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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.
Fortnight focuses on freedom to witness
The annual Fortnight for Freedom, a nationwide event focusing on prayer, education and action, will be held June 21 to July 4. The opening Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop William Lori Sunday, June 21 at 10:45 a.m. (Eastern Time) at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. It will be televised EWTN. Watch it online at the CatholicTV Network. This year, the theme: "Freedom to Bear Witness" will be highlighted. It is based on a talk Archbishop Lori gave at a workshop on religious freedom at Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Md. in 2014. "Keeping the spirit of the Gospel means that Catholic institutions are to bear witness in love to the full truth about the human person by providing social, charitable ... More
Bishop Taylor to ordain monk to priesthood
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will ordain Brother Patrick Boland, OSB, to the priesthood on Saturday, June 20 at St. Benedict Church at Subiaco Abbey. Abbot Leonard Wangler, OSB, and other priests in attendance will concelebrate the 10 a.m. ordination Mass, which will be followed by a reception in the PAC Lounge. The newly ordained priest will celebrate his first Mass at St. Benedict Church on Sunday, June 21 at 10:45 a.m. Brother Patrick earned a master's degree from Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Penn. on May 8. He earned a bachelor's degree in theology from St. Gregory's University in Shawnee, Okla. through the Little Rock Theology Institute in 2011. He began discerning the priesthood after he professed his solemn vows as a Benedictine monk and permanent member of Subiaco Abbey in 2010. Brother Patrick, 52, is originally from ... More
Scholarships available for pro-life camp
Scholarships are available for Catholic students to attend Camp Joshua at Cross Heirs Retreat Center in Humphrey. This pro-life camp is open to youth in grades 9-12 and is sponsored by Arkansas Right to Life. It will be held July 24-26. The $100 fee includes meals, accommodations, T-shirt and transportation to and from Little Rock. To apply for a scholarship, contact Rebecca Mullican in the diocesan Respect Life Office at (501) 664-0340, ext. 326. Camp Joshua is a three-day camp designed to teach students how to be pro-life leaders. It includes informative workshops and activities on a variety of pro-life issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Just as Joshua brought down the walls of Jericho, participants of Camp Joshua are charged with leading their generation in the bringing down ... More
Four to be ordained deacons in May
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will ordain four diocesan seminarians to the transitional diaconate in May. They include Norman McFall May 20; Dr. Joseph Chan May 26; and Taryn Whittington and Mario Jacobo May 28. These will bring the total to five diaconate ordinations so far in 2015. Deacon Stephen Gadberry was ordained to the diaconate March 27. McFall will be ordained at St. Joseph Church in Pine Bluff, on Wednesday, May 20. Guests are invited to come early for Eucharistic adoration and vespers to pray for him and an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life at 4 p.m. The ordination Mass will be celebrated at 6 p.m. with a reception to follow. McFall will serve his first Masses in the role of deacon Saturday, May 23 at 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 24 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Church. ... More
Appointments to take effect in April, June
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor recently announced the following pastoral appointments: Effective April 15 — Father John Antony, appointed administrator and chaplain of Trinity Junior High in Fort Smith. He remains pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith; Father Andrew Hart, relieved of his responsibilities as administrator and chaplain of Trinity Junior High in Fort Smith. He remains associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith; Father Joseph Archibong, appointed to celebrate African Mass at St. Augustine Church in North Little Rock. He remains associate pastor of Christ the King Church in Little Rock; Msgr. Richard Oswald, relieved of his responsibilities as associate pastor ... More
Gadberry to be ordained a deacon
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will ordain Stephen Joseph Gadberry to the transitional diaconate on Friday, March 27 at his home parish of St. Peter Church in Wynne. The 6 p.m. Mass will be followed by a reception in the parish hall. He will serve at his first Masses as a deacon at St. Mary Church in McCrory Saturday, March 28 at 5 p.m. in English and at St. Peter Church at 9 a.m. in English and 5 p.m. in Spanish on Palm Sunday, March 29. Gadberry is currently studying theology at Gregorian University, which is part of the Pontifical North American College in Rome in preparation for ordination to the priesthood in 2017. He is the son of Leslie Ann Gadberry and the late Stephen E. Gadberry. To learn more, read or listen to his vocation story. ... More
Zukowski funeral to be March 10
Miroslaw “Mirek” Zukowski, a 28-year employee of the Diocese of Little Rock, died March 1 at his Little Rock home. He was 73. Zukowski joined the diocesan staff in December 1987 and took care of buildings and grounds at St. John Catholic Center. At the time of his death he was serving as a maintenance and grounds specialist. He was born Oct. 25, 1941, in Bialystok, Poland. Zukowski and his family immigrated to Arkansas in 1984 with assistance of the Catholic Refugee Resettlement Program. He is survived by his wife, Boqumila Zukowski; one daughter, Agnes Rooke; and two grandchildren. His cremated remains will be interred in the columbarium in the courtyard at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. ... More
Dc. Marschewski's funeral to be Feb. 9
Deacon John Marschewski, minister to deacons for the Diocese of Little Rock and a deacon at Christ the King Church in Little Rock, died Feb. 5 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 73. To learn more, read Arkansas Catholic. Marschewski joined the diocesan staff in 2005. As minister to deacons, Marschewski served as the bishop’s representative by implementing continuing education and spiritual formation opportunities for 110 active and retired diocesan deacons. He was born Jan. 1, 1942, to the late John Marschewski Sr. and Nan Elaine Mabry Marschewski. He retired as a major after 20 years in the 142nd Artillery Army National Guard. The Helena native moved to Little Rock in 1965, and he and his wife Mary Beth became one of the first families to join Christ the King in 1967. ... More
