bishop accountability in the global Catholic Church. The result of that meeting ... More
Catholic schools closed effective March 16
Theresa Hall, superintendent of Catholic schools, issued the following letter, March 14, 2020, to parents announcing the closure of all Catholic schools in Arkansas beginning March 16, 2020: "Dear Parents, In an effort to do what we can to minimize the spread of COVID-19, especially to the most vulnerable among us, the Catholic Schools Office, with approval from Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, has decided to close all the Catholic schools beginning March 16 until March 30, 2020. In response to COVID-19, we are trying to be proactive rather than reactive. Accordingly, certain ... More
Bishop suspends Masses after March 21
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor issued the following letter, March 12, 2020, to the people of the Diocese of Little Rock about required changes in response to COVID-19. "As your bishop, I have an obligation to do what we can to minimize the spread of COVID-19, especially to the most vulnerable among us. In response to COVID-19, the Diocese of Little Rock is trying to be pro-active rather than reactive. Accordingly, certain measures must be put in place in an effort to “flatten the curve” such that the spike in COVID-19 cases is not too high, too fast, such that our healthcare ... More
Support group available for abuse victims
Last fall, the Diocese of Little Rock started a chapter of the Maria Goretti Network (MGN) for those who have been affected by any type of abuse and need love and support. It doesn’t matter if the abuse was physical, sexual, emotional, spiritual or mental. Support group meetings are held at 10 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month at the St. Joseph Spiritan Center in Conway. The next meeting will be April 4. See complete schedule. This ministry is named after St. Maria Goretti, the patron saint of abused children and rape victims. Alessandro Serenelli tried ... More
Father James P. West, 59, dies March 8
Father Greg Luyet, judicial vicar, addressed the following letter to diocesan staff, Monday, March 9, 2020, regarding the death of Father James West on March 8: "It is with great sadness, but with faith in eternal life, that I write to you to announce the death of Father Jim West. He passed away suddenly and unexpectedly last night in his rectory in Texarkana at the age of 59. Father West was born in Texarkana, Texas, in 1960. He attended Holy Trinity Seminary in Dallas, Texas, beginning in 1980, and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Andrew J. McDonald ... More
