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Catholic Diocese of Little Rock
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The following offers the latest information about events and activities happening in the Diocese of Little Rock.
If you aren't able to pick up your CRS Rice Bowl at church this week, you can order one online. This almsgiving project encourages participants to perform a simple sacrifice by substituting a low-cost meatless meal for a more expensive one, and putting the money saved in their cardboard "rice bowl" throughout the season of Lent. As we continue to struggle through a global pandemic, it may be more important than ever to help our neighbors in need. COVID-19 has dramatically increased unemployment and hunger worldwide, so rice bowl donations may be lifesaving for communities ... More
The Lenten campaign of 40 Days for Life is being held outside the Planned Parenthood clinic at 1501 Aldersgate Road in Little Rock, a place where chemical abortions take place. The Little Rock prayer vigil was supposed to begin on Ash Wednesday, but was canceled because of winter weather. Prayer warriors are invited to pray outside the clinic from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through March 28. The international 40 Days for Life ministry highlights prayer, fasting and a peaceful, prayer vigil outside an abortion facility to pray for an end to abortion. For details about the Little Rock ... More
The offices of the Catholic Diocese of Little Rock are closed to the public on Thursday, Feb. 11. The Inclement Weather Policy is in effect for diocesan staff. To reach a member of our staff, visit our staff directory and click on the name of the person you wish to reach to send an e-mail. Leave a phone message by calling (501) 664-0340. He or she will respond when the offices reopen. Thank you for your patience. For information about Catholic ministries and programs, please visit our ministry directory for a list of programs statewide. To contact a diocesan ministry ... More
Ash Wednesday begins our Lenten journey toward the celebration of Easter. Though it is not a holy day of obligation, it is a day of fast and abstinence. Normally, we are marked with ashes, in the form of a cross, on our forehead. However, this year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vatican has asked that ashes be sprinkled over our heads instead. In it's "Distribution of Ashes in Time of Pandemic," the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, described how priests should bless the ashes to be distributed with holy water silently at the altar and then address ... More
Showering those we love with cards, candy and roses are popular ways to celebrate St. Valentine's Day in the United States. This tradition seems to come from a belief in England and France during the Middle Ages that birds begin to pair on Feb. 14, which just happens to be the feast day of St. Valentine, according to the Catholic Education Resource Center. The connection of romantic love to the Catholic saint can be traced back to Geoffrey Chaucer's Old English poem: "Parliament of Foules." In it he wrote, “For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne’s day ... More
Are you planning to get married in a Catholic church in Arkansas? If so, find out what you need to do by reading the Getting Married Guide. Because marriage is lifelong, the Church wants to help you build a strong, lasting marriage. For this reason, couples seeking marriage in the Catholic Church are asked to spend several months in marriage preparation. It is so important, that all couples are required to fulfill an educational program to marry in the Diocese of Little Rock. Options include: Pre-Cana Day, the Sponsor Couple program or some other diocesan-approved ... More
Convalidation classes are offered for couples who are married civilly (i.e., "outside the Catholic Church") and who wish to have a valid marriage recognized by the Church. Canon law requires that Roman Catholics marry according to sacred ritual before a priest or deacon, unless a dispensation (permission) is received from the Church beforehand. If a Catholic does not observe this requirement and marries outside the Church, his or her marriage is not valid. Couples who wish to have their civil marriage recognized by the Church are asked to participate in a special ... More
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops partners with other organizations to promote National Marriage Week each year to help build "a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family." It is always held Feb. 7-14. The 2021 theme is: “To Have, To Hold, To Honor.” World Marriage Day, held on the second Sunday of February, is part of this observance. This year, it falls on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14. World Marriage Day "honors husband and wife as the foundation of the family — the basic unit of society. It salutes the beauty of their faithfulness ... More