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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.
We celebrate the feast of St. Andrew, the Apostle on Nov. 30. His feast day leads us right into the season of Advent, which is fitting since he was the first of the Twelve Apostles to be called by Jesus. Advent, which begins Dec. 3 this year, is a season of joy and anticipation for the coming of the Lord. St. Andrew's example of this is evident in the Scriptures. After St. John the Baptist pointed out the "Lamb of God," to two of his disciples, Andrew, one of the two, heard John and immediately followed Jesus. He later went to his brother, Simon, and exclaimed: "We have found the Messiah." ... More
Thanksgiving, as an American holiday, traces its roots back to 1621 when Gov. Bradford of the Plymouth colony called for a day of public praise and prayer to celebrate the first harvest. But the very first Thanksgiving on American soil took place much earlier; 56 years earlier to be exact, and the highlight of the occasion was a Catholic Mass. The first thing Spanish settlers did when they arrived safely in St. Augustine, Fla., was celebrate Mass in thanksgiving to God on Sept. 8, 1565. "After the Mass, Father Francisco Lopez, the chaplain of the Spanish ships and the first pastor of St. Augustine ... More
Many in our culture have a negative view of adoption, but St. Pope John Paul II, in an address to adoptive families in the year 2000, made it clear that creating a family through adoption "is in no way inferior to one based on a biological connection. ... Adopting children, regarding and treating them as one's own children, means recognizing that the relationship between parents and children is not measured only by genetic standards. Procreative love is first and foremost a gift of self. There is a form of 'procreation,' which occurs through acceptance, concern and devotion," he explained. ... More
Did you know trick-or-treating is Catholic in origin? That is also true for dressing up in costumes and making a jack-o-lantern. If this surprises you, you are not alone. The practice of Halloween has been separated from its Christian roots in the modern world. As a result, some associate Halloween with zombies, vampires, ghosts and the occult. It is especially bad this time of year when we are inundated with disturbing images of darkness and death, leaving Christians to worry if it is wrong to participate in Halloween. Father Steve Grunow, CEO of Word on Fire, explains that Halloween ... More
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will celebrate the annual All Souls Day Mass at Calvary Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 2. It is located at the corner of Wright Avenue and South Woodrow Street in Little Rock. Get driving directions from your location. The main entrance is off of Charles Bussey Avenue. Mass will be followed by the blessing of graves and praying the rosary. All are invited. If it rains, the Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock at 10 a.m. For more information, contact Tricia Gentry, office manager for Calvary Cemetery, at (501) 664-0340 ... More
After a seven-year absence, the Diocese of Little Rock resumed its School of Spiritual Direction this fall. Twelve students from parishes across Arkansas began taking bilingual classes in September at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. The weekend classes will be offered monthly through May as part of the three-year program. Father Daniel Velasco, pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Souls Church in Little Rock, was named director of spiritual direction formation in July 2022. According to Arkansas Catholic, he said the purpose of this program is to help people “grow their relationship with ... More
The 86th annual Arkansas Catholic Schools Professional Day was held Friday, Sept. 29 at Christ the King School in Little Rock. This year's theme was: “Called to be Salt and Light.” Father Juan Guido, pastor of Christ the King, celebrated Mass at 9 a.m. Twelve priests from across the Diocese of Little Rock concelebrated the Mass assisted by Deacons Danny Hartnedy and Jason Pohlmeier. Catholic speaker Caitie Cataldo delivered the keynote presentation, "Transformed as a Teacher in Christ." Cataldo holds a bachelor's degree in pastoral theology from Marian University. ... More
Applications are now being accepted for Search #153. It will be held at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock Dec. 1-3. Search is a faith formation program for high school juniors and seniors designed to help them get to know themselves better, deepen their relationship with Christ and find support in living out their faith in the world. The fee to attend is $150 per person. Scholarships are available. The deadline to apply is Nov. 20. (If spots are still available after the deadline, late registrations may be accepted.) To register, download and return the registration form with deposit ... More