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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.
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
Brother Raban Heyer, OSB, ordained priest
Bishop Francis I. Malone of the Diocese of Shreveport ordained Brother Raban Heyer, OSB, to the priesthood on Friday, Nov. 22 at St. Benedict Church on the grounds of Subiaco Abbey. Abbot Elijah Owens, OSB, and other priests concelebrated the Mass. A reception followed in Fuhrmann Hall. Following his ordination, Father Raban, 35, returned to teaching as Subiaco Academy's English department chair and cross-country coach. He recently completed his theology studies at Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant'Anselmo (St. Anselm Pontifical University) in Rome. ... More
Msgr. Richard Oswald, 84, died Nov. 25
Msgr. Richard S. Oswald, the longtime pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers who once oversaw Little Rock Scripture Study, died Nov. 25 at Arkansas Hospice. He was 84. The son of the late Oscar J. and Hilda M. Oswald graduated from Catholic High School in Little Rock and began his priestly formation at St. John Home Mission Seminary in Little Rock. On May 29, 1965, Bishop Albert L. Fletcher ordained him to the priesthood for the Diocese of Little Rock. Noting his ordination after Vatican II, he told Arkansas Catholic on his 50th priestly anniversary in 2015 ... More
Nearly $700,000 raised for seminarians
Taste of Faith dinners were held in Little Rock, Jonesboro and Hot Springs Village in 2024. Along with donations through the mail and online, more than $670,000 was raised through the Taste of Faith campaign to benefit seminarian education in the Diocese of Little Rock. This includes $73,227 in Jonesboro, $83,552 in Hot Springs Village and $254,089 in Little Rock. Taste of Faith is hosted by the Vocations and Seminarians Office. In addition to the meal, attendees at Taste of Faith dinners were treated to music, entertainment and testimonials from ... More
Bishop: Dec. 9 is a holy day of obligation
"My brothers and sisters in Christ, the feast of the Immaculate Conception is the patronal feast of the United States and is a holy day of obligation. For a period of time, when this feast fell on a Monday or a Saturday, as it does this year, it was not obligatory. However, the Vatican recently clarified that even when a holy day of obligation is transferred to a Saturday or Monday, there remains the obligation to attend Mass on that day. Elsewhere in the United States a few bishops have made an exception for their diocese, lifting the obligation. We have not done that here. ... More
Share time, talent and treasure this Advent
Advent begins Sunday, Dec. 1. The word "advent" originated from the Latin "adventus," which means coming. The season of Advent, therefore, is the preparation for the coming of Jesus, first through his birth and ultimately, his coming again in glory at the end of time. This year it runs from Dec. 1-24. Pope Francis encouraged people to carefully prepare their hearts for the coming of the Lord with prayer and charity in a 2023 reflection on the season's purpose. "A good program for Advent," he suggested, would be "to encounter Jesus coming in every brother and ... More
