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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.
Bishop announces pastoral appointments
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments for the Diocese of Little Rock on Friday, December 16, 2016. Effective Jan. 3: Rev. Athanasius Okeiyi relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Pocahontas, St. Joseph the Worker Church in Corning and St. John the Baptist Church in Engelberg to begin his studies as directed by his bishop, Bishop Lucius I. Ugorji of Umuahia, Nigeria; Rev. Mariadass Vallapaneni appointed administrator of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Pocahontas, St. Joseph the Worker Church in Corning and ... More
Rubio to be ordained to diaconate Dec. 17
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will celebrate the diaconate ordination Mass of Nelson Jesus Rubio Villalobos (Nelson Rubio) at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Hot Springs Village. This Diocese of Little Rock seminarian will become a transitional deacon, a major step toward priestly ordination. A reception will follow in the parish hall. All are invited to attend. Guests are also welcome to attend a holy hour for Rubio at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock. Prayers will be offered for him and an increase in vocations to the ... More
Key Marian feasts to offer spiritual insight
Two important Marian feasts are celebrated during Advent. The solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated Thursday, Dec. 8. It is a holy day of obligation to attend Mass. To find holy day Mass times in your area, contact a parish near you. The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be celebrated on Monday, Dec. 12. Special celebrations mark this feast in parishes across Arkansas. See our Calendar of Events to find events in your area. Although we celebrate the Immaculate Conception during Advent, the season during which we prepare for ... More
Pro-life lock-in for teens to be Jan. 21-22
High school youth are invited attend the 2017 Weekend Extravaganza, an overnight lock-in held the night before the annual Mass and March for Life in Little Rock. It will be offered at the DoubleTree Hotel Jan. 21-22. The Diocese of Little Rock Youth Advisory Council will lead their peers in music, skits and prayer focusing on right-to-life issues through a teen's perspective. This year's keynote speakers, Chad Judice and Sarah Swafford, will address the theme: "He is the Way to Life." Judice, author of "Waiting for Eli" and "Eli’s Reach," will share his family's journey of raising a ... More
Support needs of retired religious Dec. 3-4
The annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held Dec. 3-4 in the Diocese of Little Rock. Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO), the appeal benefits nearly 33,000 senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests whose communities lack retirement savings. The Diocese of Little Rock contributed $166,274.81 to the last collection. In 2016, the Benedictines of Subiaco Abbey, Discalced Carmelite nuns in Little Rock and the Olivetan Benedictine sisters in Jonesboro received financial assistance from the Retirement Fund for ... More
Put love into action this Advent season
St. Nicholas Partners is an annual Advent appeal to raise money for the ministries of Catholic Charities of Arkansas (CCA). Examples of what a donation can do include buying medicine for a patient of the Westside Free Medical Clinic, assisting a victim of domestic violence or providing a Bible to an inmate seeking guidance. All the ministries of CCA provide services to the most poor and vulnerable among us. These include: Catholic Adoption Services, Immigration Services, Little Rock, Immigration Services, Springdale, Prison Ministry Office, Refugee Resettlement Office ... More
Advent prepares us for coming of the Lord
The word "advent" originates from the Latin "adventus" which means coming. The season of Advent, therefore, is the preparation for the coming of Jesus, first through the incarnation and ultimately, his coming again in glory at the end of time. This year it runs from Nov. 27 to Dec. 24. We are invited to reflect on the wondrous mystery of Jesus' birth as well as look with joy and hope to his return. We are called to repent of our sins, pray and draw ourselves closer to God. 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 ... More
Year of Mercy ends but mercy is forever
This Sunday, Nov. 20, we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. It recognizes that Jesus is king and savior of all people. Pope Pius XI established this feast in 1925 with his encyclical, "Quas Primas" ("In The First"). In this letter, he expressed deep concern for a growing secularism because many had "thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives" believing "these had no place either in private affairs or in politics." The website for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops ... More
