House of Formation
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor dedicated the new $1.6 million House of Formation on the grounds of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Little Rock on Sept. 20, 2012. It serves as a home for those discerning a vocation to the priesthood for the Diocese of Little Rock. Learn more
The 6,000-square-foot building is located on the site of the former convent at Our Lady of Good Counsel. It includes a chapel, kitchen, meeting room/library, dining room, common area, 10 student rooms and two priest apartments.
Msgr. Scott Friend, vocations director, and prefect Msgr. Richard Oswald live in the priest apartments, while Father Ruben Quinteros, vice prefect, lives in a student room. The other nine bedrooms are occupied by seminarians studying at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and discerners who are considering becoming seminarians.
The diocese is actively seeking donors to sponsor rooms and furnishings. The sponsorships range from $90,000 for the kitchen/common room to $23,000 for the meeting room/library. Donors can make one-time gifts or monthly payments over several months. Read about donations that have already been made in Arkansas Catholic
Since 2009 discerners and seminarians studying at UALR have lived together while discerning their call or getting an English-language education. Initially, the diocese rented a four-bedroom house and then in 2011 the men moved temporarily to Fletcher Hall on the grounds of St. John Catholic Center while their new home could be built.
Bishop Taylor blessed the site of the new construction on March 8, 2012. Play the video to the right to hear what the bishop said about why the house of formation was needed. If you would like to make a donation toward the house of formation or seminarian education, please contact us