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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.
Lenten retreat offers silence with God
Allow your friendship with the Lord to deepen in the sacred stillness and quiet of the 2015 Ignatian Silent-Directed Retreat at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. This faith formation program for adults will begin with registration 4:30 p.m. in Fletcher Hall on Thursday, March 19 and conclude Sunday, March 22 with lunch. Participants will learn about silent prayer and how to seek God and his plan for their lives in the silence. The retreat fee of $300 includes nine meals, accommodations for three nights and daily spiritual direction. Limited space is available. The deadline to register is March 9. This event is sponsored by the Office of Faith Formation. Learn more by downloading the retreat flyer. ... 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
CASA 2015 to highlight religious vocations
With the Year of Consecrated Life continuing through Feb. 2, 2016, this year's Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal (CASA) puts special emphasis on the importance of religious life. The annual diocesan appeal begins Feb. 7-8 statewide. A recorded homily from Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will be played at all Masses in English and Spanish. Pledge envelopes will be handed out asking parishioners to meet this year's $2 million goal. CASA supports various diocesan, parish and school ministries. This year's theme is "Open Your Hearts in Welcome." "One area where I invite you to open your hearts is to welcome vocations to vowed religious life ... More
Celebrate Catholic schools Jan. 25-31
Each winter, Catholic schools nationwide celebrate Catholic Schools Week. This year, it is being held Jan. 25-31, marking the 41th anniversary of the observance. The theme: "Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service," notes the values at the heart of a Catholic education. First, schools are small communities of faith within the larger community of home, church, city and nation. Second, faith, knowledge and service are the measures by which any Catholic school should be judged. Schools nationwide observe the week with special Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and the community. To learn how Catholic schools in Arkansas celebrate this week, read the Catholic Schools Herald in this week's Arkansas Catholic. ... More
Pacheco to be ordained a deacon
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will ordain Luis Miguel Pacheco to the transitional diaconate on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at St. Theresa Church in Little Rock. The 6:30 p.m. Mass will be followed by a reception in the parish hall. He will serve at his first Mass as a deacon at St. Theresa during the 11 a.m. Mass in English and the 1 p.m. Mass in Spanish on Sunday, Dec. 21. Pacheco is currently serving a pastoral year at Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock in preparation for ordination to the priesthood on May 28, 2016. He is the son of Miguel Pacheco and Pascuala Calero of Telixtac, Morelos, Mexico. To learn more, read or listen to his vocation story. If you wish to contact him to congratulate him or assure him of your prayers for his continued discernment of priesthood, please e-mail him. ... More
Sidler to be ordained to priesthood
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will ordain Deacon Jack Sidler, Sr. to the priesthood on Saturday, Dec. 20 at St. Benedict Church on the grounds of Subiaco Abbey. The 10 a.m. Mass will be followed by a reception. He will celebrate his first Mass at Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Barling on Sunday, Dec. 21 at 10 a.m. Father Sidler will become the new associate pastor at Christ the King Church in Little Rock on Jan. 1. Sidler recently graduated from Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis. with a degree in theology. He is a member of Sacred Heart of Mary Church in Barling. He began his discernment of the priesthood after the death of his wife in 2008. The retired father and grandfather became a seminarian for the Diocese of Little Rock in 2011. ... More
Collection for retired religious Dec. 6-7
The 27th national collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious will be held Dec. 6-7 in the Diocese of Little Rock. The annual, parish-based appeal is coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) in Washington and benefits more than 35,000 senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests. Last year, the Diocese of Little Rock contributed $147,174.24 to this collection. In 2014, the Benedictines at St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith and Subiaco Abbey, Discalced Carmelite nuns and the Olivetan Benedictine sisters received financial support made possible by the Retirement Fund for Religious. ... More
Prepare the way of the Lord during Advent
Advent is a four-week season of joy, anticipation and repentance to prepare for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ. The word "advent" comes from the Latin "adventus" which means coming. It begins on Nov. 30 and continues through Dec. 24. We are invited to reflect on the wondrous mystery of our Savior's birth and his coming again in glory at the end of time. To learn more, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 524-528 or visit our 2014 Advent Resource Guide. Advent also marks the beginning of the liturgical year in the Catholic Church. Unlike the secular year, which marks the passage of time, the liturgical year celebrates the sacred mysteries of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. The Christmas ... More
