Seminarians take steps to priesthood

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor is installing eight Diocese of Little Rock seminarians as candidates, lectors and acolytes as part of their journey toward priesthood during special Masses in May at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock. The bishop will celebrate the Admission to Candidacy Mass Saturday, May 2 at 4:30 p.m. for seminarians Ryan Carlson, Nghiep Hoang and Benjamin Keating. The admission to candidacy will be conferred on those who have demonstrated the necessary qualifications for ordination. He will celebrate the Installation of Lector Mass More

Make pilgrimage in Year of St. Francis

Pope Leo XIV proclaimed a universal Year of St. Francis from Jan. 10, 2026 to Jan. 10, 2027 to mark the 800th anniversary of the saint's death. Three parishes in Arkansas have been designated as pilgrimage churches during the Year of St. Francis. Catholics are invited to visit the churches in Arkansas named after the Italian saint in Forrest City, Little Italy and Fairfield Bay. Weekend Mass in Forrest City is at 12:15 p.m. on Sundays. In Little Italy, Mass is at 10 a.m. Sundays. Fairifield Bay has Mass at 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday. All Masses are in English. More

Bishop announces 2026 clergy changes

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor announced the following pastoral appointments, April 10, 2026, for the Diocese of Little Rock. Effective April 10, 2026: Rev. Alphonse Gollapalli, as requested by him, he will return to his home Diocese of Nellore, India. Father Gollapalli has lived much of his priesthood in faithful service in Oklahoma and Arkansas. He is relieved of his responsibilities as pastor of St. Mark Church in Monticello, Holy Child of Jesus Church in Dumas and St. Mary Church in McGehee, as previously announced; Rev. Daniel Wendel, appointed administrator of St. Mark Church in Monticello More