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Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
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Happening Now
The following offers the latest information about events and activities happening in the Diocese of Little Rock.
Ministry for abuse victims to begin this fall
The Diocese of Little Rock is organizing a chapter of the Maria Goretti Network (MGN), a ministry for those who have been abused, their families, and those who support their recovery. It was named after St. Maria Goretti, the patron saint of abused children and rape victims. Alessandro Serenelli tried to rape her when she was 11 years old. He then stabbed her 14 times and fled. Before she died from her injuries in 1902, she forgave him. While he was in prison, Maria appeared to him in a dream, which led to his conversion. St. Maria was canonized in 1950. ... More
Learn how to evangelize like St. Andrew
A New Life course for the St. Andrew School of Evangelization will be held Aug. 30 to Sept. 1 at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. This Catholic evangelization program for Spanish-speaking youth is designed to help teach participants how to go out into the world and proclaim the Good News. The cost is $60 per person and that includes meals and lodging. Complete the registration form and mail the $30 deposit (non-refundable) to the Office of Faith Formation. The St. Andrew School of Evangelization is named after the Apostle Andrew because of his example ... More
Arkansas Catholic students back at school
More than 6,600 Catholic school students returned to the classroom this month in Arkansas. There are 26 Catholic schools, including the newest school in northwest Arkansas, Ozark Catholic Academy, which opened in 2018. Catholic schools in the Diocese of Little Rock range from preschool to high school in 18 cities statewide. The staffs of these schools have been preparing for the new school year for weeks, especially the principals. They attended a special retreat in July at Subiaco Abbey to enjoy fellowship, get updates from the Catholic Schools Office and prepare themselves ... More
Msgr. James E. Mancini, 78, dies Aug. 9
Msgr. Francis I. Malone, chancellor for ecclesial affairs, released the following letter Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019, addressed to diocesan priests and deacons regarding the death of Msgr. James E. Mancini on Aug. 9. "With faith in eternal life, I announce the death of Msgr. James Mancini. He passed away in northwest Arkansas after a lengthy illness at the age of 78. Msgr. Mancini was born in North Little Rock on New Year’s Eve 1940. He attended St. Patrick School and Our Lady of Good Counsel School before entering St. John Home Mission Seminary in 1954, and was ordained ... More
Arkansas Catholic to go to Mexico in 2020
Arkansas Catholic will host a six-day pilgrimage to explore the faith and culture of Mexico Feb. 12-17, 2020. Father Tony Robbins, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Conway and a frequent traveler to Mexico City, will be the spiritual director. Pilgrims will learn about Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and the unborn, and how she appeared to the peasant St. Juan Diego. They will visit the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe to see the miraculous tilma (cloak) of St. Juan Diego bearing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In addition to touring Mexico City, the pilgrimage ... More
Bishop supports day for immigrant children
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor released the following statement Saturday, July 13, 2019, regarding the Catholic Day of Action for Immigrant Children to take place in Washington, D.C. on July 18, 2019. "Greetings to all who are participating in the Catholic Day of Action for Immigrant Children. I want to express my support for your efforts to convince the administration that they must stop demonizing and detaining children and families who pose no threat to anyone. The images of those who have suffered and died trying to make their way to freedom 'cry to the heavens,' in the words ... More
Frank Head retires after 20 years of service
Frank Head, former director of the Catholic Immigration Services in Springdale, retired on June 30, 2019. In the column below, which was originally published in Catholic Charities Connections, a special section of Arkansas Catholic, Head reflects on his 20 years of helping to provide low-cost legal services to immigrants. "Some things happen in life that appear to be random but later seem to have been inevitable. Twenty years ago, I answered an ad by Catholic Charities Immigration Services in Springdale and, in August 1999, I was hired to run the place. Twenty years later, three ... More
Bishop comments on Lord’s Prayer reports
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor released the following statement Monday, July 8, 2019, regarding reports that Italian bishops have approved a new translation of the Lord’s Prayer in Italian. "I have received some inquiries regarding the Lord’s Prayer due to news reports that the Italian bishops have approved a new translation of the Lord’s Prayer in Italian, which Pope Francis has accepted, one phrase of which is 'non abbandonarci alla tentazione,' which would be the equivalent of saying in English literally 'do not abandon us into temptation' but with a gentler nuance along the line ... More
