Office of Divine Worship
232 Passion Play Rd.
Eureka Springs, AR 72632
Phone: (479) 253-2222
Fax: (479) 253-6616
Located in Morris Hall at St. John Catholic Center
The Office of Divine Worship has as its mission the task of assisting the bishop, whose charge it is to safeguard and promote the liturgical life of the diocese. It is also the mission of this office to foster the relationship of the liturgical life of the parishes by working closely with the priests, deacons and lay faithful of the diocese as a resource of information.
Staff
Director: Fr. Shaun Wesley
Secretary: Teri Tribby, (501) 664-0340, ext. 313
Weekday Word and Communion services discontinued
Weekday Word and Communion services in the Diocese of Little Rock were discontinued Nov. 29 to comply with the Vatican document "Redemptionis Sacramentum" ("The Sacrament of Redemption"), which was published by the Congregation for Divine Worship in 2004. It has been a common practice in some parishes for a deacon or trained layperson to lead the Liturgy of the Word and distribute Communion if a priest was not available. The services can still be held on Sundays or holy days of obligation. According to the diocese's new “Guidelines for Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest”, weekday Communion services can only be held if they receive “explicit” permission from the bishop or vicar general. If a pastor is absent for a regularly scheduled Mass, a deacon or layperson should lead morning or evening prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours. Read the full story in Arkansas Catholic