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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.
Celebrate worth during Respect Life Month
"Ours is a dignity that is rooted in the fact that we were created in love and redeemed in love by God himself, who is unchanging. Regardless of any circumstances, this God-given dignity can never be decreased." — Pope Francis, Science and Life Association address, May, 30, 2015. Each October, the Catholic Church celebrates Respect Life Month to proclaim the "God-given dignity" of every person from conception to natural death. "The love of Christ urges us (2 Corinthians 5:14) to make ourselves the servants of the small ones and of the old, of every man and every woman, whose the primordial right to life is to be recognized and protected," the pope said. "Every Life is Worth Living," the theme for the 2015-16 Respect Life Program, reflects this truth. This program begins ... More
Deacon retreat to offer lots of time to pray
The annual Diocese of Little Rock Deacon Retreat will be held Oct. 2-4 at Coury House Retreat Center on the grounds of Subiaco Abbey. The theme will be: "Be Still and Know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) All deacons serving in the diocese are invited to come together in prayer and fellowship. A separate retreat for the deacons' wives will be held Jan. 29-31, 2016. The retreat will include Mass, benediction, meditation time, group reflection, instruction from Father Jerome Kodell, OSB, and time to take part in a variety of prayers, such as Stations of the Cross, Divine Mercy Chaplet, the rosary, praying the Scriptures and time to pray the Liturgy of the Hours with the monks of Subiaco Abbey. This event is sponsored by the Minister to Deacons Office. For more information, contact ... More
Professional Day to support teachers
The 79th annual Arkansas Catholic Schools Professional Day will be held Friday, Sept. 25 at Christ the King School in Little Rock for Catholic school principals and teachers in Arkansas. This year's theme is: “Serving with Courage, Conviction and Compassion.” Msgr. Francis Malone, diocesan chancellor for ecclesial affairs and pastor of Christ the King Church, will begin the program by celebrating Mass for the participants at 9 a.m. Keynote speaker Cackie Upchurch, director of Little Rock Scripture Study, will discuss the theme: “Chosen in Christ." Following lunch, break-out sessions will be offered on the following topics: Catholic identity, dyslexia, geology, childhood anxiety, Google Docs, suicide prevention, incorporating catechesis with technology, grade level discussions and more. ... More
Six earn theology degrees in Little Rock
Six Catholics in Arkansas earned bachelor’s degrees in theology from St. Gregory University in Shawnee, Okla., during a Mass at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock Sept. 12. They participated in classes through Little Rock Theology Institute.... More
Senior Youth Rally to focus on service
The annual Senior Youth Rally will be held Sunday, Oct. 18 at Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock. All youth in grades 9-12 are invited to attend. Featured speaker Rich Curran will discuss the theme: "We are One in His Service." In addition to his talk, this event will include praise and worship, a service project, lunch and Mass. The cost is $30 per person. Scholarships are available. To apply, download and return the registration form. The deadline to register is Sept. 28. Register through your parish to attend. Download and return the registration form to diocesan Catholic Youth Ministry Office. For more information, contact Tricia Gentry at (501) 664-0340, ext. 418. Catholic Youth Ministry responds to needs ... More
Catechetical Sunday to focus on dignity
Catechetical Sunday will be celebrated Sept. 20 in Catholic parishes across the United States. On this day, parish religion and Catholic school teachers are commissioned to share their ministry for the 2015-2016 school year. In addition, a special collection will be taken up to support catechetical ministry. Half of the collection remains in the parish, while the other half donated in Arkansas parishes, goes to support catechetical ministry across the Diocese of Little Rock. This year's theme is: "Safeguarding the Dignity of Every Human Person." It is based on Genesis 1:26-27, which tells us that every person is created in God's image and likeness. "It also reminds us that we the baptized may need to actively support and protect others from all sorts of harm, cherishing human life from the moment ... More
Bishop addresses Planned Parenthood
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor issued the following statement about the recent release of a series of videos of Planned Parenthood staff on Aug. 6, 2015. Pope Francis has repeatedly described abortion as the product of a "widespread mentality of profit, the throwaway culture, which has today enslaved the hearts and minds of so many." Over the last few weeks we have been scandalized by a series of videos which reveal the extent to which this mentality governs the actions of Planned Parenthood in the United States, but it is worth noting that this inhumane behavior is not limited to that organization. Indeed, although other abortion facilities may not all harvest fetal organs and tissues for further study ... More
Disaster training conference to be Nov. 2-6
Catholic Charities USA will host its national Applied Institute for Disaster Excellence (AIDE) at the Arkansas 4H Conference Center in west Little Rock Nov 2-6. AIDE is an annual training program that equips the Catholic Charities network, diocesan and parish staffs and partner agencies such as the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and the Knights of Columbus, for their roles in disaster preparedness and response. See schedule or register online. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for parishes in our diocese to take advantage of cutting edge instruction,” said Patrick Gallaher, executive director of Catholic Charities of Arkansas. AIDE is a hands-on conference providing instruction on preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation training. The goal of the conference is to make parishes more resilient in the face of catastrophes. ... More
