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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.
Christ's baptism ends the Christmas season
The Baptism of the Lord concludes the celebration of the Christmas season. This feast celebrates that, before starting his public ministry, Jesus allowed himself to be baptized by St. John the Baptist. The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults explains why Jesus, who was totally faithful to the Father's will and free of sin, would choose baptism. "Jesus’ immersion in the water is a sign for all human beings of the need to die to themselves to do God’s will. ... He wanted to show his solidarity with human beings in order to reconcile them to the Father. By commanding his disciples ... More
Encounter, learn and act to fight poverty
Nearly 37 million people live in poverty in the United States. Fifteen percent of these are children. In Arkansas, nearly 16 percent or 485,000 people are poor. January is Poverty Awareness Month and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) offers a daily calendar with reflections that offers ways to learn about poverty in America. CCHD, the national anti-poverty program of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, offers other resources to create awareness of and ways to address the root causes of poverty in America, including the website, Poverty USA. ... More
Christmas crèche arouses awe and wonder
St. Francis of Assisi set up the first Nativity Scene on Christmas Eve in 1223. He invited villagers and friars from Greccio, Italy, to gather for Mass at his manger. He set it up in a cave with live animals and feeding trough converted into a crib. He said, “I want to do something that will recall the memory of that child who was born in Bethlehem, to see with bodily eyes the inconveniences of his infancy, how he lay in the manger, and how the ox and ass stood by.” The tradition grew and people began constructing nativity scenes in their homes. A nativity scene or crèche may be made ... More
Jubilee Year 2025 Opening Mass is Dec. 29
The Diocese of Little Rock will kick off its celebration of Jubilee Year 2025 with a special procession and Mass on Sunday. Dec. 29 in Little Rock. It begins with a half-mile procession from St. Edward Church to the Cathedral of St. Andrew at 2:30 p.m. Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will then celebrate a bilingual Mass at 3:15 p.m. at the Cathedral. During the Mass, he will give an apostolic blessing to all in attendance. Refreshments will be served after Mass in McDonald Hall. An apostolic blessing, also known as a papal blessing, includes a plenary indulgence and may be given ... More
2025 Confirmation Retreat will be Feb. 16
The 2025 Diocese of Little Rock Confirmation Retreat will be held Sunday, Feb. 16 at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock. This peer-led event is open to Catholic youth who are preparing to receive the sacrament of confirmation during the school year. It is available to small parishes lacking the resources to organize their own retreat and any youth unable to attend a confirmation retreat in their own parish. This year's theme is "Renewed." Focusing on the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit, activities will include praise and worship music, games, skits, videos ... More
Count down to Christmas with O Antiphons
An antiphon is verse that is sung or recited to give emphasis to what follows, such as a prayer, psalm, Scripture or canticle. The O Antiphons are an ancient, Advent tradition that refer to the seven antiphons that come before the Magnificat (Canticle of Mary) in the Evening Prayer of the Liturgy of the Hours from Dec. 17-23. They cover the special time of Advent known as the Octave before Christmas, with Dec. 24 being Christmas Eve and Vespers for that evening being for the Christmas Vigil. No one knows the exact origin of the O Antiphons, but Roman Catholics have been singing them ... More
Youth: Apply now for Búsqueda #54 team
Applications are now being accepted for the youth team to lead Búsqueda #54. The deadline to apply is Jan. 16. Youth applicants must have lived Busqueda, be active in their parish and youth group, be recommended by their pastor and able to attend planning meetings. See the application form for details. It must be completed and returned to the address provided with fee by the deadline. The cost to serve on the Busqueda team is $70, which includes all meetings, materials, retreats, lodging, food and T-shirt. All team members must attend the ... More
Bishop appoints jubilee sites in Arkansas
"Dear People of the Diocese of Little Rock, I am delighted to share that Pope Francis will officially open the holy door at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on Dec. 24, 2024, marking the start of the Ordinary Jubilee Year of 2025. This jubilee, centered on the theme 'Pilgrims of Hope,' will be a year dedicated to fostering hope within our hearts and communities, concluding on Jan. 6, 2026. In a special decree issued on May 14, 2024, the Apostolic Penitentiary authorized diocesan bishops to designate churches within their dioceses as pilgrimage sites for the jubilee ... More
