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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.
Gain indulgence during Fatima centennial
May 13 marks the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. Pope Francis will make a two-day pilgrimage to the site where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children, Sts. Francisco and Jacinta Marto and Lucia dos Santos, in 1917. In a letter to the people of the Diocese of Little Rock, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor invited Arkansas Catholics to join Our Lady of Fatima Church in Benton in celebrating this centennial. "Pope Francis has acknowledged the centennial year and decreed that those who observe the centennial year ... More
Healing Mass for abuse victims is April 20
The Diocese of Little Rock is hosting its first Safe Environment Healing Mass with Bishop Anthony B. Taylor as the celebrant on Thursday, April 20 at 6 p.m. It will be held in Morris Hall Chapel on the grounds of St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. A reception will follow the Mass. The Mass is being held in April for National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is dedicated to raising awareness of and preventing child abuse (whether sexual, physical, or emotional). The Mass will be offered for the healing of all victims of child abuse and those impacted by it. All are welcome to attend. ... More
Welcome our new Catholics at Easter Vigil
Catholic parishes across Arkansas will welcome about 585 new Catholics into the Church during their Easter Vigil Masses on Holy Saturday, April 15. These people have participated in their parish's Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process and fall into two groups: the elect and candidates. The elect have not been baptized and have been formed in the Christian faith and life. At the Easter Vigil, they will be baptized, confirmed and receive their first Communion. Candidates are baptized members of other Christian churches who wish to become Catholic. During the Easter Vigil, they will make a profession ... More
Eight executions set for April in Arkansas
Eight Arkansas death row inmates are scheduled to be executed from April 17-27. They are: Don Davis and Bruce Earl Ward, April 17; Ledelle Lee and Stacey Johnson, April 20; Marcell Williams and Jack Jones Jr., April 24; and Jason McGehee and Kenneth Williams, April 27. After the United States Supreme Court chose not to hear a challenge to the state’s death penalty statutes, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and Gov. Asa Hutchinson scheduled these executions. No death row inmate has been executed in Arkansas since 2005. There are 34 death row inmates ... More
Hebert, Do to be ordained deacons April 8
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will celebrate the diaconate ordination Mass of Jeff Hebert and Tuyen Do at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 8 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock. Through this process they will become transitional deacons, which is a major step toward priestly ordination. A reception will follow in McDonald Hall. All are invited to attend. Guests are also welcome to attend a holy hour for these diocesan seminarians at 6 p.m. Friday, April 7 at the Cathedral. Prayers will be offered for them, their continued discernment of priesthood and an increase in vocations ... More
Bishop announces pastoral appointments
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments for the Diocese of Little Rock on March 27, 2017. Effective June 13: Rev. Babu Rao Battula relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of Christ the King Church in Fort Smith to continue his ministry in his home Diocese of Nellore, India; Rev. Juan José Guido appointed administrator of Christ the King Church in Fort Smith. He is relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor of St. Raphael Church in Springdale; Rev. Jason Sharbaugh relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Boniface Church in Fort Smith ... More
St. Andrew participants to come together
The Second St. Andrew School of Evangelization Catholic Congress will celebrate the sixth anniversary of the ministry in the Diocese of Little Rock. It will be held from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock on Saturday, March 11. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will celebrate the closing Mass at 5 p.m. Featured speakers will be Salvador Gómez ... More
Bishop appeals to governor on executions
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor wrote the following letter to Gov. Asa Hutchinson March 1, 2017, asking him to halt the executions of eight men scheduled for April in Arkansas. I am writing you today to ask you to commute to a sentence of life without parole the sentences of Don Davis and Bruce Earl Ward (scheduled to be executed April 17), Ledelle Lee and Stacey Johnson (scheduled to be executed April 20), Marcel Williams and Jack Jones, Jr. (scheduled to be executed April 24), Jason McGehee and Kenneth Williams (scheduled to be executed April 27). ... More
