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Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
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The following offers the latest information about events and activities happening in the Diocese of Little Rock.
Project Rachel, a support group for women who have had abortions, will begin a new 11-week support group starting the third week of September. Small groups of six to eight women will meet in Little Rock, Springdale/Rogers and Hot Springs. All names and meeting places are strictly confidential. This program is sponsored by the Diocese of Little Rock Respect Life Office. For more information, contact Anne Dierks at (501) 664-0340, ext. 357 by Sept. 12. To learn more about Project Rachel, visit the Hope After Abortion website. It offers prayers, testimonials, psychological affects of abortion ... More
Sister Joan Pytlik, DC, diocesan minister for religious, along with the Diocesan Council of Religious will host the annual Religious Jubilarian Day Saturday, Sept. 17 at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock. During the daylong event, Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will honor religious men and women who are celebrating special anniversaries in religious life at a noon Mass. All are invited to attend. In addition to the Mass, this event will include prayer, lunch, dialogue with Bishop Taylor and “Islam in the Year of Mercy," a program presented by Imam Mahmoud al-denawy of the Islamic Center of Little Rock, Alaa Eldamaty, vice president of Islamic Center of Little Rock, and Sophia Said, program director ... More
Are you planning to get married in a Catholic church in Arkansas? If so, find out what you need to do by reading the Getting Married Guide. Because marriage is lifelong, the Church wants to help you build a strong, lasting marriage. For this reason, couples seeking marriage in the Catholic Church are asked to spend several months in marriage preparation. As part of that preparation, couples are asked to take part in a marriage education program. One of the educational options in the Diocese of Little Rock is Pre-Cana Day, a one-day retreat for engaged couples to spend time together reflecting on their relationship and future marriage. During this event, married couples present talks on the sacrament of marriage, ... More
The solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated Aug. 15. This feast recognizes that Jesus' mother was "taken up body and soul into heavenly glory" when her "earthly life was finished." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 966) Normally this solemnity would be a holy day of obligation, but since it falls on a Monday this year, the requirement to attend Mass is relaxed. Although Catholic teaching on this event goes back to the earliest days of Christianity, it was not declared a dogma of faith until 1950 by Pope Pius XII. In his apostolic constitution, "Munificentissimus Deus," the holy father explains the effects of original sin, and how Mary, who was preserved from original sin and remained sinless ... More
Pope Francis has repeatedly encouraged the faithful to spend time before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. In a recent message to those preparing for the Eucharistic Congress in Genoa, Italy Sept. 15-18, he said, “I want to encourage everyone to visit — if possible, every day — especially amid life’s difficulties, the Blessed Sacrament of the infinite love of Christ and his mercy, preserved in our churches, and often abandoned, to speak filially with him, to listen to him in silence, and to peacefully entrust yourself to him." He joins many who have come before him in highlighting the spiritual fruits of eucharistic adoration. "The Church and the world have a great need for eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. ... More
The first class of the School of Spiritual Direction was recognized for completing the three-year program during a special Mass June 11 at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. Msgr. Scott Friend, VG, concelebrated the Mass along with Father Rubén Quinteros and retired Father Robert Dienert. During the Mass, 24 new spiritual directors were certified to minister in the Diocese of Little Rock, allowing them to guide individuals who seek to follow God's will for their lives and deepen their relationship with him. A total of 31 people, which included Father Dienert, ... More
The United States celebrates its independence July 4. In addition to fireworks and picnics, this is a good day to thank God for our freedom and remember not to take it for granted. During the Fortnight for Freedom, which ends July 4, we have been asked to pray, act and deepen our awareness of religious freedom and its importance. We also celebrate the feasts of St. Thomas More, St. John Fisher, St. John the Baptist, Sts. Peter and Paul and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome, who were all great martyrs that remained faithful in the face of persecution ... More
A Mass of Thanksgiving will be celebrated Monday, June 27 to honor six priests who are celebrating 25 and 50 years of priestly service in the Diocese of Little Rock. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will be the main celebrant. The Mass will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock. A dinner reception will follow in McDonald Hall that is open to everyone. No reservations are required. Those celebrating 50 years are: Msgr. James Mancini and Father Nho Duy "Dominic" Do, both retired, and Msgr. Lawrence Frederick of Catholic High School in Little Rock. Those celebrating ... More